Balmain taps Simonetta for kid's line

Parisian maison Balmain is partnering with specialist childrenswear firm Simonetta. The Italian manufacturer has been tasked with the design, production and distribution of Balmain's kid's collection, for children aged 4 to 16 years old.

The collection will be presented for the first time at the next edition of Pitti Bimbo for spring/summer 2019, which takes place in Florence June 21 to 23.

"The Balmain Kids line (which launched in 2016 and until now was internally produced by the French house) was born with the goal of maintaining the same standards and style rigour of the pieces in the men's and women's collections. This collaboration with Simonetta guarantees the same level of quality," said Massimo Piombini, CEO of Balmain.

The collection marked for the upcoming summer season will be distributed in selected department stores and multi-brand retailers, and will include silver-studded jackets with black, white and neon-coloured graphic motifs.

In the past, the challenge for Balmain has been to successfully transcribe the brand's unique style from its men's and women's pieces into its children's wear. A style which has portrayed a resolutely contemporary image since the inception of its young artistic director, Olivier Rousteing, back in 2011.

Balmain, which in 2016 was purchased by the Qatari sovereign family investment firm Mayhoola, recorded revenues of 150 million euros in its most recent report.

Simonetta has already been entrusted with the manufacturing and global distribution of kid's lines for Emilio Pucci, Lanvin and Aston Martin, and last year finished off 2017 with 27 million euros in revenue.

In July 2017, Simonetta was bought out by Isa S.p.a, a branch of the Carisma group, which produces textiles for major luxury brands.

Balmain taps Simonetta for kid's line

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