The Pierpaolo Piccioli epoch has begun. First, the freshly anointed Balenciaga designer tried "recalibrating" Balenciaga through a new range of sophisticated ball gowns in his debut collection. Now comes another big debut: the first collaboration from Piccioli's Balenciaga.

To ring in its post-Demna era, Balenciaga is partnering with the NBA on a sports-themed collection, exclusively unveiled here by Highsnobiety. It consists of leather varsity jackets, denim track pants, and shearling slides that are color-blocked and oversized to perfection, in blacks and blues and reds that echo the NBA's signature hues.

Since taking the reins last year, Pierpaolo Piccioli, formerly of Valentino, has made a point of infusing the unmistakable Balenciaga house codes with a new, softer sense of elegance, whilst still honoring those that came before him.

This isn't exactly the first instance of NBAlenciaga, but the first official one, as well as the premiere collaboration under the aforementioned's supervision. And it's a proper slam dunk in its own right.

But even through the Italian designer's distinct handwriting, one can still decipher the remnants of counter-cultural influences that defined Balenciaga's previous successes.

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This hot-off-the-press NBA link-up, available to shop from 2 pm CET on January 15, leans on and expands the label's hard-earned literacy in all things internet and entertainment, with touches of its now-infamous anti-fashion irony that previous creative director Demna introduced through his many collaborations.

It's an alluring glimpse at what's to come, and proof that, despite Piccioli promising much change at the fashion house, there can be merit, too, in sticking to what works.

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