Demna, the creative force behind Balenciaga, sent a thought-provoking voicemail before his show. In it, he eloquently defined luxury as something beyond material scarcity. According to him, true rarity lies in creativity itself, which has quietly evolved into a novel form of luxury.

At the Balenciaga headquarters, Demna reflected on his own body of work, seeking to reconnect with the essence of fashion. He drew inspiration from Cristóbal Balenciaga, who famously immersed himself in a distraction-free world to create. Interestingly, Demna’s journey over the past decade—since the founding of Vetements—has led him to embrace a more introspective and authentic approach. Detoxing from stress, prioritizing happiness, and eliminating toxic influences have become essential for nurturing his vision.

Ironically, despite this personal transformation, Demna’s show thrust us into a scenario of information overload. His Balenciaga tribe, clad in futuristic silicone masks, marched through a digital cacophony—a blend of natural landscapes, film elements, and deconstructed realities. It was a powerful commentary on the excess of content that pervades our society, akin to the frenetic pace of TikTok videos.

The Balenciaga immersive spectacle unfolded like a vivid dream. As dawn broke, it painted a naturalistic tableau across mountains, glaciers, and deserts. Yet, beneath this seemingly organic facade, an invisible hand—perhaps AI—manipulated the landscape into fantastical collages. Familiar streets of Paris and Tokyo morphed into distorted geographies, while digital creatures—cats, rabbits, dogs, and sheep—materialized everywhere. A zillion cell-phone videos wallpapered the scene, dissolving into a “nightfall” captured from city Christmas trees adorned with twinkling lights. Finally, the show faded into a multicolored digital static.

Remarkably, amidst this sensory overload, attention still gravitated toward the garments. Demna’s collection stood out for its unique strengths: innovative techniques, garment transformations, and a wardrobe spanning from Academy Awards elegance to streetwear chic.

The most delightful moments emerged toward the end. Tailoring cinched with tape, a cocktail dress fashioned from a straggly boa, bits of a bikini, and a slip, and an evening gown entirely collaged from bras—all showcased Demna’s playful creativity. In the studio, they embraced a “one-minute-to-create-a-dress challenge,” akin to Project Runway. Amidst this spontaneity, Demna pondered the balance between perfection and imperfection. For him, it’s the coexistence of both that defines our humanity—the beauty found in flaws and the unexpected. It’s this very imperfection that sets us apart from machines.