Nicolas Ghesquière
Artistic director of women's collections at Louis Vuitton (since 2013)
Nicolas Ghesquière is a French designer who has been artistic director of women's collections at Louis Vuitton since 2013. He first made his name as creative director of Balenciaga from 1997 to 2012, where he revived the house, and is regarded as one of the most influential womenswear designers of his era.
| Role | Artistic director of women's collections, Louis Vuitton |
|---|---|
| Since | 2013 |
| Previous role | Creative director, Balenciaga (1997 to 2012) |
| Known for | Futuristic silhouettes, Balenciaga revival |
| Born | 1971 |
Who is Nicolas Ghesquière?
Nicolas Ghesquière, born in 1971, is the artistic director of women's collections at Louis Vuitton, a role he has held since 2013. In November 2023 Louis Vuitton extended his contract by five years, and he continues to present the house's women's collections in Paris, including the Autumn/Winter 2026 show at the Louvre in March 2026.
Career
Ghesquière began as an assistant to Jean Paul Gaultier in the early 1990s. He joined Balenciaga and was appointed creative director in 1997, at the age of about 25.
- Early 1990s: assistant to Jean Paul Gaultier.
- 1997 to 2012: creative director, Balenciaga.
- Since 2013: artistic director of women's collections, Louis Vuitton.
- 2014: International Designer of the Year at the British Fashion Awards.
Influence on the fashion business
At Balenciaga, Ghesquière turned a dormant couture name into one of the most influential houses of the 2000s, and his designs were widely referenced across the industry. At Louis Vuitton he has built the women's ready-to-wear into a central part of the brand's image, staging shows in landmark settings and presenting the house's Cruise collections around the world. His long tenure is unusual at a time of frequent creative-director changes and gives the brand an exceptional degree of continuity.
Nicolas Ghesquière and technology
Ghesquière has repeatedly engaged with technology and digital culture. In 2019 he designed character skins for the video game League of Legends, one of the first major collaborations between a luxury house and a global gaming title. His collections often reference science fiction and futurism; for Autumn/Winter 2026, for example, AnOther Magazine reported the use of three-dimensionally printed polymer buttons and resin heels, presented as a 'folklore of the future', against a digitally inspired set.
His Louis Vuitton shows have used locations such as the Louvre, the Fondation Louis Vuitton and historic sites abroad for the house's Cruise collections, including the Palais des Papes in Avignon for Cruise 2026 in May 2025. These staged presentations form a central element of the brand's global communication and of its relationship with customers in key markets.
Why it matters
Ghesquière's career connects two eras of luxury: the creative revival of heritage houses in the late 1990s and the global brand-building of the 2010s and 2020s. His engagement with gaming and new production techniques also makes him a reference point for how luxury houses can experiment with digital culture while protecting their core identity.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Nicolas Ghesquière?
Nicolas Ghesquière is a French fashion designer who has been artistic director of women's collections at Louis Vuitton since 2013. Before that he was creative director of Balenciaga from 1997 to 2012.
Is Nicolas Ghesquière still at Louis Vuitton?
Yes. He presented Louis Vuitton's Autumn/Winter 2026 women's collection at the Louvre in March 2026, and in November 2023 his contract was extended by five years.