With the Chinese New Year holiday wrapping up and work kicking back into gear, China's fashion scene got a major boost: Balenciaga revealed plans for its Spring 2025 runway show in Shanghai on May 30, showcasing its latest in both men's and women's fashion.
This premiere will not only be designer Demna's first foray into Asia and China but also represents the third time Balenciaga has chosen a location outside of Paris for its runway shows, following New York's Spring 2023 and Los Angeles' Fall 2024 collections.
Before this, Balenciaga brought Demna's inaugural haute couture lineup to Shanghai for a five-day showcase. But such smaller events haven't quite quenched the Chinese consumers' thirst for a deeper dive into the brand, sparking why the announcement of a major runway show has stirred significant buzz and conversation.
Balenciaga, a bastion of high fashion, always makes waves with its bold moves. Particularly from the second half of 2023, the brand has been on an aggressive marketing blitz, appointing five brand ambassadors, rolling out new collections, expanding its retail footprint, and refreshing its image with international shows, thereby broadening its sales and customer service outreach, with a keen focus on the Chinese market. It now boasts the highest number of stores in China compared to any other region globally.
This upcoming show is Balenciaga's most significant marketing event in China in recent years, underscoring the crucial role the Chinese market plays in the brand's strategy and its unwavering commitment to the region.
Balenciaga, now a steady engine of growth for the Kering Group, looks to its robust performance in China as a catalyst for its overall resurgence.