Julien Dossena Departs Rabanne After 13 Years

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Fashion’s wave of creative director reshuffles shows no sign of cresting.

After a decade-plus tenure, Julien Dossena is officially stepping down from the top post at Rabanne. It’s the latest move in the industry’s ongoing game of musical chairs: Just days ago, Adrian Appiolaza exited Moschino, with Sunnei founders Loris Messina and Simone Rizzo set to take over as co-creative directors.

“Julien Dossena has profoundly shaped a new era for Rabanne, bringing renewed energy and modernity to its avant-garde heritage through a singular and globally resonant vision,” Puig’s president of prestige and fashion brands, Ana Trias, said in a statement. “All of us at Rabanne and Puig would like to warmly thank Julien for his exceptional creative direction and for the remarkable chapter he has written in the history of the maison.”

A look from Rabanne’s spring/summer 2024 collection.

Dossena landed at Rabanne in 2013 with a mission to modernize the house’s glitzy Space Age–inspired aesthetic for the modern woman. On the runway, his reimagining of the brand’s signature chain mail, metallic embellishments, and bold graphic prints became highlights of the Paris fashion calendar, while his ability to balance futurism with wearability helped broaden Rabanne’s celebrity appeal. Sabrina Carpenter, Dua Lipa, and Beyoncé all embraced Dossena’s sleek, forward-looking designs onstage and on the red carpet.

In 2023, Dossena shortened the brand’s name from Paco Rabanne to Rabanne, marking a new chapter for the house. He continued to elevate its profile through the successful launch of the Fame fragrance and a high-profile collaboration with H&M.

Sabrina Carpenter in Paco Rabanne at the 2022 Met Gala.

As of now, Puig has not named a successor, but said one “will be announced in due time.”

“I would like to thank the Puig family and group for their trust and for supporting my vision [for] over 13 years,” Dossena noted in a statement. “I’m equally grateful to my teams, ateliers, and collaborators, whose craft and commitment made the work possible. This defining creative chapter at the helm of Rabanne will always have a significant resonance to me, both professionally and personally.”