Pierpaolo Piccioli is leaving Balenciaga after about a year (and under two years) following his appointment in 2025. The fashion designer’s exit ends a short tenure at the Kering-owned Parisian house.
Across outlets, coverage focuses on timing and the immediate next steps. WWD and Business of Fashion both frame the departure as part of a wider creative shakeup at Balenciaga’s owner, Kering, and WWD specifically says Kering will announce a replacement soon. ELLE also highlights Piccioli’s career context, noting he previously spent 25 years at Valentino before joining Balenciaga.
While the reports broadly agree on his departure and the brevity of his time at the brand, they differ mainly in emphasis—some foreground the corporate/strategic angle tied to Kering, while ELLE leads with the designer’s resume and the transition from Valentino to Balenciaga.
