From scotch tape bracelets to towel skirts: Is the brand eccentric or simply unhinged?
So you thought you’d seen it all? Think again. The lives of the rich and famous always reveal some unimaginable instances. Luxury brands are not very different from the audience they serve. Take Balenciaga, for example, whose website will make you double-take and question whether this is real.
In a way, Balenciaga’s products perfectly capture the zeitgeist, where people are willing to spend thousands on things they wouldn’t have considered a few years ago. An example is its boot bags—yes, they’re exactly what it sounds like.
Here, we look at some of the brand’s most bizarre creations:
Tape bracelet, US$4,000
A TikTok of the Balenciaga Scotch tape bracelet
Image from The Independent
Just in case you forgot Balenciaga’s BDSM motifs around children from its controversial 2023 ads, the brand has a subtle reminder (talk about not learning from the past). Part of the fashion house’s Fall/Winter 2024 collection launched in March, the accessory epitomizes the collection’s “utilitarian aesthetic”. Priced at an eye-watering US$4,000, the bracelet looks like a regular roll of clear tape. However, it is branded with the Balenciaga logo.
Reactions were mixed—not in the sense that some found it great while others didn’t, but more so that some found it funny while others found it offensive. Some netizens were appalled that a major fashion house would turn a common household item into an ironically chic accessory. Critics argued that the brand seemed to be making poverty an aesthetic, with one commentator noting, “Rich people want to feel poor so bad.”
Towel skirt, US$925
The towel skirt from Balenciaga
Image from Balenciaga
Would you leave your house in a towel if you were guaranteed that it wouldn’t fall off? Think about it.
Debuted at the Spring 2024 Fashion Show in Paris, this item is exactly what it sounds like. It is a terry-cotton skirt that looks like a towel hastily wrapped around your waist post-shower. Unlike a regular towel, however, this skirt features two buttons inside the waistline, ensuring it stays put.
On the one hand, Balenciaga’s towel skirt could be seen as a cheeky nod to the raw materials we all possess to become fashion icons. Maybe, just maybe, Balenciaga is not trying to luxe up everyday items but reminding us of the mundanity of fashion as a whole. On the other hand, it can be construed as a legitimate business move. Someone in the Balenciaga pricing team looked at this skirt (probably a product of months of planning, decision-making and design meetings), priced it at US$925 and said it was groundbreaking.
With this skirt, Balenciaga could be validating us, mocking the rich or questioning our quips, pointing to the towel skirt and asserting that this IS the future of fashion.
Chips bag, US$1,850
The Chips Bag front and back
Image from Balenciaga
We wouldn’t entirely dismiss the idea that Balenciaga is having a midlife crisis and desperately wants to switch up its style—it’s either in its Miley Cyrus bad girl era or worse, in its Jojo Siwa bad girl era.
Priced at a whopping US$1,850, this Chips Bag comes in three colors or “flavors”: Blue (Salt and Vinegar), Red (Spicy) and Yellow (Cheese and Onion). It features glossy calfskin and aged silver hardware. For those wondering if it comes with chips, we share your disappointment—it doesn’t. The brand released these handbags in 2023, and they quickly sold out in China during the pre-order stage.
Interestingly, the back of the bag includes an ingredient list and a calorie count (110 calories, if you must know). And yes, you must avoid contact with liquids, clean and dry it if necessary and store it in its pouch after each use. All the while, it would look exactly like a regular chips bag. Imagine the horror of someone mistakenly throwing your US$1,850 bag in the trash, thinking it’s just a snack wrapper.
Trash bag, US$1,832
The men’s trash bag large pouch in white by Balenciaga
Image from Balenciaga
Yes, selling a trash bag is bizarre. You know what’s even more so? Crafting it exclusively for men. It is unclear whether Balenciaga is trying to send a message—men need to be more involved in household chores or live out their intrusive thoughts (if you catch our drift).
While it looks like a trash bag, this one is an Italian-made large calfskin pouch with two handles and comes in two more colors: yellow and blue. It was dubbed the “most expensive trash bag in the world”, a title few brands would envy. Reacting to this bag, one user called Balenciaga a “meme designer”, while another joked, “Whoever buys this needs to be thrown out in it.”
We can’t help but wonder if this is satire.
Is all publicity good publicity?
Balenciaga seems to thrive on controversy, as public outrage and mockery often doubles as free marketing. Whether people express discomfort or disdain on social media, they are still talking about the brand. Other luxury brands, like Louis Vuitton, have followed suit, albeit to a lesser extent, with items like their Sandwich Bag.
The Louis Vuitton Sandwich Bag is priced at over US$3,000
Image from Louis Vuitton website
However, Balenciaga would attest that brands need to draw the line somewhere. Following its inappropriate ad featuring kids, the brand lost its top spot as the “hottest” brand in Lyst’s influential Index of the fashion industry. It fell to the 18th spot out of 20 for Q1 2023. Balenciaga also saw a dramatic decline in sales.
There is no doubt a market for bizarre products, but brands must remember where the crazy stops and the criminal begins.
Also read:
- What Led to Balenciaga’s Recent Scandal?
- These 5 Bizarre Jobs Pay More Than You Think
- Top 3 Craziest CEOs Ever
Header Image from The Independent (TikTok) and Balenciaga
