The Museum at Fashion Institute of Technology New York recently held its annual Couture Council Luncheon at the David Koch Theater at Lincoln Center, honouring Olivier Rousteing, creative director of the house of Balmain, with the 2025 Couture Council Award for Artistry of Fashion.
Balmain
“This award is not just a recognition of my past,” Rousteing said upon receiving the award. “It is a celebration of every risk, every battle, every dream—and every person who dared to believe in me and believe with me.”
Presented by Bloomingdale’s, the event raised funds for The Museum at Fashion Institute of Technology, New York’s only museum dedicated exclusively to fashion. Proceeds will go toward developing the museum’s exhibitions, programming, and symposia, all of which are free and open to the public.
“As a visionary young designer who proved deserving of all his early success, Olivier is especially inspiring to our FIT students,” said FIT President Joyce F. Brown in her welcoming remarks. “His personal path has not always been easy, as detailed in the documentary Wonderboy but he has persevered and poured his emotional truth into his work.”
Actor and singer Jeremy Pope presented Rousteing with the award, a golden spool of thread. “Olivier, you have broken barriers and rewritten the rules,” Pope told him. “You make space for stories that often go unseen. … You remind us: Fashion isn’t just about what we wear. It’s about who we are, and the future we dare to shape.”
The luncheon was co-chaired by Couture Council board members Jane DeFlorio, corporate director at Vivid Seats Inc., and Stephanie Loeffler, philanthropist and board member of the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Other notable attendees included 2023 Artistry of Fashion honoree Gabriela Hearst, Martha Stewart, Zanna Roberts Rassi, Meredith Marks, Ramona Singer*, Fern Mallis, Liz Peek, Jean Shafiroff, Julie Macklowe, Katherine Gage Boulud, Yaz Hernández, Ken Downing, Douglas Hand, Ruben Toledo, and more.
Rousteing also took part in a conversation with students on campus the same day, during which he recalled his personal struggles and hardships. When asked about diversity and inclusivity in the fashion industry, he advised students to be patient with setbacks. “We always win when there is love. And I can tell you for a fact that I’m pushing, we can all push together. We can build a community of people that believe in the same world, and we’re all here to shape this world.”
Who is Olivier Rousteing?
Olivier Rousteing is a renowned French fashion designer, best known for his role as the creative director of Balmain, a position he has held since 2011. Born in Bordeaux, France, in 1986, Rousteing graduated from the prestigious ESMOD fashion school and quickly made a name for himself in the fashion industry, first working for Roberto Cavalli before taking the helm at Balmain. Rousteing’s bold, opulent designs have redefined the luxury brand, combining Parisian elegance with contemporary streetwear influences. His work incorporates intricate tailoring, a mix of cultural references, and a celebration of diversity, reflecting his passion for inclusivity.
Under Rousteing’s leadership, Balmain has transformed into a global fashion powerhouse, attracting a younger, diverse audience. Known for his use of social media to engage with fans, he has become a trailblazer in bridging the gap between high fashion and digital culture. His collaborations with artists, musicians, and influencers, alongside his unapologetic embrace of diversity in both his designs and runway shows, have helped elevate Balmain’s influence in modern fashion. Rousteing’s influence extends beyond fashion as he is celebrated for championing greater representation and visibility for underrepresented communities in the fashion industry.
Jasmeen Dugal is Associate Editor at FashionABC, contributing her insights on fashion, technology, and sustainability. She brings with herself more than two decades of editorial experience, working for national newspapers and luxury magazines in India.
Jasmeen Dugal has worked with exchange4media as a senior writer contributing articles on the country’s advertising and marketing movements, and then with Condenast India as Net Editor where she helmed Vogue India’s official website in terms of design, layout and daily content. Besides this, she is also an entrepreneur running her own luxury portal, Explosivefashion, which highlights the latest in luxury fashion and hospitality.
