A new era begins for the house of&nbsp;Balenciaga, not only aesthetically but also ideologically.

The Italian designer Pierpaolo Piccioli officially takes over as the creative director for Balenciaga from 10th July 2025 onwards.
The designer says, "Balenciaga is what it is today thanks to the journey of all the people who have built it over time. Throughout all its phases of evolution and change, the house has never lost its aesthetic values. What I receive today is a brand full of possibilities, incredibly fascinating. I am deeply grateful to Demna; I have always admired his talent and vision; I could not have imagined a more generous handover of the baton. What he has done gives me the opportunity to add my own version, my story: my chapter in the history of Balenciaga."
He also thanked Fran&ccedil;ois-Henri Pinault, Francesca Bellettini, and Gianfranco Gianangeli for their trust: "From the first meeting, we had a natural connection. I think there's no better starting point for a new project."
Pierpaolo Piccioli was born in Nettuno, on the Roman coast. During his youth, fashion wasn't his immediate focus. His first passion was photography, and it was through the lens that he first approached the world of fashion: discovering editorials from imported magazines he browsed at the international newsstand in Anzio.
After studying at the Istituto Europeo di Design in Rome, he began his career in 1989 alongside Maria Grazia Chiuri, whom he met through a friend. Together, they joined the accessories department at Fendi , beginning a creative collaboration that spanned two decades.

In 1999, Valentino brought them on board to revamp the handbag and eyewear lines. Then, in 2003, they took over the creative direction of Red Valentino and later the entire accessories division. In 2008, with the retirement of Valentino Garavani, Piccioli and Chiuri took over the creative reins of the house. They transformed Valentino into one of the most influential houses of the decade: they revitalised the menswear line, boosted the accessories division, and repositioned the brand with a recognisable language.
In July 2016, Chiuri left for Paris to head Dior, while Piccioli took over the reins alone. Since then, he has consolidated a unique identity for Valentino, transforming romanticism into an ideological statement, celebrating diversity, and experimenting with iconic elements such as Pink PP, which was added to the iconic Valentino Red. However, after more than 25 years at the house, the end of his era at Valentino was announced in 2024.

Pierpaolo Piccioli&rsquo;s appointment at Balenciaga signals a major shift following the tenure of Demna Gvasalia, who has been leading Gucci&rsquo;s creative direction since February 2025. Over his six transformative years at Balenciaga, Demna crafted a bold and disruptive aesthetic, marked by exaggerated silhouettes, provocative irony, and theatrical presentations that framed digital-age luxury through a dystopian lens.
His work went beyond fashion; each collection served as a sharp critique of the industry, pushing the limits of conventional design. In contrast, Piccioli brings a different kind of rebellion &mdash; one rooted in beauty, discipline, and inclusivity.
While Gvasalia revealed the artifice of fashion, Piccioli seeks to transcend it. His creations &mdash; sculptural, vibrant, and emotionally resonant &mdash; reflect a humanist vision of fashion as a tool for social change. These two designers offer divergent yet complementary perspectives within the evolving story of contemporary fashion. Now, the world watches to see: what new direction will Piccioli chart for Balenciaga?

Pierpaolo Piccioli is the new creative director of Balenciaga

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