RHUDE's Rhuigi Villaseñor Is Appointed as Bally's Creative Director

Luxury fashion and the streetwear world are becoming increasingly intertwined, and now the Swiss fashion house Bally has announced that it has appointed RHUDE‘s Rhuigi Villaseñor as its Creative Director.

Villaseñor, who founded RHUDE in 2015, started his career in Los Angeles after being inspired by his mother who was a tailor and his father who was an architect. Combined with his upbringing in various continents before coming to the States aged nine, RHUDE is renowned for its nods to subcultures such as racing and vintage Americana, while also calling upon nostalgia from his childhood. It is this that has made Villaseñor one of the pioneers of modern streetwear, an edge Bally sure hopes will be injected into its own lines.

Nicolas Girotto, CEO of Bally, said, “Over the past three years, we have redefined our positioning, successfully consolidating the brand across product offering and customer touchpoints. This strong foundation, rooted in an embrace of our Swiss identity, enables us to progress on our ambitions. In this transformative moment, and having found the right champion in Rhuigi, we are ready to move Bally to the next level. I entrust Rhuigi, a talented visionary, to continue evolving the contemporary relevance of our brand and accelerate growth while preserving Bally’s core values. Having acutely followed Rhuigi’s ascent I am excited by how his natural creativity and energetic spirit have made him one of the industry’s greatest idea generators and community builders. Rhuigi’s deep understanding of Bally’s history coupled with a distinct appreciation of the Swiss lifestyle will be instrumental in ushering the brand into the future.”

Rhuigi Villaseñor added: “I am proud to be appointed as the new Creative Director of Bally. As a brand that is very dear to my heart, Bally has been worn in my family from generation to generation, from my grandfather to myself. The brand’s pioneering legacy across social innovation and 171 years of luxury heritage is a true inspiration, and I am drawn to the company’s paramount commitment to sustainability and craftsmanship. I have always admired the Swiss approach to luxury, its discreet representation of excellence, and symbiotic openness and care for the environment. Nicolas [Girotto] and I connected on our shared vision, and it is with immense honor that I accept this challenge. I look forward to invigorating and modernizing the brand while respecting its longstanding tradition, sharing its story further with a wider community.”

Villaseñor’s first collection for Bally will be for Spring/Summer 2023, while his role consists of overseeing the artistic direction across the brand, situated in both L.A. and Switzerland.

In other news, LVMH has taken a minority stake in Aimé Leon Dore.