Balenciaga marks 25 years of 'Le City' bag with Damien Hirst collaboration

French luxury house Balenciaga, part of the Kering group, is celebrating the 25th anniversary of its 'Le City' bag with a new campaign and a limited-edition collaboration with British artist Damien Hirst.

The bag was launched in 2001 and, according to Balenciaga, has since become a symbol of radical style. The house links that status to Hirst's work, which has long explored the idea of the cultural icon.

Hirst's motifs on 'Le City'

For the collaboration, Hirst has created a visual language exclusive to Balenciaga, combining the avant-garde character and craftsmanship of 'Le City' with the codes of contemporary art. The central design is a new pattern built from two of the artist's most recurring motifs: round, multicoloured spots arranged into the simplified shape of a butterfly.

Further designs draw on other parts of Hirst's practice. These include mandalas made up of butterfly wings; his name and well-known works translated into embroidered patches; and his Spin Paintings, stretched across the contours of the bag.

According to Balenciaga, the collaboration reflects a shared interest in universal beauty, renewal and the power of belief.

Campaign in Los Angeles

The anniversary campaign pays tribute to the figures who helped turn the bag into an icon. It features Nicole Richie, an early collector of the bag, and actress Rachel Sennott, a friend of the house, photographed with their bags around Los Angeles.

The images take the form of a series of snapshots that, according to the brand, reflect how the line became sought after through a global community of well-known wearers, and how it continues to connect different generations and cultures.

'Le City' bags are available in dozens of silhouettes, sizes, colourways and materials through Balenciaga's webshop and in its stores worldwide.