Photo courtesy Balmain.

Many of the men and women marching down today’s runway are clad in designs
referencing protective armor from all ages—from medieval chainmail and today’s
military khaki to futuristic leathers and nylons that are ready for the endless
nights of a post-apocalyptic showdown. They are set for battle because, as the
collection’s graphics proclaim, “fashion is a revolution, not an evolution.”
Of course, that message stands Pierre Balmain’s familiar formula on its head.
Because we inhabit a greatly changed world, we can no longer rely on small,
cautious steps forward. Our new reality calls for boldness and resistance, and my
generation is proving itself to be a strong force of both opposition and progress.
It embraces the future, demands inclusivity, enjoys pushing buttons and eagerly
breaks down remaining frontiers. That confident and fearless spirit is the essence
of our Balmain Army and it is what my team and I celebrate today.
While Pierre Balmain’s pronouncement may have been updated for our era, our
founder’s legacy remains very much present. The collection’s singular tailoring
and impressive embellishment make clear that Balmain’s ateliers continue to
provide the distinctly high level of craftsmanship for which they have long been
celebrated. The first offerings from Balmain Women Episode Collection—
the new women’s capsule offering that shares today’s runway—incorporate both
the rebellious spirit of the men’s offerings and the mastery and refinement that
one expects from an historic Parisian house. Revolutions can, after all, still have
finesse.