Balenciaga has named Pierpaolo Piccioli as its new creative director. Piccioli, who previously led Valentino, will oversee women’s wear, men’s wear, accessories, and couture for the brand. The appointment comes after Demna, the mononymic designer who had been with Balenciaga since 2015, announced his departure earlier this year.
Demna had turned Balenciaga into a trendsetter and a lightning rod for social issues. Kering, the group that owns Balenciaga, is facing challenges with a 12 percent fall in revenue and creative changes at three of its brands. The choice of Piccioli, known for his couture rather than elevated streetwear, signals a potential shift in approach for the brand.
Francesca Bellettini, Kering’s deputy chief executive, highlighted Piccioli’s couture experience as particularly important for Balenciaga. Piccioli’s vision is more utopian than dystopian, and he has ambitions to change the very image of the fashion industry. Fashion experts and Balenciaga fans are eagerly waiting to see how Piccioli’s romantic vision will reshape the brand.
Piccioli’s vision for Balenciaga’s future
His tenure at Valentino was marked by a return to elegance and craft, which may indicate a new chapter for Balenciaga’s aesthetic and influence in fashion. The fashion industry acknowledges Cristóbal Balenciaga as a designer like no other, with his technical prowess resulting in flawless designs.
Piccioli will be the fifth designer to take on the role, following Michel Goma, Nicolas Ghesquière, Alexander Wang, and Demna. Piccioli’s work at Valentino showcases his technical skill, elegance, and creativity. He has drawn inspiration from historical influences while maintaining a modern sensibility.
His designs have ranged from striking couture pieces to contemporary ready-to-wear collaborations. Piccioli’s first Instagram post was of Balenciaga’s famous 1967 wedding dress, which he describes as a “masterpiece of the history of fashion.” He believes in the idea that simplicity is complexity resolved, a principle that aligns with Balenciaga’s minimalist approach. As Piccioli takes on this new role, the fashion world eagerly anticipates how he will blend his distinct style with the iconic Balenciaga brand.
His appointment marks an exciting new chapter for both Piccioli and Balenciaga.
