Must Read: Balmain Designs 'The Lion King' Collection, How the WNBA Tunnel Walk Became Its Own Runway Event

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These are the stories making headlines in fashion on Thursday.

Balmain designs "The Lion King" collection
In celebration of the 30th anniversary of "The Lion King", Balmain Creative Director Olivier Rousteing designed a limited-edition collection inspired by the Disney classic. Disney x Balmain: "The Lion King" includes ready-to-wear and accessories for men and women featuring colorful patterns, striking silhouettes as well as artwork by young African creatives. It launches July 8 on Balmain's website and select fashion boutiques, such as Los Angeles' Saks Fifth Avenue Beverly Hills, Hong Kong's Harbor City, Selfridges, Harrods in London and Balmain's rue Saint Honoré flagship in Paris. See the campaign, photographed by Joel Anderson, above. {Fashionista inbox}

How the WNBA tunnel walk became its own runway event
The rise of star WNBA players like Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese and Cameron Brink has further fueled fascination surrounding the athletes' pre-game tunnel walks — and what they wear for them. These outfits offer valuable marketing moments for fashion brands, including ones that were once slow to dress these athletes. Business of Fashion reports on the new fashion marketing gold mine. {Business of Fashion/paywalled}

Dries Van Noten on his life in fashion
Dries Van Noten announced he was stepping away from his eponymous label earlier this year, and GQ's Samuel Hine sat down with him to discuss his menswear legacy, his final show and what's next. "I still have a lot of plans, I'm still going to do different things," he said. "The fashion world and everything, it's my soul, it's my life. So it would be strange to now close the doors completely. So, I won't." {GQ/paywalled}

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Hello Kitty takes over Nordstrom 
Nordstrom is celebrating Hello Kitty's 50th anniversary with a pop-up shop featuring exclusive collaborations across women's and men's apparel, accessories, home, beauty and more. Prices for items from brands such as Baggu, Café Forgot, Champion, Chet Lo, Chopova Lowena, Lula Flora, Marshall Columbia, Three Potato Four, Vandy The Pink, YanYan Knits and many more range from $6 to $1,610. Nordstrom Celebrates Hello Kitty 50th Anniversary is available now through the end of summer online and at four locations: Century City in Los Angeles, Domain Northside in Austin, Downtown Seattle and the Nordstrom NYC Flagship. See campaign images from the collection above. {Fashionista inbox}

A scar care line inspired by gender-affirming surgeries
After undergoing gender-affirming surgeries, Jadis Montijo's scars didn't heal as much as he'd expected, so he teamed up with his plastic surgeon, Dr. Jonathan Keith, to create Motivo. The scar care brand offers Scar Tape (in four shades), Silicone Scar Cream and Silicone Roller Serum. "We created performance-proof and inclusive scar care products that actually stay on through showers, workouts and sweat for three to five days," Montijo tells Beauty Independent. {Beauty Independent}

Saks Fifth Avenue expands The Fifth Avenue Club
Saks Fifth Avenue is expanding The Fifth Avenue Club, its luxury personal shopping and styling service, to 20 standalone locations by the end of 2024. The newest location opened this week in Austin, Texas; additional openings are scheduled throughout the summer in Fort Worth, St. Petersburg and Rancho Santa Fe.  {Fashionista inbox}

Law Roach covers Paper Magazine
Law Roach is Paper Magazine's latest cover star. Photographed by Micaiah Carter, he styled himself for the cover in a 1988 Jean Charles De Castelbajac coat, Vivienne Westwood shoes and Swarovski jewelry. In the accompanying story written by Andrew Nguyen, Roach talks the fashion industry, living life with no fear and what he sees for his future. "I have no fear of success. I have no fear of failure," Roach said. "It's powerful just to walk through life with no fear, because fear is what holds you back." Read the full interview here. {Paper Magazine}

Inside the Slow Fashion Caucus
The U.S. government is holding the Slow Fashion Caucus, the first of its kind, centered solely around fashion. Teen Vogue reports that it will focus on legislation around textile waste, labor issues and the industry's contribution to climate change. Maine Representative Chellie Pingree (D-M.E.) sat down with the publication to share her hopes for the caucus and why the government needs to take fashion's impact on the climate seriously. {Teen Vogue}

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