Paris Haute Couture Week 2025: Balenciaga bids farewell to Demna, Maison Margiela wows with upcycled statement pieces, and Robert Wun delivers a masterclass in surrealist horror
Here are highlights from three shows.
Balenciaga: Demna's swansong
A houndstooth skirt suit paired with a ladylike handbag and jewellery by Lorraine Schwartz. Photo: Handout
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Earlier this year, it was announced that
Demna would be leaving Balenciaga to join Gucci as artistic director. He is being replaced by Italian designer Pierpaolo Piccioli, formerly of Valentino.
Luxury group Kering – the company behind
Balenciaga, Gucci , and other high-profile brands such as
Saint Laurent and Bottega Veneta – is pulling out all the stops to pay homage to Demna's time at Balenciaga.
In the days leading up to his last show, the company hosted 'Demna by Balenciaga', an exhibition held at Kering's headquarters on the Left Bank of Paris. The exhibition charted highlights from his remarkable 10-year run, from the designer's show-stealing couture ball gowns to his meme-worthy 'ugly sneakers' and other viral creations.
Liu Wen wears a blue evening gown from the Balenciaga haute couture collection. Photo: Handout
While Demna is a polarising figure and has just as many detractors as loyal fans, the pieces on display – not to mention the throngs of visitors lining up to check them out – showed his incredible influence on the fashion world over the last decade.
Balenciaga's 54th haute couture collection, the designer's swansong, was a fitting way to cap such a remarkable ride.
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