The fashion house is bringing early prototypes, collectors’ bags and a Damien Hirst collaboration to its historic Avenue George V address.
Balenciaga is marking the 25th anniversary of its Le City handbag with a nine-day exhibition and workshop in Paris. The pop-up is scheduled to open Tuesday at 10 Avenue George V, the address where Cristóbal Balenciaga established his couture house. Vogue reported that related events are planned in New York, Tokyo, Shanghai, Beijing and Seoul before the end of the year.
Nicolas Ghesquière developed the motorcycle-inspired design at the start of the 2000s. Its soft shape, laced handles, studs and buckles made it recognisable with little visible branding. An early brown canvas prototype from 2001 anchors the Paris display, alongside later versions and pieces loaned by collectors. The house reopened its couture salons at the address in 2021, the same year it returned to couture shows.
What Damien Hirst brings to the bag
Balenciaga’s anniversary collaboration with Hirst applies patterns from the artist’s work to the familiar silhouette. Vogue reported that the rarest version, hand-finished with splashes of colour recalling his spin paintings, is limited to 25 pieces. Other treatments use spots, butterfly imagery and embroidered patches. The house lists several anniversary editions in different sizes.
A workshop for bags already in circulation
That workshop connects the anniversary to how the design has aged in people’s wardrobes. The prototype and the new artist editions show how far Balenciaga can vary its materials and decoration. The collectors’ pieces give a different view of the same bag, with years of wear visible alongside the pristine versions.
That workshop connects the anniversary to how the design has aged in people’s wardrobes. The prototype and the new artist editions show how far Balenciaga can vary its materials and decoration. Collectors’ pieces and the repair services show how a soft leather bag acquires a character of its own through use.
Sources
Vogue — Le City House, the Paris display and its workshop
