Would You Rock the Balenciaga x Bang & Olufsen Speaker Handbag?

Before you give a definitive answer, consider all the functions you could squeeze out of a handbag fitted with powerful speakers from Bang & Olufsen and wrapped in Italian lambskin leather from Balenciaga.

The Balenciaga x Bang & Olufsen Speaker Bag in black.
The Balenciaga x Bang & Olufsen Speaker Bag in black. Image courtesy of B&O

The just-concluded 51st couture fashion show by Balenciaga was a star-packed affair with celebrities like Kim Kardashian, Nicole Kidman, Naomi Campbell and Dua Lipa walking the runway dressed in pieces designed by Demna Gvasalia. And although every outfit was a showstopper, one piece stood out effortlessly for its bold uncommon concept – the Speaker Bag.

The Balenciaga x Bang & Olufsen Speaker Bag

Designed to resemble the iconic sculptural form of Balenciaga’s handbags, the Speaker Bag is exactly as its name implies: a chic, functional purse that doubles as a portable speaker.

Model at the 51st Balenciaga couture show with the speaker bag
The bag is meant to be a chic accessory that functions as a speaker and purse. Image courtesy of B&O

“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.”

Crafted from high-quality materials for the best performance

The Speaker Bag is limited to 20 pieces only, and every one of them was milled from a single block of solid aluminium, before being pearl-blasted, anodized and hand-polished at Bang & Olufsen’s Factory 5 in Struer, Denmark over a period of several days to create the perfect satin finish.

A model holding the black version of the bag
The bag does not appear to be outfitted with straps that would make carrying it around more comfortable. Image courtesy of B&O

Once done, the bag was sent down to Balenciaga’s studio in Italy where its interior was finished with the finest leather and the logos of both brands lasered into the top.

The front of the Speaker Bag 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.

The Balenciaga x Bang & Olufsen Speaker bag in white
There is no word on pricing yet, and access to the bag will be limited. Image courtesy of Dezeen

The bag comes in black and silver and its speaker offers up to 18 hours of battery life and multipoint connectivity.

There is no word on pricing yet, but the Balenciaga x Bang & Olufsen Speaker Bag is available at select Balenciaga boutiques and at their new couture store in Paris.

So, what do you think? An absolute must-have or a revolutionary concept that isn’t quite there yet?

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