In a hectic week of new fashion campaign releases, no label can match Balenciaga’s celebrity power, which on Thursday introduced an ambassadorial trio—Isabelle Huppert, Kim Kardashian, and Naomi Watts—in its current ad series.
Nadav Kander’s images show each star holding a copy of the brand’s new famous Rodeo Bag. The Characters Campaign is the moniker given to the shoot by the house.
The campaign, which debuts on Thursday, July 18, 2024, emphasizes Balenciaga’s strong draw on renowned actresses and global personalities. Huppert has won best actress twice at the Cannes Film Festival and the Césars, France’s top cinema honor; Watts has twice been nominated for best actress at the Oscars; and Kardashian has 362 million Instagram followers.
Both Huppert and Kardashian have appeared in Balenciaga runway shows designed by the brand’s Georgian-born creative director, Demna.
“Each star reveals a side of herself by doing a character study while sitting in a plain chair on a white seamless.” She is dressed in signature Balenciaga ready-to-wear: hybrid garments, kick silhouettes, evening dresses, and Knife stilettos,” the Paris-based label stated in its release.
On each character’s lap is the Rodeo Bag, made of calfskin with a matte finish. The maison noted that its unique structure, variable closure system, pre-worn accordion pleats, softened piping, and raw edges are intended to replicate the calm experience associated with a cherished item worn on a regular basis or an heirloom passed down through generations.
Cristobal Balenciaga founded the house in San Sebastian in 1919, and it opened its couture business in Paris on Avenue George V. Cristobal in 1937, eventually becoming one of the half dozen most significant fashion designers of the last century.
Today, the house is part of the Kering luxury group, which includes Gucci, Saint Laurent, Bottega Veneta, and Alexander McQueen.
