05/20/2025
Haute couture master Pierpaolo Piccioli has been named as the Creative Director of Balenciaga.
Known for his romantic and glamorous silhouettes during his 25 years tenure in Valentino, Piccioli brings with him a mastery of haute couture to Balenciaga.
“Balenciaga is what it is today thanks to all the people who have paved the way. In all its phases, while constantly evolving and changing, it has never lost track of the House’s aesthetic values,” Piccioli stated in the company press notes.
Founded by Spanish designer Cristobal Balenciaga, the maison started in San Sebastián, Basque Autonomous Community. Forced to close during the Spanish Civil War, Balenciaga moved to Paris and opened his couture house in August 1937.
Christian Dior nicknamed Balenciaga as “the master of us all.”
Coco Chanel called him “the only couturier in the truest sense of the word.”
Balenciaga closed the maison in 1968 and died 1972. The house lay dormant until 1986.
Currently owned by Kering, the House of Balenciaga came alive under the creative helm of Michel Goma (1987-1992). He passed to torch to Josephus Thimister (1992-1997) who in turn passed it to Nicholas Ghesquiere (1997-2012).
American designer Alexander Wang was named Creative Director in 2012 after Ghesquire left. In 2015, Georgian designer Demna Gvasalia became the maison’s creative chief.
Demna’s move to Gucci early in 2025, opening the door for Pierpaolo Piccioli