BALENCIAGA SPRING/SUMMER 2012
It is not often that designers cite references that date back further than 20th century. For Nicolas Ghesquière medieval stained-glass windows were the source of inspiration for his spring/summer 2012 collection for Balenciaga. Textured with painterly brush strokes in regal colours, with a solid breast pocket, the prints were a nod to the label’s Spanish heritage.
But the collection was not without its 20th-century influences. Dipping into the archives of Cristóbal Balenciaga, Ghesquière has been heralded for his innovative use of textile technology, remastering stiff 1960s haute couture fabrics using new-age bonding techniques to form his angular designs. Amongst strong colour blocks of rust, olive, burgundy, navy and black in luminous silks with surprise splashes of sherbet, lemon and lavender, Balenciaga’s printed blouses were a striking stand-out… 
moulded haute couture fabrics
