Fashion One features Balenciaga & Nicolas Ghesquière : the end of an era

The official press release has just arrived : the luxury PPR group has announced the departure of Nicolas Ghesquière, the artistic director of the house of Balenciaga, for 15 years, on November 30th. A new page has turned in the fashion world.

It all started in 1997. Nicolas Ghesquière was appointed artistic director of the famous fashion house which struggled since the death of its founder, Cristobal Balenciaga, to find the road to success. A daunting task for a young designer at the age of 26. From his first collection called `Le Dix' in 1998, press and buyers were surprised, taking note and beginning to follow seriously. Tom Ford was behind the purchase of Balenciaga by the PPR group in 2001 and gave Ghesquière the opportunity to develop a truly new brand identity. Season after season, show after show, the designer places Balenciaga on a precious and elitist niche, while building a modern woman, both a romantic heroin and a science fiction creature. Very couture cuts mix with a rock and roll spirit, the skinny trousers and leggings go well with the biker jackets and the wrapped coats, futuristic dresses with t-shirts and sportswear sweaters. Nothing is left to chance. Ghesquière goes even further, delving into masculine lines, developing accessories and hang bags sold left right and centre, and takes Charlotte Gainsbourg and Kristen Stewart as heroines for his last two perfumes. Today Balenciaga is considered as one of the most renowned Parisian houses and Nicolas Ghesquière as one of the most important designers of the decade. Is he going to join another big name or will he create his own brand? Just as the fashion scene calms, following the appointment of Hedi Slimane at Yves Saint Laurent and Raf Simons at Dior, a new installment full of suspense begins around Ghesquière.