Criticized By Netizens These Are 7 Balenciaga Controversies Throughout 2022

Controversy seems to be inseparable from the Balenciaga fashion house. Most recently, one of the advertisements was deemed to be related to child pornography. Previously, Balenciaga also often left us gaping with its unrepresentative collections high fashion or even nearly impossible to use.

One of his eccentric collections that went viral is sneakers damaged goods which are valued at Rp. 26 million and trash bags for Rp. 25 million. Do you want to know more about the controversy over the brand headed by Demna Gvasalia as creative director this? Check out the article.

1. Toy Stories Campaign
Balenciaga’s Campaign Toys stories are causing controversy. (doc. Website citizen.co.za)

Balenciaga has come under fire after using young children to shoot its “Toy Stories” campaign. In the ad, a little girl is seen holding a bag teddy bear in bondage which is part of the Balenciaga Spring/Summer 2023 collection. The image is considered to be symbolic of child pornography. Plus, one of the properties in the ad is a Supreme Court document on a child pornography case. After the campaign went viral, Balenciaga immediately deleted the photo and apologized on social media.

Also Read: Used by Justin Bieber, these are the facts about Balenciaga bottle flip-flops

2. Lays Handbag
Lays Balenciaga Bag. (doc. Instagram/demnagram) From now on, think twice if you want to throw away food wrappers, who knows it could become something worth tens of millions of rupiah! Like the “LOL Clutch”, a handbag from Balenciaga that resembles a packet of Lays chips. LOL clutch was first shown to the public when runway show Balenciaga at Paris Fashion Week 2022 and plans to sell it retail for 21 million rupiah.

3. High heels Crocs
Balenciaga official websiteThis isn’t Balenciaga’s first collaboration with crocs. In 2017, Balenciaga collaborated with crocs and launched crocs products platform. In 2022, Balenciaga X Crocs 2.0 brings crocs madame or crocs high heels. This product immediately drew criticism from netizens, they considered this product a product that was not needed.

4. ‘Wrapped’ Kim Kardashian with Balenciaga tape
Kim Kardashian Balenciaga tape. (website/legit)While attending the Balenciaga show at Paris Fashion Week 2022, Kim Kardashian appeared with Balenciaga yellow plaster covering her entire body. This moment immediately went viral on Tiktok. Several influencers immediately imitated Kim’s style including Lizzo the “about damn time” singer.

5. Runway full of mud
Youtube Demna Gvasalia brought in 275,000 liters of mud to cover the runway at the Paris Fashion Week 2022 show. As a result, all models including Kanye West had to walk on muddy and slippery mud. Demna said that the mud runway is a metaphor for exploring honesty and being down to earth.

6. Selling damaged shoes for 27 million
Websitehighsnobiety.com mentions shoes high top totally ruined this Balenciaga release as item the most hated fashion on the internet since its launch. Even more ridiculous than crocs high heels! Demna, the creative director, explained that these shoes were part of a social experiment “would you still buy trash even if there was a famous brand label on it?”

7. Make the most expensive garbage bag in the world
WebsiteThis 25 million ‘garbage bag’ is from the Balenciaga Fall/Winter 2022 collection. When interviewed by WWD, Demna said that he didn’t want to miss the opportunity to make the world’s most expensive trash bag. This trash bag is actually a large pouch made of calf leather. Made with quality materials and Balenciaga stamps, this pouch is a high fashion accessory.

From these 7 controversies, a question arose. Actually, what is high fashion?

Also Read: 9 Collections from Balenciaga at Paris Fashion Week SS23, Memorable!

IDN Times Community is a media that provides a platform for writing. All written works are fully the responsibility of the author.