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Olivier Rousteing Steps Down as Balmain Creative Director After 14 Years

Balmain plans to unveil a new creative structure in due course following executive praise of his tenure.

Overview

  • The house announced the departure on Wednesday, closing one of fashion’s longest recent creative tenures at a major Paris label.
  • Mayhoola chief Rachid Mohamed Rachid and Balmain CEO Matteo Sgarbossa lauded Rousteing’s leadership, creativity and focus on inclusivity in official statements.
  • Appointed in 2011 at age 25, Rousteing became the youngest non‑founding designer to lead a major Paris house in decades and the first Black designer to helm a French heritage label.
  • Industry reporting cites revenue growth from about €30.4 million in 2012 to an estimated €300 million last year, alongside a couture revival in 2019, expanded accessories and a 2023 beauty and fragrance launch with Estée Lauder.
  • Rousteing amplified Balmain’s pop‑culture reach through the ‘Balmain Army,’ high‑visibility shows and collaborations including Beyoncé’s 2018 Coachella costumes and a hit 2015 H&M collection, while his next steps remain undisclosed.