To celebrate the partnership, a limited-time Balmain x Pokémon Trainer Fashion Set is coming to Pokémon UNITE this September. For more than a decade, Balmain Creative Director Olivier Rousteing has amazed the fashion world with his distinctive vision and imaginative ideas. In the tradition of company founder Pierre Balmain, who introduced the legendary “New French Style” over 75 years ago, Rousteing continues to surprise with unexpected silhouettes, colors and messages – key components of his unique “Renewed French Style”.
Above all, Rousteing has sought out unconventional partners who have similar ideas and are as daring as himself. The label is therefore pleased to announce their latest collaborative project: a limited-edition Balmain collection featuring Pokémon. As surprising as the partnership is, it makes perfect sense, as Balmain and Pokémon share an unusually bold and adventurous spirit. Both Balmain and Pokémon are constantly evolving, utilizing new technologies and displaying a unique energy and dynamism that is immensely appealing. And just as Balmain is celebrated for its ever-expanding Balmain Army, Pokémon celebrates its millions of “trainers” around the world, always ready to embark on journeys in hopes of collecting, training, and growing more and more Pokémon to fight.
“I’ve always been fascinated by Pokémon’s bright pop aesthetic and captivating creatures,” explains Olivier Rousteing. “They remind me of an earlier, simpler time when we all had a rosy vision of the positive changes we believed digital innovation would make possible. It’s one of the main reasons I’m so excited to be collaborating with Pokémon on this collection—because right now we can all use a reminder of those bygone moments of hope and optimism.”
“Balmain is an iconic fashion house that continues to capture the world’s attention with its inspired designs and superior creativity,” comments Kenji Okubo, President of The Pokémon Company International. “Pokémon has been a major driver of cultural zeitgeist for more than 25 years, and key to our success is our ability to drive innovation. In Balmain we have found a partner who shares our values and with whom we have been able to create something truly special, connecting the physical and digital worlds with fashion.”
Much of the new Balmain x Pokémon collection plays with new iterations of well-known Balmain signatures, including the house’s well-known hoodies and sleek sneakers, as well as the intriguing maze pattern. The maze – a maze-inspired motif originally designed by Pierre Balmain over 50 years ago – shows its chameleon-like adaptability as it appears in different variations across the numerous collaboration offerings. There are also some new takes on iconic designs that debuted on the Balmain Paris Fashion Week catwalks – with each offering slightly adjusted to reflect the Pokémon aesthetic, without sacrificing Balmain’s ateliers’ usual exacting standards to deviate
Olivier Rousteing and his Balmain design team were inspired by the bold colors and bright iconography of Pokémon. Sweatshirts, jackets and oversized tops and bottoms are cleverly based on the bold graphics that are instantly recognizable as Pokémon – and many of the accessories are imaginative hybrids of Balmain’s signature bags and Pokémon artwork.
And of course, a partnership between Balmain and Pokémon wouldn’t be complete without an immersive digital adventure. That’s why this collaboration offers an additional, unique ingredient that Balmain has developed in collaboration with SharpEnd. Beginning September 5, 15 different Balmain x Pokémon NFC-enabled badges will be available for purchase at nine different Balmain boutiques in the Americas, Europe and Asia, as well as at Balmain’s retail partner Stadium Goods in Chicago. These special badges grant exclusive access to an exceptional Balmain x Pokémon experience with a range of digital content and exceptional prizes, including VIP tickets to the upcoming Balmain Festival during Paris Fashion Week and instant access to the Balmain Fashion Set in Pokémon UNITE.
Fans of Pokémon UNITE, the Pokémon strategic team battle game developed in collaboration with TiMi Studios, can unlock the BALMAIN Fashion Set Trainer Fashion Item for free by logging in for seven days starting September 2, 2022 07:00 UTC. Log into the game by September 30, 23:59 UTC.
In addition, fans who purchase any of the BALMAIN x Pokémon patches can receive a digital code to instantly unlock the BALMAIN Outfit Set Trainer Fashion Items for free via the in-game Gift Swap menu.*
“After we all downloaded the Pokémon UNITE app, I think every member of my team got a little hooked on this game,” notes Olivier Rousteing. “It’s hardly surprising to me either, since we all have fond memories of the original games from back then. Playing the game while designing the special Balmain Pokémon badges and jackets that can be unlocked by the Pokémon UNITE trainers was even more fun – and I’m really looking forward to spending more time playing the game , once the madness of Paris Fashion Week is over.”
Pokémon UNITE is free to download for Nintendo Switch systems and mobile devices. For more information on Pokémon UNITE, visit
Pokemon Unite.
*Offer not available in China