This is the story of a bag and an accidental success, born from the creative independence of Nicolas Ghesquière at Balenciaga.
In 2000, the luxury sector swore by the stiffness of the leather. However, an idea emerged at Balenciaga to create a leather fabric that was soft, supple, and light, and whose appearance reflected a vintage look. Although it was originally unloved and the company thought it would be unsuccessful, Ghesquière went against the advice of manufacturers and decided to produce a prototype of the bag. It started out unnamed and without a necessity. It was a perfect example of the concept “art for art’s sake” that Théophile Gauthier believed, since at the time of its creation there seemed to be no place for it in the market. The project was aborted under the name Lavia.
Like any story, the end is never the end. The finesse leather caught the eye of Kate Moss who, during a photo shoot, succumbed to the charm of the zips and studs affixed on the bag with impressive detail and simplicity. From there, she wouldn’t let it go. It was not available in shops, and its existence was rumored in small circles. Quickly, the fashionistas of the world wanted it, and the demand was such that everyone came to christen the piece. “First or Classic in Paris, Lavia in Britain, Motorcycle in the USA…” Some headlines gave a nod to the intrigue: “The bag that you will not have.”
In 2005, it was officially released. Seven years later, it comes in 100 color shades and 5 different models. Boho-chic on the arm of Sienna Miller, a purple shaded bag on the forearm of Mary-Kate Olsen; the Motorcycle paves the way for “it” bags. A true classic of the twenty-first century.
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