PARIS – Clothes intended for Balmain’s upcoming Paris Fashion Week show have gone missing after a truck carrying the collection was stolen, according to an Instagram post from Olivier Rousteing.
“This morning I woke up with the smile, starting the fittings for my next show at 9 am and this is what happened…50 Balmain pieces stolen. Our delivery was hijacked. The [truck] got stolen. Thank god, the driver is safe,” the designer wrote in a message to his 9.8 million followers.
Rousteing indicated the the show scheduled for Sept. 27 near the Eiffel Tower will continue as planned. “So many people worked so hard to make this collection happen. We are redoing everything but this is so so disrespectful,” he continued.
“So many workers, suppliers, my team and I. Please be safe, this is the world we are living in. Love you my Balmain team and we won’t give up,” he concluded.
The company did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Fellow designer Simon Porte Jacquemus commented on the post, writing “Strength” followed by a heart emoji, while others, including Jennifer Lopez’s stylist Mariel Haenn, left notes of support.
During his decade at the house, Rousteing has become known for his extensive collections and over-the-top spectacles often climbing to over 100 looks per show that played more like music festivals than fashion presentations.
Earlier this year, he downsized to a more intimate show with 250 guests and just 52 looks.
Vehicle thefts in France spiked in 2022, according to figures from the country’s interior ministry, with 133,800 stolen last year. Thefts were up 3.5 percent in the Paris region.