Titled Anybody is Queer, Balenciaga’s new Pride month capsule collection sustains the house’s legacy as an advocate for queer visibility
Following on from the success of last year’s unashamedly rainbow-emblazoned collection of clothing and accessories, Balenciaga rejoins the Pride month festivities with a new capsule collection. Demna, Balenciaga’s openly gay creative director, has opened up in the past about the struggles of growing up in a time and place where he was unable to express himself through clothing.
The campaign, titled Anybody is Queer, is lensed by Patrick Welde and sees a diverse cast wearing pieces from the new drop, which consists of tops, T-shirts, hoodies, caps, scarves, socks and jewellery, featuring a gendered symbol design that’s been flipped and subverted to depict queer love.
Seen elsewhere in the capsule are items displaying an array of Pride flags (24 in total) to honour all identities. Tops are fitted, hoodies are oversized, and the pieces embody a cool sense of casual ease, true to the Demna spirit of streetwear style.
“Pride is for me about celebrating our past and future fight, forgetting our day-by-day struggle and just enjoying our existence,” says model Ismat Bouzina, who stars in the campaign. For the launch, the luxury house has wiped clean its Instagram account – leaving only images from the Anybody is Queer campaign.
15 per cent of the profits from the sale of Balenciaga Pride 22 products will be donated to OutRight Action International, the only LGBTQ+ human rights organisation with a recognised consultative status and permanent presence at the United Nations Headquarters. Their work builds capacity for queer movements and holds world leaders accountable; essential in light of many countries’ decline in LGBTQ+ acceptance in recent years.