PHOTO COURTESY OF BALENCIAGA
Pulling back the curtains on an iconic decade, Balenciaga unveils a new exhibition in Paris. Balenciaga by Demna runs from June 26 to July 9 at Kering’s headquarters in the Laennec landmark. The French fashion house calls it a résumé of the outgoing creative director’s visionary work from 2015 to 2025, culminating with Exactitudes, his final spring-summer 2026 ready-to-wear collection.
Attendees get to explore the design codes, volumes, silhouettes and attitudes that were synonymous with Demna’s monumental tenure. The journey begins with a unique display of Balenciaga runway invitations. Then 101 exhibits curated by the man himself follow, including two on loan from the prestigious Palais Galliera fashion museum.
Demna is not only known for his avant-garde reinterpretations of Cristóbal Balenciaga’s design language. He also masterfully injected deconstructed silhouettes into the maison’s DNA, along with a dose of streetwear and trompe-l’œil techniques across ready-to-wear and couture collections. There is further evidence of this across the exhibition.
In particular, look out for custom mounts and bespoke displays that elevate the viewer’s experience. Immersive audio Demna narrated also accompanies no fewer than 50 exhibition points. These provide a valuable glimpse into the significance and intricacies of the designer’s creative processes.
What’s more, artworks by distinguished artists who participated in the Balenciaga Art in Stores project, blurring the lines between fashion and art, are also on show. If you’re in Paris this week, do drop by Balenciaga by Demna, which is open to the public via online registration.
