Crafting Legacy: Blended Boundaries, Sharpened Vision
Balmain’s journey for Men’s Fall 2023 can be captured in a single phrase: merging the past with the present to redefine future fashion. As we embarked on this season’s journey, our compass was the rich lineage that has characterized Balmain for decades. Even before the initial sketches made their way onto paper, a quartet of principles anchored our vision, principles which have remained consistent throughout:
1. The Reawakening of Balmain: Balmain’s golden era is back, and it’s here to stay. Each runway we craft strives to weave elements from our expansive and, sometimes, overlooked archives. This Fall, we sought inspiration from the initial men’s collections from Balmain. These collections, originating in the mid-60s, captured the essence of impeccable tailoring with a touch of Saint Germain’s jazzy elegance. Channeling this timeless vibe, Thibaut Grevet, with his unparalleled ability to harmonize music and fashion, was the chosen maestro for this season’s symphony.
2. Adapting Legacy for Today: In the words of Pierre Balmain, “Le style que l’on ressuscite doit être adapté au présent.” With deep respect for our roots, we also understand the necessity to mold Balmain to resonate with contemporary sensibilities. Hence, while we do imbibe the historic synergy of music and fashion, Thibaut Grevet ensures it is not just a nostalgic ode. His inventive techniques, drawing parallels with avant-garde jazz rhythms, introduce dynamic shifts, pauses, and highlights that make luxury truly stand out.
3. Pierre Balmain’s Timeless Graphics Take Center Stage: Though decades old, Monsieur Balmain’s designs continue to captivate. This season, we’ve reimagined a pattern our founder introduced in the early ’80s, inspired by the intricate marble squares of Versailles and the Loire Valley châteaux. This majestic pattern finds its way onto our collection’s standout pieces, making a profound statement in our campaign.
Echoing the sentiments of Ginette Spanier, “If a seam is not quite right, that is a matter of life and death.” Every stitch, every detail matters in the world of Balmain.
For three decades, Ginette Spanier, Balmain’s first Directrice, guaranteed an unmatched dedication to the couture tradition of artisanal savoir-faire, helping ensure the great success of Pierre Balmain’s pivotal post-war collections. I share her obsession with precise, impeccable Parisian tailoring and construction—and, with many of Thibaut’s shots spotlighting the details of our atelier’s skilled work, this campaign helps make very clear how that passion helps to set apart our latest collection.”
Olivier Rousteing, Creative Director
CREDITS
Creative Direction: @olivier_rousteing Photography: @thibautgrevet
Director of Content Creation: @michail_pelet Hair: @evaniefrausto @streetersagency Makeup: @iamjamalscott @artpartner
Set Designer: @philipphaemmerl.
Casting: @bitton @establishmentny
Executive Production: @nowopentv
Models: Leelou Laridan @leelou_laridan,
Xue Huizi @xue.huizi, JeeHoon Bae @jeehoonbae, Ottawa Kwami @ottawakwam