SAVOIR-FAIRE

On June 26th, 2024, a video in a series detailing the savoir-faire and innovative techniques executed to create Balenciaga’s 53rd Couture Collection is released. These films each focus on singular garments and techniques that exemplify how the House’s legacy of invention inspires today’s Couture by Demna. This video shows a Couture faux fur coat made of a material typically made for wigs in synthetic hair, that is then shaped and hand-dyed by Gary Gill, the renowned hairstylist. The process is entirely original, developed for this garment, and in total took about two and a half months. This involves first coloring the hair to be darker at one end, effecting roots, then hand-embroidering silk organza panels using these treated strands, a step which alone takes 13,220 hours. Next, the panels are partially assembled, then dyed themselves and fortified with Italian cotton percale and canvas. Once the coat is assembled, it is lined in Italian scuba satin. The hair is then trimmed, combed, and layered as if it was on a head, using the tools and methods maintained by a hair stylist.

On June 26th, 2024, Balenciaga premieres a short film in its savoir-faire series that documents the original techniques applied in making its 53rd Couture Collection. The series focuses on innovative approaches to craftsmanship that exemplify how the House’s legacy of invention inspires today’s Couture by Demna. In this video, a garment is painted by hand to evoke the typical full-front artworks of music merch such as metalhead T-shirts and gothic hoodies with screen printed photographic designs. The pieces are crafted in the couture ateliers in cotton terry molleton, cut, sewn, stonewashed, and faded entirely by hand. First, a portrait of Balenciaga models is staged and photographed for the painting’s reference. Then, using a canvas backing to contain the paint, a skilled trompe l’oeil artist paints an intricate rendition in layers, using the shadow and highlight techniques of the masters, adding detail as the work dries. The painting takes about 70 hours to complete. The hoodie is next reinforced with bolivar, canvas, and aluminum, then lined in Italian scuba satin. Its assembly time is in total about 100 hours.

On June 26th, 2024, Balenciaga premieres a new video in its savoir-faire series, which, through atelier footage, details certain innovative approaches to craftsmanship implemented in its 53rd Couture Collection. The series focuses on garments that exemplify how the House’s legacy of invention inspires today’s Couture by Demna. In this short film, exquisite quality synthesized fur is made into a floor-length dress using Couture techniques traditionally reserved for traditional fur patternmaking, part of Balenciaga’s official commitment to not creating fur products since 2020. This embroidered fake mink fur patchwork dress involves 674 strips of fake fur that are cut and assembled in a herringbone pattern form that is then attached to a boned French tulle and grosgrain bustier that separately took 50 hours to construct by hand. The dress is lined in Italian silk satin, also by hand. The embroidery process plus assembly takes 245 hours of handwork.