BalenciagaHaute couture’s attempt resulted in more controversy.
The “full-destroyed” beatdown Basketball Paris which went viral earlier this month caught the attention of the Dutch Salvation Army who responded with their “Truly Destroyed” campaign which features shoes that have been worn for months (in some cases years) by people living on the streets.
Balenciaga’s limited-edition All-Destroyed Paris sneakers, priced at $1,850, are a little too close to home for those who really know what it’s like to wear worn-out shoes.
“The fashion world is about how clothes and shoes look. The creativity and variety that comes with it can be wonderful, just like haute couture, or Balenciaga for that matter,” said Thamar Keuning, Head of Marketing and communications to the Salvation Army.
“However, it’s also sometimes at odds with what clothing means to most people we deal with, and it’s purely functional. The destroyed shoes of a homeless person in the face of the high fashion products of this fashion industry literally and symbolically reflect the inequality in the world.
“In fact, we are grateful that they decided to offer limited edition sneakers described as “totally destroyed”, because that is what sparked our idea: to sell second-hand sneakers worn by people living in the Not treated to look destroyed, but really destroyed, due to their harsh living conditions.
Only 100 pairs of fully destroyed limited edition Paris sneakers have gone on sale.
This isn’t the first time the premium brand has faced controversy.
In 2021, Balenciaga was accused of appropriating sweatpant culture with hanging plaid boxers. Black history experts have deemed the joggers racist.