In a complex and devastating twist, fashion tragedy has struck at Balmain.
As posted to Instagram on Saturday night, creative director Olivier Rousteing shared that more than 50 pieces from the French luxury label’s spring ’24 collection — set to debut on the runway on Sept. 27 during Paris Fashion Week — were stolen. According to the designer, thieves hijacked the driver of the vehicle transporting the items, which were en route from an airport to Balmain’s headquarters during model fittings.
“So many people worked so hard to make this collection happened. We are redoing everything but this is so so disrespectful,” Rousteing shared in his caption, noting the importance of personal safety — and his team’s resilience in the face of disaster. “So many workers, suppliers, my team and I. Please be safe, this is the world we are living in. Love you my Balmain team and we won’t give up. Love you OR.”
Needless to say, Rousteing’s following — and the broader fashion community — have certainly shared their solidarity in the hours since. Messages of alliance, sadness and outrage have filled the designer’s comments section, courtesy of friends and supporters; stars including Jodie Turner-Smith, Yaya DaCosta, Nicky Hilton and Camille Razat, designers Simon Porte Jacquemus and Victor Gleamed, stylist Micaela Erlanger, models Linda Evangelista, Elsa Hosk, Abbey Lee and Kiana Alexis, and insiders Karen Wazen, Morgan Stewart and I Deserve Couture’s Hanan Besovic, among others, all shared their feelings, thoughts and opinions online following the incident.
“I’m so sorry to hear that! Sending love and positive energy,” Besovic said, complete with a red heart emoji.
“Outrage!! Bless you and your calm, problem-solving nature,” DaCosta stated. “But this is SO disappointing. May the remakes be even more exquisite.”
Rousteing is one of today’s creative directors that’s merged the roles of both designer and influential industry face, given the start of his Balmain tenure — at just 25 years old — during Instagram’s boom in the early 2010s. Many fondly recall his close-knit friendships and viral behind-the-scenes moments shared online over the years with Bella and Gigi Hadid, Joan Smalls, Jourdan Dunn, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Dove Cameron and the full Kardashian-Jenner family (his established #BalmainArmy hashtag has currently been used on the photo-centric app over 126,500 times). In March, he even launched a couture collection with Beyoncé ahead of her viral Renaissance Tour.
All of this makes Rousteing’s vocalization of his struggles with the aforementioned crime, as well as the strength of his team — and the larger support of the fashion community — not simply a social media rallying cry. Rather, it’s a prime example of how a director can address shocking, horrific and inconvenient moments while continuing to move forward with resilience and an open mind. After all, the show must go on.
This story will be updated as it progresses.
About the Author:
Aaron Royce is the Digital Editor for Footwear News, where he writes stories on trending news, celebrity style, collaborations and in-depth profile interviews. Prior to joining Footwear News, Aaron wrote and interned for publications including PAPER, Grazia and the Daily Front Row. He currently holds a B.S. in mass communications from Virginia Commonwealth University.
