The collection stems from a series of four bespoke outfits that Balmain’s creative director Olivier Rousteing developed for the Colombian singer and actor when on tour.
 
“My friend Maluma was quick to note that Balmain’s new relaxed Miami Vibe - with all those pastels and eye-catching patterns - was a perfect match for his distinctive style and addictive beat,” Rousteing said in a release.

After the singer was photographed in one of Rousteing’s classic French petit-pois-pattern looks, Maluma began working with the French designer to create a one-of-a-kind tropical look for last year’s Video Music Awards.  The pair originally met four years ago during Paris Fashion Week. Following the success of that VMA appearance, the pair decided to take partnership further, and began working closely together on a new line of designs intended for his tour.

 
“It’s been one of my goals to work with a respected fashion house on a collection, but this journey was more exciting, as Olivier pushed me to design with him and sketch looks that I personally will wear off the stage and showcase high couture with a bit of Papi Juancho. This process was exciting as I have always dreamt to design one day, and I was happy to have a friend like Olivier let me express creatively through fashion,” stressed Maluma.
 
Despite the pandemic, they have now released the Balmain-Maluma collaboration as a limited-edition collection, with one-of-a-kind Balmain-Maluma sneakers and ready-to-wear designs available worldwide on April 12.

“At the same time that Maluma and I were working on these designs, the speakers inside the Balmain atelier were blasting out a continual loop that both inspired and reflected our work,” Rousteing added.
 
As a result, Olivier put together a selection of tunes in their collaboration’s special playlist, now available on the Apple Music Signature platform.