“More than fifty Balmain pieces have been stolen.” With this alarming message, Balmain’s creative director woke up on the morning of Sunday, September 17, just ten days before presenting the spring-summer 2024 collection at Paris Fashion Week, which is held in the capital French from September 25 to October 3. This was explained by designer Olivier Rousteing, 38 years old, in a shocking publication on social networks where he recounted the exact facts of the incident that took place on the road at the weekend.
“Today I arrived at the office at nine in the morning to wait for the last pieces that completed our show, the annual Balmain fashion show that takes place in September. I was starting to create some looks with the team when the driver called us and told us that he had been attacked by a group of people. More than fifty pieces of Balmain stolen”.
The driver was driving from the airport to the firm’s headquarters in the French capital when the thieves intercepted the vehicle and took everything inside. Fortunately, Rousteing has reported that “the driver is safe and sound”.
Traditionally, in the fashion industry there have always been two seasons: Spring/Summer and Autumn/Winter, so the entire creative process of a collection takes approximately six months. Balmain, moreover, is a particularly valuable brand – a jacket can cost more than 4,000 euros –, so the theft means huge financial losses for the French luxury house. “Many people have worked hard to make the collection a reality. It is so unfair”, lamented Olivier Rousteing in the statement.
Despite the dire situation, the team is working against the clock to be able to present the collection at the show on September 27. “We are redoing everything. My team and I have worked hard in this line, but we will work even more, day and night, with all the suppliers, and we will not give up”, promised the creative to all the fans of the firm.
Olivier Rousteing wanted to send a final message in the press release to remind all fans that “nothing should ever be taken for granted” and that they “always stay safe and sound”.
Colleagues from the fashion industry and friends of the designer have expressed their solidarity with him and sent him strength and encouragement at this delicate moment. “I send you all my love. I know that you and your creativity will be able to overcome it!” wrote Donatella Versace, creative director of the homonymous firm. The founder of Jacquemus, Simon Porte Jacquemus, and a friend of the creative has sent him a lot of “strength” through messages on social networks.
A spokesperson for Balmain has backed up Olivier Rousteing’s words and publicly confirmed that preparations for the Paris show are still underway, while refusing to comment on the theft pending further investigation and solve the possible whereabouts of the thieves.
