PARIS (The Thursday Times) — Kering has named the British designer Martine Rose creative director of Balenciaga, a day after announcing that Pierpaolo Piccioli was leaving the house after just 16 months.
Rose will take up the role on November 16 and will be based in Paris. She worked closely with Demna on Balenciaga’s menswear in his early years at the house and is widely credited with shaping its oversized, distressed men’s silhouettes.
Balenciaga is “a house with an extraordinary heritage and a fearless creative spirit”, Rose said, adding that she was committed to honouring its legacy. Kering chief executive Luca de Meo said her “connection to the new generation and her instinctive understanding of culture bring a new dimension to the house”.
Rose founded her own label in 2007 and has worked with brands including Nike, Supreme and Tommy Hilfiger. In 2023 she became Clarks’ first guest creative director. This year she had to pause her fall 2026 collection while separating her company from its former majority owner.
Piccioli replaced Demna in July 2025 after 25 years at Valentino. Morgan Stanley estimates Balenciaga’s sales at €1.47 billion in 2025, down from €1.65 billion a year earlier.
