Fashion career profile
Pierpaolo Piccioli
Pierpaolo Piccioli is an Italian fashion designer and graduate of Rome’s Istituto Europeo di Design. He began his career in accessories at Fendi, then joined Valentino in 1999 and developed a creative partnership there with Maria Grazia Chiuri. Valentino appointed the pair co-creative directors in 2008; Piccioli became the house’s sole Creative Director in 2016 and held that role until 2024. Kering appointed him Creative Director of Balenciaga effective July 10, 2025. His first runway collection for the Paris house was presented in October 2025, followed by a couture debut in 2026. The profile preserves the distinction between his shared Valentino tenure and his later sole leadership, then records Balenciaga as a separate current appointment. It does not attribute Kering’s group-level performance to Balenciaga or describe Piccioli as the house founder; its focus is his documented professional work and creative remit.
- Role
- Creative Director, Balenciaga
- Nationality
- Italian
- Age
- 59
- Career appointments
- 5
- Fashion houses
- 3
- Verified awards
- 2
- Pierpaolo Piccioli Wants to Remind You That Balenciaga *Is* CoutureWho What Wear · 2026-10-03
- Paris Fashion Week: Balenciaga’s chic corals, Icicle embraces colourFashionNetwork · 2026-10-02
- Balenciaga SS27 Shows That Couture Can Be Casual TooHypebeast Fashion · 2026-10-01
- Previous leadership: Valentino co-creative director (2008–2016); sole Creative Director (2016–2024)Valentino’s history distinguishes Piccioli’s shared creative leadership from his later sole direction. · Valentino
- Education: Istituto Europeo di Design, RomeIED identifies Piccioli as an alumnus and records his design studies. · IED
- Current role: Creative Director, BalenciagaKering appointed Piccioli effective July 10, 2025. · Kering
- Current scope: Creative leadership of Balenciaga’s fashion houseThe current appointment belongs to Balenciaga and is distinct from Kering group management. · Kering
- 2008 — Appointed Co-Creative Director of ValentinoPiccioli shares the role with Maria Grazia Chiuri.
- 2016 — Becomes sole Creative Director of ValentinoValentino appoints Piccioli to lead the house’s creative direction alone.
- 2024 — Concludes Valentino creative-director tenureAlessandro Michele assumes Valentino’s creative direction in April 2024.
- 2025 — Appointed Creative Director of BalenciagaKering’s appointment is effective July 10, 2025; Piccioli’s first runway collection follows in October.
- 2025–Present — Creative Director — BalenciagaCurrent appointment · Kering
- 2016–2024 — Creative Director — ValentinoHistorical appointment · Valentino
- 2008–2016 — Co-Creative Director — ValentinoHistorical appointment · Valentino
- 1999–2008 — Accessories Designer and Design Lead — ValentinoHistorical appointment · Istituto Europeo di Design
- 1989–1999 — Accessories Designer — FendiHistorical appointment · Istituto Europeo di Design
- 2022 — Pierpaolo Piccioli — Designer of the YearVerified fashion award
- 2020 — Pierpaolo Piccioli — International Women’s Designer of the YearVerified fashion award