Olivier Rousteing, the 29-year-old Creative Director of one of France’s most successful luxury brands Balmain, has criticised the lack of diversity in the industry saying there are “not enough black and Asian people”.
He also said it is “important” the industry uses “different kind of bodies”.
“We have to show fashion is open minded”
Olivier Rousteing
“We have to show fashion is open minded,” said the French designer, whose love of social media and association with celebrities like Kim Kardashian and Rihanna has done much to modernise Balmain’s image since he was appointed head designer in 2011.
The couturier, who was adopted by a white couple when he was just one-years-old and identifies as black, said that the lack of diversity meant there was no role model in the industry for him while growing up.
“I remember when I was a kid and I was dreaming about fashion, it was a dream also because I had no one to identify [with] myself,” he said.
“I think it’s important fashion shows different kind of bodies. We have to show fashion is open minded. With my fashion, at least, I’m trying so much to push boundaries of the ethnicity because I feel that there is not enough black and asian people in the fashion world; because I also remember when I was a kid and I was dreaming about fashion, it was a dream also because I had noone to identify [with] myself.”
Olivier Rousteing
Rousteing, who reportedly speaks five languages and was just 25-years-old when he took the reins at Balmain, added: “I want to show to people that you can come from an orphanage. It doesn’t matter your background, doesn’t matter your colour, if you believe in yourself then you can work in fashion.”
The comments were made in The Future of Fashion with Alexia Chung, a Vogue online documentary presented by broadcaster and model Alexia Chung.
This week (5 November) the high-street retailer HM launches its collaboration with Balmain. The line, designed by Rousteing and called Balmain X H&M, is hugely anticipated since it was unveiled during a spectacular New York fashion show last month.
Watch the full interview between Olivier Rousteing and Alexia Chung:
ZEFFADELICA 