Sharpen those elbows ladies, 'cause HMBALMAINATION is coming! BALMAIN and H&M have announced its autumn designer collaboration with the Parisian house of Balmain. A veritable bastion of French luxury, under the creative directorship of young Olivier Rousteing, Balmain has grown into a global pop-culture phenomenon.
Rousteing, along with his BFFs Kendall Jenner and Jourdan Dunn walked the red carpet at The Billboard Music Awards, revealing the first pieces of the collection. Through social media, H&M and Balmain invited their fans to join a movement of togetherness with #HMBalmaination. "I want to talk to my generation − this is my main aim as a designer. H&M allows me the unique possibility of bringing everyone into the world of Balmain, getting a piece of the dream and creating a global #HMBalmaination: a movement of togetherness, fuelled on a hashtag. The collaboration felt extremely natural to me as H&M is a brand that everybody connects to. It calls for unity, and I am all for it", says Olivier Rousteing.
Balmain was founded in 1945 and now Rousteing has created a unique identity for the house, respectful of its couture DNA and rooted in the moment, with a showbiz flair (Kim & Kanye are massive fans). Highlighting its pop charm through the H&M collaboration came as a natural decision.
"We are excited to have Balmain as our guest designer at H&M and to create a truly involving experience for everybody. With its mix of couture spirit and streetwear attitude, Balmain owns a unique style; opulent and direct, sensual and energetic. It is also closely linked to the entertainment and music worlds, which adds another element of surprise," says Ann-Sofie Johansson, Creative Advisor at H&M.
Available from 5th November, in around 250 stores worldwide and online at hm.com, the collection will feature clothing and accessories for both ladies and men.