LOOK: Balenciaga holds fashion show in… mud

The fashion scene never runs out of individuality and creativity.

That’s evident in the recent Paris Fashion Week, where captivating ensembles from various brands were showcased in unique ways. Balenciaga, for one, made headlines on social media as it did away with the pizzazz and opted for a mud pit for its set design at the show. 

American rapper Ye (formerly known as Kanye West) was among those who walked the mud-caked runway, kicking off the show in a cap and coat. 

Several videos and images from the fashion show showed models, including West and Bella Hadid, making their way through the heavy sludge.

Talking about the Summer ’23 line, Demna Gvasalia—the luxury brand’s creative director—said that the muddy set “is a metaphor for digging for truth and being down to earth.” 

“I’ve decided to no longer explain my collections and verbalize my designs, but to express a state of mind,” he said in the show's notes.

“Fashion is a visual art and all we need is for it to be seen through someone’s eyes. Fashion in its best-case scenario should not need a story to be told to someone. You either like it or not,” he continued. 

For the Georgian fashion designer, individualism in the fashion industry “is downgraded to pseudo trends dictated by a post in stories of some celebrity of the moment.”

“Fashion in its best case scenario should not need a story to be sold to someone,” added Demna. “Let us let everyone be anyone.”

Here are the show notes. It’s a full explanation of why this show is what it is. Please if you aren’t into this shit quit crying it don’t pertain to you lmao. pic.twitter.com/ip2QTmwoFT

— Manny Percquiao (@boxlogoboy) October 3, 2022