Demna was born in Sukhumi, Georgia (the former Soviet Union), in 1981, to a Georgian father and a Russian mother. His family fled the civil war there in 1993 to Tbilisi. In 2001, he graduated from Tbilisi State University with a degree in International Economics and that same year, immigrated to Düsseldorf, Germany, with his parents. After nurturing a fervent interest in dressmaking for years, he finally pursued his lifelong dream by enrolling in the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp, where he won the ITS Collection of the Year award in 2004, and graduated in 2006 with a Master’s Degree in Fashion Design.

In 2014, after working at various Parisian fashion houses, Demna launched his own label, VETEMENTS, driven by a desire to refocus fashion on its essence: the clothes.

In October 2015, Demna was appointed Artistic Director of Balenciaga where he brought his garment-focused philosophy to the House while revitalizing the legacy of Cristóbal Balenciaga. In 2021, Balenciaga launched its first Couture collection since 1968, when the House’s founder, Cristóbal Balenciaga, closed his ateliers. 

Throughout the years, Demna has redefined modern luxury, earning global recognition and cementing his influence on the industry.

In 2025, Demna was appointed Artistic Director of Gucci, to lead the House towards renewed fashion authority and enduring cultural relevance.