Z2 Comics And Legendary Parisian Fashion House Balmain Bring You ‘Balmain Dreams: 10 OR’ – A Graphic Novel Celebrating The Historic Fashion House.

Z2 Comics is well-known by now for its comics with or about musicians and entertainers. But now they’re partnering with the legendary Paris fashion house Balmain for their first graphic novel.

Z2 Comics and Balmain are coming together to celebrate 10 years of the work of Balmain Creative Director, Oliver Rousteing, for Balmain Dreams: 10 OR, promising a collection of illustrated tales that celebrate the historic fashion house’s most iconic designs.

Balmain Dreams: 10 OR contains more than a dozen illustrated short stories, with each tale focused on one signature Balmain runway design. As Z2’s press release puts it, “A graphic novel that builds a series of dreamscapes and fantasies directly upon the key inspirations behind iconic Balmain pieces.”

“Balmain has long relied on telling stories in new and daring ways, ever since Pierre Balmain showed his first collection in 1945, and I am determined to continue to build upon that unique heritage. That is why I am so thrilled to see our designs inspiring some of today’s most talented graphic storytellers. Each creation my team and I put forth every season has an inspiration behind it—and I love seeing how those ideas and visions have been used to imaginatively construct some very compelling adventures.” – Olivier Rousteing

The book features stories from David Mack, Colleen Doran, Alitha E. Martinez, Dani, and Bengal.

A percentage of Balmain Dreams: 10 OR’s proceeds will go to Balmain’s longtime partner, (RED). Balmain has collaborated with (RED) on multiple projects and products over the years, raising money for the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Although there have been huge successes in that battle against HIV/AIDS, the Covid pandemic threatens some of that hard-won progress, with the pandemic threatening to overwhelm health and community systems, disrupt treatment and prevention programs, and divert essential resources.

“Balmain is the quintessential face of Parisian couture, and I loved collaborating with Olivier and a brand that’s continually defined fashion for three-fourths of a century. This book lies at the intersection of fashion, music, and sequential art, and I’m delighted that it also benefits (RED), a charity that’s passionately aided so many crises on an international scale.” – Z2 Publisher Joshua Frankel

Balmain Dreams: 10 OR is available directly from Z2 Comics and participating retailers – and there’s also some VERY exclusive editions available through the Balmain Book site. The one-of-a-kind edition (solid silver covers and binding etched with the iconic Balmain monogram, original illustrations) might have sold already, but there’s still the boutique tier 2,400-edition for $500, the 50-edition VIP tier for a measly $2,500, or the Special Edition tier – 3 copies only – and yours for just $50,000.