Olivier Rousteing’s Balmain Army is going to have some young recruits as
the French fashion house has confirmed that it is launching a children’s
line in June.
The 55-piece collection is aimed at boys and girls aged from six to 14,
and is set to be produced in-house, rather than through a licensee, as many
designer labels do. The collection will initially be available at Balmain
boutiques and online at Balmain.com.
The line will feature designs that are based on styles from Balmain’s
men’s and women’s runway shows over the past five years, and will include
Japanese-denim jeans, quilted perfectos, double-breasted coats, white tux
jackets, fur coats, embroidered cavalry jackets, zebra-patterned tops, and
a selection of shoes.
The fashion house took to Instagram to reveal the campaign to launch the
collection, featuring four kids with attitude styled in Balmain blazers,
bright red skinny trousers, gold-tipped boots, as well as glamorous evening
wear.
Children’s couture doesn’t come cheap, prices range from 190 euros for a
sleeveless patterned T-shirt to 5,500 euros for an embroidered black dress.
The collection follows Rousteing creating several custom pieces for
North West, the daughter of Kanye and Kim Kardashian West, who also
apparently inspired the children’s line.
“I think I first thought about designing kidswear when I dressed North,”
Rousteing told Vogue. “I had a conversation with Kim, and that was the
beginning of how I really understood that the Balmain universe can also
belong to kids.”
Commenting on the new collection to WWD, Rousteing added: “These are the
same looks that, over the years, moms and dads have repeatedly pleaded with
me to produce for their kids.”
Images: Balmain