Martine Rose Named Balenciaga Creative Director, Starts Nov. 16

Kering confirmed Friday that Martine Rose will take over as creative director of Balenciaga on Nov. 16, based in Paris. The appointment follows Pierpaolo Piccioli's exit after less than 18 months in the role.

The move resets design leadership at one of Kering's flagship houses. Rose worked alongside Demna on Balenciaga menswear during his early years at the brand and is widely credited with shaping its oversize, distressed and vintage-flecked men's silhouettes.

What did Kering and Balenciaga executives say?

Kering CEO Luca de Meo described Balenciaga as a "house of radical creativity, challenging conventions and redefining the boundaries of fashion," and said Rose "embodies this spirit with a fresh, fearless and deeply contemporary vision."

De Meo added that her "connection to the new generation and her instinctive understanding of culture bring a new dimension to the house. Her appointment reflects our ambition to keep Balenciaga at the forefront of innovation, creativity and culture."

Balenciaga president and CEO Gianfranco Gianangeli called Rose "an extraordinary creative talent with a bold and highly distinctive vision," citing her ability to "challenge conventions, reinvent silhouettes and bring an unexpected perspective to fashion."

Kering framed the hire as marking "a new chapter" in the house's evolution, saying Rose "brings a deep understanding of the house's creative identity to her own singular vision of contemporary culture."

Rose herself said: "Balenciaga has been shaped by remarkable creative talents before me. I am committed to honoring this legacy and look forward to creating the next chapter in this rich and beautiful story." She called the house one "with an extraordinary heritage and a fearless creative spirit."

What is Rose's commercial track record?

Rose founded her namesake label in 2007 and sold a majority stake to Tomorrow Ltd. in 2021. Her collaboration portfolio spans Supreme, Nike, Napapijri and Tommy Hilfiger. In 2023 she became Clarks' first guest creative director and served as guest menswear designer at Pitti Uomo the same year.

Her eponymous brand sells through 200 stockists globally, including Dover Street Market, H Lorenzo, Nordstrom, The Webster, SKP in China and Browns online.

The Balenciaga role arrives at a difficult moment for the designer's own company. Rose paused her fall 2026 collection while disentangling the business from Tomorrow, which was sold earlier this year to The Level Group. The fall 2026 collection never went into production.

What was lost with the shelved collection?

The unproduced line featured hot pink fur, dark denim, flocked trousers, corset stitching on jackets and lingerie elements fused with dress shirts. Rose cited King Henry VIII, James Brown and the boxer Prince Naseem as references.

"It's decadent through our lens, a mix of '90s clubwear and old-world opulence," Rose said. "It's about dressing up and showing off."

Her gender-fluid, urban aesthetic has drawn a high-profile following, including Drake, Naomi Campbell, DJ Goldie, Kendrick Lamar and Timothée Chalamet.

What comes next?

Rose assumes the Paris post on Nov. 16, and the first creative outputs under her direction will signal whether her indie-rooted sensibility can translate to a global luxury house still rebuilding momentum after back-to-back creative transitions.