At its core, fashion is a lens through which designers interpret the world — drawing from cultural roots, craftsmanship, or even family heritage. And in Balenciaga’s latest show, Creative Director Demna made his familial ties unmistakable. The runway unfolded in a shadowy room, anchored by a sleek dining table, with editors, stars like Nicole Kidman and Katy Perry, and top executives from Balenciaga and Kering surrounding it. But for Demna, this wasn’t just any table — it was a symbolic homage to his childhood in Georgia. It was at his grandmother's kitchen table where his obsession with fashion began. As a boy, he would design clothes, cut them from cardboard, and orchestrate makeshift “fashion shows” right on that table. Decades later, this show brought him back to those roots, a full-circle moment honoring his journey and his bold, unapologetic perspective to fashion.

Though he may have sought to reconnect with his inner child, there was nothing innocent about Demna’s Balenciaga Summer 2025 Collection at Paris Fashion Week. Skin-tone bodysuits and pantashoes served as canvases for hyper-detailed trompe-l'œil lingerie, showcasing intricate embroidery, encrustation, and jacquard techniques. Backless silk dresses cinched tightly with corset-like lacing, while “superlow-waist” bootcut jeans, contorted with anatomical precision, stood on their own or merged seamlessly into thigh-high boots with sleek knit interiors. Cropped cocoon jackets combined architectural lightness and neoprene reinforcement, as archetypal pieces were sliced, diced, and reassembled into avant-garde “fashion victim” shapes. Spandex-wrapped bustiers slinked on like bold accessories, while DB Spencer jackets exaggerated shoulders in a nod to Cristóbal’s iconic tailoring. Even the pitch-black scuba satin gown fused Balenciaga’s signature hourglass and semi-fitted looks into one striking hybrid.

The accessories also reflected a sharp edge of innovation: a featherweight bonded leather nano bag that folded effortlessly like origami, while classic silhouettes were reimagined with detachable handles for a fresh twist. Sleek high-top sneakers, blending basketball flair with practical zippers, pushed functionality to the forefront. Eyewear took a daring step with 360-degree wraparound mono-lenses crafted from injection molding, while translucent caps with perforated fronts balanced visibility and style, merging form and function in a way far from childlike.

Photos courtesy of Balenciaga.