After Valentino, the IED Alumnus takes the helm of one of the world’s most iconic Fashion Houses
Pierpaolo Piccioli is the new Creative Director of Balenciaga
Date
20 May 2025
This announcement marks a new chapter in the career of one of the most influential designers of recent decades—an artist who has redefined the codes of haute couture through an ethical, poetic, and profoundly human vision.
“Now more than ever, I believe it’s essential for new generations to reclaim spaces for imagination”.
These were Pierpaolo Piccioli’s words in a 2023 interview featured in the publication celebrating the 50th anniversary of IED Roma.
Piccioli began his journey at the Istituto Europeo di Design, laying the foundation for a path that would lead him to the top of the global fashion industry. After an initial experience at Fendi, he joined Valentino alongside Maria Grazia Chiuri, herself an IED Roma alumna. For eight years, the duo shared creative direction, crafting a visual language that resonated with the contemporary world while remaining faithful to the house’s heritage. In 2016, when Piccioli assumed sole creative leadership, he ushered in a new era marked by a growing emphasis on diversity, inclusion, and the emotional dimension of fashion.
Under his guidance, Valentino transcended the runway to occupy a broader cultural space: through runway shows celebrating non-conforming beauty, manifesto collections, and a refined yet accessible visual language, Piccioli restored meaning to couture as both a political and personal act.
Pierpaolo Piccioli’s appointment at the helm of Balenciaga is not only a source of pride for the entire IED Group, but also tangible proof that creativity and passion—when nurtured by education and research, vision and purpose—can open new paths and unlock extraordinary possibilities for the future. Both within fashion and far beyond it.
*Ph. Portrait by ph. Michael Bailey Gates - Courtesy of Valentino
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