TL;DR
Balenciaga is marking the Le City bag’s 25th anniversary with a two-chapter global campaign. The first chapter features classic City styles and a limited-edition collaboration with artist Damien Hirst; a second chapter is expected to introduce new colorways.
Balenciaga is marking 25 years of its Le City bag with a global, two-chapter celebration that includes classic styles and a limited-edition collaboration with artist Damien Hirst, according to Hypebae’s November 2026 report. The first chapter introduces the anniversary offerings, while a second is expected to feature new colorways.
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The bag debuted in 2001 as the Motorcycle City Bag, with a design inspired by the motorcycle jacket. “City” initially referred to the medium size; the name later came to describe the broader line. Hypebae reports that the style’s unconventional, relaxed shape initially met mixed reviews when more rigid silhouettes were popular.
The design’s signature details include distressed Arena lambskin, braided handles, long leather laces, metal hardware and multiple zip pockets. The classic version has a cotton-canvas lining and a debossed Balenciaga logo. These features distinguish the bag while keeping its branding relatively discreet, a quality Hypebae identifies as part of its appeal.
The anniversary rollout is planned in two chapters. The first presents classic City styles alongside the Hirst collaboration. The second is set to introduce vivid colorways to complement the existing range. Hypebae says the anniversary editions are available through Balenciaga’s website, but does not give prices, quantities or release dates in its report.
A Design Returns to the Runway
The anniversary places the Le City back in focus as both a recognizable Balenciaga design and a reference point for the brand’s wider accessories. According to Hypebae, details associated with the bag—particularly its buckles and metal studs—have informed shoes and other accessories. The celebration therefore highlights the reach of a single silhouette beyond the original handbag.
It also connects the bag’s early reception with its later status. Hypebae says the design gained momentum after Kate Moss wore it, and describes its understated branding and roomy construction as appealing to fashion insiders. The current campaign draws on that history while adding a new artist collaboration. How the anniversary editions will be received, and how widely they will be available, has not been reported.
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From Motorcycle City to Anniversary
The Le City’s story began with a name and shape tied to motorcycle clothing. Hypebae reports that the bag stood apart from the more structured handbags popular at its launch. Its early reception was mixed, but the design later became associated with a low-logo alternative to the logomania of the period. Those characterizations are Hypebae’s account of the bag’s place in fashion, rather than sales or market data.
Balenciaga has already brought the silhouette back into view. In 2024, the brand relaunched it with a campaign starring Kate Moss, whom Hypebae identifies as an early wearer. The bag made its official runway debut in 2025, followed by a campaign photographed by David Sims—the photographer who had captured the bag in 2006, according to the report. The 25th-anniversary initiative follows those recent steps.
The design has also been worn by figures including Bella Hadid, Rachel Sennott, Paris Hilton and Nicky Hilton, Hypebae reports. Their appearances help explain the bag’s continuing public visibility, but the article does not provide sales figures or evidence that celebrity exposure directly drove demand.
““The first chapter” features classic City styles and a limited-edition collaboration with Damien Hirst.”
— Hypebae
Release Dates and Quantities Pending
Hypebae’s report does not specify the Hirst collaboration’s price, production quantity or availability dates. It also does not provide a schedule for the second chapter or identify which new colors will be included. The report says the first chapter features a VIP cast, but does not list all participants or explain the collaboration’s design details.
There are no sales figures, consumer response data or other measures showing the commercial effect of the anniversary. The report describes the bag’s history and cultural profile, but those descriptions should not be read as proof of current demand. Further product and campaign information may come from Balenciaga, but no additional announcement is included in the source material.
Second Campaign Chapter Ahead
The next stated milestone is the second chapter of Balenciaga’s anniversary campaign, which is expected to introduce vivid colorways alongside the existing offering. Balenciaga’s website is the listed destination for shopping the anniversary editions, according to Hypebae. Readers will need to check the brand’s announcements for specific release dates, stock details and information about the Hirst pieces.
Until those details are published, the confirmed outline is limited to the two-part campaign, the first chapter’s classic styles and artist collaboration, and the planned new colors. No further runway presentation or event has been announced in the source report.
Key Questions
Why is Balenciaga celebrating the Le City bag now?
The bag debuted in 2001, making 2026 its 25th anniversary. Balenciaga is marking the milestone with a two-chapter campaign and anniversary editions.
What is included in the anniversary rollout?
The first chapter features classic City styles and a limited-edition collaboration with Damien Hirst. A second chapter is expected to bring vivid new colorways.
What are the Le City bag’s defining features?
The classic design is made from distressed Arena lambskin and has braided handles, leather laces, metal hardware and zip pockets. It also has a cotton-canvas lining and a debossed logo.
When will the new colorways and Hirst collaboration be available?
The report does not give specific release dates or quantities for either the collaboration or the second chapter. It says the anniversary editions can be found through Balenciaga’s website.
Source: hypebae.com
