For the first time, Balmain also showed top-class jewelry at the Haute-Couture fashion week in Paris. The two debut collections take up the traditional design language as well as contemporary elements of the fashion house.
The two collections together include almost two dozen pieces of jewelry – most of them made of 19-carat gold combined with black elements. A range of bracelets, rings, necklaces and earrings emerged – some set with white and emerald gemstones, others using elements such as black pearls and dense chain links.
With the Labyrinth collection, Balmain revisits a signature pattern that was designed by founder Pierre Balmain and has since been immortalized in many Balmain collections. It shows a labyrinth structure in which the initials of the founder are visualized. It can be found in the pieces of jewelery in the form of a graphic 2D pattern.
The Emblem Collection uses a well-known Balmain logo – the jewels feature the House crest, which features a crown and two mythical creatures with wings.
“I’ve been working to expand my vision of the Balmain universe and translate the well-known bold and daring spirit of this house’s catwalks into a whole new artistic realm. So we continue to build on the incredible foundation of this house to introduce designs that endure, pieces that stay fresh forever, knowing that one day they will be passed from one generation to the next"says designer Olivier Rousteing in a video from the fashion house.
The pieces in the two collections were assembled in France by jewelery artisans and artists who are “among the best in the world”. According to Balmain, “ethical gold, conflict-free minerals and traceable gemstones” were used.