Kanye West Returns to the Runway with Yeezy Season 01 Show in Los Angeles
The designer marked his first runway presentation in four years alongside the opening of his brand's flagship store.
Kanye West returned to the fashion runway on Wednesday night in Los Angeles for the first time in four years, debuting his brand's "Season 01" collection. The high-profile event doubled as the grand opening of Droam 1, the brand's very first brick-and-mortar flagship location situated on Beverly Boulevard.
Models walked around a large hill positioned in the center of a stark white, curvaceous space while unreleased tracks by the artist played in the background. The presentation marked a fresh start for the label, following its previous runway appearance during Paris Fashion Week in October 2022.
West's wife, Bianca Censori, sat front row wearing a curve-hugging, sand-colored catsuit unzipped well below her navel, paired with matching suede lace-up stiletto boots and an auburn hairstyle featuring bangs. The event also drew notable figures from the hip-hop community, including Kid Cudi, Big Sean, 2 Chainz, and A$AP Nast.
The designer was supported by his four children—North, Saint, Chicago, and Psalm—marking the first time West has been publicly photographed alongside all of his children in two years. Thirteen-year-old North West wore an oversized black nylon jacket, chunky black boots, signature faux piercings, and long blue hair.
The brand's previous runway show in 2022 was followed by a period of major corporate fallout after West made antisemitic remarks. Major companies including Adidas, Balenciaga, and Vogue subsequently cut ties with the designer and his brand.
Earlier this year, West issued an apology for his past rhetoric through a full-page advertisement in the Wall Street Journal, attributing his behavior to his bipolar diagnosis and complications resulting from a 2002 car crash.
Following the Los Angeles fashion event and flagship opening, West is scheduled to kick off a three-city tour on Saturday in Dallas. The tour will then head to Phoenix later this month before concluding with a stop in Mexico City in March.