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Olivier Rousteing Exits Balmain After 14 Years

The house signals a pivot in creative direction as it begins the search for his successor.

Overview

  • Balmain confirmed Rousteing’s departure with reciprocal statements of gratitude from the designer and CEO Matteo Sgarbossa.
  • Rousteing, 40, joined Balmain in 2009 and was appointed artistic director in 2011 at age 25, later becoming a prominent figure in Paris fashion.
  • Company leadership indicated it wants a different creative orientation for the brand’s next phase, with no successor yet named.
  • Under Rousteing, reported annual revenue grew from €30.4 million in 2012 to roughly €300 million last year, and the house was acquired by Mayhoola in 2016 for about €500 million.
  • His final Balmain collection was shown in early October, capping a tenure defined by the celebrity‑driven “Balmain Army” and broad pop‑culture visibility.