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. Disney and Balmain are launching a limited-edition collection. This exclusive Disney x Balmain: The Lion King collection will be released worldwide on July 8th.
Balmain Creative Director Olivier Rousteing and his team have designed a collection of ready-to-wear pieces and accessories for both men and women. The designs draw inspiration from Disney’s powerful storytelling and the iconic characters and themes of “The Lion King.” This collaboration marks the first between Disney and the historic French fashion house.
“Working on this collaboration was a dream come true,” Rousteing shares. “I was only nine years old when ‘The Lion King’ first released, and even today, I can close my eyes and replay that incredible mix of music, images, and emotions. The lessons I absorbed have stayed with me for life.”
The collection embodies Balmain’s DNA, showcasing the house’s heritage, Parisian couture savoir-faire, and Rousteing’s personal reflections. Signature Balmain silhouettes, intricate embellishments, and exceptional tailoring are evident throughout the limited-edition pieces. Rousteing’s fascination with African craft and artistry is also reflected, inspired by his discovery of his birth parents’ origins from Somalia and Ethiopia. The collection is influenced by African weavings, patterns, embroideries, and silhouettes.
Highlighting a new generation of African talents, Disney and Balmain’s collaboration introduces fresh visions to a global audience. South African painter Nika Mtwana, Cameroonian painter Enfant Precoce, and South African painter Cassius Khumalo contributed compelling Afrofuturistic portraits and designs that are integrated into the collection’s prints, tees, tops, dresses, totes, coats, suits, and hoodies.
The collection is showcased in a short film directed by Femi Oladigbolu and produced by Disney in collaboration with Balmain. Filmed in South Africa’s Western Cape province, the film features a Balmain Army of 30 models from across Africa, celebrating community and heritage. The film will premiere during the July 5th “Lion King In Concert” event at London’s Royal Albert Hall, underscoring the inspiration behind Rousteing’s designs: “by celebrating where we come from, we can clearly see where we are headed.”
In further celebration, ABC Owned Television Stations will present a documentary special, “On The Red Carpet Storytellers Spotlight: Disney’s ‘The Lion King’ x Balmain,” premiering on Hulu and ABC’s platforms on July 10.
The Disney x Balmain: The Lion King collection will be available online at Balmain.com and in leading fashion boutiques globally starting July 8th. Special pop-up boutiques will also open in Los Angeles’ Saks Fifth Avenue Beverly Hills and Hong Kong’s Harbor City, with prominent displays in Selfridges and Harrods in London and Balmain’s flagship store in Paris. Don’t miss out on this vibrant and powerful collection celebrating the heart and essence of “The Lion King” and the spirit of Africa.
