By Jael Rucker: Published: January 17, 2026

LOS ANGELES, CA — For Fall 2026, Pierpaolo Piccioli isn’t just looking at the archive; he’s looking at the human anatomy. If you are a fan of high fashion and sports, particularly basketball, then you’ll definitely be happy with Balenciaga’s surprise collaboration with the NBA, which officially introduces techwear as a new luxury category. This isn’t just about logos—it’s about the debut of ProBody performance fabric and the engineering of a $9,490 varsity jacket.

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The Data Deets (Spec Table)

Item	Technical Specification	Price
Varsity Jacket	Double Compact Wool / Cowskin / Silk-Polylactide Padding	$9,490
Tracksuit Jacket	Japanese Denim / Regenerative Cotton Poplin	$2,790
NBA T-Shirt	Oversized Fit / 100% Heavyweight Cotton	$1,250
Jet Sneaker	Weightless Injected Foam / Technical Mesh	$1,350

The “ProBody” Tech Breakdown

The cornerstone of Piccioli’s “Body and Being” philosophy is the ProBody textile composition.

• The Spec: Engineered with moisture-wicking, breathable and antibacterial properties.
• The Forensic Detail: Unlike standard Lycra, ProBody is designed with elasticity, meaning it’s meant to move like a second skin, while still providing the structural drape of a tailored garment while functioning like elite athletic gear.

The Grails: Varsity & Coach Jackets

The $9,490 Varsity: (Style 864902TQS041070)

• Material: Crafted from ivory double-compact wool and black cowskin (sleeves).
• The Padding: Here is the hidden spec: the padding is a 60% silk and 40% polylactide. Silk provides heat retention without the synthetic “bulk” found in cheaper luxury bombers.
• The $2,650 Coach Jacket: * Material: Satinated polyamide with “loop sports icon” embroidery.

Footwear: The “Jet” Philosophy

• The Jet Sneaker: Executed without weight. That’s what I’m talking about
• The Tech: It utilizes an injected-foam midsole and technical mesh to remove almost all mass from the silhouette. This marks a shift from the chunky “Triple S” era toward a streamlined, high-velocity movement aesthetic.

By stripping away the gimmicks and focusing on the natural air between the body and the fabric, Balenciaga has turned the basketball court into a laboratory for human-centric design. The result? A collection where $9,000 varsity jackets and weightless Jet sneakers don’t just signal status—they define the new ‘Street-Formal’ aesthetic.

Author Bio

Jael Rucker is the founder of Decked Out Magazine. She has previously worked as the Associate Commerce Editor at PureWow, focusing on analytics and trends to pitch stories and optimize articles that build and engage their audience. Her work has also been seen in Footwear News and WWD. Prior to 2024, she was the style and pop culture editor at ONE37pm for over three years, contributing numerous product reviews, brand profiles and fashion trend reports, which included interviewing Steph Curry, Snoop Dogg and more.