Man’s ensemble of brown suede zip front motorcycle jacket, matching slim pants and brown and wh…

Olivier Rousteing

French, born 1985

BiographyOlivier Rousteing was born in Bordeaux, France in 1985 and adopted as an infant. His biological parents were of Somali and Ethiopian origin and his design work often centered around heritage, belonging, and resilience. He moved to Paris to study at ESMOD (Ecole Supérieure des Arts et Techniques de la Mode) but dropped out after a year. Rousteing worked at Roberto Cavalli for five years before moving to Balmain in 2009.

In 2011, at the age of 25, Olivier Rousteing was selected to head Balmain's design team, becoming one of the youngest talents named to lead a historic Parisian fashion house. Rousteing carefully built upon the legacy of the house's founder, Pierre Balmain, who famously introduced a fresh, feminine, and surprising "New French Style" to post-war couture.

Beginning with inspirations pulled directly from the house's rich archives, and fully utilizing the Balmain atelier's impressive mastery of intricate traditional couture techniques, Rousteing was able to skillfully develop his own distinctive style. Rousteing revitalized Balmain, harnessing social media and celebrity — both his own and that of the “Balmain Army” — to expand the brand’s influence in popular culture. His collections were generally marked by body conscious silhouettes and bold patterns.

“Don’t give up. Whatever the industry, always fight for success and stick to your values. There are a lot of obstacles, but resilience will help you reach your goal,” Olivier Rousteing told a crowd at Lincoln Center as he accepted The Museum at FIT’s 2025 Couture Council Award for Artistry of Fashion. Rousteing stepped down as creative director of Balmain in November 2025.

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