fashion giant balenciaga has released a video game designed specifically to presents its fall 2021 collection. dubbed afterworld: the age of tomorrow, the bespoke video game is set in the year 2031 and sees players choose an avatar and take it on a hero’s journey, imagining a near future in which clothing is meant to transform over many years.

balenciaga created a video game for its fall 2021 collection, here's how to play
all images by balenciaga

 

 

‘the narrative of afterworld is anchored to mythological pasts and projected futures with timeless archetypes and speculative imagery,’ balenciaga explains. ‘the world may appear decaying at first, but it is far from a dystopian view, showing instead the slow return to a healthier balance of nature and industry.’

balenciaga created a video game for its fall 2021 collection, here's how to play

 

 

balenciaga’s afterworld: the age of tomorrow video game and the fall 2021 collection present the company’s vision of the near future, where treatments tease the aging process of materials, emphasizing the idea of wearing something for decades or repurposing it forever. for example, a garment that appears to serve one function may serve another: a satin trench is not a coat but a party dress; a blanket becomes a coat or a hooded cape. 

balenciaga created a video game for its fall 2021 collection, here's how to play

 

 

‘NASA logos from disparate eras suggest retro astronaut-wear from a time before mass space travel, repurposed into futuristic outerwear,’ balenciaga continues. ‘gaming champion uniforms feature, among other logos, that of the PlayStation 5, launched in november of 2020. a standard collegiate sweatshirt reads “free,” alluding to an advanced state of mind and the importance of freedom in future societies. another t-shirt asks that the wearer be taken to a balenciaga store if lost. other shirts offer information about circular fashion and closing the clothing waste loop.’

 

 

 

to present the summer 21 pre-collection, balenciaga rolled out a video (above) where the paris-based company’s sound director loïk gomez aka BFRND took over the musical aspect. the video was directed by walter stern, and it showcases the collection with models walking around paris at nighttime singing corey hart’s 1984 hit ‘sunglasses at night’, transforming the city of lights into a runway.

balenciaga created a video game for its fall 2021 collection, here's how to play

 

 

to play the game, follow this link here.

balenciaga created a video game for its fall 2021 collection, here's how to play it

balenciaga created a video game for its fall 2021 collection, here's how to play it

balenciaga created a video game for its fall 2021 collection, here's how to play it

balenciaga created a video game for its fall 2021 collection, here's how to play it

balenciaga created a video game for its fall 2021 collection, here's how to play it

balenciaga created a video game for its fall 2021 collection, here's how to play it

balenciaga created a video game for its fall 2021 collection, here's how to play it

 

 

project info:

 

name: afterworld: the age of tomorrow

type: video game

created for: balenciaga fall 2021 collection

music: BFRND