Rumors had been circulating for weeks, and now it’s official: Olivier Rousteing is the new creative director of Rabanne. This marks the beginning of a new chapter for the French fashion house, following the departure of Julien Dossena, who over the past 13 years has been credited with steering the brand into the present, reinterpreting its legacy and bringing some of its signature elements back into the spotlight—from the metal mesh to the glamorous aesthetic that has always distinguished the brand.
Olivier Rousteing will be the one to take up the mantle; in November 2025, he concluded his 14-year tenure at the helm of Balmain. Throughout his career, Olivier Rousteing has established himself as one of the longest-serving and most recognizable creative directors of his generation: when he was appointed to lead Balmain in 2011, he was only 25 years old, becoming the youngest non-founder designer to head a major Parisian fashion house since Yves Saint Laurent at Dior. His arrival coincided with a period of profound transformation for the brand, which, under his leadership, managed to achieve new prominence.
Rousteing recognized the potential of social media and the connection between fashion and celebrity before many others, creating an instantly recognizable aesthetic universe. This gave rise to the so-called “Balmain Army,” a circle of stars and models that included names such as Kim Kardashian, Rihanna, Beyoncé, Gigi Hadid, and many other influential figures on the international scene. Thanks to this strategy, Balmain was able to reach a global audience and become one of the most coveted brands of our time.
Over the years, despite changing trends, Olivier Rousteing has always remained true to his vision—one that echoed that of the fashion house’s founder, Pierre Balmain—creating a very specific aesthetic and appealing to an equally specific audience. Now a new challenge lies ahead for him, and with Rabanne, he returns to lead a historic French fashion house, called upon to write a new chapter in its history.
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