Bears repeating!
Also, let’s stick closely to topic, it really helps preventing tangents and drama.
Also, let’s stick closely to topic, it really helps preventing tangents and drama.
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What do y'all think about the Balenciaga SS23 & Adidas collab "teddy" controversy?
- Thread starter MooMooVT
- Start date
Exactly. The new Balenciaga of which I am not a fan. They need to get it together. No excuse for this kind of trash. I absolutely can't justify buying any more Balenciaga. ART ??!! I don't think so.
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Balenciaga is blaming the photographer and the photographer is claiming she was doing what she was told.
(I'm ranting aloud - not toward you!) The photographer was DEFINITELY doing what she was told. No one would take liberties like that and no high fashion house is likely to allow that. And anywhere from 6-12 Bal employees had to approve this campaign before it hit the streets - including Demna. Balenciaga needs to hire a crisis PR team, STAT. Kering as well. It's such a bad look to blame others and not take direct responsibility.
I agree with this. I'm also not willing to lump all Kering brands in with Bal's horrible choices and lack of accountability. I really don't think Kering would have been in the loop. That said, I'm disappointed we haven't gotten a statement from them.
This story has been in the "news" for a couple of days - but it seems to be getting more traction in the past couple of days in the wider media. I hope this is the reckoning Bal needs to realize they're 100% wrong here - no grey area. They need to own it and hold each and every eyeball that approved - actively or tacitly - these campaigns.
High fashion (and all art) has always pushed the envelope for a variety of reasons including just making a splash. I'm more than willing to give them a wide berth until it involves children being exploited - sexually or otherwise.
..only on balenciaga.com and at the Madison Avenue, New York Balenciaga store immediately following the show... https://www.balenciaga.com/en-us/spring-23 
I was thinking last night that it was odd that right when this whole debacle got air was also when Gucci announced the departure of AM ("effective immediately"). I am sure they're not related, but strange nonetheless.
What are you talking about? They already apologized twice (taking accountability) with an instagram story that is now part of their highlights so you can check and see.
They’re also taking legal action against the ad agency they outsourced the campaign to with a $25 MILLION lawsuit https://nypost.com/2022/11/25/balenciaga-files-25m-suit-against-bdsm-teddy-bear-ad-producers/amp/
The lawsuit is for the one picture of the Supreme Court case document referencing child porn.
The photos of toddlers holding bondage-cladded teddy bears surrounded by "heart/love" pillows were on their online site. Impossible the major stakeholders at Balenciaga did not approve the ad campaign.
They didn't even remotely take accountabilty. They filed a lawsuit against the set designer and production company and blamed others for the content. There's ZERO chance all images weren't approved by Demna and at least 2-10 other executives. I'd put all I have on there being Balenciaga employees at the photo shoots when these photos were taken. This is deflection 101.
The Alexander wang era? The man has been shown to grope, drug, and sexually harass models, literally sexual misconduct .
just imo not directed towards anyone, the Moto bag is iconic and most people familiar with fashion will immediately know it’s Balenciaga. Wearing these bags is normalizing the brand and keeps them in the culture. Almost as disgusting as the company. It’s like people who listen to RKelly’s music after what has happened.
Not to mention supporting Kering’s other brands is indirectly supporting Balenciaga since Kering will gladly funnel money from Gucci or Bottega to rescue Balenciaga
They’re lying and I don’t believe it. There’s just too much that I don’t think it was a coincidence or the producers fault. They should just close doors. The name is tainted now.
I agree with all but this... for now. I'm willing to give Kering's other brands a pass until we know more. But I'd like a statement from Kering at a minimum, if not their brands.
No, the Ghesquiere era. The vast majority of Balenciaga bags owned by members here, and the ones with the highest esteem artistically and culturally, were from years before AW and Demna..
Taint can be shorter term with decent crisis management and proper public relations. Missteps and other variations of moral rot haven't always sunk a legacy brand. What they do in response makes the difference.
I find it ludicrous to suggest that consumers should excommunicate their bags from 2001--Fall 2022 on this basis...what the hell.
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I know that the moto bag is from the Ghesquiere era.
The brand is literally trying to distance their involvement with this and suing anyone to get people off their backs. “We’re sorry for any offense”? The whole apology was so insincere and patronizing. They have done nothing at all and been silent. I’m not surprised they left twitter given their ties! The brand is tainted. If they fire the creative director it’s be an empty gesture since they still maintain the rest of the staff that green lit this campaign.
I didn’t know not supporting a brand even through their old designs because they implicitly advocated for pedophilia is ludicrous. Interesting!
Sorry not sorry. But at the end of the day, wearing anything recognizably Balenciaga is tacit apathy towards their inhuman behavior. It’s saying I’m fine with not giving them my money from now on, but absolutely fine keeping them relevant. Wearing their designs will allow them to maintain their popularity. It doesn’t matter what era of the brand it is from.
If that’s the case then no one should wear Chanel.