The Fashion Bomb News Breakdown: Balmain Is Considering “See Now, Buy Now,” Balenciaga Announces Men’s Show, and Sean John Makes $400 Million in Annual Sales
While he hasn’t announced anything definitive, Balmain’s Olivier Rouesting is apparently toying with the idea of buying garments straight fro the runway. In a recent panel, the young designer said “I believe in see-now-buy-now — we have to stay connected and go faster.” He went on to say: “But it’s important to keep key pieces that you will sell later and also have pieces that are available immediately after the show. It’s good to have a mix of price points too. And I believe that Instagram and couture can work together – you can invite people to discover how you work. With Instagram I can push and explain the details.” In practicality that sounds like the designer will take a page from Moschino’s book and present a capsule of pieces right after shows at strategic price points with the bigger ticket items available later. (Vogue UK)
Balenciaga is the latest luxury brand to announce a switch up to their runway schedule. Instead of slimming down, the brand is announcing they are adding in a show to the rotation. Having been called out in the past for lack of diversity in runway casting, creative director Demna Gvasalia will present his first men’s range for the brand in during Paris Fashion Week on June 22. The occasion will mark the first men’s runway show for the almost century old label. (Mic)
What both Balenciaga and Olivier Rousteing have in common: they can trace their roots back to Diddy’s Sean John. In a particularly in-depth profile by Washington Post‘s Robin Givhan, the entire influx of street culture into fashion has been laid at the feet of Mr. Combs. From Kanye West’s Yeezy and Rihanna’s Fenty to Demna Gvasalia’s work at both Balenciaga and Vetements, the industry is rife with an aesthetic that was really started by Sean John, a company that’s raking in $400 million in sales annually. What they then called the “urban” market has now been termed “streetwear” and in addition to former Sean John designers Maxwell Osbourne and Dao-Yi Chow now at Public School and DKNY, Combs sees fellow rapper Kanye West as picking up the mantle. “Kanye West is carrying the torch of Sean John,” Combs said. “I’m very proud of him.” (Washington Post)
