Pierre Balmain - Sneak Peek
Photos courtesy of Balmain
Talk about tough-chic: A preview of the Pierre Balmain clothing line
Say “bonjour” to our little friend.
Balmain will release its hotly anticipated “downtown cool” diffusion line, set to be called Pierre Balmain, by the end of the year in 700 stores worldwide. Consider yourself warned, Santa!
Launched in partnership with Ittierre SpA, the lower-priced line for men and women will debut with a Spring/Summer 2012 collection encompassing denim, daywear, tailoring, leather, and eveningwear.
“I am very happy to be partnering with Ittierre on this exciting project,” Balmain chairman and CEO Alain Hivelin says in a press statement. “We see Pierre Balmain as a new and unique brand whose distinctive look and product respond to the needs and desires of today’s marketplace. I have no doubt that Balmain’s creativity and strong heritage, combined with Ittierre’s expertise and considerable resources will ensure that Pierre Balmain will be a great success.”
“Balmain is an undeniable reference in contemporary fashion and the Pierre Balmain collection is an ideal response to the desires of international consumers,” adds Antonio Bianchi, CEO of Ittierre SpA. “As we develop its positioning, Pierre Balmain will become a major part of our business.”
And, dare we hope, our wardrobe?
Priced from €120 (about $173 U.S.) for T-shirts, €250 ($361) for jeans, €350 ($505) for jackets, and €650 ($938) for suits, the rock-chic line is more accessible than the main runway offerings.
Another big difference? New Balmain creative director Olivier Rousteing is not overseeing the design for Pierre Balmain, which has been created by an independent design team from Ittierre.
The diffusion line will also eschew a print ad campaign in favor of digital shorts released online ahead of its presentation during Paris Fashion Week. An e-commerce site and retail stores in Hong Kong, Milan, Rome, and Paris are also in the pipeline for 2012.
Now all we have to do is wait ...
