Balenciaga Uses Experimental Designs of the Digital Age For Cruise 2025 Collection
Borrowing inspiration from the luminescent, dynamic skyline of Shanghai, Balenciaga presented a collection built off of design philosophies from the past, present, and future for its Cruise 2025 line.
In Shanghai, one of the foremost fashion capitals of the region, Balenciaga tapped the vibrancy, youth, and avant-garde designs that characterize the city, resulting in a collection of experimental styles that allow new-age digital designs to intermingle with vintage-inspired silhouettes in a captivating conversation concerning the true nature of the luxury house's exploratory nature.
Against a stunning backdrop of glittering florescent industrial towers—mimicking the twinkling of the cosmos in the night sky—models strode down the runway at Shanghai's illustrious Museum of Art Pudong (MAP) to the beat of a booming synth track, courtesy of BFRND.
Sleek, shiny trenchcoat-forward outfits, flouncy, voluminous couture-style gowns, and modern street-style looks were presented in succession, providing a full-circle glimpse at the body of work within the Balenciaga archives. In true Demna fashion, designs were crafted from materials ranging from clothing rack covers to gilded gift wrapping to pink plastic bags, showcasing the utility of integral elements of the fashion world. Archival and archetypal Balenciaga pieces were repurposed into new handbags, while sneaker boxes were transformed into avant-garde clutches.
Clad in towering metalhead boots and elevated platform sneakers, both inspired by the imposing verticality of the emblematic Pudong skyscrapers, models appeared larger-than-life, in reverence to both the host city where the show took place and the bold legacy of Balenciaga as a tastemaking fashion house.
Silhouettes across the collection varied, as seen in the range of cocoon-style column dresses, hourglass-shaped skirts, and structured bell gowns presented alongside lightweight silk and airy, flowing chiffon dresses. Mini skirts paired with distressed stockings and shirt dresses accompanied by Balenciaga's renowned knee-high sock boots represented modern street-style fashions popular among women of today, while checked scarf boleros and faux-fur coats, both recreated with a fresh air about them, paid homage to designs of the past.
While much of the collection appears in darker hues, in reference to the twilightscape during which the Balenciaga Cruise 2025 collection presentation was held, creative director Demna incorporates playful hints of vibrancy, as seen in a tomato-red off-the-shoulder dress, a baby-blue bell-shaped dress, and a fantastical feathered pink gown. Brighter colors are also visible in several vintage-inspired designs, which highlight the storied past of the house's 20th-century collections and the fashion world's lively design trends throughout the ages.
