Pierpaolo Piccioli brings the NBA into the atelier, launching a capsule collection that treats basketball gear with the seriousness of high fashion.
Summary
- The Ideology: Creative Director Pierpaolo Piccioli centers Fall 2026 on the human form, blending Cristóbal Balenciaga’s obsession with the hand and the modern demand for technical performance.
- The Gear: A debut menswear line features cashmere capes and neo-gazar car coats, while the women’s range mixes opera gloves with ProBody fabrics that wick moisture and fight bacteria.
- The Partnerships: Two major collaborations anchor the season: a footwear line with Manolo Blahnik and an apparel capsule with the NBA.
For Balenciaga Fall 2026, the Pierpaolo Piccioli bypasses the usual homage to architectural shapes to focus entirely on the human hand and the body it dresses. He translates the founder’s obsession with anatomy into a lineup that blurs the lines between a techno ballgown and gear you might wear to a spin class.
This convergence of sweat-proof utility and couture drama defines the new “street formal” aesthetic. Piccioli ignores the old rules, sending out opera gloves and cowled hats paired with sportswear. Leather pieces mimic the relaxed drape of athletic wear, while delicate heeled shoes add a sharp punctuation mark to the slouchy, comfortable silhouettes.
Comfort drives the debut of Piccioli’s Balenciaga man. He wears cashmere capes and car-coats cut from neo-gazar, a fabric choice that pulls archival stiffness into the present day.
That daily grind requires fabrics that actually work, leading the house to introduce “TechWear” grounded in ProBody performance material. Engineered to be antibacterial and breathable, this second skin forms the basis of a new apparel capsule with the NBA. The collaboration highlights the kinetic energy of basketball, turning the court into a runway for dynamic, movement-focused shapes.
Movement also dictates the footwear, where Piccioli brings in Manolo Blahnik for a partnership that sits alongside some serious in-house engineering. The new “Ballet” sneakers fold in half for storage, while “Pocket” sneakers zip down to change their proportion. Even the formal options get a remix; the “Comfy” loafers hide a cushioned lycra interior borrowed directly from performance running shoes.
Shoes aren’t the only accessories getting a practical overhaul. The “Le City” bag returns with a sharper, rectilinear body, joined by the “Le 7,” a top-handle design featuring a zippered inner layer wrapped in nappa leather.
