Photographer Olia Kolendo
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Stéphane Rolland is a renowned French fashion designer celebrated for his expertise in haute couture. He began drawing at the age of 4 and developed a passion for fashion, influenced by masters like Balenciaga and Brancusi.
At just 21, he became the youngest artistic director at Balenciaga, and by 24, he launched his own clothing line and collaborated with Pierre Balmain.
By 30, he earned the title of official couturier for Jean Louis Scherrer, also dressing for cinema. In 2007, he opened his own haute couture house, creating unique pieces sculpted from precious materials, which are worn by celebrities around the world.
The Fall Winter 2026 Haute Couture collection by Stéphane Rolland is inspired by an “argument” between composer Maurice Ravel and dancer Ida Rubinstein. The collection draws from the contrasting imaginations of Ravel, with his mechanical and abstract rhythms, and Rubinstein, who embodied a sensual and spectral Iberian dream. This tension between modernist rigor and dreamlike evocation gives rise to a wardrobe where Spain becomes both mechanical and mythical, oriental and futuristic.
The collection was presented on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées – one of the most beautiful theater halls in Paris. The theater’s eclectic and high-level programming includes opera, concerts, orchestras, and dance.
The musical accompaniment for the show was provided by the Divertimento orchestra conducted by Zahia Ziouani. Zahia Ziouani is a leading female conductor in France, known for her work in popularizing classical music among wide audiences. The orchestra she founded in 1998, Divertimento, is now one of the country’s leading symphonic ensembles, performing regularly at prestigious venues.
