Olivier Rousteing, the creator of Balmain, and Demna Gvasalia, the artistic director of Balenciaga, mobilized this week for the Ukraine bombarded by Russia, via their social networks in the colors of the Ukrainian flag.
The number of Ukrainian refugees has jumped by 200,000 in 24 hours, according to UN counts published on March 3, bringing to 874,000 the number of people who have fled the advance of the Russian army in Ukraine since February 24. .
“Our thoughts and prayers are with Ukrainians. We are inspired by their dignity, resilience and dedication to freedom,” wrote Olivier Rousteing to his 7.8 million followers on Instagram. His message was accompanied by a blue and yellow landscape like the Ukrainian flag, before the Balmain parade.
He announces that he has made a donation to the emergency fund of the UN Refugee Agency and invites people to do the same. “It’s hard to feel good focusing on the shows and the clothes, as we listen with heavy hearts to the latest news”underlines Olivier Rousteing.
Moreover, his outfits presented at the parade seemed to reflect the atmosphere of the war, even if they had been designed long before the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Padded corsets, tops and gloves resembling futuristic bulletproof vests or golden shields… Elements of “protection” already seen in Dior’s high-tech collection, where airbag corsets were worn over suits.
This marks a noticeable shift in aesthetics from last season, where the focus was on hope for recovery from the pandemic.
The artistic director of Balenciaga, the Georgian Demna Gvasalia, who was the first to denounce the“Russian aggression once morest Ukraine” and put the Ukrainian flag on Instagram, announced that they have donated to the UN World Food Program to support the first humanitarian aid for Ukrainian refugees.
He also indicated that Balenciaga, whose parade will take place on Sunday March 6, would open its social networks in the coming days. “to relay information regarding the situation in Ukraine”
Vogue Ukraine magazine has called on the fashion industry and luxury groups to “immediately cease all collaboration in the market of the aggressor” Russian.
Questioned by AFP on Wednesday, the Haute Couture and Fashion Federation indicated that it “did not communicate” on this subject, referring to its previous press release. Its president, Ralph Toledano, called for “to live the parades of the days to come with the gravity which is essential in these dark hours”.