The Balenciaga Winter 23 campaign’s photographs and videos were shot within 10-12 avenue George V, Balenciaga’s Paris birthplace and its soon-to-be Couture and creative headquarters. This iconic address is where Cristóbal Balenciaga opened the French Couture House in 1937. It was where he lived, worked, and held collections presentations until 1968. Balenciaga revived this address in 2021 when Demna presented his first Couture collection in the newly restored salons. It will be re-established as the Balenciaga headquarters.
In a series of still and moving images by fashion photographer Tyler Mitchell, the historic Balenciaga address is under renovation, being revitalized for a kind of homecoming: the existing Couture salons have expanded double in size, and the Balenciaga Couture and ready-to-wear ateliers, plus new offices have been added to the building’s six levels at 12 avenue George V.
Tyler Mitchell is a photographer and filmmaker based in Brooklyn, New York. His work embraces themes of the past within fictionalized moments of the imagined future.
Diverse Ensemble Takes Center Stage The Winter ’23 Collection by Balenciaga sees actress Isabelle Huppert and models Vittoria Ceretti, Minttu Vesala, Arthur del Beato, Nyawurh Chuol, Yura Nakano, and Mathieu Simoneau interpreting classic poses amid the quirky setting of a construction site. The irony of this backdrop invites each participant to bring their unique brand of improvisation to the scenes.
Deconstruction and Hybridity in Tailoring The collection showcases deconstructed tailoring, giving new life to signature pieces. Track suits, denim and leather jackets, suiting, and jeans are reinvented with inverted or doubled-up designs, reflecting the brand’s ongoing exploration of hybridity.
Reimagining Couture Silhouettes Pleated blouses and skirts, eveningwear lace, bead-embroidered gowns, fitted sweatsuits, and faux-mink coats provide a fresh take on couture silhouettes, with cinched waists and rounded shoulders adding a dash of vintage charm.
Introducing New Lines and Updated Classics The Monaco Bag line, the Anatomic and Biker Boot lines, and the 3XL Sock Shoe debut in the collection, alongside Fennec and Speed eyewear, and the Flex Pump. The collection breathes new life into Balenciaga classics with updated styles, a wider range of material options, and novel intentions. These include Le Cagole Collector, Le Cagole Carry All, and Le Cagole Basket; the floral-printed leather Crush Sling; the fluffy faux fur Everyday Tote; the Bulldozer Boot; the Spandex bow-tied Knife Pump; the embossed leather Duty-Free; the monochrome Triple S; the Superbusy Sling; and wallets that echo Balenciaga bag signatures.
