This project showcases the fictional "Zipperless Carry-On" from Balenciaga.

This is a speculative project.

To make this project believable, I needed to understand Balenciaga and their branding. The best way to do this was by seeking out references, which I did and compiled in PureRef.

From these references, I now understand the brand's style, a minimalist and luxury aesthetic.

It's time to begin modeling the carry-on. For this part, I decided to use MoI3D, a CAD software. This choice allowed me to complete the model in just a few hours, whereas using a polygonal modeling approach would have taken much longer. However, the CAD workflow falls short in the complex UV work, which I will explain in detail.

Zipperless

Full-width handlebar

TSA locking system

Unwrapping the UVs of a CAD model can seem impossible, but with the reliable software "RIZOM UV" and its automatic system, a process that would typically take hours can be completed in just 10 minutes.

After unwrapping the carry-on, it was time for my favorite part of the project—texturing!

Using Cinema 4D with Octane, I primarily utilized the Greyscalegorilla library for the textures. I chose a suede texture for the main body, leather for the corners, and brushed aluminum for the metal parts of the carry-on.

I decided to recreate two images from a Balenciaga campaign in my own style, showcasing my carry-on design. For a special final touch, I also created a fictional image featuring the carry-on as it would appear on the Balenciaga website.

With the brand name: