My Favorite Fashion Brand

I’m always stuck when asked about a favorite brand, film, artist etc. Personal preferences change often, as does the quality of what’s being put out season-to-season. Bearing all that in mind, I would say my favorite brand would have to be Balenciaga. The fashion house has gone through a lot of change in the past few years, as well as lots of controversy, under current creative director Demna Gvasalia (previously the founder and creative director of Vetements). Many including myself are of the view that Demna essentially caused the revival of the brand, boosting it to popularity with modern consumers. As someone who’s always been influenced by the artists I listen to, I’m sure my love of the brand originated to an extent from the rappers I would see wearing it. For example, in October 2022 at Paris Fashion Week, Balenciaga’s SS23 runway show called the ‘Mud Show’ opened with rapper Kanye West on the catwalk, sporting a very military-esque outfit, but of course in the all black style which is often seen with Balenciaga under Demna.

Of course, it’s impossible nowadays to discuss Balenciaga without touching on the scandal surrounding the brand’s November 2022 ad campaign, which many saw as portraying children in a sexual or cultish manner. I doubt anyone except the higher-ups and those involved in the campaign will ever know for certain if this was accidental or intentional, but the campaign was pulled, Balenciaga released a statement, and now after a while – as I find is always the case with modern day ‘cancellations’ – the brand seems to be as popular as before, if not more, as we approach their Summer 2024 show on October 1st.

So why do I choose Balenciaga as my favorite brand? I’d say it comes down to the way they’ve successfully adapted with the times to stay relevant and popular, as well as the amazing pieces put out since Demna became creative director.