Skip to main content

Balenciaga Announced New A-List Ambassadors, But Does the Controversial Brand Deserve a Clean Slate?

by Laaibah Amjad


In the ever-evolving world of fashion, brand ambassadors play a crucial role in shaping recognition and image. 


Balenciaga, a luxury fashion house known for its avant-garde, structural designs and attention-seeking approaches to fashion, recently made headlines by announcement new brand ambassadors. Leaving us to wonder, are we no longer boycotting after that ‘problematic’ marketing? 


Since November 2022, when the ad campaign first went live, Balenciaga stores seem to have remained empty with TikToks still showing the stark contrast to its busy neighbours. See this video from London’s infamous Bond Street during Christmas.


These tumbleweeds are a result of the brand’s images: one featuring a child model alongside a teddy bear adorned in black leather and chains, and the other showing a stack of legal documents, including one containing the text a Supreme Court decision related to child pornography.


Their decision to appoint a new brand ambassador has raised eyebrows within the fashion community and beyond. A quick glimpse at the comment section of this video from just a few weeks ago demonstrates how we’re not ready to forgive Demna, despite his apology that stated: “I want to personally apologise for the wrong artistic choice of concept for the gifting campaign with the kids and I take my responsibility.”


The selected individuals, whose identifies had been kept under wraps until this week’s official announcement, are well-known figures within social media and entertainment industry.


Catching most media attention is Kim Kardashian.  Her connection to the brand is vast, having worn custom Balenciaga ensemble at the 2021 Met Gala, walked for their 51ST COLLECTION runway, as well as her frequent appearances at shows and in campaigns - with Demna even appearing in an episode of The Kardashians. 


Alongside the multi-millionaire are famous actors Nicole Kidman, Michelle Yeoh, Isabelle Huppert, and PP Krit Amnuaydechkorn. 


This collection of immense talents reflects a deliberate effort to bring together a diverse and globally recognised group of personalities across different cultures and levels of fame. Clearly seeking to appeal to a broad and varied audience, the public response to Balenciaga’s new brand ambassadors is still varied and one attempt at an inclusive approach doesn’t forgive a disgusting campaign. 

 

Balenciaga’s array of brand ambassadors showcases diversity, and their creative director has left a significant mark on the industry. However, the controversial campaign raises questions about Demna’s extreme focus on pushing marketing boundaries and we’re not convinced anything has changed.


Edited by Emily Duff

Most Popular

Fashion For a Cause: Brands That Stand with Palestine and the history of fashion as a form of Activism

by Oana-Maria Moldovan For over two months, there has been an ongoing genocide war in Gaza. To simplify a long and horrific issue, the situation that started, on a larger scale, around one hundred years ago, and has only become amplified since October 7th 2023. Taking place around the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, and Israel–Lebanon border, the armed conflict is between Israel and Hamas-led Palestinian militant groups.  The problem is about “stolen” land. Said land is seen as an important holy part of both religions involved. But really, how holy can we consider a land to be, if people kill other people for it? It’s important to remember that this genocide is about three things: forced occupation, zionism, and religion. It’s also important to remember what ethnic erasure is. This terrible expresion, also known as cultural or ethnic assimilation, refers to the process by which the distinct cultural or ethnic identity of a particular group is gradually diminished or erased, often due to...

Now What? The Aftermath of the 'Manic Pixie Dream Girl'

by Susan Moore Here is a bit about me: I am an open, excitable, creative AFAB who is also moderately attractive. I have a unique sense of personal style and a personality that on the surface can only be described as “bubbly” and “quirky”. For this reason, dating is a nightmare. To be sure, I do not have a hard time finding dates or potential suitors. The problems arise when said dates spend some time with me and decide that I am a rare specimen, and the connection they feel with me is “unlike anything they have felt before”. Then, things go one of two ways.  Either a) they decide I am too high maintenance and no longer palatable, or  b) they choose to never look further than the surface and are content to date the idea of me rather than the real me. There is something rather interesting, perhaps funny, about my situation. It is in no way unique. I have met so many people who constantly dealt with the same problem. Even funnier still, is the fact that there is a trope that simu...

‘Make Tattooing Safe Again’: Sheffield Based Tattoo Artist Exposed for Indecent Behaviour

 by Emily Fletcher TW: SA, Animal Abuse, Transphobia Photo Credit: @ meiko_akiz uki Recently, an  Instagram account  has been created to provide a  ‘space to safely give a voice to those who want to speak out about the behaviour of one, Sheffield based tattoo artist’. A  total of 40+ posts have been made by the above social media account regarding  one of Sheffield's most popular tattoo artists .  Thankfully, all posts are prefaced with a Content Warning prior to sharing screenshots of the messages that have been sent anonymously to the page. The majority of Content Warnings refer to sexual behaviour, abuse, and sexual assault. It is clear that there is a reoccurring theme within each submission, as many clients appear to have had the same experiences with the tattoo artist. Women, mostly, are being made to feel uncomfortable while being tattooed. One of the most vulnerable positions anyone can be in, tattoo artists should make their clients feel ...