Kanye West has officially made his runway debut.
The Yeezy founder, 45, opened Balenciaga’s Spring/Summer 2023 show during Paris Fashion Week over the weekend, sporting an all-black battle-ready look with a baseball cap and durable utility vest, both emblazoned with the word “Security.”
The runway itself, staged outdoors in the city’s Parc des Expositions, consisted of what appeared to be an ankle-deep expanse of mud.
West made his runway debut at Paris Fashion Week over the weekend, modeling a battle-ready look emblazoned with the word ‘safety’.@demnagram/Instagram
West’s four children – North, 9, Saint, 6, Chicago, 4, and Psalm, 3 – who he shares with ex Kim Kardashian were reportedly present to cheer him along with Kylie Jenner.
Other celebs in the crowd included Doja Cat and “Euphoria” star Alexa Demie, per Elle.
Later in the presentation, Bella Hadid and other models appeared in makeup that made them appear “blue and defeated.” The dramatic look came shortly after Hadid’s headline-grabbing escapade at the conclusion of the Coperni show, dressed in little more than a spray-painted design applied in real-time in front of the contestants’ eyes.
Balenciaga Creative Director Demna Gvasalia introduced the collection to the idea that personal identity is a “battlefield”.
“It takes courage and persistence to truly embrace your identity and who you really are,” reads part of his statement. “And the more you try to be yourself, the more punches you get in the face… The challenge is to stand up and move on to your true self after being beaten up and knocked down.”
The mud-laden backdrop for the presentation, meanwhile, was designed by conceptual artist Santiago Sierra, known for controversial projects that challenge social inequality. For one of his most notorious works — entitled “160 cm Line Tattooed on 4 People,” executed in 2000 — he paid a group of heroin-addicted prostitutes the cost of a hit of the drug in exchange for allowing him to draw a line to tattoo over each of their backs.
Of Sierra’s set, Gvasalia explained it as “a metaphor for digging for the truth and being down to earth”.
Among those who reacted to Ye’s first runway model appearance was legendary designer Betsey Johnson. The “All of the Lights” rapper shared a screenshot of a text message he received from the iconic 80-year-old fashion designer to his Instagram Stories.
“I was a little emotional when you ran,” she wrote. “It felt really special.”
West replied, “After all the fighting I’m pretty amazing this year too.”
“We have more battles ahead of us,” he added. “But we will win, God is on our side.”