Olivier Rousteing has left his role as creative director of Balmain after 14 years, the fashion house announced today. This marks the end of one of the longest, most transformative, and widely followed designer tenures in modern fashion.
In a statement, Rousteing said, “I am incredibly proud of everything I have achieved and deeply thankful to my amazing team at Balmain—my chosen family—and to a place that has been my home for the past 14 years. I extend my gratitude to Mr. Rachid Mohamed Rachid and Matteo Sgarbossa for their steadfast belief in me and for giving me this incredible opportunity. As I move forward to the next chapter of my creative life, I will always cherish this precious time.”
Balmain CEO Matteo Sgarbossa added, “I want to thank Olivier for writing such a significant chapter in Balmain’s history. His passion and contributions over the years have left a lasting impact on fashion.”
When Rousteing took over Balmain in April 2011 at age 25, he became the youngest non-founder to lead a major Parisian fashion house since Yves Saint Laurent at Dior. He was also the first Black creative director to oversee all design categories at a historic French brand. In his first full year, Balmain’s revenue was €30.4 million with a profit of €3.1 million; by last year, revenue had grown to an estimated €300 million.
Despite this tenfold financial growth under his leadership, Balmain’s new management is focused on pursuing fresh creative directions to fuel further expansion. The key question now is whether they will appoint an established designer to replace Rousteing or take a risk by choosing someone as unproven as he was when he started.
At the time of his appointment, Rousteing was little-known even within the industry. He had been working in the Balmain studio under his predecessor, Christophe Decarnin, since 2009. His promotion was supported by then-owner Alain Hivelin, who had saved the house from near-bankruptcy. When Decarnin left unexpectedly, Hivelin took a chance on Rousteing. After Hivelin’s death in 2014, Rousteing expressed, “I will always be grateful to Alain for his vision, support, and friendship.”
Though nervous about his Spring/Summer 2012 debut, Rousteing grew in confidence over time. From the beginning, he saw himself as both a guardian of Pierre Balmain’s legacy and a challenger to fashion’s traditional norms. Alongside his bold, embellished, and often controversial collections, he built the “Balmain Army”—a diverse, social media-driven community focused on visibility and direct engagement with the public. He recalled, “When I began featuring diverse models and playing hip-hop music, some questioned my choices. Then Rihanna came backstage and told me, ‘You’re changing the rules of this fashion world.'”
Rousteing was known for dropping famous names. His friendships with celebrities like Kim Kardashian, Gigi Hadid, and Rihanna brought Balmain into the pop culture spotlight. He described his first meeting with Kim at the 2013 Met Gala as “surprising, electric, and full of love.” He designed a pearl-covered dress for her bachelorette party, among other pieces. These relationships helped transform Balmain from an insider Paris label into a globally recognized symbol of bold, contemporary glamour. In 2015, when H&M released a collaboration based on Rousteing’s first eight seasons, over 500 people camped outside the London Regent Street flagship store in November to get their hands on the collection.The collection was on sale and sold out in Paris within three hours, making the hashtag #Balmainia seem entirely fitting.
In 2016, revenues reached around €120 million, and that same year, Qatar-based Mayhoola acquired Balmain for €500 million. After the purchase, creative director Olivier Rousteing focused on expanding the brand’s reach and promoting Paris fashion as a whole. He launched large-scale festival-style shows, like the 2019 men’s presentation during Paris’s Fête de la Musique, which attracted over 2,000 guests to the Jardin des Plantes. Making fashion accessible to the public became central to Balmain’s identity. “We believe in a more inclusive, joyful future for fashion,” Rousteing said at the time. The Balmain Festival events combined live music with runway shows—some editors complained, but audiences loved it.
Mayhoola CEO and Balmain chairman Rachid Mohamed Rachid praised Rousteing, saying, “Olivier’s visionary leadership has redefined fashion, inspiring a generation with bold creativity, authenticity, and a commitment to inclusivity. We are proud of all he has achieved and look forward to his next chapter.”
For much of his time at Balmain, Rousteing was supported by Txampi Diz, who started as an external publicist and later became the house’s chief marketing officer. Under Rousteing, Balmain also served as a training ground for emerging designers, including Ludovic de Saint Sernin, who later founded his own label.
Rousteing often drew inspiration from founder Pierre Balmain, citing his post-war courage and precision as the brand’s foundation. He used the 1950s archives to reestablish Balmain’s identity after years of declining relevance. “My strength has been building Balmain’s pop-culture presence while also making it a heritage house,” he said. He also admired Karl Lagerfeld, who once considered Rousteing as a potential successor at Chanel.
In 2019, Rousteing—who was adopted and raised by white French parents in Bordeaux—shared another part of his life in the documentary Wonder Boy, which followed his search for his birth parents. Two years later, he suffered severe burns in a domestic accident. These personal experiences later influenced his Balmain collections. He also served as guest couturier for Jean Paul Gaultier’s Fall/Winter 2022 haute couture collection.
After the sale to Mayhoola, Rousteing worked under CEOs Massimo Piombini (2017–2019) and Jean-Jacques Guével (through 2024). In 2024, Guével was succeeded by Matteo Sgarbossa, formerly of Mango, Gucci, and Givenchy. During his 14-year tenure, Rousteing diversified the brand significantly—reintroducing couture in 2019 as a guest designer, launching beauty and fragrance with Estée Lauder in 2023, and expanding accessories into a major business line. In 2025, Balmain’s 80th anniversary, Rousteing and Sgarbossa worked to consolidate these achievements and prepare the brand for its next phase under a new creative director.
After his final show on October 1, 2025, held in the Intercontinental Hotel ballroom—the same venue as his first Balmain show—Rousteing reflected on his journey. “I was so scared and so shy,” he said of his 2011 debut. He also hinted that he hoped to stay with the house, noting, “This season everybody’s talking about a new era and…”New beginnings are possible, and I believe you can create your own new era and fresh start by staying true to yourself in your current environment and pushing your limits.
Today’s announcement suggests that Rousteing, who turned 40 in September, is now seeking to establish that “new era” away from Balmain.
Also by this author:
– Paul Smith and Mini Venture into Uncharted Design Territory
– Maria Grazia Chiuri Makes a Comeback to Fendi as Chief Creative Officer
– ‘An Antidote to Nostalgia’: Initial Impressions of Duran Lantink’s Jean Paul Gaultier Collection
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about Olivier Rousteing potentially leaving Balmain designed with clear questions and direct answers
General Confirmation FAQs
Q Is it true that Olivier Rousteing is leaving Balmain
A As of the latest official statements no This is a recurring rumor but there has been no official confirmation from Rousteing or the Balmain fashion house
Q Who is Olivier Rousteing
A He is the Creative Director of the French luxury fashion house Balmain He took over the role in 2011 and is known for revitalizing the brand with a modern glamorous and celebrityfriendly aesthetic
Q Why is this rumor coming up again
A Fashion rumors often circulate when a designer has been with a house for a long time or around the time their contract might be up for renewal Speculation is fueled by industry insiders and fashion media
Impact What If Scenarios
Q What has Olivier Rousteing done for Balmain
A He is credited with dramatically increasing Balmains global profile and sales He embraced social media early created viral collections and dressed a huge roster of Alist celebrities making the brand a pop culture phenomenon
Q If he left what would happen to Balmains style
A The brands identity would likely shift A new creative director would bring their own vision which could mean a significant change in the aesthetic from the silhouettes and fabrics to the overall brand messaging
Q Who might replace him if he does leave
A This is pure speculation It could be a prominent established designer a rising star from another house or even someone from within Balmains own design team The fashion industry would be watching closely
Q Would this be a good or bad thing for Balmain
A It could be seen either way Some might argue its time for a fresh perspective after a long and successful era Others would see it as a massive loss as Rousteings identity is so deeply intertwined with the modern Balmain brand
Deeper Industry Questions
Q How long do fashion designers typically stay at a major house
A It varies greatly Some have tenures of decades like Karl