This fall, iconic brands PUMA and BALMAIN join together to debut their first creative collaboration: PUMA x BALMAIN created with Cara Delevingne.
This exciting partnership takes the form of two limited-edition capsule collections, both designed by BALMAIN’s Creative Director Olivier Rousteing and his good friend and muse, the English actor and model Cara Delevingne. This is PUMA’s first-ever collection with Cara Delevingne, who has been working with PUMA since 2016.
As Olivier Rousteing has pointed out several times, there’s no modern-day style icon who better personifies the “troublemaker” theme of his BALMAIN Fall 2019 runway than Cara Delevingne.
The two have partnered on several projects together over the past few seasons, with Delevingne fronting campaigns, closing runways, starring in videos and collaborating on the design of special-editions for BALMAIN.
In a collection that’s the first of its kind, three forces come together: the irrepressible spirit of Cara Delevingne, the luxurious sensibilities of BALMAIN, and the performance heritage of PUMA.
This new collection stands at the intersection of sport and fashion, with pieces inspired by traditional boxing gear and infused with Parisian couture. Bra tops, boxing shorts, and sneakers are elevated with a stark color palette, hits of gold, and design elements straight out of BALMAIN’s atelier.
One collection of footwear, apparel and accessories, produced by PUMA, will be carried in the brand’s own stores and puma.com, as well as at select independent retailers.
BALMAIN will also carry a selection of items from this line in its own boutiques. Another collection of six items, produced and distributed by BALMAIN, will be shown as part of the Parisian house’s Spring 2020 designs and carried at BALMAIN addresses worldwide, as well as online, at Balmain.com. Select retail partners will also carry items from the collection.
Olivier Rousteing emphasizes that this is not just another fashion collaboration. “Cara is a good friend, and this is the fruit of a shared vision,” notes the designer.
“Everyone involved—PUMA, Balmain, Cara and me—was determined to create something timeless. Above all, we knew that our message needed to be a strong one, reflecting exactly who we are and what we believe in.”
“I’ve seldom seen collaborations progress so smoothly,” notes Balmain’s CEO Massimo Piombini. “From the beginning, it was obvious that all involved—PUMA, Balmain, Olivier and Cara—shared the same goals and values.
We are excited to invite PUMA’s unique vision into our flagships and we very pleased that Olivier’s creations will soon be available to many more members of the Balmain Army, as this collection enters PUMA’s own boutiques.”
“Working with one of our longest standing and iconic partners, Cara Delevingne, and marrying her vision with that of BALMAIN, such an iconic fashion label, was a huge achievement.” said Bjoern Gulden, CEO of PUMA.
“To be able to mix PUMA’s sport heritage with Balmain’s historic couture legacy really took this collection to the next level. We look forward to continuing a partnership with both Cara and Balmain in the future.”
“PUMA has always represented team work and empowerment so the idea of doing a partnership with Olivier seemed very fitting,” said Cara Delevingne.
“Balmain has a similar brave fierceness to their brand as PUMA does and it really excited me to think of what we could all do together. I’m really proud of what this collaboration has resulted in.”
To highlight the collaboration, a powerful, boxing-inspired, interactive campaign, shot by Brianna Capozzi with Creative Direction by Philippa Price, will focus on both the BALMAIN- and PUMA-produced designs.
Starring Delevingne, the video and photos will premiere in October 2019. The collection will launch on November 21st.