Balenciaga has found its new creative director, and it’s a familiar name. Pierpaolo Piccioli has been appointed to the position, replacing Demna, who announced in March that he’d be departing for fellow Kering brand Gucci.
“I couldn’t be happier to welcome Pierpaolo to the group. He is one of the most talented and celebrated designers of today. His mastery of haute couture, his creative voice, and his passion for savoir-faire made him the ideal choice for the house,” said Francesca Bellettini, Kering’s Deputy CEO, in a statement.
Piccioli previously served as the creative director of Valentino, working his way up at the house after starting as an accessory designer in 1999 and taking on the post in 2008 (first with his creative partner Maria Grazia Chiuri, then solo in 2016.) His vibrant, maximalist collections, including a hot pink-themed show for fall 2022, and his mastery of accessories, including the Rockstud, made him one of the biggest names in Italian fashion. During his time at the house, he dressed celebrities including Rihanna, Zendaya, and Anne Hathaway.
The designer once dreamed of becoming a film director, telling ELLE in 2017 that his aim was “to tell stories about life through fashion.” Instead, Piccioli veered in a different direction; he attended the Istituto Europeo di Design in Rome, going on to work at Fendi in the accessories department. Channeling his deep love of the arts, Piccioli has become known for his dramatic silhouettes, fresh interpretations of old Hollywood, and daring color stories, making him a synergistic fit for the legacy of Cristóbal Balenciaga and a sudden shift from the hyper-realist aesthetics of Demna.
“What I am receiving is a brand full of possibilities that is incredibly fascinating,” said Piccioli in a statement. “I must first and foremost thank Demna; I’ve always admired his talent and vision. I couldn’t ask for a better passing of the torch. This gives me the chance to shape a new version of the Maison, adding another chapter with a new story.”
Demna is set to finish out his tenure at Balenciaga with its couture show on July 10th, although subtle hints nodded to his early start at Gucci during last week’s cruise show in Florence. Piccioli will officially take the reins immediately following the couture show, and will debut on the runway in October this fall.
Additional reporting by Tasha Nicole Smith.
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