Demna’s Final Balenciaga Show in Paris Marks End of an Era

Demna Gvasalia has left his role as creative director of Balenciaga after ten years to take the helm at Gucci. His departure was marked by two symbolic acts: the exhibition 'Balenciaga by Demna' held from June 26 to July 9 at Kering’s Paris headquarters, featuring 101 items from his collections, and the presentation of Haute Couture No. 53 in the historic maison salon. The collection deconstructs Parisian bourgeois archetypes with exaggerated proportions, sculptural cuts, and monumental collars. Highlights include a seamless padded coat, a 29-gram trench coat, and garments that mimic velvet, denim, suede, or leather through sophisticated techniques on alternative materials. Accessories include hand-sculpted shoes, logo-free bags personalized with real names, and recycled fabric floral pins by Maison Lemarié and William Amor. The show closed with a lace-embroidered dress on Eliza Douglas, accompanied by a soundtrack composed by the internal team.