At just 28 years old, design wunderkind Alexander Wang has been tapped to succeed Nicolas Ghesquière as creative director of Balenciaga, who announced his exit last month. This isn’t only a major step for the Taiwanese American talent, who first hit the scene back in 2005, but it’s also an intensively progressive move by the iconic French fashion house.

According to WWD, the surprising appointment suggests that Balenciaga is looking to "dial down the elitist, couture-like approach of Ghesquière, and open up to a broader audience with a designer prized for his sportswear approach and youthful energy." We got a wink of the brand’s new appetite for innovation when they busted out those ridiculously popular sci-fi sweaters from fall 2012.