For spring/summer, Bally gets ballin’

MANILA, Philippines - There is a fresh, energetic vibe at the flagship Bally boutique in Ion Orchard, Singapore. Hip-hop and electro pop blares softly around the store, and the bright interiors feature sporty, almost futuristic displays. The women’s handbags — no longer limited to just classic silhouettes in calfskin — are ogled by chic, young women dressed in black. In another corner hangs a set of men’s sweatpants finished in leather and suede — something that would’ve made Kanye West a little smugger (if that’s possible) since he claimed to have brought the idea to Fendi six years ago, only to be rebuffed.  

Needless to say, this wasn’t the Bally that my parents once shopped in. “I think there’s a shift to make it a bit younger, but we’re working on it. I think little by little, it’s improving,” Monica Salvador, the merchandise group manager of Bally in Manila, reveals. Well, if they’re carrying something Kanye West might wear, then they’re definitely taking a different direction.

 The injection of youth and trendiness is largely credited to the brand’s former creative directors Michael Herz and Graeme Fidler, who have since stepped down last July. While the brand recently appointed Pablo Coppola as its design director, the current spring/summer 2014 collection in stores was conceived under Herz and Fidler’s creative vision.

Since their departure last July, there have been a lot of changes in the house of Bally: Apart from the appointment of Coppola this month, current CEO Frederic de Narp joined the company just last November. Insistent that Bally be perceived as a lifestyle brand (whereas under previous management, Herz and Fidler’s RTW line was sidelined in favor of shoes and bags), de Narp has made it a point to highlight the high-tech garments of the brand.

“We are nearing a successful restructuring, holistic upgrading and repositioning of this fantastic brand and will be ready to roll out the new Bally as early as 2014,” Reinhard Mieck, CEO of Labelux, the parent group of Bally, said in a statement. “The combination of the brand’s rich heritage, loyal following, growth potential and Frederic’s leadership will make this the brand to watch in the sector and we warmly welcome him to the group.”

If the Bally lifestyle is to be defined by its clothing selection, then it would be safe to assume that the Bally customer is practical, innovative and quite clever. Take, for instance, the company’s new Techno Suede fabric, which is especially treated so that the wearer can brave heavy rains without fear of ruining it. The material can even withstand heavier fluids being spilled on it — red wine and espresso, for example, will slide right off. Used for the cycling-inspired capes and raincoats created for the seasoned traveler, it is crease-resistant, so you can toss it in your bag and throw it on when you need to.

Another innovation that the company has introduced is Rubberized Leather, which is calfskin that has been treated, so that the resulting finish is matte and rubbery. Like Techno Suede, it is also water-resistant, which is convenient, especially during unexpected downpours.

However, as one of the oldest luxury brands in the world, there are still some things that have remained traditional. Tucked away in another area of the store is a display of men’s shoes and belts, alongside a tiny booklet of leather swatches. “These are for the made-to-order shoes,” Aldo Lipari, CEO of Bally Oceania and South East Asia, tells me. For customers who want something truly special, it’s possible to customize your own pair of Bally shoes, which will then be crafted in Switzerland in just 10 weeks. “We also want to do this in Manila, hopefully earlier next year,” according to Lipari.

At the moment, though, the made-to-order services are only available for men, which is ironic, considering how the brand started. “Carl Franz Bally created the company for the love of his wife. They lived in a little village near Zurich and every time he went to Paris, his wife kept on saying, ‘Buy me shoes, buy me shoes.’ So then he thought, ‘Why not just make her shoes?’” Lipari narrates.

Some women have all the luck.

* * *

Bally is available on the G/F of Greenbelt 5, Makati City; the G/F of Alabang Town Center, Muntinlupa City; and on the 2/F of Shangri-La Plaza Mall, Mandaluyong City.