Cristóbal Balenciaga’s design influence is undeniable. From creating new silhouettes to breaking the boundaries of textile innovation, the Spanish designer is a legend whose designs moulded contemporary fashion. Besides it being the focus of the upcoming Victoria & Albert Museum exhibition opening in May, the importance of Balenciaga’s work is also the proving point of tomorrow’s edition of Fashion in Motion. In collaboration with BA Womenswear and BA Fashion Print students from Central Saint Martins, the V&A is putting a live catwalk show in their Raphael gallery and celebrating Balenciaga’s incredible legacy.

Jamie Challenor of BA Fashion Print

The event is part of a bigger project, a collaboration between the CSM students and Museo Balenciaga in Spain where upcoming designers, printmakers and fashion communicators went on a study trip to Balenciaga’s hometown Getaria in the Basque country in order to discover his immense influence on couture and dressmaking. With a full access to Balenciaga’s archive, 32 students got a chance to create fashion through their personal interpretations of the fashion legend, showing their own takes on everything from cocoon coats and envelope dresses to women’s suits in feminine shapes. And tomorrow, 15 selected students are bringing their designs to life in three free catwalk shows at the V&A. After seeing Demna Gvasalia’s latest outing for Balenciaga being based on updated replicates of archival looks, we’re excited to see the upcoming talent interpreting design classics in their own way.

Fashion in Motion: Inspired by Balenciaga is on at the Victoria & Albert Museum at 3pm, 5pm and 8pm in the Raphael Gallery, Cromwell Rd, Knightsbridge, London SW7 2RL. Admission is free, on a drop-in basis. Find out more about the CSMxBalenciaga project and see all of the looks at cristobalbalenciagamuseumxcsm.co.

Text by Dino Bonacic; Images by University of the Arts London