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After 16 years—14 of which were spent as creative director—Olivier Rousteing is officially departing Balmain . The designer rose to the top position in 2011 at just 24 years old, making him the first Black designer to lead a major French luxury label. “I arrived at 24 with my eyes wide open and the determination to persevere, always,” Rousteing said in a post on Instagram. “Today, I leave the House of Balmain with my eyes still wide open—open to the future and to the beautiful adventures ahead, adventures in which all of you will have a place.”

The designer received the 2025 Couture Council Award for Artistry earlier this fall. Prior to the ceremony, Rousteing reflected on his tenure at the brand, telling ELLE that when he began, he was j

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