Kering appointed the Georgian-born designer as the new artistic director of Balenciaga.

Gvasalia will be in charge of the brand’s collections and image, while staying at the helm of his own label, VETEMENTS. His first collection for Balenciaga will be showcased in March 2016, during the Paris ready-to-wear season.

“With his mastery of techniques, his expertise and fashion knowledge, in conjunction with his innovative and carefully considered approach, Demna Gvasalia adopts a unique vision of the designer’s role today and thus recalls Cristobal Balenciaga’s own vision,” said Isabelle Guichot, president and CEO of Balenciaga in an official release. In addition, François-Henri Pinault, president and CEO of Kering, added that “Demna Gvasalia embodies a unique approach to the profession, marked by a sociological observation of the wardrobe’s essentials and the way he remains humble and rigorous in his creative work”.

The 34 year-old fashion designer graduated from Antwerp’s reputed Royal Academy of Fine Arts. In 2009, Demna Gvasalia joined Maison Margiela, where he was responsible for the brand’s women’s collections until 2013. He was then appointed senior designer of Louis Vuitton’s women’s ready-to-wear collections, before launching his own brand in 2014.

Picture courtesy of Kering/Balenciaga.