Demna Gvasalia - Designer, Creative Director of Balenciaga

[gallianostan]

I have just watched this...and I found it really funny.

he sounds like a moron. i'm so sick to death of all these pseudo-artistic designers who think that designing for commerce is beneath them. they believe everything they do is part of some grand, abstract, or creative goal but, really, it's not. you have a client to serve. you're not an artist. make the damn clothes and stfu!

 

[LadyJunon]

"Trying to avoid the commercial aspect"

Laughs in Balenciaga hoodies and sneakers.

 

[gazebo]

he sounds like a moron. i'm so sick to death of all these pseudo-artistic designers who think that designing for commerce is beneath them. they believe everything they do is part of some grand, abstract, or creative goal but, really, it's not. you have a client to serve. you're not an artist. make the damn clothes and stfu!

I get what you're saying, but I don't agree at all.
You can say the same about "art" - the artist is there to serve the client (to buy the art)/ general public ( to consume the art in whatever way).
Art is so about money.

 

[Caffeine]

I get what you're saying, but I don't agree at all.
You can say the same about "art" - the artist is there to serve the client (to buy the art)/ general public ( to consume the art in whatever way).
Art is so about money.

I'm trying to stay on topic...even if art is about money, Demna probably has ruined Balenciaga's holiday gift sales this year. Imagine yourself in a good relationship w/ friends, family, girlfriend, boyfriend, etc. Knowing what has happened, would you go and buy one of their gifts for your loved ones, or go, this is just too hard...I can just go next door and get something else. Even a true pedophile wouldn't make the purchase, because it's too obvious!

So, Demna has failed as a business person, an artist, a fashion designer, a human being, no matter how we slice and dice it. Given Kering's situation however, I'm not sure what they should do right now except for terminating the entire team. Imagine the March runway show? If you were a magazine editor would you step in the venue with pride or with shame? Would you be a bit concerned about the content shown there? What would you do if some obscene objects are shown?

 

[tricotineacetat]

I believe he had just come out of his MA when the interview was taken, well before Vetements was formed, so I think it's only fair to judge him as that, and not see him as the designer he would one day become. Designers solidify their identity as they receive feedback from the market, which gave him all the confirmation to keep on going with those ugly sneakers and overpriced hoodies. Whether or not I enjoy it is a whole other thing...

 

[Deleted member 7575]

he sounds like a moron. i'm so sick to death of all these pseudo-artistic designers who think that designing for commerce is beneath them. they believe everything they do is part of some grand, abstract, or creative goal but, really, it's not. you have a client to serve. you're not an artist. make the damn clothes and stfu!

AMEN

 

[gazebo]

Maybe old news, I've only seen it yesterday

 

[Deleted member 7575]

Maybe old news, I've only seen it yesterday

It's really not adding up to a pretty picture.

As much as I do believe it's all pretty harmless, I have to admit I'm totally grossed out.

 

[Caffeine]

Maybe old news, I've only seen it yesterday

when was this from?

 

[LadyJunon]

when was this from?

Literally the show from September.

 

[gazebo]

when was this from?

Backstage October 2nd, the show with the teddy-bears.

People were saying it's fake blood on the baby paraphernalia; as much as I live for the sensationalism, I'm now pretty sure it's runway mud.

 

[jeanclaude]

Fashion is caught in the middle of two worlds. It is not art nor business...but both at the same time.
There must be a balance between these two worlds for fashion to work properly.

Too much business, and you end with generic Balenciaga merchandise. Too much creativity, and you end with Iris Van Herpen unwearable plastic dresses.

 

[LadyJunon]

Fashion is caught in the middle of two worlds. It is not art nor business...but both at the same time.
There must be a balance between these two worlds for fashion to work properly.

Too much business, and you end with generic Balenciaga merchandise. Too much creativity, and you end with Iris Van Herpen unwearable plastic dresses.

My issue with Iris isn't the unwearability itself, but it's that it has been the same unwearability for the last 7+ years. Creativity implies evolution, but there's no creative or commercial evolution with her. It's not creative, just unwearable.

That aside, the way Iris van Herpen's business seems to be set up is quite inspiring actually. It's like a small couture house with minimal peripheral ventures in place.

Her business seems to be composed of mostly custom bespoke orders with the exception of the occasional larger productions commissioned for films and plays and the 20 or so pieces for seasonal shows

I'd be happy to have a small operation like that, but with better clothes.

 

[jeanclaude]

My issue with Iris isn't the unwearability itself, but it's that it has been the same unwearability for the last 7+ years. Creativity implies evolution, but there's no creative or commercial evolution with her. It's not creative, just unwearable.

That aside, the way Iris van Herpen's business seems to be set up is quite inspiring actually. It's like a small couture house with minimal peripheral ventures in place.

Her business seems to be composed of mostly custom bespoke orders with the exception of the occasional larger productions commissioned for films and plays and the 20 or so pieces for seasonal shows

I'd be happy to have a small operation like that, but with better clothes.

Yes, she was creative at the beginning. After the first collection she was like "that...again??".

 

[jeanclaude]

 

[avonlea002]

I would rather *********** than hear that woman speak again. What a clown.

 

[LadyJunon]

I would rather *********** than hear that woman speak again. What a clown.

I'd rather deface a Theyskens dress than ever watch this video again.

 

[jeanclaude]

The whole video feels like a cheap parody made by Balenciaga...

 

[THD96]

So, Demna has failed as a business person, an artist, a fashion designer, a human being, no matter how we slice and dice it. Given Kering's situation however, I'm not sure what they should do right now except for terminating the entire team. Imagine the March runway show? If you were a magazine editor would you step in the venue with pride or with shame? Would you be a bit concerned about the content shown there? What would you do if some obscene objects are shown?

Considering the whole scandal was blown out of proportion in the US, it will be interesting to see how many Americans (editors, buyers, celebrities, etc...) show up for their next show.

I'll have no problem attending their show if that was my job as a magazine editor. And I hope that other editors feel the same way. Shaming them for attending the show it's just ridiculous.
Social media may look like a be-all, end-all right now, but the worst thing that can happen to a magazine right now is getting the advertising money pulled out by Kering.

I'm eager to see what will Demna do for his next show in March. If he has learned his lesson and dropped all the BS. That's the only way to clean up his image.

 

[tigerrouge]

"They were only seeding their advertising campaign with ironic nods to child abuse as a way to promote their overpriced merchandise! Where's the harm in that?"

Balenciaga gambled, and they lost.

Anyone in the company who was convinced it was a good idea in the first place is now facing their mirror image online - other sets of people badly out of touch with reality.