Balenciaga by Demna products that redefined luxury

When the mononymous Demna replaced Alexander Wang as creative director at Balenciaga in 2015, the brand underwent drastic transformation. Playing protagonist in the late 2010s’ birth of luxury streetwear, the French house became king of tongue-in-cheek design, introducing Crocs to the runway, jeans to couture, and giant high-fashion, from puffers to dad sneakers. Always underlying his work was a dedication to craft and subversion. As it turns out, they are not mutually exclusive. In 2021, when Balenciaga relaunched its couture line, Demna doubled down on his commitment to craft, while also making couture “accessible.” Before he moves onto Gucci, Demna will be remembered at Balenciaga for redefining what constitutes luxury and making the brand consistently viral in China, and all over the world. Whether through crisp packet handbags or towel dresses, the Georgian designer has triggered introspective fashion consumption, repositioning mundane normality as luxurious, often spurring outrage in the process. Ahead of Demna’s final couture show as Balenciaga’s creative director on July 9, Jing Daily breaks down some of the pivotal pieces that Demna created at Balenciaga over the years. Triple S Demna himself did not invent the clunky dad-shoe. That title most likely goes to the New Balance 990s in the 1980s. He was also not the first to bring sneakers to luxury — even at Balenciaga, Nicolas Ghesquière had introduced the Balenciaga Arena in the early 2010s. However, the over-exaggerated chunk (which at the time seemed crazy, but now seems normal), paired with Balenciaga’s new house codes, created a sneaker that was propelled by hypebeast culture and re-wrote a standard of sneaker luxury. Knife Boot As immortalized by Cardi B, “the boots that look like socks” did something few other brands of the era were able to accomplish — save maybe the fading Valentino Rockstud — and create an it shoe. The sock look was not limited to stilettos, with Demna’s Speed Trainer sneaker offering an even sportier alternative, and influencing a ride range of knock-offs. The Knife boot became a favorite of other celebrities like Kim Kardashian and appealed to fashion-forward early adopters who weren’t afraid to take risks. Puffer Jackets The puffer-mania of the early 2010s was not Demna’s doing himself. But with the launch of his debut collection, it sent a clear message of his vision for Balenciaga. He was not completely throwing away the design legacy of Cristóbal Balenciaga. A range of cocoon-like puffers, calling on Cristóbal’s cocoon designs, was one of the signatures of this evolution. While puffers had been around, mostly in utilitarian use, Demna’s magic was in making a wide range of products acceptable as elevated fashion. Couture Jeans Balenciaga’s re-introduction of couture was a significant moment for the house. For Demna, it marked a reinvigoration of his inspiration and creativity. With his debut collection, he attempted to make couture more “accessible” — not in terms of price, but as an invitation to the modern consumer who might want to wear couture in the form of, say, denim. The launch also gave Demna an opportunity to double down on a repertoire of tailored silhouettes and techniques. Hourglass Bag First introduced for Fall 2019, Balenciaga’s Hourglass bag — in its many iterations — has grown to be a symbol of Demna’s subversive yet cultish approach to luxury. Referencing Cristóbal’s 1950s Basque waistcoats, the handbag’s bold curve gave femininity a brutalist edge. Now synonymous with Kim Kardashian as her go-to handbag, the collectible silhouette is a protagonist in the Demna legacy that will go on to outlive the designer’s tenure at the house. “Pecking Duck” Chips Bag A gem in the meme fashion madness that Demna injected into the house, Balenciaga’s Chips clutch was first teased on Demna’s Instagram in 2022. Crafted in glossy calfskin and mimicking Lay’s packaging, the $1,750 clutch bag has brought with it global debate in and out of fashion circles. From actor Michael Shannen wearing one design that resembled corn chips at the 2024 Met Gala, to a China-exclusive Peking Duck take for the 2025 Beijing flagship opening, it has brought joy to the industry as a product that represents Demna’s tongue-in-cheek approach. Crocs When Demna introduced platform Crocs to the runway in 2017, the comfort-first footwear had a reputation as the least fashionable around. Balenciaga brought ironic style to the forefront, evolving the household name into a bizarre statement: fast forward to today, and the lightweight clogs are frequently reinterpreted on the runway, from Simone Rocha and Sankuanz, to streetwear players like Palace, Beams, and Pleasures.

7 Balenciaga by Demna products that redefined luxury

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7 Balenciaga by Demna products that redefined luxury