Watch below the interview of olivier rousteing and special guest valerie steele, director of the museum at the fashion institute of technology.

When we look at Pierre Balmain’s Jolie Madame style and spirit—the impressive cuts, colors, materials and spirit of our founder—it’s very easy to see how he pushed fashion in new directions to reflect a new mindset. Pierre Balmain’s distinctive contribution to the postwar fashion was therefore a true reflection of the empowering spirit of that new age, when women were suddenly allowed to envision new possibilities and enter into new positions.

The "PB" monogram, in its full graphic version with the two interlocking initials, officially became part of the Maison’s signature from 1970 onwards. At the time, it was used on the floor of the Balmain boutique that opened in New York in autumn 1970 on the emblematic Madison Avenue, as well as the historic 44 Rue François I boutique in Paris, which was redecorated in the summer of 1971 with a brown and beige version of the monogram.

The house’s Creative Director, Olivier Rousteing reinterpreted this labyrinthine pattern for his recently introduced 1945 collection, turning to one of France’s most respected luxury tapissiers to weave the rich and complex two-tone, three-dimensional PB-patterned jacquard that is directly inspired by Pierre Balmain’s mid-century designs. These 1945 offerings help make it very clear that Balmain’s unique 75-year-old heritage is always a key component of Rousteing’s modern designs.