Balenciaga has set the stage for a one-of-a-kind showcase blending high fashion with the adrenaline-fueled world of formula racing in its latest Racing Series, an exclusive release for the Middle East.
Launching on the 27th of November, this limited-edition collection and art installation is designed to captivate luxury connoisseurs in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
The Racing Series will first preview at Balenciaga’s Dubai Mall store this week, followed by a grand reveal at The Galleria on Al Maryah Island in Abu Dhabi on the 3rd of December.
With a regional-exclusive palette of yellow and black, the collection celebrates the brand’s iconic, structural silhouettes infused with motorsport energy. Standout items include the Unity Sports Icon Racer Jacket, T-shirt, and Zip-up Hoodie, each bearing Balenciaga’s signature Unity Sports Icon logo. Inspired by classic sportswear aesthetics, the logo serves as a nod to both Balenciaga’s heritage and the universal appeal of racing culture.
Elevating this launch is Balenciaga’s artistic collaboration with Japanese sculptor Showichi Kaneda, known for his visionary fusion of natural forms with mechanical elegance. Kaneda’s exclusive sculptures, displayed as centrepieces in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, draw inspiration from his Human’s Own series, where racing car shapes mimic the streamlined forms of hammerhead sharks—a metaphor for speed, survival, and perpetual motion. These sculptures, crafted in polyester resin with region-specific colorways—red and white for Dubai, and green, white, and black for Abu Dhabi—measure 107cm x 38cm x 40cm. Each piece was digitally conceived, 3D printed, and meticulously refined by hand before being cast into final forms, finished with a high-gloss polish that evokes Japanese lacquer artistry and automotive detailing.
The sculptures and the apparel line create a seamless dialogue between form, function, and artistry, encapsulating Balenciaga’s vision of high-end fashion that transcends conventional boundaries. This exclusive Racing Series marks a celebration of progress, movement, and the relentless pursuit of luxury in a high-speed world, capturing the spirit of both Middle Eastern innovation and Balenciaga’s heritage.
