Photography via Instagram/@balmain

Balmain and Beyoncé Release a Coachella-Inspired Collection for Charity

“Coachella, thank you for allowing me to be the first Black woman to headline,” Beyoncé told attendees of the music festival earlier this year. It was a groundbreaking moment and an incredible performance–so incredible that the festival has since been dubbed “Beychella”.

A post shared by Beyoncé (@beyonce) on

The two-hour set featured a marching band, drumline, choir and step team and Beyoncé’s outfits reflected that. Balmain created a series of sporty looks emblazoned with preppy sorority-style logos. The inspiration was taken from marching bands at America’s historically black colleges and universities. After her Coachella performance, the singer donated $100,000 to four of these universities–and she’s not finished yet.

The iconic hoodies she wore in her performance (one pink, one yellow) will be available for purchase this Friday. A black tee with similar branding will also be released. Proceeds from the collab will go towards the United Negro College Fund, an organization that helps Black students attend historically Black universities. The organization has raised more than $4.8 billion since its creation in 1944 and has helped send more than 450,000 students to school.

A post shared by Beyoncé (@beyonce) on

“This is something important and this collaboration is talking to the new generation and saying you can get that piece, you can be a part of the history,” Balmain’s creative director Olivier Rousteing told Vogue.

A post shared by Beyoncé (@beyonce) on

“For me, working with Beyoncé, it’s more than only music. It’s about history, working with a woman that’s going to be part of the history and has made her own revolution, not only in music, not only in fashion,” Rousteing said. “She is an icon to an entire generation and so many more generations can follow the steps of Beyoncé and say, ‘You give us hope, you make us dream.’ ”

The three-piece collection will debut July 13 at Balmain’s flagship store in Paris, before going on sale at balmain.com and beyonce.com the next day. The pieces will range from $290 to $1,790.

More Style