The accessory originally debuted during former creative director Tom Ford's spring/summer 2002 runway presentation. Image credit: Saint Laurent
French fashion house Saint Laurent is mining its early-2000s archive.
The brand’s spring 2026 campaign reintroduces the Mombasa bag, originally debuted during former creative director Tom Ford's spring/summer 2002 runway presentation. American supermodel Bella Hadid fronts the imagery, captured by British fashion photographer Glen Luchford.
Archive accessory
Saint Laurent’s latest campaign features stills and short looping visuals with a cinematic grain that calls to mind analog film and subdued lighting that places a spotlight on Ms. Hadid.
The supermodel has walked exclusively for Saint Laurent in past seasons. Alongside other talents, including Chinese actress Song Jia, British singer-songwriter Charli xcx and Russian actor Mark Eydelshteyn, the muse now appears in a campaign promoting an accessory-turned-house-staple.
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The original Mombasa distinguished itself through construction details, including a curved horn handle and supple leather that allowed the bag to collapse and reform with body movement rather than maintaining a rigid structure.
For the 2026 version, house creative director Anthony Vaccarello kept the slouched silhouette while adjusting the handbag’s material specifications. The horn handle gives way to leather wrapping, and the bag now comes in three sizes, versus the original, single offering.
Nostalgia economics
Mr. Ford designed the Mombasa bag while simultaneously reviving Italian fashion label Gucci, a dual creative directorship that defined luxury fashion at the turn of the millennium.
Saint Laurent’s relaunch follows successful revivals of other Ford-era designs across luxury houses, notably Gucci's Horsebit Chain bag.
The campaign is captured by British fashion photographer Glen Luchford
For houses with deep reserves of recognizable designs, archival reissues play on nostalgia hype. Present vintage market activity often provides early validation of demand.
Recent re-releases include Louis Vuitton × Murakami collection — in 2025, the French fashion house reimagined more than 200 pieces from an original partnership with Japanese artist Takashi Murakami, initially launched under then-artistic director Marc Jacobs (see story) — and French fashion house Balenciaga’s relaunched Le City (see story).