Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité. Those three words say it all: It’s what France stands for. From a political point of view, France somehow has become Europe’s problem child. This is especially a result of the growing power of the right-wing party “Rassemblement National”. Of course, the fashion industry wants to set a statement. Once again, Balenciaga’s creative director Demna Gvasalia shows how it’s done.
Values Matter
Besides Germany, France counts as one of the leading nations of the European Union. Therefore, political happenings automatically affect the overall movement in Europe. As we can see in different countries, more and more people campaign for national pride, refugees and integration. This makes it quite obvious why right-wing parties such as “Rassemblement National” gained in popularity in our society.
Together We Are Strong
In order to counteract against the inhuman development, it becomes more and more important to speak up. Here, the fashion world plays a leading role. It confronts our society with different topics and points of view, which is essential during times like these. Apparently, this is also what the French president Emanuel Macron thought when he invited different fashion designers to join him at the Élysée Palace a few days before Paris Fashion Week. For the first time in history, a French head of state conferred such an honor on the fashion industry. Ultimately, this highlight showed the great impact of the fashion world.
Let’s Change The Game
He just knows how to do it. When Demna Gvasalia showed his fall/winter 18 collection for Balenciaga, he hit the current zeitgeist in a very inspiring way. The venue consisted of a huge catwalk with a graffiti sprayed hill placed in the middle. The signs said messages like “You are the world”, “Power of Dream” and “Think Big”. As you can tell, the world, our dreams and imaginations were the main sources of inspiration for Gvasalia’s designs. Moreover, the designer collaborated with the UN organization “World Food Programme” which tries to stop world hunger. With this cooperation, 10 per cent of Balenciaga’s income goes to the organization.
Innovation Goes Forward
On top, Gvasalia sets another milestone for the fashion industry: The creative director incorporated 3D prints into his latest collection. He scanned the body of all the models and digitalized the data so the designs would fit perfectly. Subsequently, the 3D prints were formed, transformed into foam material and plastered with the different fabrics. So yes, creative heads such as Demna Gvasalia show that change is the only way to move forward. In the long term, this is how our society can evolve in a positive way. Let’s stay tuned. In the end, we are all for a future with lots of „Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité“ vibes!
Background pictures © International Talent Support / O!i aus F
Text by Rossella
Translation by Carmen
Layout by Angela
