Balenciaga’s Martine Rose era begins later this month, but those who closely follow behind-the-scenes industry developments will note that the designer actually first worked with the luxury house over a decade ago.
Below, we take a closer look.
Demna brings Martine Rose to Balenciaga as a consultant
When: 2015
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Demna, who’s now at Gucci, was appointed to serve as Artistic Director of Balenciaga collections in October 2015. That same year, Rose was welcomed aboard as a menswear consultant, a role she’s said to have held until 2018.
In a 2018 interview with Hypebae, Rose, who first introduced her eponymous label to the world nearly 20 years ago, said that she and Demna “got on really well” as people. According to Rose, she and Demna had been in contact prior to his Balenciaga appointment, though their first in-person meeting didn’t come until later.
Demna left Balenciaga in 2025. Pierpaolo Piccioli, his successor, announced his exit on Thursday (Nov. 5), just one day before Rose was confirmed to be taking the reins.
Martine Rose named Balenciaga’s new creative director
When: 2026
Friday (Nov. 6), Kering and Balenciaga made it official: Martine Rose, who had been rumored to be joining the house in exactly this role for some time now, would assume her role as Creative Director starting Nov. 16.
“It is a true privilege to be appointed Creative Director of Balenciaga, a house with an extraordinary heritage and a fearless creative spirit,” Rose said in a statement. “Balenciaga has been shaped by remarkable creative talents before me. I am committed to honoring this legacy and look forward to creating the next chapter in this rich and beautiful story.”
What, exactly, Rose has in store remains to be seen, but Balenciaga being placed under her artistic guidance feels like the start of a befitting and inevitable new chapter.
