The Battle Begins!!!!!!

Ghesquière Vs Balenciaga: The Battle Begins

• 05 September 2013
• Ella Alexander

Picture credit: Rex Features

THE hearing date for the Nicolas Ghesquière and Balenciaga court case is October 15. The French label is suing its former creative director for breach of contract after Ghesquière made derogatory comments about the brand.
Balenciaga is seeking damages of €7 million, following remarks made by the designer in an interview to System magazine in which he discussed his decision to leave the brand in November. He accused the label of "lacking in direction" and described how he was "sucked dry, like they wanted to steal my identity while trying to homogenise things". At the time of his exit, Ghesquière signed a contract stipulating that he would not make any comments that could damage the image of Balenciaga, its owners Kering, and its shareholders and collaborators.
"Balenciaga didn't want its designer to justify his departure by criticising the house that employed him," court papers read. "In general, the parties, knowing the hypersensitivity of the fashion industry to changes in creative direction, were forbidden from commenting on the break in order to avoid any detrimental effect on their economic interests or their image."
A civil case against the designer on the same matter started on Tuesday, although the full court hearing isn't expected until early next year. A verdict won't be reached until spring 2014, WWD reports.