Rhude’s Rhuigi Villaseñor Named Creative Director of Bally

Rhuigi Villaseñor has been named the new creative director of Bally, the Swiss luxury brand owned by JAB Holding Company.

Per a press release, this role will see the Rhude founder and CEO presenting his first Bally collection for Spring/Summer 2023. Back in January 2017, Pablo Coppola—the most recent Bally creative director—was announced to be leaving the position after three years.

In a statement shared Tuesday, Villaseñor said he was “proud” to have been named Bally’s new creative director, adding that the brand is one that’s “very dear to my heart” with a generations-spanning impact. Villaseñor also shouted out Bally CEO Nicolas Girotto for his complementary vision.

“I have always admired the Swiss approach to luxury, its discreet representation of excellence, and symbiotic openness and care for the environment,” Villaseñor said. “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.”

Girotto was also effusive in his own comments, praising Villaseñor as a “talented visionary” with the potential to evolve the Bally brand while accelerating growth in a way that keeps the legacy intact.

Rhude, meanwhile, is fresh off being named by Complex as one of the best brands of 2021. In October, the Villaseñor-led brand partnered with Instant Brands for a limited collection of reimagined home goods, including Rhude-interpreted takes on Pyrex and Instant Pot pieces.

Back in July 2020, Villaseñor spoke with Complex’s Aria Hughes about how the (still ongoing) pandemic affected the Rhude process, and much more. Revisit that chat in full here.