Paris, France
Balenciaga debuts its 51st couture fashion show in Paris with a speaker bag, a handbag that doubles as a Bluetooth speaker that plays music for 18 hours, in collaboration with audio specialists Bang & Olufsen.
The Speaker Bag is a limited edition collection comprising 20 bags, each of which is made of solid aluminum before being pearl-blasted, anodized, and hand-polished at Bang & Olufsen’s aluminum factory 5 in Struer, Denmark, to give it a satin finish.
“This innovative device is part bag, part Bluetooth sound system,” says Balenciaga.
“It can be used as a portable speaker, a functional purse, or both, as a true hybrid product.”
This double-duty accessory features a hardshell body that opens from the back side to reveal a hidden compartment, lined in Italian lambskin leather, big enough to stash smartphone, wallet, and keys.
Crafted to resemble the sculptural form of Balenciaga’s handbags, the bag was then sent to Balenciaga’s studio in Italy where its interior was completed.
The front features a pattern of speaker holes through which music can be played, and the bag can be opened at the back and used to store personal belongings. Sound can be adjusted via a set of controls under the handle.
Balenciaga and Bang & Olufsen’s logos have been lasered into the top of each Speaker Bag, which comes in black or silver.
“The front of the bag features Bang & Olufsen’s signature portable speaker styling; a perfect pattern of speaker holes meticulously placed to ensure the best sound quality without compromising on a sleek aesthetic,” explains Bang & Olufsen.
“Behind the striking aluminum body lays a powerful portable speaker, offering up to 18 hours of battery life and multipoint connectivity.”
According to Bang & Olufsen, the bags aim to blur the boundaries between speakers and bags with “an avant-garde, boundary-pushing design.”
Bang & Olufsen’s CEO Kristian Teär says that the collaboration demonstrates the audio brand’s abilities to cater solutions to its customers by making endless configurations within sound and design.
For Teär, collaborating with Balenciaga has been an incredible experience and will also shape how the audio brand will drive products and experiences that aim to disrupt the technology market in the future.
“Although the speaker bag is a bespoke creation with an avant-garde, boundary-pushing design, the fundamentals of sound quality and customer experience are considered at every point,” he continues.
“It is a true hybrid that pushes the perceptual boundaries of design and combines the worlds of fashion and technology in newfound ways.”
Project: Speaker Bag
Designers: Balenciaga SAS and Bang & Olufsen A/S
Manufacturer: Bang & Olufsen A/S
