Martine Rose Named Creative Director of Balenciaga

Martine Rose has been named creative director of Balenciaga, the Paris fashion house owned by Kering, the French luxury group. Kering announced the appointment on 6 November, and Rose takes up the role on 16 November.

The move follows the exit of Pierpaolo Piccioli, who left Balenciaga after less than 18 months in the job. In late October, Puck News reported that Rose had signed a deal to succeed him. At the time, Kering and Rose declined to comment on that report.

Rose is a British-Jamaican designer who runs her own label, which she founded in 2007. In 2021 she sold a majority stake in the business to Tomorrow Ltd. She will be based in Paris for the new job.

Kering's announcement confirms the appointment. Rose has a history with the house already. She worked closely with Demna on Balenciaga menswear during his early years there, so she is not new to the label's workrooms or its men's line.

Her work has also reached beyond fashion clothing. In 2023 she became the first guest creative director of Clarks, the British shoemaker, a role that put her in charge of the brand's design direction for a period.

For Balenciaga, the next step is a change at the top of its design studio. Rose's first days in the role begin on 16 November.