Overlooking this classic Balenciaga bag while discussing all about breathtakingly elegant articles designed by Balenciaga in the early 2000’s wouldn’t be just. In an attempt to dig through history to find out what is still trending in the fashion industry, you wouldn’t, definitely, be able to ignore the alluring comeback of Balenciaga City Bag.
Nicolas Ghesquière, the creative director of Balenciaga crafted this bag in 2001, quite the early years of the commencement of his career with Balenciaga. At the release of this Balenciaga bag, it was named and got popular with the name Motorcycle or Biker bag whereas, on its earlier than-expected comeback it is now catching the spotlight with the name of ‘Balenciaga City bag’. With a structure pretty similar to a tote bag, the Balenciaga City bag comes with top handles and an additional crossbody strap to enhance the convenience of carrying it along in whatever style one likes the most.
The Story of Balenciaga City Bag
At first, when Nicolas Ghesquière introduced the prototype of this Balenciaga bag, it was criticized severely by the team: some pointed toward its slouchy and soft surface and believed that the bag has structural shortcomings, and others commented, that it is too mushy. Owing to the ongoing trend of stiff-surfaced bags being the most popular at the time, the criticism was not even all out of the line.
Ghesquière in one of his interviews conducted revealed in 2011 that, “accessories [in 2001 at the time] were rigid. Luxury leather, especially, was about rigidity. So they were not happy, and they decided not to produce it”. Although, the design couldn’t get approval but got a chance from the bosses when they only permitted the manufacturing of 25 pieces just for display purposes on the runways. There starts the series of unstoppable demands and inquiries from the top trendsetters. According to Nicolas Ghesquière’s exact words, “It was a new fresh thing, but it looked like an old, good, friendly thing” that he was found stating while expressing his opinion about Balenciaga biker bag.
The fashion enthusiasts were seen keenly inquiring about the Balenciaga bag: some showed interest in it being a vintage bag others guessed it new. The common inquiry true for all of them was, “Can they have one?”. The coveted Balenciaga bag got the grace of several Hollywood celebrities on its early release to date as well. Kate Moss was the first one who ask for the bag and co-signed for it as she was the one exhibiting Balenciaga bags these days on the runways.
Description of Balenciaga Bag
Similar to almost all the other bags of Balenciaga, the City Balenciaga bag is also made of Lambskin. The leather material used in its manufacturing weighs pretty light yet the durability owing to its strength is on point. This slouchy leather bag is not much different from other articles of Balenciaga: Balenciaga city bag has two top handles, a crossbody leather strap, leather tassels connected with the zippers, and metal studs at multiple points. The inner linings are of cotton that is quite easy to clean and durable as well. In every season, the Balenciaga Bag segment showcases a few new colors for a limited stock of Balenciaga City bags.
Timeline of Celebrities Styling with Balenciaga Bag
Kate Moss-2003
In 2003, Kate Moss, the English supermodel, was sighted carrying a Balenciaga City Bag in London. The cutting-edge trendsetter and fashion model paired the bag with a black knitted top, jeans, and brown folded-down long boots.
Ashley Olsen- 2004
In 2004, Ashley Olsen, an American businesswoman plus a fashion designer was spotted carrying a mint-colored Balenciaga bag while pairing it with a black top, off-white skirt, and metallic-toned heels at Oscar de la Renta’s Spring 2005 runway show.
Miley Cyrus-2010
Miley Cyrus, a popular American Singer and actress, needs no introduction for her fashion choices equally popular was also spotted in a grey-toned version of the Balenciaga bag in 2010. The singer paired the bag with a baggy casual grep top, black ripped leather pants, and high-thigh black leather boots.
Khloe Kardashian-2011
In 2011, Khloe Kardashian, like her sisters, was also sighted carrying a light version of the Balenciaga bag. Every other year, with any one of the Kardashian or Jenner sisters, the Balenciaga City bag was seen as approved by all family members and a family bag.
Victoria Justice-2011
Exactly a decade later of its creation, the Balenciaga bag again became the most trending accessory highly appreciated by top style icons. In the list of star-styling with Balenciaga bags in 2011, Victoria Justice also reserved a spot and caught sight of the media while wearing a black version of the Balenciaga City bag in a crossbody style.
Kendal Jenner-2013
Kendal Jenner, an American model as well as a socialite, in 2013, long after a decade the Balenciaga City bag was first designed, stepped after her sisters Kylie Jenner, Kim, and Kourtney, and Khloe Kardashian gave a public appearance while styling the Balenciaga bag. In a casual style, Kendal Jenner was seen in Los Angeles with a black-colored classic Balenciaga bag rolled in her arms.
Care and Maintenance of Balenciaga Bag
The soft, mushy, and flimsy leather surface made of the lambskin of this Balenciaga bag requires proper care and maintenance to live long without getting damaged amid your fashion journey. Selecting non-synthetic and purely organic leather care products can be really helpful for this purpose. Whites Pearl offers all organic leather care products that include a leather cleaner, mink oil or conditioner, and a leather protector. Owing to these products made of non-toxic ingredients, they don’t cause any harmful effects like discoloration or color fading to any of your leather bags.
Let’s have a look at the four-step Balenciaga bag care routine while using Whites Pearl Leather care products.
Remove Dirt Off the Surface of the Balenciaga Bag
Our everyday use items usually fall prey to dirt and smut that come from the polluted environment and accumulate on the surface of our expensive belongings. Especially, in case of heading towards proper cleaning of a leather item, first you need to remove this dirt off the surface. Pick a soft and clean cloth and lightly rub it all over the leather surface of your Balenciaga bag. Ensure, you have dusted smut off all the parts of the bags. As the surface of your leather bag clears off, move on to the next step.
Remove Dirt Off the Pores of the Balenciaga Bag
Why Deep Cleaning of Leather Items is Essential?
The next step involves the under-surface cleaning of the leather Balenciaga City bag. The mushy and genuine lambskin of Balenciaga bag definitely has pores on its surface like any other genuine animal hide. The dirt particles do not stay limited to the surface of the leather bag but also reach deep into the pores of the leather and get settled there.
Their presence under the leather surface definitely affects the quality of the leather material. Dust, of course, affects the leather surface by sucking up all the natural oils of the leather. As the leather surface loses its oils, it becomes moisture less and dehydrated. The effects of dehydration become prominent on the surface by discoloration, cracks, and peeling of the leather. That’s the reason why regular deep cleaning of the leather surface is essential.
Whites Pearl Leather Cleaner Application
Similar to all other leather care products, the application method of Whites Pearl Leather Cleaner is also very smooth and hassle-free. What you are required to do is just to take a reasonable amount of the cleaner on a microfiber cloth and rub the cloth gently on the leather surface. Don’t forget to cover all the parts. In the case of cleaning Balenciaga’s bag, the process wouldn’t take more than a minute. After spreading the cleaner all over the leather surface, now leave it to rest to get dried.
Reinvigorate the Surface of Balenciaga Bag
Once your leather item reaches the condition of getting the effects of dehydration in the form of cracking and peeling of the leather’s surface, you can’t move forward without treating it first. But, how can you reinvigorate and revive the surface? Conditioning is what would restore your favorite Balenciaga bag to its original condition by healing the cracks and the effects of dehydration. The right leather conditioner helps to incorporate the moisture into your leather bag and rehydrate it. Besides Whites Pearl Leather conditioner, its Mink Oil does the same magic for the restoration of your leather items.
The appropriate application of the leather conditioner as well as the mink oil requires thorough gentle massaging. So, take a fair amount of leather conditioner or mink oil balm on the fabric and apply it to your Balenciaga bag giving it a soft massage in a circular motion. The product doesn’t take longer to completely absorb into the leather surface as well and the high-quality conditioning solution doesn’t leave any annoying residue on the surface.
As soon as the moisturizing product disappears from the surface, you are done with the conditioning process. Conditioning will strengthen the leather skin and help the material revive back to its earlier condition. It induces shine and restores the original color of the leather items that start looking quite fresh and energized.
Protect the Surface of the Balenciaga Bag
In order to protect the recently retained version of your delicate Balenciaga bag, you would need to preserve it by creating a thin protective layer around the leather item. A non-synthetic leather protectant is made of all organic substances that guarantee the overall well-being of your leather items whether it is protection from environmental elements or the damaging effects of the chemical substances that may occur in case of using a protector that contains toxic ingredients.
It makes a layer as a barrier that doesn’t let the harmful elements reach the surface of your leather items. Whites Pearl leather protector is the non-toxic and all-naturally manufactured leather protector that provides ultimate safe to your leather items. Plus, the application process via the spray bottle of Whites Pearl only needs a light stroke to pump. Ensure that the liquid has covered all the surfaces of the leather Balenciaga bag, if not then make it done with the help of any piece of fabric.