The anniversary brings archival exhibitions, global experiences, a collector-focused campaign, and a limited-edition collaboration with Damien Hirst
Balenciaga will begin worldwide celebrations marking the 25th anniversary of its Le City bag on November 10, 2026, with a program of exclusive launches, retail experiences, and collaborations. The anniversary will include displays of archival pieces and collector ephemera, personalization opportunities at select Balenciaga flagships, a campaign featuring notable Le City enthusiasts in major cities, and a limited-edition collection designed in collaboration with British artist Damien Hirst. The initiative positions the bag’s anniversary around the cultural community that has shaped its identity since its introduction in 2001.
The Le City was originally designed by then-Creative Director Nicolas Ghesquière, who drew inspiration from the motorcycle jacket and its associations with independence and utility. Its construction departed from the more rigid silhouettes and prominent branding prevalent in the early 2000s, instead emphasizing a supple Arena lambskin body, leather zipper ties, metal buckles, whipstitched handles, exterior pockets, and conical studs. The design’s relaxed proportions and functional details established a distinctive alternative to the period’s more overtly branded accessories.
The bag’s early popularity developed largely through organic visibility rather than traditional advertising. Supermodel Kate Moss was among the first fashion figures to express an interest in the original prototype, helping prompt its production. During the early 2000s, Le City became a recurring presence in paparazzi photographs of figures including Gisele Bündchen, Paris and Nicky Hilton, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, Sarah Jessica Parker, Nicole Richie, and Carine Roitfeld. Its roomy construction and understated branding earned it the description of an “Anti It Bag,” while its association with fashion insiders helped establish a following that extended beyond the initial product launch. The bag appeared in only one campaign during that period, photographed by David Sims in 2006.
Balenciaga subsequently revisited the design codes under Demna, who introduced the streamlined Neo City in 2020 and the more embellished Le Cagole in 2022. Both extended the original bag’s visual vocabulary through variations in hardware, buckles, and studs, while the broader product line expanded into footwear, accessories, and ready-to-wear. In 2024, the House officially relaunched Le City with a campaign featuring Kate Moss, reconnecting the bag with one of its earliest high-profile supporters and drawing renewed attention to its archival appeal.
The anniversary also follows the bag’s return to the runway in 2025, when a more luxurious reinterpretation appeared in Pierpaolo Piccioli’s first collection for Balenciaga. A subsequent campaign reunited the design with photographer David Sims, reinforcing the connection between the bag’s original cultural moment and its current positioning. The sequence of relaunches and reinterpretations demonstrates how Balenciaga has continued to use the Le City’s established codes while adapting the design to successive creative directions.
For the 25th anniversary, the House is placing greater emphasis on the people and collecting culture surrounding the bag. The campaign will feature notable Le City owners across major metropolises, while select flagships will present archival rarities alongside personal collections and offer bespoke customization. The Damien Hirst collaboration adds an artistic dimension to the anniversary program, extending the bag’s history of engagement with contemporary culture. Together, the initiatives frame Le City not simply as a recurring accessory, but as a design whose relevance has been sustained through successive generations of wearers and creative reinterpretation.
