Disney x Balmain: The Lion King
collection, an offering of ready-to-wear designs and
accessories for men and women, finds inspiration in Africa's artisanal traditions, while
celebrating a new generation of African talents
The collection is featured in a short film shot
in South Africa by
Femi Oladigbolu, which weaves together the collection's
designs, incredible scenery and the story of a Rousteing-led
Balmain Army, composed of models
from all across Africa, making its
way toward a joyous homecoming celebration
Oladigbolu's film will be presented as part of
the July 5th "Lion King In Concert"
evening at London's Royal Albert Hall, featuring the Chineke!
Orchestra
PARIS, June 27,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- To celebrate the 30th
anniversary of the Academy Award®-winning Walt Disney Animation
Studios' classic "The Lion King" and the upcoming theatrical
release of "Mufasa: The Lion King" in December, the Disney x
Balmain: The Lion King collection will be released
across the globe on July 8th. For the
limited-edition offering, Balmain Creative Director Olivier Rousteing and his team have created a
collection of ready-to-wear pieces and accessories for men and
women. The striking designs build directly upon Disney's acclaimed
storytelling, as well as the powerful themes and unforgettable cast
of characters that distinguish Disney's "The Lion King." This
collection marks the first collaboration between Disney and the
historic French fashion house.
"Working on this collaboration was a dream come true," notes
Rousteing. "I was only nine years old when "The Lion King" was
first released, but still today, almost three decades later, I only
need to close my eyes to replay that incredible mix of music,
images and emotions. The lessons that I absorbed, as I sat,
absolutely transfixed by what was happening on the giant screen in
front of me, have remained with me for my entire life."
The collection incorporates key ingredients of Balmain's DNA.
While guiding the house for the last thirteen years, Rousteing has
consistently riffed on three essentials: a deep reverence for
Balmain's singular heritage, a passion for the incomparable
savoir-faire of Parisian couture, and a willingness to build
upon intimate reflections about his own distinctive voyage through
life. Signature Balmain silhouettes and the impressive
embellishment and tailoring skills of the house of Balmain are
evident throughout this limited-edition offering. In addition,
there is a clear continuation of Olivier Rousteing's examination of
his personal biography, reflected in his fascination with the
brilliant creativity that sets apart African craft and artistry, a
theme that has notably marked his Paris Fashion Week runways since
the discovery that his birth parents were originally from
Somalia and Ethiopia. Africa's stunning weavings, mesmerizing
patterns, intricate embroideries and striking silhouettes continued
to be strong inspirations for Rousteing and his Balmain design
team, as they worked on this collection.
This collaboration also shines a spotlight directly upon a new
generation of young African talents. Both Disney and Balmain are
proud of their long traditions of championing emerging artists and
this new collection builds upon that shared history, introducing a
grouping of fresh and appealing visions to a global audience. South
African painter Nika Mtwana created a compelling Afrofuturistic
portrait for the collection—cleverly managing to incorporate a
scene from "The Lion King" into his work, via a reflection on the
lens of his subject's sunglasses. Rousteing adapted Mtwana's design
into the colorful prints that cover some of the limited-edition
collection's tees, tops and dresses. Cameroonian painter Enfant
Precoce's concentrates on Disney's Simba, with his artwork showing
"The Lion King" star navigating through a dreamlike landscape
filled with an array of African wildlife. Precoce's design—in an
array of black-and-white and multi-colored variations—covers totes,
coats, suits, tees and gowns. South African painter Cassius Khumalo relies on a striking mix of
vivid blue, deep black and gold-foil to create an eye-catching
portrait of Disney's Nala, the film's strong and independent
lioness. Khumalo's powerful image has been adapted for a series of
totes, tees and hoodies.
The collection is showcased in a short film directed by
Femi Oladigbolu and produced by
Disney in collaboration with Balmain. Shot at different
locations in South Africa's
Western Cape province, the film seamlessly weaves together
impressive natural beauty and the striking silhouettes, patterns
and colors of the new collection, as it follows a Rousteing-led
Balmain Army, composed of 30 models
from all across Africa, making its
way through stunning landscapes before arriving at a joyous
homecoming celebration. The film will be shown during the
July 5th "Lion King In Concert"
evening at London's Royal Albert Hall, featuring the Chineke!
Orchestra conducted by Sarah
Hicks. Oladigbolu's film celebrates the power of community
and, as Rousteing notes, it also underlines the guiding inspiration
behind his designs for The Lion King Collection—an
inspiration that he sums up in a short phrase: "by celebrating
where we come from, we can clearly see where we are headed."
"That statement really says it all for me," explains
Rousteing. "It is, of course, a key theme of "The Lion King." It
also explains my design process at Balmain, where I constantly
reference the house's extraordinary history. But, more personally,
it reflects my own long search for answers about my origin. And
that's why returning to Africa to
work on this film was such an incredibly moving experience for me.
It released that same wave of emotions that I experienced when I
first viewed "The Lion King," all those many years ago—for, as you
can imagine, watching that solitary lion cub construct his own
unique and chosen family, while searching for truth about his
heritage, hit me, an adopted child, particularly hard."
"In celebration of the 30th anniversary of "The Lion King,"
Olivier Rousteing and the team at Balmain created a vibrant and
powerful collection, beautifully capturing the heart and essence of
the iconic film and the spirit of Africa," said Tasia
Filippatos, President, Disney Consumer Products. "This
collaboration continues Disney's lasting legacy of working with
global visionaries and spotlighting future generations of
creatives.
To further highlight Rousteing's distinctive personal journey,
ABC Owned Television Stations presents the documentary special, "On
The Red Carpet Storytellers Spotlight: Disney's 'The Lion King' x
Balmain," as well as a special episode of "Localish Unfiltered,"
which will premiere on Hulu and the ABC Owned Television Stations'
streaming and digital platforms on July
10. It is executive produced by Nzinga Blake, executive producer of Race &
Culture at ABC Owned Television Stations.
The Disney x Balmain: The Lion King collection will
launch on July 8th, online at
Balmain.com and across the globe at Balmain addresses and the
world's leading fashion boutiques. Pop-up boutiques filled with the
collection's offerings will open on July
8th inside Los Angeles'
Saks Fifth Avenue Beverly Hills and July
11th inside Hong Kong's
Harbor City. In London, both Selfridges and Harrods will
feature the collection. In Paris,
the large windows at Balmain's rue Saint Honoré flagship will be
dedicated to the entire collection. For more information on the
collection's pop-up locations, visit Balmain.com or Balmain's
social media accounts.
Media kit (photos and videos): Link
About Balmain
More than 75 years ago, when
Pierre Balmain first introduced his
"New French Style," it immediately became clear to all that his
eponymous house was offering a distinctly fresh, bold, and feminine
conception of haute couture, one which broke with many of the
well-established conventions of the era. His audaciousness paid
off. Pierre Balmain became one of
the handful of young French talents who ushered in the mid-century
golden age of couture and helped to re-establish Paris as the world's fashion
capital.
Since 2011, Balmain Creative Director Olivier Rousteing has been inventively building
upon Pierre Balmain's extraordinary
legacy, while always remaining true to his own determination to
design clothes that reflect the way his inclusive, powerful and
global Balmain Army wishes to live
today. The result is 21st-Century Balmain's renewed French style—a
unique and instantly recognizable house silhouette and attitude
that highlights the singular craftsmanship of the celebrated
Balmain ateliers, while consistently referencing a rich Parisian
heritage.
About Disney Consumer Products
Disney Consumer
Products (DCP) is the division of Disney Experiences that brings
beloved brands and franchises into the daily lives of families and
fans through products – from toys to t-shirts, apps, books, console
games and more – and experiences that can be found around the
world, including on the Disney Store e-commerce platform and at
Disney Parks, local and international retailers, as well as Disney
store locations globally. The business is home to world-class teams
of product, licensing and retail experts, artists and storytellers,
and technologists who inspire imaginations around the world.
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