Kanye West made his runway debut at Paris Fashion Week on Sunday, opening Balenciaga’s Summer 2023 collection show with a scene-stealing catwalk.
Dressed in all-black, Ye walked the mud-filled runway in leather pants, a jacket that featured a “security” patch, and a baseball cap. According to Elle, Kanye’s children North, Chicago, Psalm and Saint West all attended the Balenciaga showcase, as did Kylie Jenner and Doja Cat, among others.
Balenciaga’s creative director Denma explained the mud as “a metaphor for digging for truth and being down to earth.”
“I’ve decided to no longer explain my collections and verbalise my designs, but to express a state of mind,” Demna added in the show notes. “Fashion is a visual art and all we need is for it to be seen through someone’s eyes. Fashion in its best case scenario should not need a story to be sold to someone. You either like it or not. The set of this show is a metaphor for digging for truth and being down to earth.”
Watch Balenciaga’s Summer 23 collection presentation up top and check out a selection of looks from the show down below.
West’s runway appearance arrives two weeks after the launch of Yeezy Gap Engineered by Balenciaga Part Two. Available via the official Yeezy Gap and Balenciaga sites, as well as other online providers, i.e. Farfetch, Mytheresa, and Luisaviaroma, the collection features a range of outerwear and knitwear pieces.
Early highlights include the Long Round Jacket, which greatly lengthens the experience of the previously much-discussed Round Jacket, and the Padded Hoodie. Also included in the latest batch of YGEBB is the Mock Neck Pullover, 5-Pocket Denim Pant, Padded Denim Jacket, Dove Crop Fleece Tee, Shrunken Hoodie, Polar Jogger, and much more.
