Before it's obvious. Five culture stories, under five minutes, five days a week. For innovators shaping brand, marketing and strategy.

Friday 6 November 2026 · Ep 243 · Curated by Mike Litman

Kering reportedly taps London designer Martine Rose to lead Balenciaga

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In this episode

1Fashion and Style

Pierpaolo Piccioli leaves Balenciaga after under two years, with Martine Rose reportedly next

Pierpaolo Piccioli is stepping down as creative director of Balenciaga after less than two years in the role. Kering chief executive Luca de Meo announced the departure as part of an ongoing restructuring across the group's portfolio.

Why it mattersMartine Rose, the London-based designer, has reportedly been tapped to take over the Parisian house. If it lands, Balenciaga gets a designer whose reputation was built well outside the big luxury groups.

Via Hypebeast

On our radar beforeBalenciaga has now come up in 9 of our 243 episodes. First: Ep 16, 12 Mar. Latest: Ep 221, 7 Oct. Every episode on Balenciaga.

Four more signals

2Brand and Business

Ralph Lauren's 12th CFDA award lands in the same week as triumphant earnings.

Ralph Lauren has won a CFDA award in every category there is to win. The company also reported that its revenue in Asia rose 28% this quarter.

Why it mattersThe 1.7 million new customers who bought direct this quarter give Ralph Lauren its own relationship with each of them, without a retailer in between.

Via Glossy

On our radar beforeRalph Lauren has now come up in 9 of our 243 episodes. First: Ep 48, 13 Apr. Latest: Ep 179, 22 Aug. Every episode on Ralph Lauren.

3Tech and Digital

Instagram's Edits app arrives on Mac for more involved creator projects.

Meta has released the first version of a desktop Edits video editor for macOS. Brett Westervelt, who leads the app, says 50 million people have adopted Edits in just over a year.

Why it mattersA desktop editor lets Edits users take on bigger projects without leaving Meta's tools for third-party editing software.

Via Daring Fireball

4Design and Architecture

APEI ROTAN olive oil hangs its identity on an ancient silver coin.

APEI ROTAN is a premium olive oil brand created for Konakis Olive Oil in Epirus, Greece. The identity and packaging draw on the region's ancient history, mythology and cultural heritage.

Why it mattersKonakis Olive Oil, a leading Epirus producer, gets a premium label whose coin motif ties every bottle to its region's ancient past.

Via Packaging of the World

5Design and Architecture

London agency INK stages a show celebrating Concorde's art and style.

Why it mattersConcorde retired 23 years ago, so INK's Supersonic show puts the plane's design in front of people who never saw it fly.

Via Wallpaper

What it means

Old icons are doing designers' freshest work

APEI ROTAN built its packaging around a coin from its region's past, and INK put Concorde back in the spotlight. Both reach back to one real object from history to win a second look.

The case against

A show about lost speed is a lament, not a comeback.

Mike's take

Concorde retired 23 years ago and INK still had to give it its own show. Most of us won't get that.

One to watch

APEI ROTAN, Konakis Olive Oil's brand, will win a Pentawards 2027 prize by 31 October 2027.

Earlier editions

Ep 242 · Thu 5 NovPalace opens its London flagship with a shop-only Burberry capsule Ep 241 · Wed 4 NovParamount+ dramas could soon move to HBO Ep 240 · Tue 3 NovAnthropic bars Claude Code from re-creating existing video games Ep 239 · Mon 2 NovAramco just bought a seat at the AI table

All 243 episodes