With 2015 coming to an end, it's a good time to take a look back at the fashion designers who everyone was talking about in 2015. Successful collections, resignations, appointments, buzz: here's our review of the designers who hit the headlines in 2015 in the ready-to-wear and couture worlds.
Olivier Rousteing
He was already at the top in 2014, and Balmain's creative director continued his ascent this year, gradually becoming one of the most iconic designers of his generation. He not only updated the image of the Balmain fashion house, he also created publicity for it via his successful collections, collaborations, and his high social media profile. All at the age of just 29. Friends with the most influential celebrities and models in the fashion world (Kendall Jenner, Gigi Hadid and Kim Kardashian, among others), Olivier Rousteing has the knack of surrounding himself with world-famous muses (the Balmain army) and teaming up with major sector operators. His collaboration with H&M was massively successful from the day the collection was launched, on November 5, creating scenes of hysteria as stores opened. The fashion world is talking about this designer's success, and there is no doubt he will be making more headlines in the future.
Raf Simons
A bombshell hit the fashion world on October 22 when Raf Simons announced he was stepping down as creative director of the womenswear collections at Dior. Nobody expected this sudden departure, which he said was based on his desire to concentrate on other interests, particularly his own brand. The designer unveiled his last collection for Dior on October 2, at the Spring-Summer 2016 show. As yet there has been no announcement of who will replace him as the head of Dior's womenswear.
Alber Elbaz
One week after the announcement of Raf Simons' departure from Dior, more shock waves hit the fashion industry. Alber Elbaz bid farewell to Lanvin after 14 years of loyal service. Unlike his Belgian counterpart, the Israeli-American designer did not leave to focus on specific projects, but rather because of persistent disagreements with the brand's owner, Shaw-Lan Wang. This departure quickly fueled rumors that Elbaz could be appointed to head the womenswear collections at Dior. This has not been confirmed by anyone involved, but it could make Alber Elbaz one of the top designers of 2016.