On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the animated and Oscar-winning film The Lion King, Disney and Balmain have presented a limited edition collection. Created by creative director Olivier Rousteing, it includes accessories and clothing for men and women. It also draws inspiration from African artisanal traditions and celebrates the next generation of African talent.
The collection is the first collaboration between the French fashion house and Disney. It encompasses the key ingredients of Balmain’s DNA: signature silhouettes and tailoring excellence. The release also continues to explore Olivier Rousteing’s personal biography. In particular, his fascination with African craftsmanship, a theme that was reflected in the designer’s Paris shows after he learned that his parents were of Somali and Ethiopian descent.
Africa’s amazing weavings, mesmerizing patterns, intricate embroideries and striking silhouettes were a real inspiration for Rusten and his Balmain design team when working on this collection.
Special attention was paid to the generation of young African artists. For example, artist Nika Mtwana created a futuristic portrait with glasses that depict a scene from The Lion King. Olivier Rousteing adapted the design of the artist into bright prints that decorate T-shirts, tops and dresses.
Cameroonian artist Enfant Prekose created a design for the collection featuring The Lion King star Simba traveling through a fantastic landscape with African wild animals. It is used in black, white and multicolored variations on bags, coats, suits and T-shirts.
In contrast, South African artist Cassius Kumalo used a combination of bright blue, deep black and gold foil to create an expressive portrait of the lioness Nala, which appears on a series of bags, T-shirts and hoodies.
