Apparently the driver delivering “the last pieces” to the Balmain HQ was robbed

Olivier Rousteing shared moments ago on Instagram that “more than 50 Balmain pieces stolen”. Mr Rousteing wrote that he went into his office at 9am (Paris time) to wait for “the last pieces” that would be featured in the maison’s upcoming Paris Fashion Week show, scheduled for the 27th of this month. But they did not show up. According to the designer, the driver of the van with the clothes was going from the airport to the Balmain HQ when the vehicle was waylaid. It is unclear how many were involved in the heist or where it took place. Mr Rousteing did share that the driver was safe.

The stealing of merchandise not for the selling floor (yet) is, sadly, not so unusual. Last February, “royal-approved” British designer Claire Mischevani reported that she and her assisted were robbed of 62 pieces of bespoke clothing after a shoot. In one shocking case back in 2013, €40,000 worth of Hermès products were stolen from a van in Milan, forcing the brand to cancel a show that the articles were intended for, even when they were eventually recovered. It is not known if security arrangements were made in these cases. Or, if Balmain’s merchandise was left to the care of only one man—the driver.

Commenting on his textual post, Mr Rousteing, certain to repeat that he was up and early and working at 9am onwards, wrote, “so many people worked so hard to make this collection happened. We are redoing everything but this is so so disrespectful. So many workers , suppliers , my team and I. Please be safe, this is the world we are living in. Love you my Balmain team and we won’t give up.” Balmain fans are hoping that the snatched garments would be retrieved and returned. Beyoncé is probably thanking her lucky stars that stolen were not her show clothes.

Illustration: Just So