3 Reasons Why Marni Found Its Match in Meryll Rogge

Marni has always thrived on beautiful contradictions: intellectual yet instinctive, offbeat but luxurious, feminine without frills. So when Belgian designer Meryll Rogge stepped into the role, the choice felt unexpected—but oddly right. With a surrealist streak and a mind attuned to both cut and concept, Rogge arrives as a designer who understands Marni’s eccentric DNA but isn’t afraid to rewire it.

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Here’s why she’s not just the right choice, but also the interesting one.

She Makes Clothes Women Actually Want to Wear, Because She Wears Them Too

At her namesake label, Rogge built a world of wearable oddities: structured dresses with a wink, upcycled varsity jackets made glam, and surrealist prints grounded in real-life proportions. Her studio is run entirely by women, and their uniform is, well, Rogge. Marni was a brand that was beloved for its intellectual whimsy and everyday extravagance under former creative director Consuelo Castiglioni, so Rogge’s instinct for functionality with flair could be a powerful return to form. 

She Thinks Like a Brand Architect

Beyond her design credentials at Marc Jacobs and Dries Van Noten, Rogge has also built a reputation as a behind-the-scenes brand whisperer. She’s consulted with major groups like Puig and LVMH on creative strategy, and even helped shape Dries Van Noten’s beauty line after her official exit. In an interview, she said, “One of my talents is to combine my vision with someone else’s to create something new and fresh”. At a time when fashion houses need more than seasonal inspiration—they need stories, ecosystems, and transparency—Rogge’s brand fluency may be what helps Marni thrive.

She’s the Woman for the Job for a Brand Founded By a Woman

Among the 17 new creative director appointments across major houses since mid-2024, only four have gone to women. Rogge is now the sole female creative lead within the OTB group, overseeing a brand founded by a woman and historically loved for its feminine, offbeat intelligence. Her work has always reflected an understanding of women’s wardrobes—practical, expressive, and a little bit weird in all the right ways. She knows the difference between designing a look and building a life in clothes.

With a creative voice that’s literate and lived-in, the Belgian designer brings a clarity that doesn’t mute eccentricity, but sharpens it. What comes next may not look like a typical fashion reboot, but that should be expected. Under Meryll Rogge, Marni might not get louder, but it could get weirder. Isn’t that when fashion gets good?

Photos: MERYLL ROGGE (via Instagram)