Balmain creative director reveals inspiration behind kids collection

The Balmain army is expanding, as the luxury fashion brand is launching the house’s first-ever children’s wear collection, set to arrive in Balmainand online in June 2016.

The line, which features 55 pieces, was personally designed by creative director Olivier Rousteing and will retail from €190 for a sleeveless patterned tee to €5,500 for an embroidered dress, in sizes to fit boys and girls ages 6 to 14.

The news isn’t a big shock, as Rousteing had created numerous custom pieces for North West, the daughter of Kanye and Kim Kardashian West. “I think I first thought about designing kidswear when I dressed North,” says Rousteing. “I had a conversation with Kim, and that was the beginning of how I really understood that the Balmain universe can also belong to kids.”

The good news is that the kids line is very similar to the adult line. Rousteing’s famous leather trousers, cropped jackets, golden embroidery, and glittering embellishments all feature in the collection, with each piece looking like a little version of outfits once worn by Balmain army models.

The staffers called the tiny models ‘mini Oliviers’ due to the signature looks of the clothes. “I love my men’s double-breasted jacket because it’s what I wear every day, and seeing a kid wearing that is just like heaven!” the designer said.

Also, the kid’s lookbook shoot was just as fun as the adult’s Pre fall shoot, which just took place a day before, with music by Justin Bieber and Kanye West and loads of candy and apple music, as demanded by the kids.

For Rousteing, this is all about inclusion, just like the hugely successful H&M collaboration, which allowed for more affordability. “Balmain is also about diversity, and I think the casting and the pictures show that no matter where you come from, the Balmain army is open and all the kids from the world are a part of it,” he said. “That’s really what I wanted to show with his campaign, that it’s a global line for all countries and all continents.”

Some of the kids who’ll experience the new line include children of past Balmain muses. Rousteing explained; “Alessandra Ambrosio, she has children. Adriana Lima has daughters. Jourdan Dunn has a son, and so my first point will be sending some presents to my girls, because they are part of the Balmain world—why not have their kids be a part of the Balmain world? And obviously, I’m building an entire wardrobe for Kim!”

What do you think of the new collection? Let us know below.