Luxury group Kering has announced that Pierpaolo Piccioli will become the new creative director of Balenciaga on July 10. By Leatherbiz.

Mr Piccioli will take up the role of Demna Gvasalia, who will leave Balenciaga in July to become the artistic director of Kering’s biggest brand, Gucci.

In March 2024, Pierpaolo Piccioli left Valentino after 25 years at the label. His departure came a year after Kering had acquired a 30% stake in Valentino, with the option to purchase full ownership of the brand by 2028.

On making this new announcement, Kering described Mr Piccioli as “an accomplished and respected designer, and a master of haute couture”. He will unveil his first collection for Balenciaga in October.

It said it was confident the new creative director would be able to build on the success Demna Gvasalia has achieved in the last 10 years, “in continuity with” the legacy of the brand’s founder, Basque designer Cristóbal Balenciaga.

Deputy chief executive of Kering, Francesca Bellettini, said: “I couldn’t be happier to welcome Pierpaolo to the group. His creative voice and his passion for savoir-faire make him the ideal choice for the house.”