Kanye West, Joan Smalls tapped as latest Balmain army recruits

By

Benjamin Fitzgerald

Published
Jul 26, 2016

French fashion house Balmain has tapped celebrity designer Kanye West, and supermodel Joan Smalls to be the face of the Paris label's autumn 2016 campaign.

Helmed by ​creative director Olivier Rousteing, Balmain leaked the first image of the campaign on the brand's Instagram account, revealing its newest Balmain army recruits - West and Smalls. 

Steven Klein shot the black-and-white imagery, while Pascal Dangin directed the campaign. The released image shines a bright light on Balmain's explosive autumn 2016 collection.

An encrusted, cropped jacket worn by West stars in the shoot, the same jacket worn by the singer-cum-designer at the Met Gala back in January in New York, where he attended with his famous wife, Kim Kardashian.

It's the second time West has featured for Balmain, rocking our for the label’s spring 2015 campaign alongside wife, Kim.