Balenciaga X Demna Gvasalia takes fans by storm (literally) with Ukraine tribute

Fashion house Balenciaga held its Fall Winter 2022-23 "360° Show" at Paris Fashion Week on March 6, 2022. The show was held at the Paris Le Bourget Exhibition Center and showcased support for victims during the ongoing Russia-Ukraine crisis.

Demna Gvasalia, Balenciaga's creative director, showcased the collection in the museum and addressed the ongoing conflict as the models walked inside a giant snow globe beneath an artificial snowstorm.

Stormy Balenciaga Fall Winter 2022 show captivates audience

Fans were awed by Balenciaga's show at Paris Fashion Week and felt it was both spectacular and powerful.

Fans were inspired by the bold steps taken by the fashion house. They were also impressed by the esthetics, theatrical presentation, and auspicious soundtrack of the show.

More about Balenciaga's "360° show" at Paris Fashion Week

The title for the show, "360°," was given to amplify the effect of a giant glass globe inside which the models showed off the Fall-Winter 2022 collection.

Before the show began, Demna recited an emotional poem in the Ukrainian dialect over the speakers. Backstage, he made a statement regarding the purpose of the poem, saying:

Demna welcomed all the guests by placing a T-shirt dyed yellow and blue on every seat. Recollecting a traumatizing incident from his childhood, he explained the significance of the shirt:

Demna and his family, who were originally from Abkhazia, in Georgia, fled their native country after separatists invaded their land and killed almost 5000 ethnic Georgians. The incident transpired when Demna was only ten years old and it left a deep impact on the beloved designer. He also explained his decision to move on with the show and not give in, saying:

Earlier, we saw Balenciaga's invite for the show, which included broken iPhone 6s that led to some confusion among its recipients. Following the show, however, it was obviously themed on the blizzard-inspired presentation.

The show also included bold silhouettes over models, including reimagined variations of leather jackets, pants, bombers, denim, track jackets, and pullovers. Turtlenecks and hoodies were staples in this collection and ranged widely in size, from XXXL to shrunken down. The reworked bodysuits and hybrid stretch dresses were integrated with gloves, trains, leggings, or shoes.

Overall, the show presented authentic imagery from the heart. Demna brought forward his past traumas to provide an important context for the present and highlighted the striking contrast between the fashion world and its surroundings.

About the author

Gargi is a popular culture writer at Sportskeeda, who covers all things fashion and lifestyle. She holds a bachelor's degree in English from Delhi University, and her educational background and love for the written word has guided her 3.5-year journey in content writing and management.

For Gargi, her superpower lies in relentless fact-checking and building on research from credible sources to present her perspective on products and trends. Extensive artist profiling and creating a thesis on products and fashion are her strengths, and while Gargi lets facts do most of the talking, she also leaves room for readers to form their own opinions. Her passion for entertainment and popular culture means that her favorite artist is constantly changing.

Currently, Gargi is invested in BTS’ discography, and admires how the group have paved the way for other aspiring KPOP artists. When not talking and writing about fashion and lifestyle trends, Gargi likes to dance and play Badminton.

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