Balenciaga names Demna Gvasalia as artistic director

Right after Alexander Wang’s last show as artistic director of Balenciaga, the high fashion house announced the name of his successor: Demna Gvasalia, the Georgian designer who leads the Paris-based creative collective Vetements.

Despite being pretty young – it’s only at its third season – the label has already gained a “so cool right now” status among the fashion system and, especially after being nominated as a finalist for the LVMH prize contest, it definitely emerged as one to watch.

Vetements is known for having forged a pretty classic and democratic style, refreshed by a raw, edgy feeling which helped the brand stand out amongst other Paris fashion brands. Wrapped in a Margiela-oriented sensibility, Vetements proposes oversized, tailored suits in bold colours, flower dresses and a revisited street style approach to fashion.

The news of Gvasalia being named artistic director of Balenciaga has produced a wide range of different reactions, from the enthusiastic fashion revolutionaries claiming he will represent an energising breeze for the label, to the conservatives stating you can’t trust a designer who started his own brand less than two years ago.

Isabelle Guichot though has no doubt this collaboration will be beneficial to Balenciaga. The president and CEO of the fashion house said: “I am very pleased to welcome Demna Gvasalia as the artistic director of Balenciaga’s collections. He has quickly emerged as the best choice for the new artistic direction of the house. With his mastery of techniques, his expertise and fashion knowledge, in conjunction with his innovative and carefully considered approach, Demna Gvasalia adopts a unique vision of the designer’s role today and thus recalls Cristobal Balenciaga’s own vision. I am confident that he will succeed in embracing Balenciaga’s core values and developing them in harmony with today’s global changes.”

Francesca Milano