(Paris) An investigation was opened after the theft on Saturday of more than 50 pieces from the next collection from the house of Balmain, a few days before Paris Fashion Week, the French prosecutor’s office announced on Monday.
An investigation into organized theft was opened and entrusted to the judicial police, said the Bobigny public prosecutor’s office.
The Balmain house announced to AFP that it was maintaining the fashion show and did not wish to comment on the matter because an investigation is underway.
It was Balmain stylist Olivier Rousteing who announced on his Instagram account the theft of more than 50 pieces from his next collection, nine days before the house’s show during Paris Fashion Week.
“Our driver called us to say he had been attacked by a group of people. More than 50 pieces were stolen,” said the 38-year-old star stylist in a message posted overnight from Saturday to Sunday.
The driver was transporting the goods on board a truck which was traveling “from the airport towards the Balmain headquarters” and which was “stolen”, he added, specifying that he was in the premises of home and was waiting for the delivery Saturday morning when the driver called. This one is “safe and sound”.
“My team and I have worked very hard. We are going to work even harder, day and night, just like our suppliers, but this is so disrespectful. I wanted to share this with you to remind you to never take anything for granted,” continued the stylist, artistic director of Balmain since 2011.
“The vehicle was robbed by armed individuals at the exit of the DHL zone of Roissy airport who took out the driver and fled with the vehicle,” indicates a police source.
The truck was found empty in Mitry-Mory, in the Paris region, specifies this source.
“Around ten packages were stolen” and the damage is “being assessed”, according to another source close to the investigation.
Among the unstolen packages, three were returned to the house, said a source close to the matter, specifying that the truck was transporting boxes other than those intended for Balmain.
According to the same source, three people participated in the theft.
Mixing hip-hop and distribution under the sign of diversity, Olivier Rousteing has shaken up the codes and multiplied the steps to make the world of luxury understandable for young people and “democratize” fashion, becoming a star himself, frequenting the celebrities and the red carpet of the Cannes Film Festival.
The show by Balmain, a house bought in 2016 by the Qatari investment fund Mayhoola, on the occasion of women’s ready-to-wear week in Paris, is scheduled for the evening of September 27.