Paris — Balenciaga has named British designer Martine Rose as its new creative director, marking a major leadership change at the Kering-owned luxury fashion house.
Kering and Balenciaga announced the appointment on November 6, 2026. Rose will formally take up the Paris-based role on November 16, succeeding Pierpaolo Piccioli, whose departure was announced shortly before her appointment.
Rose is known for her eponymous London-based label and for a design language that blends subcultural references, tailoring and contemporary luxury. She previously worked with Balenciaga during Demna’s tenure, giving her prior familiarity with the house.
A historic appointment
Rose’s appointment makes her the first woman to lead Balenciaga in its 109-year history. Kering described the move as the start of a new chapter in the house’s creative evolution.
“It is a true privilege to be appointed Creative Director of Balenciaga, a House with an extraordinary heritage and a fearless creative spirit,” Rose said in the announcement.
Kering chief executive Luca de Meo said Rose’s connection to a new generation and her understanding of contemporary culture would bring a new dimension to the brand.
What changes at Balenciaga
Rose succeeds Piccioli after his relatively brief tenure as creative director. Her appointment signals a potential shift in Balenciaga’s creative direction, with an emphasis on her distinctive vision of contemporary culture and fashion.
She is expected to present her first collection for the house during Paris Fashion Week in March 2027, although Balenciaga has not formally confirmed the exact date.
Why it matters
Balenciaga is one of Kering’s most prominent luxury brands, and the creative-director appointment arrives as the group seeks to reinvigorate its fashion portfolio. Rose’s return to Balenciaga places a designer with strong independent-label credibility at the helm of a major global luxury house.
For fashion watchers, the appointment also represents a notable moment for representation at the top of a historic European luxury label. Rose will now be responsible for shaping Balenciaga’s collections, campaigns, runway direction and broader creative identity.
When does Martine Rose start?
Martine Rose begins as Balenciaga’s creative director on November 16, 2026. Her first collection is expected to debut during Paris Fashion Week in March 2027.
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