Balmain to invite public to concert and runway show

By

Dominique Muret

Published
Jun 5, 2019

Balmain is looking to get next season's Paris Fashion Week Men's moving and shaking. The Parisian luxury fashion house acquired by Qatari investment fund Mayhoola in 2016 has announced a very special runway presentation for its Spring/Summer 2020 menswear collection. The brand will be hosting a show and concert featuring French DJ Gesaffelstein on the 21st June, the night of the city's Fête de la Musique. 

The label will set up a venue in the Jardin des Plantes for the occasion, a temporary space which will be open to the public, reflecting creative director Olivier Rousteing's desire to "democratise and modernise fashion," as explained by the brand in a press release. Furthermore, in the same democratic spirit, Balmain will be offering 1,500 free tickets for the event on its website from midday on 7th June.

Donations from guests and proceeds from the sale of food, drink and other limited-edition products being offered by the brand at the event will go to (RED), the global organisation founded by U2 front man Bono to collect funds for the fight against AIDS.

The runway show's soundtrack will be provided by techno prince Mike Lévy, aka Gesaffelstein, for whom Olivier Rousteing has previously produced concert outfits, along with other artists including Beyoncé and Rihanna. The designer notably dressed the DJ for this year's Coachella. 

The show will be followed by a series of concerts pulled together by the creative director in order to create a veritable "Balmain Festival". Aside from (RED), the event's other partners include Puma, Cyril Lignac, La Perle, Bagnard, Stohrer, Alter Food, Hxouse and Urban Act.