The name Oliver Rousteing might not ring a bell to sneakerheads just yet, but it’s only a matter of time before the French designer is a household name. Rousteing moves fast and his work moves even faster. It should come as no surprise that Nike tapped the wunderkind to design a collaborative collection for the upcoming Summer season. In just five short years, the young creative director has lead the rebirth of French fashion house Balmain. Rousteing has brought the stately label into the 21st century through his raw talent, love of all things luxe, and passion for social media.
Rousteing has worked relentlessly to usher in the next era of Balmain—one that is as grandiose as it is youthful. The designer paid tribute to the couture house’s roots, but hasn’t let that history hold back his new ideas. All of a sudden, the opulent brand was given new relevance and was namedropped in hit songs by the likes of A$AP Rocky, Nicki Minaj, and Rae Sremmurd. The tides began to turn as the old label found a new, younger (but still affluent) audience.
It may be Rousteing’s passion for football (soccer) that is the cornerstone of the upcoming collection, but it’s clear that his affinity for luxury was not left on the bench. Here is a quick list of need-to-know information on the designer in advance of the NikeLab x Olivier Rousteing collection release, which will be available online and in select NikeLab stores on June 2.