Rabanne has appointed Olivier Rousteing as its new Creative Director, bringing one of fashion’s most influential designers to the French house as it enters its next creative chapter. Rousteing succeeds Julien Dossena, whose 13-year tenure helped redefine Rabanne for a contemporary audience while preserving the house’s signature spirit of innovation.
The appointment marks Rousteing’s return to a leading creative role after concluding a transformative 14-year run at Balmain, where he became one of the industry’s most recognisable designers. Appointed Creative Director at just 25, he reshaped the Parisian label through his bold creative vision, celebrity relationships and influential digital presence, turning Balmain into a global luxury brand.
Paco Rabanne with Model Isabel Feldel/ Getty Images
Announcing the news, Rousteing described joining Rabanne as “a tremendous honour,” paying tribute to founder Paco Rabanne’s pioneering vision and acknowledging the creative foundation established by Dossena. He said he looks forward to building on the house’s rich heritage while contributing his own perspective to its future.
Founded in 1966 by Paco Rabanne, the maison earned international acclaim for challenging traditional fashion conventions through the use of unconventional materials including metal, plastic and chainmail. Over the decades, the brand has remained synonymous with experimentation, craftsmanship and a forward-looking design philosophy that continues to influence contemporary fashion.
Rousteing’s appointment comes at a pivotal moment for Rabanne. Under parent company Puig, the brand has become one of the group’s strongest global businesses, supported by blockbuster fragrance franchises including 1 Million, Invictus and Fame. The fashion house now enters its next phase with a renewed focus on strengthening the connection between its fashion identity and wider beauty business.
Photo: Instagram/Olivier Rousteing
His debut collection for Rabanne is scheduled to be unveiled during Paris Fashion Week in March 2027, offering the first glimpse of how he intends to reinterpret one of France’s most distinctive fashion.
The move also adds another major development to luxury fashion’s ongoing wave of creative leadership changes. Rousteing brings with him a track record of blending heritage with contemporary culture, cultivating a global audience through both his runway collections and his influential presence beyond fashion.
As Rabanne prepares for its next chapter, attention will now turn to Paris Fashion Week in March 2027, where Rousteing will present his first collection for the house.
