NAMES IN THE NEWS : Blair Named Balmain Designer
The House of Balmain today presented its new designer for its Ivoire line of luxury ready-to-wear, Alistair Blair of Scotland.
He is well-known in Great Britain, having designed for Jaeger and under his own label.
“His sketches won me over,” said Alain Chevalier, who as Balmain’s president has overseen a major financial restructuring this year.
Chevalier said he based his choice on Blair’s creativity and experience, which includes nine years in Paris with couture houses such as Dior, Givenchy, Chloe and Karl Lagerfeld.
Erik Mortensen, Balmain’s Danish-born designer, will keep his post as head of haute couture, which he has occupied since Pierre Balmain’s death in 1982.
Fashion buffs will be watching for Blair’s October debut.
“I’ve given up my own label in England,” said Blair, who grew up near Glasgow and trained at St. Martin’s School of Art.
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