Christophe Decarnin’s placement at the Balmain label dawned a new era for the stuffy couture Maison. Pivoting from decades of rather tame design, the French artisan would walk in stride with the era’s greatest, pioneering a rocker-chic vision along with those like Hedi Slimane. Criticized for exorbitant pricing, with $6000 denim and $2000 distressed t-shirts, his attitude towards couture standards bathed in tense rebellion. Paving the way through unbreathable silhouettes, Decarnin may have stirred controversy since inception in 2005, but his success was undeniable as a both trend-forecaster and unique creative. However, after a six year tenure, Christophe Decarnin ultimately left Balmain, stating the job’s stress was simply unbearable.
Debuting in the Autumn of 2010, this so-called ‘bullet’ belt illustrates Decarnin’s shocking approach to traditional design. Coating an olive leather belt in genuine bullets, he then weaves fixtures around the cinching mechanism to create a three-pronged pattern. Finalized with a ‘Balmain’ embossing towards the slim cut buckle, this piece is truly a standout of his reign.
