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
I don't want the conversation to go sideways, but this seems worthy of discussion.
Balenciaga's instagram is wiped clean and the bears from this (SS23) and the Adidas collab are gone from the (US) website.
Here's a quick recap twitter feed: Quickie NY Post Article with the broad strokes or Long Twitter Thread with more details/accusations
I hope this is ok to post. Balenciaga has been in the headlines a bit lately and generally not in a positive way - but they've always been a bit edgier than a lot of other brands. While I don't really know what to think and look forward to others opinions, I really didn't like Balenciaga's response: “We take this matter very seriously and are taking legal action against the parties responsible for creating the set and including unapproved items for our Spring 23 campaign photoshoot." I can't imagine how many executives approved these campaigns before hitting the public. To "take legal action against the parties involved" is laughable.
Balenciaga's instagram is wiped clean and the bears from this (SS23) and the Adidas collab are gone from the (US) website.
Here's a quick recap twitter feed: Quickie NY Post Article with the broad strokes or Long Twitter Thread with more details/accusations
I hope this is ok to post. Balenciaga has been in the headlines a bit lately and generally not in a positive way - but they've always been a bit edgier than a lot of other brands. While I don't really know what to think and look forward to others opinions, I really didn't like Balenciaga's response: “We take this matter very seriously and are taking legal action against the parties responsible for creating the set and including unapproved items for our Spring 23 campaign photoshoot." I can't imagine how many executives approved these campaigns before hitting the public. To "take legal action against the parties involved" is laughable.
The fact that this whole campaign somehow went under the radar of executives is unfathomable. TBH I've never really been interested in Balenciaga but I definitely don't want anything of theirs now.
It's all over newsfeeds so it's news. I wasn't familiar w/what the images were representing but I was a fool and went and looked it up -- it's very very triggering and I was really disgusted by it. It must have gone through several layers of approval before being used so tptb passing the buck looks worse. I would never support them after this so my Kering group days are over and I'll just enjoy what I have from Bal and Gucci. Other brands have made marketing mistakes too, but this seems worse somehow.
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I just don't understand how this was approved. Maybe they assess their clientele to be dark web types? They are not okay.
Balenciaga is doulbing down. They've filed a $25M lawsuit against the set designer and production company. But again, how many Balenciaga corporate eyeballs were on this campaign before it was released? A dozen, at minimum. And at high levels. I'm sure there was at least one but likely multiple Balenciaga employees at the photo shoot itself. It's just not a good look.
I think that if I had a Balenciaga bag or a collection of them, which I thankfully do not, I would throw all of them in the trash can after dumping the grease from my Thanksgiving turkey onto them. I am livid about this brand thinking it is okay to do this kind of depraved advertising with hidden symbols of the sexual abuse of children in multiple ads. Disgusting. What an appalling company.
Same. I was just in Italy and considered picking up a Balenciaga but nothing of theirs has every really spoken to me. I bought a Gucci instead. I'm glad now that one of their bags isn't my reminder of my wonderful trip.
Absolutely appalling, unfathomable and disgusting.
The teddy bear is one thing, the bondage is one thing, the court docket referencing child porn case is one thing, but to see those babies pictured with panda eyes (a clinically recognized indicator of traumatic abuse) in the context of all of this is so incredibly infuriating and gut-wrenching there is absolutely no turning back or apology that would warrant this okay. I don't own anything and will never buy balenciaga and would not be sad if this sub-forum was shut down.
The teddy bear is one thing, the bondage is one thing, the court docket referencing child porn case is one thing, but to see those babies pictured with panda eyes (a clinically recognized indicator of traumatic abuse) in the context of all of this is so incredibly infuriating and gut-wrenching there is absolutely no turning back or apology that would warrant this okay. I don't own anything and will never buy balenciaga and would not be sad if this sub-forum was shut down.
Keep in mind this is “new” Balenciaga. To kill the sub-forum wouldn’t be fair to lovers of the old era.
Kering owns many brands as well.
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A global Luxury group, Kering manages the development of a series of renowned Houses in Fashion, Leather Goods and Jewelry: Gucci, Saint Laurent, Bottega Veneta, Balenciaga, Alexander McQueen, Brioni, Boucheron, Pomellato, DoDo, Qeelin, as well as Kering Eyewear.
They have a long reach.
This is a good point. I would want to know if these campaigns would be cleared with Kering and get a statement from them. I'm not ready to give up on all their brands at this point.
It’s disgusting and I won’t be carrying my bag anymore
Balenciaga’s headquarters is in Kering. They share staff too.
So I will be giving up my Balenciaga and Gucci bags and avoiding other Kering brands from now on, but thank god I only have three Gucci bags and one Bal moto (that are going to be sent to the realreal soon after this).
Honestly, this situation has reminded me of the racism of Gucci (the black face sweater??) and how they stood behind their creative director and staff instead of reprimanding and firing them. Not to mention the rumors of racism of the staff at Bottega and YSL too.
Also notice how quiet Kering is right now to avoid blowback affecting their other brands?? They have to problem injecting themselves in when something good is happening to one of their brands. Absolutely Despicable.
I’m side-eyeing any person I see supporting Balenciaga and any other Kering brands.