The Lion King is one of the most beloved children’s films of all time, and for good reason. This year it celebrates its 30th birthday, and to mark the occasion, Disney has partnered with the French fashion house Balmain on a limited-edition collection inspired by the seminal tale.
“Working on this collaboration was a dream come true,” notes the fashion house’s creative director, Olivier 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, for men and women, is inspired by the themes and characters in the film, and features several Balmain signatures, such as striking silhouettes, sharp tailoring and intricate embellishments. It was also an opportunity to spotlight local African design talent: the South African artist Nika Mtwana created a painting that Rousteing adapted into a colourful print; the Cameroonian artist Enfant Precoce’s painting of Simba is emblazoned on totes, coats, suits and tees; while the South African artist Cassius Kumalo created an eye-catching portrait of Nala, which was also adapted for a series of hoodies, tees and totes.
Released on 8 July, the collection will make its debut via a short film, directed by Femi Oladigbolu, which will be aired at the The Lion King In Concert at London’s Royal Albert Hall on 5 July. Featuring a “Balmain Army” of 30 models from across Africa, it was shot at different locations on South Africa’s Western Cape, weaving together the natural beauty of the landscape with Rousteing’s colourful, striking designs.
For the designer, the collection marked a homecoming of sorts. “By celebrating where we come from, we can clearly see where we are headed,” he shared. “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.”