When it debuted in 1994, The Lion King became an instant cinematic classic among audiences who admire the film’s powerful storytelling, beloved characters and classic theme songs like “Hakuna Matata,” and “Circle of Life.”
Now, The Lion King is being celebrated once more with the debut of a fashion collection in partnership with Balmain and its Creative Director Olivier Rousteing. The new line will be released on July 8 and commemorates the film’s 30th Anniversary as well as its forthcoming adaptation “Mufasa: The Lion King,” which premieres in theaters on December 20 of this year.
Directed by Barry Jenkins, the new movie features a cast of notable names, including Beyoncé, her daughter Blue Ivy Carter, Donald Glover, Seth Rogan and John Kani.
“Working on this collaboration was a dream come true,” said Rousteing in a press statement. “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.”
Conceptualized through the lens of Balmain’s Creative Director Olivier Rousteing, the new collection infuses the luxury fashion house’s core elements with its signature silhouettes, intricate embellishments and detailed tailoring. The line’s inspiration is attributed to African artistry, which can be seen throughout the collection’s bold hues and stunning designs.
Rousteing summarizes the new collection in one sentence: “by celebrating where we come from, we can clearly see where we are headed.”
“That statement really says it all for me,” Rousteing shared. “It is, of course, a key theme of “The Lion King.” It also explains my design process at Balmain, where I constantly reference the house’s extraordinary history. But, more personally, 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.”
Alongside the collection arrives a Disney-produced short film in collaboration with Balmain. Directed by Femi Oladigbolu and shot at various locations throughout South Africa’s Western Cape province, the film highlight’s the collection’s designs, inspiration and strength in community. On July 5, the film will be featured during the “Lion King in Concert” event at London’s Royal Albert Hall along with a performance from the Chineke! Orchestra conducted by Sarah Hicks.
“In celebration of the 30th anniversary of “The Lion King,” Olivier Rousteing and the team at Balmain created a vibrant and powerful collection, beautifully capturing the heart and essence of the iconic film and the spirit of Africa,” said Tasia Filippatos, president of Disney Consumer Products. “This collaboration continues Disney’s lasting legacy of working with global visionaries and spotlighting future generations of creatives.”
Disney and Balmain’s new collaborative collection officially launches on July 8 on Balmain.com and in Balmain locations worldwide. It will also be offered at pop-ups within Saks Fifth Avenue’s Beverly Hills and Harbor City (Hong Kong) locations. Luxury department stores Harrods and Selfridges will also showcase the collection in London.
