A sudden and shocking turn of events unfolded for the fashion house Balmain, as clothes intended for its imminent Paris Fashion Week show went missing. According to a candid Instagram post by Olivier Rousteing, the creative director of Balmain, a truck carrying the collection was hijacked and stolen, leaving the team scrambling to redo everything ahead of the showcase near the Eiffel Tower on September 27th.
Olivier Rousteing expressed his frustration and disappointment in a message to his 9.8 million Instagram followers, revealing that 50 Balmain pieces were stolen when their delivery was hijacked. “Thank god, the driver is safe,” he added, highlighting the grave nature of the incident. Despite this unfortunate setback, Rousteing confirmed that the show would continue as planned, citing the hard work and dedication of many individuals involved in creating the collection. “So many people worked so hard to make this collection happen. We are redoing everything but this is so so disrespectful,” he lamented.
The Creative director further acknowledged the efforts of the workers, suppliers, and his team, urging everyone to stay safe in these trying times. “So many workers, suppliers, my team and I. Please be safe, this is the world we are living in. Love you my Balmain team and we won’t give up,” he concluded.
Rousteing, who has held the position of creative director at Balmain since 2011, is renowned for his expansive collections and extravagant spectacles, often featuring more than 100 looks per show, resembling music festivals rather than traditional fashion presentations.
However, earlier this year, he opted for a more intimate setting, inviting only 250 guests and showcasing just 52 looks. “I wanted something intimate,” he explained, “To enjoy a moment, after five months’ hard work…We are surrounded by fireworks and all this craziness – social media – but at the end of the day we go back to quality.”
This incident occurs amid a concerning rise in vehicle thefts in France. According to the country’s interior ministry, vehicle thefts surged by 3.5% in the Paris region in 2022, with a staggering 133,800 vehicles stolen throughout the year.
As the Balmain team works tirelessly to recreate the stolen pieces ahead of the Paris Fashion Week show, the fashion world is reminded of the challenges and adversities faced in an already demanding industry. Amid the rise in vehicle thefts in France, this incident underscores the importance of heightened security and vigilance.
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