Rabanne has announced today that Olivier Rousteing will succeed Julien Dossena, ending months of speculation that followed his departure from Balmain last November. Olivier Rousteing’s first collection for Rabanne will debut during Paris Fashion Week in March 2027.

Few designers have shaped luxury fashion quite like Rousteing. When he became Balmain’s creative director in 2011 at just 25 years old, he inherited a historic French house best known for its couture heritage. Over the next 14 years, he transformed it into one of the industry’s most recognizable brands.

Founded by Paco Rabanne in 1966, the house built its reputation on experimentation rather than convention. Aluminum discs, molded plastics, and chainmail dresses redefined what luxury could look like, making material innovation central to the brand’s identity. Under Julien Dossena, that radical spirit evolved into a contemporary wardrobe that balanced craftsmanship with everyday wearability, helping strengthen Rabanne’s ready-to-wear and accessories business.

Rousteing now inherits a house with a distinct creative identity and a solid commercial foundation. His challenge will be less about reinventing Rabanne than about building on its recent success while bringing his vision to one of fashion’s most recognizable archives.