Rhuigi Villaseñor Unveils His Debut Campaign For Bally
Featuring the newly appointed creative director’s inaugural S/S 23 collection, the picturesque visuals signal a new era for the heritage brand.
Featuring the newly appointed creative director’s inaugural S/S 23 collection, the picturesque visuals signal a new era for the heritage brand.
With their expertly crafted leather goods, the great outdoors might not be the first thing that springs to mind when thinking about Bally. While their luxe lace-ups and commitment to artisinal craftsmanship have made the heritage fashion house a sartorial go-to, Bally also boasts a history of innovative outdoor gear. From the boots Tenzina Norgay wore during the first-ever ascent of Mount Everest in 1953 to curling shows worn by the Swiss Olympic team, it’s this part of Bally’s history that inspired Rhuigi Villaseñor’s first campaign as creative director.
While he didn’t settle on the Swiss Alps, Villaseñor chose an equally picturesque rocky coastline as the backdrop for his S/S 23 campaign. Shot by photographer Harley Weir, models — styled by former editor-in-chief of Vogue France Emmanuelle Alt — find themselves in craggy, windswept terrain. ‘I wanted to introduce a new visual language to Bally campaigns, a mix of bold sophistication and sensuality to express my modern vision of luxury’, Villaseñor explains in the press release.
The Filipino American designer was already a defining voice in streetwear, having established his much lauded label Rhude, in 2015. Presenting his inaugural S/S 23 show for Bally as part of Milan Fashion Week last September, Villaseñor brought his distinct Californian ease to Italy with a denim-heavy collection accompanied by snakeskin cowboy boots. With a nearly two hundred year old archive we can only guess how the designer is going to contionue reframing his vision for the Swiss heritage brand.
