Olivier Rousteing is a French fashion designer and photographer. He is best known for his work as the creative director of Balmain, a French luxury fashion house.
Rousteing was born in Bordeaux, France in 1985. He grew up in a working-class family and was exposed to fashion from an early age. His mother worked as a seamstress and his father was a tailor, so he was surrounded by fabrics and clothing from the time he was a child.
Rousteing attended the École Supérieure des Arts et Techniques de la Mode (ESMOD) in Paris, where he studied fashion design. After graduating in 2006, he began working for Roberto Cavalli as an intern before eventually becoming the head of menswear design at the Italian fashion house. In 2011, Rousteing was appointed creative director of Balmain, making him one of the youngest designers to ever lead a major French fashion house.
In addition to his work as a designer, Rousteing is also an accomplished photographer. He has shot campaigns for Balmain and other luxury brands such as Nike and H&M. His photography has been featured in publications such as Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, GQ, and Elle. He has also collaborated with celebrities such as Kim Kardashian West and Kendall Jenner on various projects.
Rousteing’s work has earned him numerous awards including the CFDA International Award (2015), GQ Man of The Year (2016), and Fashion Icon Award (2017). He has also been named one of Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in 2018.
Today, Rousteing continues to lead Balmain while also pursuing his passion for photography. His work is celebrated around the world for its boldness and creativity.