Balmain Creative Director Olivier Rousteing is stepping down after 14 years, the French fashion house announced.
Balmain Creative Director Olivier Rousteing steps down
“I sincerely extend my gratitude to Olivier for his extraordinary contribution to Balmain”, expressed Rachid Mohamed Rachid, Mayhoola CEO and Balmain Chairman, in an official statement. “Olivier’s visionary leadership has not only redefined the boundaries of fashion but also inspired a generation with bold creativity, unwavering authenticity, and commitment to inclusivity. We are immensely proud of all that has been achieved under his direction and look forward to seeing the next chapter of his journey unfold with the same brilliance and passion.”
“I am deeply proud of all that I’ve accomplished, and profoundly grateful to my exceptional team at Balmain, my chosen family, in a place that has been my home for the past 14 years,” confirmed Olivier Rousteing. “My thanks go to Mr. Rachid Mohamed Rachid and Matteo Sgarbossa for their unwavering belief in me and for entrusting me with this extraordinary opportunity. As I look ahead to the future and the next chapter of my creative journey, I will always hold this treasured time close to my heart”.
A new creative organization for the House will be announced in due course. “I would like to express my deep gratitude to Olivier for writing such an important chapter in the history of Balmain House. Olivier’s contribution and passion over the past years will leave an indelible mark in the history of fashion” said Matteo Sgarbossa, CEO of Balmain, in honour of Rousteing’s achievements.
About Balmain
Founded in 1945, Pierre Balmain’s eponymous fashion brand has evolved into a singular union of Parisian couture heritage and 21st-century creativity. Always remaining true to its core values of inclusion, empowerment and excellence, often surprising and bold, Balmain’s design aesthetic is an instantly recognizable silhouette, assertive spirit and the powerfully transformative possibilities that only beautiful design and skilled construction can achieve. Part of Mayhoola, led by the vision of Creative Director Olivier Rousteing, the house’s growth and success is due to the passionate and talented Balmain family of craftspeople, experts and team members who make each collection possible.
Fans and consumers of the French fashion brand are popularly referred to as the Balmain Army: dressed in modern power pieces with strong shoulders, striking silhouettes.. and metallic embellishments. The Balmain Army is a one-of-a-kind grouping that is a reflection of the unique vision of Olivier Rousteing. Open to all, it is made up of members who are forward-thinking, diverse and excited about pushing the frontiers of fashion. While they value true craftsmanship, heritage and style, they are excited by new possibilities that Balmain’s ethos of innovation makes possible.
Balmain also emphasizes the importance of integrating its designs with the cultural and social dynamics of the moment. The luxury fashion brand’s mission is to capture the essence of current fashion trends and shaping them. By staying attuned to the zeitgeist, Balmain creates collections that appeal to its consumer base, combining modernity with a rich historical legacy. This approach reinforces the luxury brand’s reputation for high-fashion excellence and strengthens its relevance and appeal in fashion and retail.
Oliver Rousting’s Contribution to Balmain
Olivier Rousteing became creative director of the Paris fashion house Balmain in April 2011 at the age of 25. Under his leadership, he brought a new energy to the house by combining the label’s couture roots with bold, modern touches. He emphasised craftsmanship such as embroidery, metal‑weaving and tailoring while also introducing streetwear elements and making the luxury fashion brand visible in the digital era.
Per Harper’s Bazaar: “With 7.4 million followers on Instagram, he represents the modern-day celebrity our digital lives have shaped: the kind who seems glamorous and relatable at once. It’s a paradox he’s harnessed since he took on the job at the age of 25 when he became not only the youngest creative director in Paris since Yves Saint Laurent for Christian Dior but also one of the first Black designers to helm a luxury fashion house.”
Oliver Rousting expanded the luxury fashion brand’s reach by introducing menswear, relaunching haute couture, and moving beyond traditional fashion channels with music festivals and diverse collaborations that span from Netflix to Barbie. Rousteing also revived Balmain’s haute couture after a sixteen-year hiatus and expanded its cultural footprint through collaborations with L’Oréal Paris and commissions such as designing Beyoncé’s 2018 Coachella costumes.
Rousting also coined the term ‘Balmain Army’ for a network of celebrity muses (for example Rihanna, Beyoncé, Kim Kardashian) whose endorsement became very significant for the brand’s growth. His expertise in digitalisation saw Balmain launch one of the first Snapchat filters, a proprietary app, and an Instagram shopping partnership in 2019.
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.
