Olivier Rousteing - Designer, Creative Director of Balmain

[Lola701]

I like Olivier but diversity was a discussion before he came out. Riccardo Tisci had a huge influence in Paris and apart from Gaultier, he was actually the one who championed diversity and inclusivity.
I don't see Balmain having a strong accessories business. They might face the same issue Versace had for years...

What Giuseppe Zanotti did in terms of shoes and the bag Decarnin did were great but Olivier's vision is not as desirable in terms of accessories. In a era where people cares more about the resale value of a bag than the actual design, i don't see Balmain going strong with their very derivative designs.

 

[puresoul]

Olivier Rousteing is his own best advertisement as he poses for and shoots Balmain's Pre-Fall 2021 Collection in Paris, 12/9/20​

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dailymail.co.uk ​

 

[jeanclaude]

So much ego for so little talent!

 

[eugenius]

So much ego for so little talent!

Also, so much ego for such a little brain.

 

[lucy92]

What is the status of his documentary "wonderboy"? it was released in France, but not the US it seems...

 

[Olaffo]

This boy wants to be Karl Lagerfeld sooooo bad, his eyes will pop out of socket for giving that look.

Pretentious little f*ck.

 

[FelipeV]

I wonder who's his sugar daddy, it must be a powerful man in the industry.

 

[Lola701]

Oh those comments! My poor Olivier...
This logo and the campaign are already problematic tho.
I’m really not ready to see people in that all over monogram.

 

[fakeawake]

Olivier makes me think the rumors about the upper level of the Fashion Industry are true. Human Trafficking...

I mean he literally has nothing to offer fashion wise and it's been a decade. He's like Lady Gaga - why are you still here? Who do you know and what are you doing for them that enables you to still be here?

 

[THD96]

Balmain x Pokémon

EXCLUSIVE: Balmain Goes With Pokémon Collaboration
The limited-edition collection includes clothes and accessories.

By MILES SOCHA
AUGUST 31, 2022, 11:24AM

PLAY TIME: Pokémon can now be found on French luxury goods — winking on wallets, waving from jacket pockets and collapsed on T-shirts, the character’s lightning-bolt tail jutting skyward.

Balmain has partnered with the Japanese creator of the kooky creatures on a Trainer Fashion Set that will live in both physical and digital worlds. It includes hoodies, jeans, sneakers and backpacks, too.

“Pokémon’s bright pop aesthetic and captivating creatures have always appealed to me,” Rousteing said. “Today, they make me think of an earlier, simpler time, when we all shared a rosy vision of all the positive changes that we were certain that digital innovations would make possible.

Rousteing reprised some silhouettes first seen on the Balmain runway, spiking them with bright colors, cartoon characters and the house’s signature Labyrinth motif.

The limited-edition collection debuts on Thursday at Harrods in London and the following day at Balmain boutiques in Paris, New York, Las Vegas, Shanghai and Chengdu, plus balmain.com. Prices range from 395 euros to 1,390 euros.

Fans of Pokémon Unite, the team battle game, will no doubt be tickled to download a virtual version of the fashion set for one week’s use free when they log onto the game between Friday and Sept. 30.

In addition, from Saturday, Balmain is offering 15 distinct NFC-enabled badges that will be available for purchase at nine physical Balmain stores in the U.S., Europe and Asia. These badges, created in partnership with tech firm SharpEnd, offer access to digital content and the chance to win prizes, including VIP tickets to the Balmain fashion show and music festival during Paris Fashion Week.

Kenji Okubo, president of The Pokémon Company international, lauded Balmain’s “inspired designs and elevated creativity” and argued that “the key to our success has been our ability to drive innovation.”

Launched in 1996, the Pokémon franchise has spawned video games, an anime television series, books, comics, trading cards and assorted merchandise.

Balmain has also done collaborations with Barbie, Puma, H&M and Beats by Dre.

Source: wwd.com

 

[vetements]

Pokemon is a refreshing character to collaborate vs the done to death disney or marvel or star wards types, but still, the products seen here are rather ugly.

 

[Lax89]

who's the target audience for the collection?

 

[Mutterlein]

Looks like counterfeit Fendi.

 

[Mutterlein]

Olivier makes me think the rumors about the upper level of the Fashion Industry are true. Human Trafficking...

I mean he literally has nothing to offer fashion wise and it's been a decade. He's like Lady Gaga - why are you still here? Who do you know and what are you doing for them that enables you to still be here?

It's no great secret as to why he's still around. His clothes sell.

To who? No idea. But it's a money game. Always was, always will be.

 

[Phuel]

There’s a huge demographic of people that grew up on Pokemon, and now in their 20s/30s who’ve made a successful career on SM. Jake Paul paid nearly 2 million for some Pokemon card, and I’d imagine many rich Asians that still collect Pokemon wouldn’t bat a lash at such waste of money. These are the people with too much money and no discerning taste that’s made Gucci and all these bland street brands with high-end price tags so successful. And they don’t care for thoughtful and creative designs either: Just cut and paste Pokemon avatars with whatever design logo/monogram and they’ll buy.

 

[gallianostan]

Balmain x Pokémon
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Source: wwd.com

i know people say this all the time and, arguably, it's a bit trite now but i think it's never been more apt: fashion is dead.

 

[Benn98]

I find these silly nostalgic cartoon collabs to be one of the things that are wrong with fashion right now.
We're inundated with endless articles and campaigns around sustainability yet every season you'll find these 'drops'.

And anyway isn't it a bit off brand for a luxury fashion brand to do cartoon collabs? Should really be left to Levi's etc it's much more attuned to their base.

Pieces look forgettable. You can tell very little thought went into it. I wouldn't say no to those sneakers though.

 

[andrew]

these luxury fashion+media crosscollabs are so craven in their open bid for commercialist social-media influencer bait.

it's scarce you get something like msgm & dario argento where the guy running the brand is an actual fan of the work and isn't just slapping mascots on purses.

that said if Alexander McQueen wants to drop some Courage The Cowardly Dog merch I might give it a look.

 

[jeanclaude]

Pokemon creatures evolve into something better...I just hope Balmain some day can evolve into something better too...

 

[avonlea002]

I miss Decarnin.