Balenciaga has tapped British artist Damien Hirst for a limited-edition collaboration celebrating 25 years of its iconic Le City bag. Dubbed “Damienciaga,” the capsule brings Hirst’s recognizable spots, butterfly motifs, and playful sticker graphics to the house’s celebrated handbag, alongside a wider selection of apparel, accessories, and footwear.
The collaboration lands as Balenciaga celebrates a significant milestone for one of its most recognizable accessories. First introduced in 2001, the Le City bag became a defining handbag of the early 2000s, earning a following among celebrities and fashion insiders for its relaxed silhouette, soft leather construction, and motorcycle-inspired detailing. For its 25th anniversary, the house has turned to Hirst to reinterpret the design through the visual language of contemporary art.
Damien Hirst Brings His Signature Artwork to the Le City
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The central piece of the Damienciaga collection is a reworked version of the Le City bag, featuring Hirst’s signature multicolored spots. The artist also introduces butterfly compositions assembled from his characteristic dotted patterns, alongside wing-inspired mandalas and sticker-like graphics featuring pills, hearts, and Balenciaga branding.
The collaboration extends beyond handbags, with the artist’s visual motifs appearing across a range of ready-to-wear and accessories. Spot patterns feature on T-shirts, scarves, and wallets, while the graphic treatments extend to hoodies, caps, and bomber jackets. The collection also includes a reimagined version of Balenciaga’s Triple S sneaker, giving the footwear a distinctly collectible feel.
The sneakers are constructed from polyurethane and polyester, arrive in two colorways. Some sizes were reportedly already unavailable shortly after the collection’s release.
A 25-Year History Behind Balenciaga’s Le City Bag
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Introduced by then-creative director Nicolas Ghesquière in 2001, the Le City quickly developed an identity of its own. Its slouchy construction, distressed leather, metal studs, and buckle details offered a different take on luxury handbags at the time.
Kate Moss became one of its earliest high-profile admirers, with Sienna Miller, the Olsen twins, and Nicole Richie also helping establish its celebrity following. Richie now returns to the Balenciaga universe as the face of the Le City anniversary campaign.
The bag has since passed through several creative eras, with Alexander Wang, Demna, and Pierpaolo Piccioli each offering their interpretations. Despite these changes, its original proportions and recognizable hardware have remained central to its appeal.
For Hirst, the anniversary provides an established design with a strong cultural identity to work against. Rather than introduce an entirely new silhouette, the artist transforms an existing Balenciaga icon into a canvas for his artwork.
The Collaboration Arrives During a Leadership Transition at Balenciaga
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The Damienciaga launch also comes at an interesting point in the house’s creative history. Pierpaolo Piccioli’s departure was confirmed by Kering on November 5, less than two years after his appointment as creative director in May 2025. He presented his first collection for the house in October of that year, succeeding Demna.
On November 6, Balenciaga announced that British designer Martine Rose would take over the position, with her appointment officially beginning November 16. Rose will become the first woman to lead the house in its 109-year history. She is also familiar with Balenciaga, having previously worked as a menswear consultant under Demna.
With Rose yet to present her first collection, the Hirst collaboration arrives between two creative chapters. Its focus on the Le City archive gives the anniversary campaign a clear connection to the house’s history while Balenciaga prepares for its next direction.
Balenciaga Opens Le City House in Paris
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The collaboration is part of a wider anniversary program. On November 10, Balenciaga opened Le City House at its historic building on Avenue George V in Paris. Running through November 19, the exhibition brings together the original 2001 prototype, rare archival editions, and Le City bags previously owned by celebrities.
The exhibition is also expected to travel to New York, Tokyo, Shanghai, Beijing, and Seoul, extending the anniversary celebrations to other major fashion capitals.
The accompanying campaign features Nicole Richie in her first project for Balenciaga, while Isabelle Huppert appears in the Paris presentation.
The limited-edition Damienciaga collection is available through Balenciaga’s official website. With the Le City anniversary bringing renewed attention to the house’s archive, the collaboration offers collectors another interpretation of a handbag that has remained part of its identity for 25 years.
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Featured image: Balenciaga
