Streetwear Designer Rhuigi Villaseñor is Bally’s Newly Appointed Creative Director

Streetwear Designer Rhuigi Villaseñor is Bally’s Newly Appointed Creative Director

By

The bold moves comes after the seat has been left vacant for the last 5 years 

Those who have a strong affinity for streetwear fashion better watch out as it is penetrating high fashion in a whole other level with the entrance of a Rhuigi Villaseñor as Bally’s fresh creative director

He is succeeding Pablo Coppola, who was placed in Villaseñor’s current designation in 2014 and shortly left after three years. 

What makes this move so extravagant is the knowledge that the new creative director is in fact a Filipino immigrant who came from the slums of the Philippines and later on transitioned to Southern California with only his older sister and big ambitions in tow. This event is the epitome of what realizing the American dream is. 

Fast forward, we see how Villaseñor’s humble beginnings evolved into a “rags to riches” story. Helming his very own fashion line in 2015, Rhude, and making it the go-to streetwear fashion for big names like NBA superstar Lebron James, superstar artists-slash-rappers Jay-Z and Kendrick Lamar. Cementing his name in the game, Villaseñor has also taken part in several collaborations—such as with luxury carmaker McLaren, footwear retailer Puma and French optical brand Thierry Lasry. Not to mention as well how he is a known regular to showcase his elevated designs in the Paris Fashion Week runway shows. 

Currently, we see how his success continues to boil over with his new appointment in one of the world’s longstanding luxury brands and the tumultuous anticipation over his collection that’s slated to be received publicly in Spring 2023. 

Nicolas Girotto, CEO of Bally, who had an obvious hand in Villaseñor’s position touts the streetwear fashion creator as a “talented visionary”. His hopes hinge on the renowned designer’s abilities to continue upholding the fashion line’s core values whilst evolving its contemporary relevance. He continues to praise Villaseñor as the new Bally creative director, “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.” 

Girotto shares that Bally’s redefined positioning is set on strong foundations that have been continually built for the last three years. The CEO believes that with the entrance of a new champion, Villaseñor, and along with his deep understanding of the brand’s history and distinct appreciation of the Swiss lifestyle, Bally is all set to take off into a brighter prospective. 

And we don’t doubt it for a second. This bold move of placing at the helm foreigners comes as no surprise as many luxury brands have followed suit over the years. Recently, we have Leena Nair as Chanel’s new global CEO to Matthew Williams for Givenchy and from way way back, Virgil Abloh for Louis Vuitton. Perhaps this is the new norm for high fashion houses in order to meet the global demand to reinterpret, restructure and redefine who they are to fit the tastes of a more modern audience.

Featured image courtesy of Los Angeles Times

Order your print copy of this month's MEGA Magazine:
Download this month's MEGA digital copy from:
Subscribe via [email protected]