Balenciaga’s Summer 22 presentation consists of two parts: a photocall on a Hollywood-style red carpet, and a movie premiere. Guests wearing the new collection pause on the walkway before being ushered into a theater screening the short film The Simpsons I Balenciaga.

The Simpsons for Balenciaga is the latest in a progression of activations that push certain boundaries set up between fashion and other forms of entertainment, culture and technology, shifting the brand away from an easily definable category.

A cast consisting of Balenciaga’s friends, models and team members wearing the Summer 22 collection are part of an automatic performance wherein the premiere event becomes the show itself. Red-carpet arrivals are documented, setting up a series of role reversals like in The Simpsons I Balenciaga where the audience becomes the protagonists and vice-versa.

The collection represents the complete Balenciaga palette: a wardrobe of streetwear, daywear, tailoring, elegant eveningwear and proto-couture pieces. Silhouettes vary from ultra-slim to disproportionately oversized.

A commitment to responsible production continues, represented this season with upcycled denim, leather, fine textiles, and embroidery, as well as material innovation: plant-based leather is made from a mix of fibers derived from cactus and bio polymers. 95.2% of plain and printed fabrics in the collection are certified sustainable.

The collection includes several accessory debuts and updates. The Space Shoe is a highly innovative single mold alternative to the classic derby, made entirely of EVA material. Loafers made of soft calf become slipper-like, accentuating the notion of comfort in a classic men’s shoe.

Part of an ongoing collaboration with Crocs, Hard Crocs turn the soft clog into a metal-fortified platform with a cyber goth aesthetic. The Defender is a new superchunky sneaker with extreme tire tread. Trompe l’oeil boots mimic a stiletto sandal worn over a sock. The Cagole Boot is a footwear version of the classic studded bag made in arena leather.

The XX Bag reinterprets the Hourglass silhouette by filling its negative space and creating a new form. The Triplet Bag is an interpretation of a classic chain purse, made with three separate compartments. Looks are completed with new eyewear, accessory, and jewelry styles.