Balenciaga, the avant-garde fashion house known for its bold designs and exorbitant prices, has sparked new controversy with its latest offering: a $925 terry towel shaped like a wrap skirt. Released as part of the brand’s Spring 2024 collection and available for pre-order from November 14, the unconventional garment has sparked a storm of debate on social media platforms.
Led by creative director Demna Gvasalia, known for pushing fashion boundaries, Balenciaga has continually released eccentric and intentionally distressed designs, like the $1,850 “completely destroyed” sneakers or the $1,800 trash bag. However, the arrival of this high-priced towel skirt has sparked new discussions about the brand’s approach to luxury and its marketing tactics.
This launch follows a controversial 2022 Christmas ad from the designer, featuring children holding teddy bears tied together with leather, which sparked widespread backlash. Demna expressed his intentions to return to Balenciaga’s essence of creating quality clothing, avoiding creating mere images or rumors. in a Fashion In an interview earlier this year, he emphasized his plan to take inspiration from the brand’s founder, Cristóbal Balenciaga, by focusing on making quality garments.
Despite the designer’s shift in focus, the terrycloth skirt has reignited debates about Balenciaga’s penchant for offering seemingly “absurd” luxury items. Critics have criticized the brand’s strategies, calling them attention-seeking experiments and questioning the logic behind selling mundane items at exorbitant prices.
Criticism flooded social media, with one Platform
I already have a towel skirt, it’s $10 and it’s from Walmart.
— Unstable (@UnstableHDD) November 15, 2023
However, its supporters argued that the brand was evaluating the true demand curve and exploring the elasticity of its customer base. Proponents noted that Balenciaga’s target market may not be affected by the high price and praised the brand’s strategy of knowing its customer base well.
In the middle of the speech, an Ikea ad appeared that capitalized on the haute couture brand’s visibility, showing a $10 bath towel and humorously imitating Balenciaga’s style. The ad featured a model sporting an inexpensive towel wrapped around her waist, juxtaposed with Balenciaga’s signature black hoodie and moto-style sunglasses, adding a fun touch to the conversation.
As the fashion industry continues to witness Balenciaga’s provocative launches, opinions remain divided between those who question the brand’s luxury pricing strategies and supporters who defend its innovative approach to the market.
Categories: Biography
Source: vcmp.edu.vn