Under the title “Balmain x Disney: The Lion King,” this new collection arrives in a limited edition. The line captures the essence of Africa, weaving a vibrant tapestry of tradition and richness into each piece.
“The Lion King” is a name that evokes fondness in people of all ages. Disney’s animated film, released in 1994, captivated an entire generation, and the 2019 live-action version charmed the following generations. Beyond the films, the eponymous musical has been a great success on Broadway since 1997.
In 2024, “The Lion King” is celebrating 30 years! To mark the occasion, Disney organized a special celebration in collaboration with the fashion world. Olivier Rousteing, Balmain’s creative director, was tasked with creating clothing and accessories for both men and women, inspired by iconic images from the story. The designer worked in partnership with African artists to develop the patterns.
Nika Mtwana designed hyper-realistic illustrations that adorn shirts, jackets, and dresses. His black-and-white sketches appear on tailored pieces, while the colorful drawings, evoking the original film version, decorate handbags, sneakers, and multicolored clothing—these were created by Cameroonian painter Enfant Precoce. The artist Cassius Khumalo dedicated himself to prints of the lioness Nala. Zebras, golden tones, beads, fringes, and drapery appear on dresses that evoke African garments worthy of a queen, while still maintaining the structured silhouette characteristic of Rousteing’s design.
“Working on this collaboration was the realization of a dream,” says the creative director. “I was only 9 years old when ‘The Lion King‘ was released, but even today, almost three decades later, I only need to close my eyes to relive that incredible combination of music, images, and emotions. The lessons I learned while sitting, completely mesmerized by what was happening on that huge screen in front of me, have stayed with me throughout my life.”
Olivier Rousteing doesn’t only reference the animation’s storyline, but also his own roots. The French designer is of Somali and Ethiopian descent but was not raised by his biological parents.
