Last Look: Alexander Wang to leave Balenciaga
updated the 6 October 2015 à 22:53
The young designer is set to leave the French couture house. But who’s next in the running to become Balenciaga’s creative director?
After barely 3 years of being at the helm of Balenciaga and taking the reigns from Nicolas Ghesquière, Alexander Wang will apparently not renew his contract as Creative Director at the French couture house. This comes as a surprise, since most have thought that the American designer was doing well at the head of the design front – but we never really know based on what’s before our eyes, now do we?
The A. Wang Style
Wang’s take on the Balenciaga aesthetic was a fresh update from Ghesquière’s 15 year-long leadership. Seasons have come and gone, but his presence at the brand has continuously given a sense of newness to every collection. Injecting his own elevated streetwear aesthetic to the otherwise polished and rigid couture house has proven beneficial to the label. The results are reflected in reported sales figures and increasing revenues in all aspects, whether clothes, accessories, fragance or leather goods (though unfortunately, his statement bags are not near as sell-out material as Ghesquière’s iconic Motorcycle bag).
His decisions in endorsements and new-age marketing tactics have also greatly improved the label’s mass appeal. Collaborations with celebrities don’t go unnoticed as he understands the importance of allowing fashion to work alongside pop culture and mainstream media. He has dressed stars like Felicity Jones, Lady Gaga and Zoe Kravitz for gala events and most recently, featured Sam Smith as the new face of Balenciaga’s latest men’s collection.
Who’s next?
If what they say is indeed true, then the fashion industry will be at a great loss as this perfect designer-and-label pairing parts ways. Who’s next to take over as creative director is still a mystery, but many have speculated that they’re probably be on the lookout for someone more underground and low-key (after seeing Alessandro Michele’s successful introduction to Gucci as Frida Giannini left the brand). Hearing that, we’re all aboard on the decision – who’s to say the up-and-coming talents of today aren’t well-equipped to take over a century-old label?
So as we bid adieu, let’s revisit 25 of Wang’s most ground-breaking looks for Balenciaga since his debut in Fall 2013.
Nur Syazana H.
