Excerpt: BALENCIAGA. READY-TO-WEAR FALL 2023 - PARIS FASHION WEEK.

 

"I have been reviewing Balenciaga shows for many years now and I was not surprised at the backlash with creative director Demna Gvasalia's very controversial use of children in his photo shoot prior to the Fall 2023 collection.  I have a brief opinion and summary piece which can be read at this post.  Personally, I do feel that Demna has been pushing the envelope with his antithesis fashion statements towards this conclusive point, and not only has he reached it, he also crossed the line.  What I do not believe, is that it was a conspiracy, sprouted by the muddled minds of right wing extremists.    However, one of the key notes to Demna's controversy, was utilizing the exploits of  YE (formally Kanye West) as a known anti-Semite, who had been building his hate speech for years prior to being cancelled by Kering, the holding company of Balenciaga, in October of this year after he had walked Demna's Spring 2023 Balenciaga show.   It all very much aligns itself as a misguided artistic statement, which has been done many times before.   When shock value is portrayed to be an artist's freedom, when in fact, if crafted with blunt motivation, is indeed a veiled attack on the establishment, in this case the fashion industry under the banner of so called 'freedom of expression'.  More times than not, it is always orchestrated as a deluded manifestation of rebellion, but never-the-less, it can be a damaging consequence for the artist over the long run.  And in this case the irony is that Kering, who owns Balenciaga is very much that multi billion dollar fashion company.   Therefor, to find redemption may not only be illusive but difficult to attain, if in Demna's case he has been, as mentioned, backlashing against an industry that he is very much part of, while at the same time portraying himself as a rebellious fixture in the fashion world.  Sooner or later you'll take it to an extreme with no or very little leeway for excuses, other than crashing from those highs..."

Full review: chiasmusmagazine.blogspot.com/2023/03/balenciaga-ready-to-wear-fall-2023.html

(A.Glass 2023)