Last night, as the city finally felt the first traces of warmth after months of winter’s grip, Walter Van Beirendonck and G-STAR unveiled their highly anticipated collaboration at Concrete Store. There was an energy in the air—partly from the rising temperatures, but mostly from the crowd that gathered to celebrate the arrival of Denim with Balls.
Think flamboyant, well-dressed figures spanning generations, conversations flowing as freely as the drinks, and a collective excitement that only Walter himself could amplify
Originally revealed at Paris Fashion Week, the capsule collection is a clash of avant-garde rebellion and technical denim innovation. Beirendonck—one of the Antwerp Six, a legend in his own right—was given full creative freedom to deconstruct denim, questioning the very foundations of garment construction.
The result? A 19-piece collection that ditches conventional stitching in favor of glued and taped seams, embossed textures, and exaggerated silhouettes that feel both futuristic and defiantly playful.
‘I aimed to challenge and reimagine traditional methods. Why are clothes still being stitched when we have the potential to explore so many other techniques?’ Beirendonck said. And if there’s one designer who could make the case for stitching as an outdated practice, it’s him.
The collection’s key pieces—Square Jeans, Wader Jeans, and the Future Proof Jacket—are unapologetic in their presence. Every detail carries Beirendonck’s unmistakable DNA: bold slogans, sculptural shapes, and a sense of social commentary that turns experimental design into something wearable. Cradle to Cradle-certified denim further solidifies the project’s forward-thinking ethos, proving that innovation and sustainability don’t have to exist in opposition.
Paul Kooiker, known for his surrealist eye, was tapped to shoot the campaign, capturing Walter himself through a raw, unfiltered lens. Shot entirely on an iPhone, the visuals strip fashion imagery down to its essence, removing the gloss and letting the garments—and the man behind them—speak for themselves.
Being there, in the thick of it, at Concrete Store felt like witnessing a master at work—effortlessly commanding a room, radiating pure creative energy. The collection itself is a testament to that spirit: fearless, unbothered by convention, and entirely its own.
The Denim with Balls capsule collection is available now at select retailers and online at g-star.com. Prices range from €140 to €1000.
