PHOTO COURTESY OF BALENCIAGA
With the winter 2026 collection in full swing, Balenciaga unveils the Hourglass Avenue. Creative director Pierpaolo Piccioli draws upon the Basque waist, that sculpted, cinched shape rooted deeply in the house’s heritage. The result is a fresh top-handle bag that gives the iconic silhouette its most supple form yet.
The hourglass form traces back to founder Cristóbal Balenciaga himself. He first debuted the silhouette in peplum-jacketed suits for the summer 1943 couture collection. It later shaped the Hourglass handbag that launched with the winter 2019 collection. Now the silhouette evolves once more, reimagined in a relaxed, top-handle form.
PHOTO COURTESY OF BALENCIAGA
The Hourglass Avenue keeps the signature curved base that defines the Hourglass family. In place of its predecessor’s rigid silhouette, though, the bag offers a far more supple form. A second handle converts it into a double top-handle carry, while a detachable leather sling allows for crossbody wear. The design shifts easily between hand-carry, arm-carry and hands-free looks.
Crafted from shiny box calfskin, the style features a deliberate semi-slouchy structure that softens the original’s angular profile. The flap top closes with a lock finished in two slim engraved bars, stamped with ‘Balenciaga 10 Avenue George V’. The inscription is a nod to the Parisian address that still houses the house’s headquarters today.
The bag arrives in four colourways: Black, Carmin Red, Raisin and Snow White. The small (SGD3575) size measures 24 cm by 18 cm, while the medium (SGD4050) comes in at 32 cm by 23.5 cm. Both sizes will be available at Balenciaga boutiques in Singapore, as well as online.
The Hourglass Avenue is more than just a new bag. It connects founder Cristóbal Balenciaga’s couture innovations to the house’s current design language, proving the enduring hourglass shape still has room to evolve.
