Dear Shaded Viewers,
Just returned from the Balenciaga showroom, and I can’t help but feel a wave of emotion. With only the Spring Exactitudes and the final couture collection left before Demna’s departure, it truly feels like the end of an era. After a decade at the helm, his impact on the house—and on fashion as a whole—is undeniable.
There’s a sense of nostalgia and introspection lingering after visiting the showroom but…there is an upcoming exhibition:
It’s a poignant moment to reflect on how much has changed in these ten years, and how much Demna has shaped the world of Balenciaga.
Back in June 2006 I wrote the above post on my blog it was about my first fashion film festival, You Wear it Well, and the end of my post on Demna’s graduation collection and my thoughts for his future….
In his own words:
BALENCIAGA BY DEMNA “EXACTITUDES”
THE SPRING 26 COLLECTION
This collection embodies the multitude of design codes that have been part of my
creative vision and research on fashion at Balenciaga for a decade. It combines pieces
from 35 different collections with new pieces and garments from my personal
wardrobe, representing the volumes, silhouettes, and attitudes that have defined my
vision and my questioning of the contemporary wardrobe, what people actually wear,
how they wear it, and what the fine line is between luxury and fashion.
Working on this collection felt like a homecoming after all these years, a very
formidable experience of love for fashion and dressmaking. My work at Balenciaga
and in general has often circled around the anthropology of fashion and dress codes,
so this is why I decided to create the imagery of this collection with Ari Versluis and
Ellie Uyttenbroek whose “Exactitudes” series have strongly informed my approach to
fashion so far.
It is the end of a wonderful era that I wanted to capture and celebrate by creating the
Balenciaga “archetypes”— the people, the silhouettes, the vibes and the ideas that
have all been fundamental in my work for this amazing house.
Moving on to the next chapter, this is my tribute to the creative research and work
that me and my teams have done for the past 10 years. It is also my love letter to the
most loyal and fashion forward audience that we have built around the house and
connected with in this creative process.
Last but not least, in the days leading up to my last couture show for the house, there
will be Balenciaga by Demna, a resumé exhibition curated by me that will showcase
some of the most important elements that define my creative vision for this house
developed and refined over the last decade.
Thank you and love forever.
Demna
