For some time now, haute couture has been shaking up codes by presenting collections developed in partnership with popular and streetwear brands. Like Gucci and The North Face or Louis Vuitton and Nike, the house of Balmain, unveils a surprising association. Olivier Rousteing, the artistic director of the French label has worked with the successful franchise Originals Pokemon on an exclusive collection « Balmain x Pokemon Trainer Fashion Set ».
For more than 10 years, Olivier Rousteing has brought his vision of fashion and his creative audacity to BALMAIN. Through his collections and design choices, the artistic director pays tribute to the legacy left by Pierre Balmain based on the leitmotiv of « New French Style ».
About this collab, Olivier Rousteing explained : « The pop and colorful aesthetic of the Pokémon universe and its fascinating creatures have always captivated me. Today, Pokémon reminds me of a simpler time, when we all shared this idyllic vision of digital innovations and the progress they would bring. That’s why I’m happy to partner with Pokémon on this collection, because in these times, we all need hope and optimism. »
Kenji Okubo, President of The Pokémon Company International, continued : « Balmain is an iconic fashion house that continues to captivate the world with its visionary designs and exciting creativity. For more than 25 years, Pokémon has been a staple of culture, and we owe our success to our ability to innovate. In Balmain, we found a partner who shares our values, and together we were able to create something truly special at the intersection of hardware, digital and fashion. »
The collection revisits Balmain’s signature pieces in the Pokemon style. The majority of the items feature Balmain’s Labyrinth motif combined with illustrations of the famous Pikachu in a combination of black, yellow, blue, orange and red.
The capsule features denim jackets in blue or black with bold prints, cargo jeans with yellow bottoms, an oversized shirt, a sleeveless and a short-sleeved cotton t-shirt and 2 styles of round neck sweatshirts.
The collaborative assortment also includes a pair of B-Bold leather sneakers in yellow, black, white and dark orange, as well as accessories such as a backpack, nylon waist bag and leather card holder.
As part of this collaborative offering, BALMAIN has also partnered with technology company SharpEnd to bring us a digital adventure. 15 distinct NFC badges will be accessible in 9 Balmain stores in the US, Europe and Asia. They offer access to digital content at discounted prices and also provide a chance to win VIP tickets to the Balmain Festival at Paris Fashion Week and direct access to the Balmain Fashion set in Pokemon UNITE.
Participants in Pokémon UNITE, the strategic team battle game developed in partnership with TiMi Studios, will be able to unlock the BALMAIN Fashion trainer outfit for free by logging into the game between September 2, 2022 and October 1, 2022.
The Balmain x Pokemon Trainer Fashion Set was released on September 2, 2022 in BALMAIN stores in Paris, New York, Las Vegas, Shanghai and Chengdu, as well as online at balmain.com. Prices range from $890 for the card holder to $1690 for the long black denim jacket.
You can also match the clothes of this collection with the new black or yellow Clarks Wallabees created in collaboration with Pokemon. Enjoy !
