Demna Gvasalia - Designer, Creative Director of Balenciaga

[Deleted member 7575]

I don't get this. Do you really think *nobody* thought Bratz dolls were inappropriate for children? (Exhibit A, Exhibit B, Exhibit C). I don't understand the obsessive whataboutism surrounding the criticism Balenciaga did it, "ooooh but Mattel sells dolls in provocative clothes, too!!!" Yeah, and that's another issue entirely.

I think the ads are totally distasteful and no this isn't the first product that's been advertised provocatively with children, but I'm so amused by the fact that this ~*~transgressive~*~ designer is nowhere to be found amid the controversy. If he was truly trying to make a point, why not stand behind the "artistry" behind this ad campaign? That's the embarrassing part.

It's not that hard to understand. Society accepts a lot worse and permits a lot worse when it comes to abuse and sexualizing of children. If the goal is to actually protect children then this outrage is misplaced.

Regarding those dolls, Mattel has never had to issue an apology for those dolls, those dolls are still for sale. A few pissy online reviews is not quite the same as the public lynching and threats to personal safety that various individuals involved in the campaigns are now experiencing because people can't think for themselves.

The ads are in bad taste but they are harmless.

If you truly believe they are a threat to children I would suggest you think a bit harder on how that actually plays out.

However, don't mistake me saying any of this as a defense of Balenciaga. I have no more tolerance for thoughtless outrage than I do for thoughtless shock tactics.

But I agree with you that instead of passing off blame they should have explained themselves.The obviously didn't think that these images were as bad as many of you do. They could simply have explained this and let the chips fall were they may.

They have no moral backbone either way you look at it and I think this is the beginning of their undoing.

 

[LadyJunon]

I would fire more than Demna.

I would look very hard at the head of marketing and the head of PR.

And if I were Pinault I would fire the CEO, too.

If I were Pinault, I'd fire Demna, the design directors, the PR and marketing directors and the CEO. If not for their disgusting actions, then definitely for their complicity (almost as bad) or their ignorance (unsatisfactory work performance).

If sh*t really does hit the fan, then I imagine that the only way to save Balenciaga would be to work a couple of seasons without a creative director to clear out stock, before seducing the replacement with a good salary and a full creative carte blanche.

In the worst of scenarios, they'll just amputate the rotten limb known as Balenciaga and sell it off (probably to LVMH) to protect the rest of their company.

 

[LadyJunon]

Adding more fuel to the fire


Axed Balenciaga campaign featured book by artist whose works include castrated toddlers

Oh my f*cking god, sh*t might have actually hit the fan.

 

[GivenchyHomme]

Oh my f*cking god, sh*t might have actually hit the fan.

There is too many threads discussing this so I'll go ahead and share it here as well.

Axed Balenciaga campaign featured book by artist whose works include castrated toddlers

The mods need to merge them, or create a dedicated thread entirely.

Designer & Fashion Insiders Behavior (PLEASE READ POST #1 BEFORE POSTING)

Balenciaga ‘Garde-Robe’ S/S 2023 by Joshua Bright

https://forums.thefashionspot.com/threads/demna-gvasalia-designer-creative-director-of-balenciaga.359605/page-14

 

[Deleted member 7575]

I just saw this.

It suggests that it was not sneaky sabotage or even negligence but actually a deliberate and planned part of the campaign's creative.

If they had only just explained it instead of passing the blame people might understand. They might not like it but might at least feel okay knowing there is no pizzagate scandal at Balenciaga.

 

[Deleted member 7575]

If I were Pinault, I'd fire Demna, the design directors, the PR and marketing directors and the CEO. If not for their disgusting actions, then definitely for their complicity (almost as bad) or their ignorance (unsatisfactory work performance).

If sh*t really does hit the fan, then I imagine that the only way to save Balenciaga would be to work a couple of seasons without a creative director to clear out stock, before seducing the replacement with a good salary and a full creative carte blanche.

In the worst of scenarios, they'll just amputate the rotten limb known as Balenciaga and sell it off (probably to LVMH) to protect the rest of their company.

Oh, the sh*t has hit and exploded.

Balenciaga was strategically focused on the North American market to fuel growth. I think it's safe to say that business opportunity has fizzled out.

Add to that their huge spend to drive the couture business which must surely have stalled.

And the fact that this is probably killing their holiday business...

Balenciaga is for sure about to suffer a financial meltdown.

Someone's head will roll. I can't really see them recovering with Demna and Charbit still involved.

Galliano was able to go away for a few years and then come back. Balenciaga can't just disappear.

Whoever can lead them out of this fiasco will be quite the strategist!

 

[Norden]

Seeing this unfold and snowball into something huge is kind of entertaining and unsettling.
I found those images in bad taste but what really drive home the disgust was the sort of conceptual halo around the campaigns with the court documents and books.
I’m not buying it that they didn’t know about this, it’s too deliberate and conceptual for that. I know a couple of people who work there, and these people are smart, the worst offense is the stupidity of approving these images.

They have a massive issue, the spillover into the general public is huge. Simply firing people won’t help. The whole brand looks evil in aesthetics and now the content is also evil.

it’s unfixable.

 

[gallianostan]

This is completely unacceptable. Demna should get fired for this...he is the creative director of the brand and must be held responsible for these despicable campaigns. If John Galliano got fired at Dior years ago, Demna should get fired for this. Poor Balenciaga...I used to love this brand under Nicolas.

i don't really get the comparisons to galliano's controversy... what john did was a lot worse and certainly warranted a sacking imo (and this is coming from a self-avowed devotee of his).

i want demna gone as much as anyone else, but mostly because he's a dreadful designer.

 

[jeanclaude]

WTF! What´s next...pedobear t-shirts and hoodies with the BALENCIAGA logo??

 

[tricotineacetat]

The bears are only guilty of looking like they work at Hot Topic

View attachment 1221453

View attachment 1221454

Those dolls are definitely more problematic than these bears.

I also don't read something foremost sexual in these teddy bear's outfits - For me, it's a 'mall punk/goth' clichée, during my high school years I'd see kids accessorizing their outfits with ripped fishnets and chokers. This had little to do with the fetish gear seen on gay men on Folsom Street or elsewhere and nobody even asked whether or not this was appropriate. I wonder, is that a notion pursued with significantly larger sensitivity in the US? The reaction one of the photographers received in the aftermath of this campaign suggests the majority of threats he received were from there and that hardly any were from Europe.

 

[McKinney]

Of course the Qanon conservatives in the states are using this to fuel their #groomer propaganda. What's confusing is why anyone else is joining in the witch hunt, given how they remain silent when kids are exposed to drag shows or pride parades (where actual men are wearing leather harnesses), or when they allow puberty blockers for gender dysphoric children. If your going to go batsh*t crazy in the comments section over this, then why not carry the same energy to other issues concerning "child sexualization". Virtue signaling

 

[yslforever]

It's not about the dolls. It's about mixing children with them.
Adults can freely buy these dolls. Just don't mix them up with kids.

That was my point; BDSM-inspired designs are fine for some adults who know what it is, and 100% gross around children. So who at Balenciaga decided that children would be suited for this campaign ? Did those persons know about the BDSM dolls ? Did they decide to overcome the objection about mixing BDSM dolls and children ? What what their purpose ? Being more edgy ??

 

[LadyJunon]

Of course the Qanon conservatives in the states are using this to fuel their #groomer propaganda. What's confusing is why anyone else is joining in the witch hunt, given how they remain silent when kids are exposed to drag shows or pride parades (where actual men are wearing leather harnesses), or when they allow puberty blockers for gender dysphoric children. If your going to go batsh*t crazy in the comments section over this, then why not carry the same energy to other issues concerning "child sexualization". Virtue signaling

Most extremists (left and right) on the political spectrum are less focused on bettering society, but more on being on molding it to their standards. The fashion industry, at least at face value, is progressive (woman and queer centered, atypical views on beauty and society, overall anti-traditonalist, etc), so conservatives are repulsed by its existence. Balenciaga validates that repulsion.

Seeing this unfold and snowball into something huge is kind of entertaining and unsettling.
I found those images in bad taste but what really drive home the disgust was the sort of conceptual halo around the campaigns with the court documents and books.
I’m not buying it that they didn’t know about this, it’s too deliberate and conceptual for that. I know a couple of people who work there, and these people are smart, the worst offense is the stupidity of approving these images.

They have a massive issue, the spillover into the general public is huge. Simply firing people won’t help. The whole brand looks evil in aesthetics and now the content is also evil.

it’s unfixable.

It's entertaining, because Demna's pseudo-intellectualism has blown up in his face, but I feel bad that it had to be under Cristobal's name. This brand will suffer for the better part of the decade, because of this.

 

[LadyJunon]

This had little to do with the fetish gear seen on gay men on Folsom Street or elsewhere and nobody even asked whether or not this was appropriate.

I had to search what "Folsom Street" was. Never again.

 

[yslforever]

Most extremists (left and right) on the political spectrum are less focused on bettering society, but more on being on molding it to their standards. The fashion industry, at least at face value, is progressive (woman and queer centered, atypical views on beauty and society, overall anti-traditonalist, etc), so conservatives are repulsed by its existence. Balenciaga validates that repulsion.

It's entertaining, because Demna's pseudo-intellectualism has blown up in his face, but I feel bad that it had to be under Cristobal's name. This brand will suffer for the better part of the decade, because of this.

I am outside of the spectrum of the US-centric political prism (Qanon, conspirationnists, far/alt-rights etc) because I don't live in the USA nor am American, but exposing children to fetish and kink-wear, displaying subtle or ambiguous CP documentation is extremely gross everywhere, ie in every markets not only the US.
I agree the Brand Xmas gifts sales are toasted now and that the big buyers are aware of the controversy. Honestly would you now appear in Balenciaga branded items ?
Obviously I would not. I would wait for formal apologies from Balenciaga, with the right amount of firings (marketing heads, maybe CEO) and I agree the CD has to be changed too. He's ultimately responsible it that his considered part of his aesthetics.

 

[tourbillions]

i always thought that luxury fashion brands selling kids clothes was already disturbing. But I can't even look at the photos in this campaign... .

 

[Caffeine]

There is too many threads discussing this so I'll go ahead and share it here as well.

Axed Balenciaga campaign featured book by artist whose works include castrated toddlers

The mods need to merge them, or create a dedicated thread entirely.

Designer & Fashion Insiders Behavior (PLEASE READ POST #1 BEFORE POSTING)

Balenciaga ‘Garde-Robe’ S/S 2023 by Joshua Bright

https://forums.thefashionspot.com/threads/demna-gvasalia-designer-creative-director-of-balenciaga.359605/page-14

OMG I looked at the pictures on the news article and I almost threw up. What sick people paint stuff like that?

 

[Caffeine]

They have a massive issue, the spillover into the general public is huge. Simply firing people won’t help. The whole brand looks evil in aesthetics and now the content is also evil.

it’s unfixable.

It is incredibly sad. Cristobal Balenciaga made the most classy gowns and coats. The brand was always the gold standard for creativity with class. Nicholas made it edgy and resonated with the young...and fast forward the brand is about to be ruined like this. I am incredibly saddened by this. Kering has 24 hours to fix it or I'm afraid that Balenciaga is over.

 

[Lola701]

It’s a pity that the name Balenciaga is linked to such weird affairs…
Public outrage has always been a strategy of Demna and now that have gone too far. How ironic that they distanced themselves from Kanye West for his problematic actions and now their problematic decisions are hurting them…

It’s also interesting to see that Demna is protected by the brand when in fact, he is the main responsible for that. He is responsible for any creative decision of the brand. It’s also a strategic failure and Charbit is also responsible.

They are protecting him because the brand and sales are growing. Now we will see what they will do for damage control and if that culture of trolling will end as a marketing strategy.

It’s really sad because the name Balenciaga is tarnished. The name will always be associated with this controversy and it’s really sad.

 

[Marc10]

Meh, I think it's an overreaction to think that this an apocalyptic scandal and the brand is over. It's a huge PR blunder for sure and it stained their image and momentum which was at an all time high, but I'm unsure if this will have significant damage in sales. Because frankly, 90% of the people in social media saying they're boycotting Balenciaga, had never bought Balenciaga, were never going to buy Balenciaga, and can't even afford Balenciaga to begin with. Sometimes Twitter is a bit of a loud bubble that does not reflect the real world.

And as it often happens, scandals wear off and people move on to the next one. I'm sure Kering has already deployed a PR army to turn this around. They'll lay low and scale back for a while, but with time and the right moves they can comeback from this.

We'll see how it unfolds.