Balenciaga introduced the City bag in 2001 under designer Nicolas Ghesquière.
The design became known for its soft, lightly structured body, distinctive metal hardware, and leather tassels. It represented a different direction from the highly rigid, formal handbags associated with some traditional luxury houses at the time.
Nicolas Ghesquière was Balenciaga’s creative director from 1997 to 2012. During his tenure, the City bag became closely associated with the house and with the early-2000s shift toward relaxed, fashion-forward handbags.
The City is sometimes called the Motorcycle bag, a nickname connected with its hardware and rugged styling. It should not be confused with Balenciaga’s later Hourglass bag, which has a more sharply sculpted, curved silhouette.