Into the mud, into the Balenciaga battlefield. Inside a massive mud pit, Demna put on a show of courage and persistence. Kanye West aka Ye opened the Spring/Summer 2023 show, charging through the muddy water in Balenciaga armour: sneakers, leather pants, a massive padded and pocketed jacket, complete with a hoodie and cap. The set presented a literal representation of what Demna has been thinking about. “The challenge is to get up and keep walking towards your true self after you have been beaten up and knocked down,” he wrote. It was a celebration of finding and owning your identity, the delight in being different.

It was fast, furious, defiant Balenciaga as they strode through the mud in slick-to-the-skin sparkling gowns, thigh high boots, neon cropped puffer jackets, bouncing slinky scarves in fluorescent pink, and oversized denim and corsets met mega sized belts. Makeup created bleeding battle wounds on their faces, silver piercings slashed through their cheeks and lips, and contact lenses were demon yellow and green. New larger-than-life leather Balenciaga bags came attached to sleeves and mesh logo stamped bags were by their sides. Minutt closed the show, walking fiercely in the brilliant punk leather dress made of Le Cagole bags. A Balenciaga feast. “I’ve decided to no longer express my collections and verbalise my designs, but to express a state of mind,” Demna wrote. This state of mind felt self-assured and triumphant, even in the darkest of times. “Fashion in its best case should not need a story to be sold to someone. You either like it or you don’t.” We loved it.

balenciaga.com