Balenciaga faces heavy criticism following their Gift Shop campaign and Garde Robe collection
Fashion is no stranger to criticism. In fact, it’s one of the most analyzed forms of art due to its heavy impact in the market and how accessible it is when researching collections. And while fashion has been at the forefront of pushing boundaries and breaking stereotypes, it doesn’t exempt them from being policed by the general public. It’s a cycle that can be healthy, but it is quite a nuisance to those who are facing the bad light of the media.
Being on the topic of criticism, a fashion brand has been undergoing the scrutiny of those inside and outside the fashion world. Facing the consequence of two of their campaigns, we’re here to run you through the events that have been all over social media and undoubtedly, a hot topic in the fashion industry.
November 16: The announcement of Balenciaga’s Gift Shop
The campaign might seem harmless at first with Christmas slowly creeping in, and fashion brands have been active when it comes to releasing products for their holiday section. And Balenciaga participated as they released their Gift Shop campaign on November 16.
The campaign photos featured children either holding or in the presence of Balenciaga’s plush bears. These bears, however, were finished with fishnet tops and leather harnesses, while some sported a black eye.
November 21: Balenciaga releases their Garde Robe SS23 collection
Best not to confuse the Garde Robe collection with the Gift Shop campaign since it was planned before the latter. The Garde Robe collection featured Nicole Kidman, Bella Hadid, and Isabelle Hupper. However, the focus was taken away from the personalities as a product photo of their Women’s Hourglass XS Handbag immediately sparked controversy.
Seen behind the handbag was a paperwork prop from a Supreme Court decision on child pornography laws that was sprawled across the table.
November 23: Balenciaga pulls out the campaign, and photographer Gabriele Galimbertri releases his own statement
From their advertisers to social media posts, Balenciaga removed all traces of both the Gift Shop campaign and Garde Robe collection. A few hours later, Gabriele Galimbertri, the photographer behind the campaign, posted his statement on Instagram.
November 25: Balenciaga sues the production company
Both set designer Nicolas Des Jardin and production company North Fix, who were in charge of the entire set of the campaign, are now facing a $25 million lawsuit filed by Balenciaga.
November 27: Kim Kardashian speaks up on Twitter
On the season two finale of The Kardashians, which aired last November 24, Kim Kardashian spoke highly of her relationship with Balenciaga, and it was apparent with her first-ever runway appearance for the brand. However, just a few days after the controversy, the social media icon created a thread on Twitter regarding her stand and relationship with Balenciaga.
I have been quiet for the past few days, not because I haven’t been disgusted and outraged by the recent Balenciaga campaigns, but because I wanted an opportunity to speak to their team to understand for myself how this could have happened.
— Kim Kardashian (@KimKardashian) November 27, 2022
November 28: Balenciaga releases their official statement on Instagram
Just less than 24 hours ago, Balenciaga posted their statement and apology regarding both issues. It was also an update on what the fashion brand is currently handling regarding the investigation and reorganization.
The recent fashion controversy is definitely an eye-opener for both the industry and its creatives. This generated an unfortunate domino effect that made an impact across its affiliates and long-time partners, and it goes to show that no brand has an exception from correction and criticism. A lesson we’re keeping close? It won’t hurt to double check even the tiniest of details.
