Keep up with the latest in fashion and more by subscribing to our complimentary weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter.
Stay fashion-forward and on top of the latest trends with our complimentary weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter.
The latest line from Balenciaga features a band bracelet that has caused mixed reactions among viewers since its release.
Highsnobiety’s TikTok post during Paris Fashion Week featured a Balenciaga bracelet inspired by Scotch tape found at everyday hardware and office supply stores. The accessory is a key component of the fashion brand’s utilitarian aesthetic in their Fall/Winter 2024 collection.
The clothing line had a chaotic and untidy aesthetic. Tops were made from dust bags and some outfits were held together with clear tape. The last outfit was made entirely from layers of underwear, giving a unique interpretation of outerwear. Balenciaga has stayed true to their comical style, though some reviewers did not understand the humor.
The featured bracelet appears to be a standard clear tape roll, except it bears the Balenciaga logo and the word “adhesive”.
The internet was outraged that a well-known fashion brand would transform a common household object into a supposedly trendy accessory. Many felt that the brand was perpetuating the idea of poverty as a fashionable look, with one person commenting, “Rich people desperately want to experience poverty.”
Another individual commented, “Balenciaga has been releasing the same style every year.” Someone else made a humorous remark, saying, “I recently purchased one, but it’s from a lesser-known brand called Scotch.”
One person admitted that they thought the bracelet was a joke until they “saw the Balenciaga writing,” while another person said: “I swear this whole brand is just a big inside joke.”
The brand has a history of transforming ordinary objects into fashionable items. In 2022, the brand introduced the “world’s most expensive trash bag” as part of its Autumn/Winter 2022 collection. This accessory made a statement at the brand’s show, with models strutting through an indoor snowstorm while carrying their Trash Pouches. According to sources, the idea for the Trash Pouch was inspired by the creative director’s upbringing in Georgia. Although the cowskin Trash Pouch retailed for approximately $1,790 (£1,470) when it was released, it sparked some controversy.
The company also launched a pair of worn and grimy trainers worth $1,850 (£1,500) during the same year, causing a strong negative reaction. Nonetheless, the brand’s controversies have not all faded from public awareness, as one scandal has continued to haunt them for years.
In November 2022, the fashion brand received a lot of criticism for two contentious campaigns. One featured children carrying teddy bear bags with BDSM themes, while the other had SCOTUS documents about laws regarding child pornography in the background.
In an interview with Vogue, Gvasalia discussed the teddy bear bags, clarifying that they were inspired by punk and DIY culture, not BDSM. He also mentioned that the brand’s image team chose photographer Gabriele Galimberti for the campaign due to his past work featuring collections of toys arranged around children.
“I made a major error,” he admitted. “I failed to recognize the inappropriateness of including these objects in the image while also featuring the child in the center. It was the wrong concept and a poor choice on my part. It was not appropriate to have children in images that included unrelated and unsuitable objects.”
The designer label recently presented its pre-fall line in Los Angeles, taking inspiration from the upscale Erewhon grocery store. Celebrity representatives, including Kim Kardashian and Nicole Kidman, were among the notable attendees at the event.
The Independent has reached out to Balenciaga for a statement.
Source: independent.co.uk
