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Launchmetrics Spotlight; PICTURED: Balmain Pre-Fall 24 Collection; Olivier Rousteing at F/W 23 Show; Balmain S/S 24 Collection
Much like the late Balmain, Rousteing’s challenging journey has led him to create some of the most captivating clothing of our time. Born as an orphan, Rousteing, from a young age, felt compelled to design. He studied at Ecole Supérieure des Arts et Techniques de la Mode before landing roles working under Roberto Cavalli and then Christophe Decarnin. His later role, under Decarnin, led the protégé to eventually become the creative successor of Balmain at the age of 24, making him the youngest Black designer to be appointed to a luxury fashion house. In hindsight, his appointment marked the shift for Balmain and the broader fashion industry. Remember that long before there was any collective reckoning about the lack of diversity within the fashion industry, there was Rousteing.
For so long, positions of power in the high echelons of society and high fashion have been associated with whiteness. Therefore, the mere fact that Rousteing has existed within that space for well over a decade is revolutionary in and of itself. But it’s not just that he’s occupied that space; he’s succeeded in it. By bringing back the brand’s couture, menswear, and leather goods, he’s successfully increased Balmain’s bottom line by millions of dollars. In many ways, Rousteing has managed to bridge the gap between haute couture and current culture, which is no easy feat. In part, how he’s been able to do that is his ability to notice what’s next.
If you pull the receipts, you can see that Rousteing has always been ahead of the curve; reference the brand’s early social media campaigns or even his recent collaboration collection with Beyoncé for her recent album, Renaissance. He’s been out here doing the work, okay! The grind that he’s put in has subsequently allowed a new generation, or what Rousteing refers to as the “Balmain Army,” to see luxury in a new light. No longer is it something out of reach, but it resonates with them; it can also be a part of their lives. That shift is most evident in the popularity of the brand’s handbag collections. For so many, Balmain’s bags are the entry point into a space they may have never felt they belonged. But what exact Balmain bags are beloved by this generation? Keep reading to find out.