Balenciaga SS22 Red Carpet before a Screening of The Simpsons Balenciaga

REPORTAGE
Vésma Kontere McQuillan/ Balenciaga Press Office
October 4, 2021
PROJECT DETAILS
Balenciaga’s Summer 22 presentation consisted of two parts: a photocall on a Hollywood-style red carpet, and a movie premiere. The guests wearing the new collection paused on the walkway before being ushered into a theater screening the short film The Simpsons I Balenciaga.
KEY MESSAGE
A cast consisting of Balenciaga’s friends, models and team members wearing the Summer 22 collection are part of an automatic performance wherein the premiere event becomes the show itself. Red-carpet arrivals are documented, setting up a series of role reversals like in The Simpsons I Balenciaga where the audience becomes the protagonists and vice-versa.
OUTCOME
The Simpsons for Balenciaga is the latest in a progression of activations that push certain boundaries set up between fashion and other forms of entertainment, culture, and technology, shifting the brand away from an easily definable category.
The collection represents the complete Balenciaga palette: a wardrobe of streetwear, daywear, tailoring, elegant eveningwear and proto-couture pieces. Silhouettes vary from ultra-slim to disproportionately oversized.

Responsible Production

A commitment to responsible production continues, represented this season with upcycled denim, leather, fine textiles, and embroidery, as well as material innovation:plant-based leather is made from a mix of fibers derived from cactus and biopolymers. 95.2% of plain and printed fabrics in the collection are certified sustainable.

Accessory Debuts and Updates

The collection includes several accessory debuts and updates. The Space Shoe is a highly innovative single mold alternative to the classic derby, made entirely of EVA material. Loafers made of soft calf become slipper-like, accentuating the notion of comfort in a classic men’s shoe.

Part of an ongoing collaboration with Crocs, Hard Crocs turn the soft clog into a metal-fortified platform with a cyber goth aesthetic. The Defender is a new super-chunky sneaker with extreme tire tread. Trompe l’œil boots mimic a stiletto sandal worn over a sock. The Cagole Boot is a footwear version of the classic studded bag made in arena leather.

The XX Bag

The XX Bag reinterprets the Hourglass silhouette by filling its negative space and creating a new form. The Triplet Bag is an interpretation of a classic chain purse, made with three separate compartments. Looks are completed with new eyewear, accessory, and jewellery styles.

Images: Courtesy of Balenciaga

Collages by Ann Feldmann

The Simpsons Balenciaga watch here: The Simpsons Balenciaga