What season was Demna Gvasalia's debut collection for Balenciaga?

Demna Gvasalia’s debut collection for Balenciaga was the Fall/Winter 2016 collection. He had been appointed the house’s creative director in 2015, succeeding Alexander Wang, and his first runway work followed for the 2016 autumn/winter season.

The collection introduced Demna’s Balenciaga language: oversized proportions, deliberately awkward silhouettes, sharp tailoring and references to everyday or institutional clothing. It helped establish the tension between luxury craftsmanship and recognizable street or workwear codes that became central to his tenure.

Spring/Summer 2016 is a frequent mix-up because it was Alexander Wang’s final Balenciaga show, presented before Demna’s appointment took effect. Fall/Winter 2015 also belongs to the transition period, while Spring/Summer 2017 was Demna’s subsequent season rather than his debut.