Less than a day after Balenciaga announced that designer Pierpaolo Piccioli was leaving his role as creative director, the Kering-owned brand named Martine Rose as his successor, effective immediately.
“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 a press statement. “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.”
Industry insiders have speculated about Rose’s appointment over the past few weeks. Last month, Puck’s Lauren Sherman was the first to report the then-unconfirmed news.
The news marks a bit of a homecoming for the British-Jamaican designer: In 2015, former Balenciaga creative director Demna recruited Rose to help develop the Maison’s menswear line. For the next three years, she played a crucial part in shaping Balenciaga’s design signatures of exaggerated proportions and oversized silhouettes.
“Martine Rose is an extraordinary creative talent with a bold and highly distinctive vision. Her ability to challenge conventions, reinvent silhouettes and bring an unexpected perspective to fashion resonates deeply with the spirit of innovation that defines Balenciaga. We are delighted to welcome her as Creative Director and look forward to this exciting new chapter for the House,” said Gianfranco Gianangeli, president and CEO of Balenciaga.
Rose’s appointment also comes amid an interesting time for the designer’s eponymous label, which she launched in 2007. In March 2026, the label announced it would halt production of its Fall 2026 collection due to operational struggles. “This is incredibly frustrating for myself and my team, especially following the successful sales season we’ve just had. However, these drastic measures are necessary to ensure my brand’s long-term success,” Rose told WWD at the time.
Martine Rose is majority-owned by London-based fashion accelerator Tomorrow Ltd., a company reportedly dealing with its own financial instability. (The distributor also owned a major stake in Coperni, which recently shuttered operations due to its missed payments.) Meanwhile, Martine Rose remains in production, but the health of the brand’s infrastructure remains questionable.
Eponymous brand business struggles aside, Rose’s new stint at Balenciaga allows her the opportunity (and resources) to introduce her unique design perspective to a new audience.
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