Pierpaolo Piccioli Joins Balenciaga as Creative Director
In a moment destined to redefine the fashion landscape from A/W25, Pierpaolo Piccioli—fashion’s modern romantic—steps into the role of Creative Director at Balenciaga
In a move that sends ripples through the heart of high fashion circles, Pierpaolo Piccioli has been appointed as the new Creative Director of Balenciaga, effective July 10, 2025. Announced in a joint statement by Kering and the storied Parisian maison, the decision marks a triumphant moment for a designer whose work has long embodied epic romance, fierce imagination, and pristine savoir faire.
For over a decade, Piccioli made Valentino synonymous with unbridled femininity, imbuing every silhouette with his signature lyricism and reverence for the finest craftsmanship. Now, at Balenciaga, a house born of structure, of sculpture, and of purity of form, he is poised to inscribe a new chapter in fashion’s evolving narrative—one that builds on the bold modernism that the house has become known for under Demna’s tenure.
“Balenciaga is what it is today thanks to all the people who have paved the way,” Pierpaolo shared in a deeply felt statement. “What I am receiving is a brand full of possibilities that is incredibly fascinating… This gives me the chance to shape a new version of the maison, adding another chapter with a new story.”
Pierpaolo’s appointment signals more than a changing of the guard; it is an important handover of a creative flame in the luxury fashion landscape. His departure from Valentino in March 2024, where he served as Creative Director for 16 years, left a void in the fashion world that many hoped would one day be re-filled.
Now, that hope finds its expression at Balenciaga. “I couldn’t be happier to welcome Pierpaolo to the Group,” said Francesca Bellettini, Kering’s Deputy CEO for Brand Development. “His mastery of haute couture, his creative voice, and his passion for savoir-faire made him the ideal choice for the House.”
Indeed, this new appointment is not only about design but legacy—about a dialogue between eras, between Cristóbal Balenciaga’s architectural rigour and Piccioli’s emotional refinement. Inheriting the baton from Demna, who now takes the reins at Gucci, Piccioli has been entrusted with honouring a lineage while simultaneously sketching its future, with his debut collection to be revealed in October.
Balenciaga’s CEO, Gianfranco Gianangeli, expressed his confidence in the future ahead: “His creative vision will thrive, and he will perfectly interpret the legacy of Cristóbal Balenciaga, building on the House’s bold creativity, rich heritage and strong culture.”
And so begins a luminous new era—where one of fashion’s most sensitive and refined storytellers is ready to reimagine the codes of a house founded on reinvention, and the pursuit of the sublime.
Imagery courtesy of Instagram / @Balenciaga
