Balenciaga is bringing its haute couture collection to China. For the first time, 29 pieces from the brand's Fall/Winter 2021 Haute Couture collection, the first by Demna Gvasalia, will be on display at the Tank Museum in Shanghai, China.
The classic museum exhibition is transformed into an haute couture salon, a showroom, a grand hall, and even a banquet hall for a five-day program of displays, tours, and performances. Were it not for the travel restrictions due to COVID-19, Gvasalia and his team would certainly have visited China. "Since China cannot travel to Europe, I believe it was our duty to bring the Balenciaga 50th Couture to Asia as well," said the designer. "I feel proud to be able to share with them a very important moment for me that celebrates the culture, craftsmanship and heritage of Balenciaga in an exhibition that presents my first Couture collection."

The brand's 50th haute couture collection is the first since 1967 when the founder Cristóbal Balenciaga left the fashion industry. Included will also be a new dress created by Gvasalia made especially for the exhibition. The environment perfectly recalls the Balenciaga world, conceived to reinterpret the aesthetic tropes of the historic salon and fashion atelier.

The event, according to Cédric Charbit, CEO of Balenciaga, is a world exclusive: "For the first time, our couture collection is presented outside of Paris. It is an honor to share the heritage of the Maison and the creative vision of Demna with our highly sophisticated audience who have the utmost understanding of luxury and craftsmanship. Our team in China has worked tirelessly to make this event possible."