1-7-2023 (SINGAPORE) During Paris Fashion Week Menswear Spring/Summer 2024 on June 25, the intimate mini runway show of Singapore fashion collective Youths In Balaclava (YIB) was briefly disrupted by the French police.
The showcase took place at a showroom located at 20 Rue de la Chaise, where YIB presented its SS24 collection, titled “Hybrid Moments,” from June 20 to 25. This marked YIB’s first physical showing in Paris after previously opting for digital film presentations since its debut at Paris Fashion Week in 2019.
The show incorporated a staged heist, with individuals wearing balaclavas portraying “robbers” entering the venue to kick off the fashion presentation. However, these individuals were noticed by members of the public before the show, which likely alarmed passers-by, prompting them to alert the police, as shared by a spokesperson for the collective with The Straits Times.
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Explaining the concept behind the show, the spokesperson said, “The idea for the show was a bank heist as we admire the ideology behind it, with each member playing a vital role for the success of the heist. It embodies the concept of ‘Eat the rich and feed the poor.'”
“The police were probably alerted before the show because the ‘robbers’ were waiting in a car nearby wearing balaclavas and jumpsuits,” the spokesperson added.
YIB understands that the French authorities waited and followed the car to the show venue, which had its shutters closed. Midway through the show, they interrupted and demanded the shutters to be opened, all while appearing prepared to draw their guns and adopting a “hostile” demeanor, according to the spokesperson.
“We had no choice but to open the shutters while the show was still ongoing. We explained the situation, and they apologized and left,” the spokesperson stated. They further mentioned that the models from the two disrupted looks had only minutes to change back into their previous outfits to resume the show, which involved 25 models and 28 looks.
One of the 20 guests present at the event filmed the incident and shared it online. Some netizens in the comments section dismissed it as a publicity stunt. However, YIB clarified that the authorities raiding the show was not part of their plan.
“We deeply apologize for the inconvenience caused and wasting the time of the French authorities. The intention was to create a conceptual heist experience for the attending guests, and we did not anticipate the chaos that ensued. Moving forward, we will take additional precautions,” the spokesperson expressed.
YIB is renowned for its streetwear and rebellious, anti-establishment aesthetic. The collective, currently consisting of seven individuals in their twenties, most of whom lack formal fashion training, came together during secondary school to create clothes they couldn’t afford. YIB was established in 2014 with the goal of challenging fashion’s exclusivity.
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Their breakthrough occurred in 2017 when they were discovered by Mr. Adrian Joffe, the president of Japanese fashion label Comme des Garcons and luxury retailer Dover Street Market (DSM). Mr. Joffe offered to carry YIB’s collection in all seven DSM stores worldwide. He mentored the collective and facilitated their participation in Paris Fashion Week in September 2019.
