To find the light.
For Winter 26, Pierpaolo Piccioli explores the tension between darkness and light, drawing inspiration from clair-obscur, the High Renaissance technique that uses contrast to reveal volume, depth and emotion.
Balenciaga’s architectural heritage is reimagined through a contemporary wardrobe, placing the human form at its center. Sculptural outerwear, dramatic high collars, rounded shoulders, fluid draperies and cocoon silhouettes create a dialogue between body and fabric, structure and movement.
Material and color become part of this exploration of light. Supple leather, dense cashmere, silk and luminous embroideries absorb and reflect it, while flashes of intense, almost phosphorescent color emerge against dark neutrals.
Accessories echo the same sculptural approach. Debuting with the collection, the Hourglass Avenue Bag reinterprets an iconic House silhouette through a curved base inspired by the fitted waists of early Balenciaga Couture, combining structure with the natural movement of leather.
Winter 26 brings Balenciaga’s historical codes into the present through a continuous play of contrasts: darkness and light, structure and fluidity, heritage and modernity.
