In a remarkable fusion of fashion and storytelling, Balmain's Olivier Rousteing teamed up with Disney Consumer Products to create an exclusive, breathtaking couture collection inspired by Disney's timeless classic, "The Lion King." This collaboration not only celebrates the 30th anniversary of the beloved film, but also serves as a love letter to renowned French fashion designer's roots. Rousteing and Balmain invited ABC's On the Red Carpet Storytellers Spotlight to South Africa to share the story behind his origin story, his love for storytelling, the dream collaboration with Disney, and how important it is to use his platform to be a voice of change so that all "beauties" can be seen.
It's really hard to look at the future when you don't know your past. By Olivier Rousteing "When I was a kid, I always wanted to spread my voice," Rousteing shared while reflecting on his childhood. "Sometimes my silence was already being a storyteller.
" Sketching superheroes in his bedroom, he dreamt of characters with the power to change the world, eventually leading him to envision his sketches as fashion. "I don't sketch only clothes, I sketch a universe," he said. Rousteing's journey is deeply rooted in his search for his origin story.
Raised in France by adoptive parents, he faced racism and yearned to discover where he came from. "It's really hard to look at the future when you don't know your past," he reflected. Discovering his African heritage was a life-changing and proud moment for.
