It looks like Balenciaga will be saying goodbye to Alexander Wang. The designer signed with the French label as creative director in 2012 and has reportedly not had his contract renewed for another season at the brand. It seems like a fairly short relationship considering former head Nicolas Ghesquiere was with the label for almost 15 years, but despite Wang’s bumpy start his residence has been a successful one. The Spring 2016 collection during upcoming Paris Fashion Week is expected to be his last show.
But the question on everyone’s mind is why? For the past month there have been whispers that Kering, Balenciaga’s parent company, was not looking to renew Wang’s contract, despite the double digit improvement in sales (an estimated $387.2 million in revenue) and general success of the collections. While the paring of Wang and Balenciaga was clearly not a match made in heaven—one is known for his street-ready aesthetic while the other is a century-old heritage brand steeped in tradition—the marriage of the two has been profitable for everyone. Of course, there’s also talk suggesting Wang is simply leaving to focus on his namesake brand.
While there have been no official announcements regarding Wang’s exit, speculation has begun as to who will be his successor. Unlike past appointments, most insiders suggest that Balenciaga could follow in Gucci’s footsteps and opt for a relative unknown to helm the brand. An up and coming designer usually has a dedicated following strictly within the fashion set, can create a new buzz and comes with less demands.
