Alexander Wang leaving Balenciaga

[Littleathquakes]

Def downhill for me.

 

[elle_gb]

I respect his decision even I do not know what is insight, hopefully he will launch his own brand like Valli or something. I mean he is gifted it'd be sad if he just disappears.

 

[gomtik]

I remember thinking a few years ago: I must own something of his Balenciaga before he leaves. Sadly, in this business, it's inevitable. Unless you're Karl. Nicholas is very talented, I am sure he will do well wherever he goes. Will be interesting to see what happens to the house once he's gone.

 

[JessicaKarina]

Such sad sad news I really hope that he'll branch out to do another project and that Balenciaga won't end up like Ungaro has. The only good thing about this is that Kristen Stewart will be gone eventually too

 

[Excentrique]

WTF!????
what´s happening to fashion? why???? maybe for some of u, "this is not a big deal", but I cant even see a good replacement here, Balenciaga is perfect with him!! like some of u said: a sad day in fashion

 

[Lena]

must be the one person around who's glad of Nicolas exit, me and my best buddy Petros from Tokyo YEAH

 

[Petit Lucille]

I'm starting to get out the shock just after considering his performance in the house. Now I think it's the most intreresting things that could ever happen.
I always thought he wasn't very stable as a designer, sometimes he makes it really interesting, sometimes he puzzles you.
Cathy must be joking if she thinks someone is going to fall for the idea of him "not browsing the archives", when most of the hit collections are blatantly based on Balenciaga's original desings. That said, he managed to made those retro futuristic desings relevant in today's standards and that takes serious styling and marketing. So I am curious to see what he would do if he'd opened his own label, and on the other hand what will the new designer at Balenciaga do.
And I'm already with the highest of expectations for the brand's next show. I wonder if they will change the target and try to re-do the brand. Balenciaga under Ghesquière's direction filled a place in fashion that no other brand could mantain, they might lose it.

 

[CholoChic]

The Galliano effect.

 

[Street_a_Licious]

Photos Firstview.com

the middle row is pure gold

everything after that... meh (excluding that ridiculously gorgeous YSL inspired velvet season)

 

[Frida]

This is INSANE, with Mcqueen gone, Galliano off the radar, then Stefano and now Ghesquiere leaving Balenciaga I don't know what to do with fashion anymore. I'm sad, just when he was starting to give us some excitement.

I wonder where is Nathalie Marre and Marie-Amélie Sauvé going? I doubt they will stay there after this.

 

[HelplessnessGray]

Shocked and sad. I adore his collection all the time and hope he can launch his own brand. Heard that he's prolly going to LVMH. Anyway, keep your versatile design, Ghesquiere.

 

[stellarnostalgia]

^ Crossing over to LVMH might just be Nicolas' next move.

In a surprising move reflecting the rivalry between two French luxury titans, PPR announced on Monday the departure of Balenciaga’s star designer, Nicolas Ghesquière.

Citing a “joint decision to end their partnership” François-Henri Pinault, chairman and chief executive of PPR, praised Mr. Ghesquière’s “incomparable creative talent,” which “has brought to Balenciaga an artistic contribution essential to the unique influence of the house.”

Mr. Ghesquière, 41, who was not quoted in the PPR announcement, was traveling in Japan on Monday and could not be reached for comment. He joined Balenciaga when he was 25, was made creative director in 1997 and succeeded in bringing a hip and modern sensibility to the revered but dusty brand. His Balenciaga show for summer 2013 was widely applauded by critics and buyers.

The focus is now both on who will replace Mr. Ghesquière at a house that was extensively developed under his tenure — and on where he is headed.
Mr. Ghesquière has been courted by Bernard Arnault, chairman and chief executive of LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, the archrival of PPR, according to a person in the Paris fashion industry who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the talks were continuing.

The person also said that Mr. Ghesquière had been offered a house under his own name that would be overseen by one of Mr. Arnault’s children: his daughter Delphine, who already works within the company, or his son Antoine, who has recently reintroduced and expanded the shoe brand Berluti.

LVMH’s brands include Christian Dior, Louis Vuitton, TAG Heuer and Veuve Clicquot. It had revenue in 2011 of 23.65 billion euros ($30.24 billion) compared with 12.22 billion euros for PPR.

If Mr. Ghesquière were to strike out on his own, he would certainly need a significant investment, which would be difficult to find in these tight financial times outside of the few luxury conglomerates.

As an alternative, Mr. Ghesquière could be offered another dormant brand with the potential for him to develop. But it is likely that he would see that as a repetition of his situation at Balenciaga: the need to design within parameters set a half-century ago by a famous couturier.

Mr. Arnault did not return calls for comment on Monday. Another person within the LVMH empire, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, described the situation as “delicate.”

Whatever the outcome, the luxury titans’ maneuvering underscores the change in the industry over the last decade as the last of the independent houses has been swallowed up by the large groups. That has lead to a commoditization of top-rank designers, who are now sought after and bought much like international sports stars.

The Cristóbal Balenciaga house, founded in 1937, has become a top player in the fashion industry since PPR acquired it in 2001. It has expanded into many categories, like accessories and fragrances, and now has a global reach, with 62 stores, including 11 in China.

The house of Balenciaga holds a relatively low position at PPR compared with its star brand, Gucci, and to Yves Saint Laurent, which was recently reintroduced with a new designer.

Yet Mr. Ghesquière’s powerful artistic leadership and the appeal of his designs to some of the most important celebrities make it difficult to envision who might succeed him.

By Suzy Menkes nytimes.com

There's also another article, that I can't seem to find anymore, where it mentions that even though his designs have lifted the brand to a more modern direction, apparently, they felt he was already disfiguring the Balenciaga DNA or something to that effect.

 

[Scott]

mullet,for me that would be downhill after the 9th season.

 

[disco54]

I really really loved early 2000s to mid 2000s Balenciaga , Since 2008 I have found his collections to costumey and gimmicky. Regardless, he is still a genius and honestly if Hedi does not work out YSL , I think Nicolas would be perfect at YSL.

 

[VogueDisciple93]

I think it may be some time before they announce Nicolas' replacement, unless it is someone that currently works under him.

I assume the Pre-Fall 2013 collection is well on its way, or even finished, and Fall 2013 is in development. Announcing a new CR now would only give said person(s) about 2 months to design a new collection in time for the shows in February (I doubt a designer would want to "finish up" the collection he may have started working on as their much-watched debut).

So it would be "easier" to let the in-house team finish whatever Nicolas already started. Then announce the new designer(s), giving them time to design a proper Spring 2014 (possibly Resort 2014) collection.

 

[bedtimestorynyc]

i think he has enough of a name to draw a lot of balenciaga clientele should he open his own line...

 

[ckgirlbr]

Fall/Winter 2007 is probably one of my all-time favorite shows.
I certainly did not see this coming, as everyone else. It's quite sad, but I'm looking forward to seeing what's coming next (for him and for Balenciaga).

 

[Gaultier_Bandit]

The owner of Ungaro and Schiaparelli better start courting him. He is a genious, and thats exactly what both of those houses need ! Too bad Balmain wasn't up for grabs.....he could have been genious. Or YSL/Dior! Oh the possibilities!

 

[arlekindearrabal]

I do not see Ghesquiere working for another maison. I'd rather he'd set up his own house.

 

[chinsumo]

Love these

style