Designer to debut in March 2026 as the house enters a new chapter
Key Takeaways:
- The house is positioning for a new phase of growth, refinement, and global relevance.
- Antonin Tron will debut his first collection for Balmain in March 2026.
- The designer leaves his label Atlein to take on the role exclusively.
- His appointment follows Olivier Rousteing’s 14-year tenure.
- Balmain’s leadership transition is part of a wider creative reset across the industry.
Balmain has announced the appointment of Antonin Tron as its new Creative Director, beginning November 2025. The Paris-based designer will present his first collection for the house in March 2026 during Paris Fashion Week, marking the Fall/Winter 2026–27 season.
Tron joins Balmain following a 17-year trajectory through some of fashion’s most influential maisons, including Louis Vuitton, Givenchy, Balenciaga, and most recently, Saint Laurent. A graduate of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp, he launched his own label, Atlein, in 2016, earning swift recognition for his sculptural approach to jersey and an emphasis on sustainable production rooted in French craftsmanship.
Balmain’s leadership described the appointment as a continuation of the house’s foundational ethos—bridging technical mastery with emotional resonance. The house cited Tron’s focus on draping, form, and material expression as aligned with founder Pierre Balmain’s view of dressmaking as “the architecture of movement.”
This leadership shift follows the recent departure of Olivier Rousteing, who led Balmain for over a decade and was instrumental in expanding its global recognition and business scale. Tron’s arrival signals a new phase of creative direction as the house approaches its 80th anniversary and continues to build on its legacy of elegance, structure, and cultural relevance.
Tron will focus exclusively on Balmain going forward, suspending his independent activities at Atlein.