The Balmain designer will be honored at FIT’s annual luncheon during New York Fashion Week
Olivier Rousteing, creative director of Balmain, will be honored with the 2025 Couture Council Award for Artistry of Fashion, presented by The Museum at FIT this September. The recognition highlights Rousteing’s creative leadership at the historic Parisian house, where for more than a decade he has blended traditional couture techniques with a forward-looking vision of inclusivity and cultural dialogue.
The award will be presented during the Couture Council’s annual luncheon on Sept. 3 at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center, marking a key moment at the start of New York Fashion Week. Proceeds from the event will benefit The Museum at FIT, which remains the only museum in New York exclusively dedicated to fashion.
Appointed creative director of Balmain in 2011 at just 25 years old, Rousteing became one of the youngest designers to lead a Parisian house since Yves Saint Laurent. Over his tenure, he has evolved the legacy of founder Pierre Balmain, infusing the brand’s couture craftsmanship with a contemporary edge. Under his direction, Balmain has cultivated a broad global audience, in part through the influential “Balmain Army” community.
This year’s award also acknowledges Rousteing’s personal and professional journey—from his beginnings in Bordeaux and early career at Roberto Cavalli to his transformative leadership at Balmain. The designer’s work has been featured in several exhibitions at The Museum at FIT, including Paris, Capital of Fashion and Africa’s Fashion Diaspora, and will appear in the forthcoming Dress, Dreams and Desire show in 2025.
FIT leadership noted Rousteing’s continued resonance with new generations of designers and students, particularly through his emphasis on creative expression and diverse representation. The award places him among a prestigious list of past honorees, including Maria Grazia Chiuri, Thom Browne, Karl Lagerfeld, Gabriela Hearst, and Dries Van Noten.
The 2025 luncheon will be co-chaired by Jane De Florio and Stephanie Loeffler, with Bloomingdale’s serving as presenting sponsor.