EXCERPT: BALENCIAGA. SPRING 2025 - SHANGHAI

 

"Demna Gvasalia's surreality that is the brand name of Balenciaga attempts to stay on track for 2024.  Although not the first time, there appears to be a fumbled seriousness that has presided over the Georgian designer's latest collection.  And it may have to do with Balenciaga's corporate owner, Kering.  For the First quarter of 2024, Chinese consumption on Kering luxury products plunged, more so Gucci which carries the expectation to bring in the mega profits for Kering.  Clearly the Chinese are tightening up their spending, Gucci sales collapsed 20% this time last year, and Kering's share price has fallen over 27%  year-on-year.  With the whole Luxury sector facing deflated prices from a Chinese slowdown.  It was no wonder that Balenciaga for Spring 2025, held the collection in Shanghai.

And under these conditions, does Demna offer any compromise to his anti fashion ethos?  Which if you have been reading my reviews of Balenciaga collections, since Demna took the reins from Alexander Wang in 2015, you would have noted his plethora of contradictions and over emphases of reselling backlash, which has been the Demna forte.  With very little irony attached.  So, in its reiteration, there is no surprise that he has attached Balenciaga to the more commercial and viable elements of Chinese consumption.  Demna's Balenciaga is now collaborating with the U.S sports brand Under Armor, which has enjoyed rising sales within China as an affordable American streetwear styles for the Chinese youth, and Alipay, the Chinese mobile payment system.  With a Alipay x Balenciaga t-shirt setting a Shanghai resident back $600 USD.  Never mine our new Cold War surrealism, and those Taiwan tensions.  And yes, ironically Under Armor is also manufactured in Taiwan for the Asian/Chinese markets.  Can international markets save us from a Full blow war in the South China Sea? And will we see Peace through trade agreements?  In all of is sardonic absurdity.  Here's hoping..."

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Full review:  chiasmusmagazine.blogspot.com/2024/06/balenciaga-spring-2025-shanghai.html

(A.Glass 2024)

Spring 2025 Ready-to-Wear review soon