Alexander Wang leaving Balenciaga

[johnnys_girl09]

It looks like it's spelt wrong.

This was my reaction EXACTLY I had to re-spell it in my head to make sure...

 

[VogueDisciple93]

It does I feel like I'm looking at an optical illusion.

Same here! I keep focusing on the "ciaga" for some reason. Strange.

 

[Miss Dalloway]

The new introduced logo does not work for me at all, its so blunt!

 

[eugenius]

If I were to see something w/ the new logo, I'd probably think it's counterfeit.

 

[Chanelcouture09]

balenciaga, alexander wang in contract talks
by miles socha

paris — could balenciaga be facing a change in creative leadership?

Speculation is mounting in paris that the fashion house, controlled by kering, could part ways with alexander wang, hired in december 2012 as the successor to nicolas ghesquière, who exited after a stellar 15-year tenure and subsequently joined louis vuitton.

It is understood wang is still under contract and preparing the next balenciaga collection for paris fashion week, scheduled for sept. 29 to oct. 7.

Spokeswomen for kering and wang would only say there are discussions between the designer and balenciaga regarding the renewal of the contract.

The likelihood of an agreement could not immediately be learned.

As recently as last march, ahead of a fashion show attended by lady gaga, balenciaga touted accelerating double-digit growth, with wang telling wwd: “i feel we’re already a globally recognized house, and a top luxury leader. We’re well on our way.”

wang and balenciaga chief executive isabelle guichot had described a host of development plans for the company, citing men’s wear and knitwear among chief growth opportunities.

At the time, guichot said the double-digit gains last year were fueled by “almost all categories, from retail and a very healthy wholesale business.” balenciaga counts about 500 wholesale doors in the world.

More than half of company revenues now stem from directly owned retail, a threshold reached last year, when it closed out the calendar with about 90 freestanding stores and shop in shops – a quantum leap from the three stores it had seven years ago.

Market sources estimate balenciaga generates revenues north of 350 million euros, or $391.5 million at current exchange rates, and is profitable.

A designer in the edgy fashion mold of ghesquière, but with a streetwise twist, wang is one of the darlings of the american fashion scene with his music-scene buddies, groovy t-shirts, studded handbags and high-impact fashion shows.

Separately, sources said wang has been quietly seeking an investor for his privately held namesake brand, and may feel tugged between responsibilities at both businesses.

In 2017, balenciaga is to celebrate its centenary, an occasion the prado in madrid plans to mark with a major exhibition.

*wwd

 

[squilliam]

So Wang might leave? I don't have much of a problem with that, he's just copying his predecessor most of the time. Although the way these designers for Kering quit or get fired, it gives the impression that this is a terrible company to work for. I wouldn't be surprised if Wang got sick of his boss so quickly.

 

[TREVOFASHIONISTO]

yeah, im getting that Wang himself doesn't want to work there. I mean their profits seem to be doing well in RTW, which is extremely great for a brand that relied heavily on accessories

 

[george5]

Oh no, not the musical chairs game again, please. And if He indeed leaves the house; who will take over it ? I don't see anyone who can do this job right now; I mean, Jarrar and Branquinho could perfectly do this but I doubt They would take it.

 

[Chanelcouture09]

When Nicholas left it was one of the biggest shocks of the decade in Fashion but if Alexander left there wouldn't be any love lost since I don't feel he has really contributed to making this his own - if you look at Hedi at SL he has danced to his own tune at SL, doing a completely different thing to Stefano but Alexander hasn't done that, nothing has changed at all even the accessories division and any new introductions to the accessories have fallen flat and the successes are still off the back of what was achieved under NG, such as the Motorcycle Bag, the Papier Bag, the Motorcycle Jacket etc..

I feel Alexander is putting more weight behind his namesake than Balenciaga, the collections have began to blend into one another, the silhouettes are similar, never derivative from one another - if you reference a NG collection they're each individually iconic and instantly recognisable which I think is something he is having trouble achieving - even his campaigns, you can't put the sole blame on Steven Klein because there has to be a mutual discussion of the direction, I&V, David Sims and Meisel all created campaigns for Balenciaga under NG that were all individual in feeling and I just feel even the campaigns under Alexander are beginning to turn into the same direction as his collections - a blend of each other.

 

[Steddycam91]

Agreed. Who is the clientele for Wang's Balenciaga? Are there really devoted followers and customers for his interpretation of the brand? I don't mean to be rude, I'm genuinely curious. Because no matter what one's personal thoughts on Wang is, it's pretty hard to deny that, bottom line, Wang's "vision" for Balenciaga will always be derivative. I've seen the clothes in the store several times and really, there's nothing remarkable or distinguishable about what he's doing. It would be one thing if he was able to create a new hot accessory but as others have said, they're still largely riding off the coat tails of the Lariat.

 

[perhydrol]

You're right with everything guys, but you know, Kering want money, they don't want any vision if it doesn't sell. They just don't care at all. It's like Wang can "design" basics and everything will be fine, because they still have accessories (designed by Ghesquiere).

 

[boykidlat]

Agreed. Who is the clientele for Wang's Balenciaga? Are there really devoted followers and customers for his interpretation of the brand? I don't mean to be rude, I'm genuinely curious. Because no matter what one's personal thoughts on Wang is, it's pretty hard to deny that, bottom line, Wang's "vision" for Balenciaga will always be derivative. I've seen the clothes in the store several times and really, there's nothing remarkable or distinguishable about what he's doing. It would be one thing if he was able to create a new hot accessory but as others have said, they're still largely riding off the coat tails of the Lariat.

Actually, I enjoy the menswear of Wang's Balenciaga more than the womenswear. I'm guessing because the womenswear is too similar to NG's? Not sure tbqh.

On the other hand, I wouldn't be surprised if Kering drops Wang altogether based on their current track record...

 

[Creative]

^Too similar? How do you even dare?

Jokes aside, I don't know why people keep saying his womenswear looks like NG's. Nicolas is one of the biggest genius in fashion and his shows for Balenciaga are pure treasures, while Wang is... well, the owner of a rtw line with awful reinterpretations of Lang.

 

[t-rex]

Balenciaga needs their own forum for their drama

 

[perhydrol]

Jokes aside, I don't know why people keep saying his womenswear looks like NG's.

Wang's f/w 15.16 was close to NG's f/w 06.07 in a way- they were inspired by the same silhouettes. Alex took some details from ss 09 collection and created his ss 15 with them. Even his first collection was heavily inspired by NG's early works, I mean they both used only black and white. But still it's not like NG and AW are in the same league.

 

[MayaStar]

I would be happy if Wang will leave. Do you remember how excited were shows of Balenciaga during Paris Fashion Week? Always inspiring and LOUD. And now its like ordinary show in the Paris schedule with the famous name and heritage. I dont know... I associate this brand with some revolutional designs and interesting choices and Wang's designs are so boring.

But his brand grew up a lot. Thanks to Balenciaga.

 

[squilliam]

You know how they say Louis Vuitton is the crown jewel of LVMH? I feel like balenciaga is the crown jewel of Kering, at least for now. So there's probably a lot of pressure on Wang and he's getting sick of it. Also it seems like he wants to use his good design ideas for his own brand and not for another, I think he doesn't want to juggle two brands at once and burn out

 

[Steddycam91]

You know how they say Louis Vuitton is the crown jewel of LVMH? I feel like balenciaga is the crown jewel of Kering, at least for now.

Nope, it definitely isn't and it never was. It used to be Gucci but now it's Saint Laurent.

 

[Steddycam91]

^Too similar? How do you even dare?

Jokes aside, I don't know why people keep saying his womenswear looks like NG's.

I sort of agree. It's not necessarily NG that Wang is derivative of at Balenciaga, but it's just high-fashion in general. The silhouettes of F/W 15, for example, were lifted wholesale from Raf's first collections at Dior. That was from almost three years ago. His Balenciaga often just feels like a distilled version of high-fashion trends.

 

[MayaStar]

^ Nope, I believe, they were inspired by Balenciaga archieve.
Raf isnt that innovative in the womenwear.