Demna Gvasalia - Designer, Creative Director of Balenciaga

[Deleted member 7575]

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

They're called artists.

Also worth reading if not familiar...

When Art Fought the Law and the Art Won | History| Smithsonian Magazine

 

[Caffeine]

deployed a PR army to turn this around

So far, calling anyone objecting to their campaign a Qannon has not worked. It's actually offensive. It's like them suggesting that the non-Qannon normies are okay with pedophilia - no we're not okay with it.

Also if you read thepurseblog where people do buy purses, many who voiced concerns are legitimate high end consumers who routinely purchase higher value products (Chanel RTW, Hermes, VCA, etc.).

 

[Caffeine]

They're called artists.

Also worth reading if not familiar...

When Art Fought the Law and the Art Won | History| Smithsonian Magazine

I've filled my today's quota on alternative art. Won't click on the link, but thanks for sharing. Artists should be given the freedom to express themselves, but kids are off limits.

 

[Deleted member 7575]

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.

I don't think it's really the protesters who are going to damage the business per se. You are correct---they were never customers to begin with.

I think it's more of the disapproval, the social immorality.

The controversy itself is just not very attractive and now it lingers as an aura around the brand.

The enchantment is broken. The man behind the curtains has been exposed so to speak.

For a consumer who likes conspicuous consumption and is very image conscious, I can't imagine the brand holds the same appeal.

Maybe I'm just overly hopeful but I do feel like being caught up in such a scandal sort of marks it as being very of the time in a way that's unattractive and sort of sends a signal to everyone else that it's time to move on regardless of how you feel about the scandal.

Also there are certain taboos that just cannot be crossed in society. Pedophilia is one of them. It matters not if the Balenciaga customer believe that Balenciaga was somehow involved in some pizzagate conspiracy, what matters is what everyone else thinks and how they will treat people who they see wearing Balenciaga.

The fact that someone might have to think twice about buying their goods because they don't want to be accosted or accused of being a pedophile is pretty damaging.

And to look at it from another perspective: just the fact that they attempted this shock tactic and failed so miserably at it really drains the cool factor.

It's just pathetic and lame.

But that could just be me. I'm a hater.

 

[Deleted member 7575]

I've filled my today's quota on alternative art. Won't click on the link, but thanks for sharing. Artists should be given the freedom to express themselves, but kids are off limits.

It's an article by Smithsoninan magazine. There are no images of the art in question. It's literally about what you just stated and the landmark Supreme Court ruling regarding the Robert Mapplethorpe exhibit in Cincinnati.

 

[Caffeine]

It's an article by Smithsoninan magazine. There are no images of the art in question. It's literally about what you just stated and the landmark Supreme Court ruling regarding the Robert Mapplethorpe exhibit in Cincinnati.

Okay good. I was this close to vomiting due to some of the "art" related to this subject this morning. I wouldn't have clicked on the news article if I knew.
(Still recovering from a stomach flu...)

 

[donyan]

Ive only just discovered the reach of this story, somehow I thought it had already blown over. I think Demna Gvasalia not personally responding to the whole thing is the worst he can do, it really feels like he doesn’t care. I loved his Balenciaga, maybe a little less since the K Family has become so involved . The whole situation just makes me really sad for what Fashion has turned into

 

[Caffeine]

Ive only just discovered the reach of this story, somehow I thought it had already blown over. I think Demna Gvasalia not personally responding to the whole thing is the worst he can do, it really feels like he doesn’t care. I loved his Balenciaga, maybe a little less since the K Family has become so involved . The whole situation just makes me really sad for what Fashion has turned into

His designs are so bad that he has to be a provocateur to get attention. Like, his earlier designs were not suggestive enough that he has to introduce pedo material to convey a message? This is not edginess it is cowardly sickness.
Fashion is in a better place the day he finds himself jobless.

 

[gazebo]

my screenshot of google translate

 

[gallianostan]

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my screenshot of google translate

and this is why some people shouldn't be allowed on twitter. because we get batshit insane nonsense like this.

 

[gallianostan]

The fact that someone might have to think twice about buying their goods because they don't want to be accosted or accused of being a pedophile is pretty damaging.

and this is why i abhor moral panics. they mutate into witchhunts that target completely innocent people for otherwise innocuous actions and choices. twenty-first-century puritanism in action.

 

[jeanclaude]

Controversial Balenciaga designer Demna Gvasalia 'dragging house down': insiders

Controversial Balenciaga designer Demna Gvasalia ‘dragging house down’ amid BDSM ad backlash: insiders

 

[LadyJunon]

There's so many alt-right podcasts and news channels popping up in my YouTube recommendations because of the Balenciaga keyword.

 

[LadyJunon]

Controversial Balenciaga designer Demna Gvasalia 'dragging house down': insiders

Controversial Balenciaga designer Demna Gvasalia ‘dragging house down’ amid BDSM ad backlash: insiders

Looks like it might actually be a firing then...

 

[jeanclaude]

Looks like it might actually be a firing then...

Let´s cross fingers...!

 

[LadyJunon]

Let´s cross fingers...!

I just pity the next designer who'll have to pick up all the pieces.

 

[jeanclaude]

I just pity the next designer who'll have to pick up all the pieces.

And Kering is pretty f*cked...their 2 biggest brands in the middle of a turmoil (a very bad one in Balenciaga´s case).

 

[Overindulgence]

To be fair, that's a NYP article - not the most credible as they rely on shock factor. Now, if WDD or BOF (with a grain of salt of course since LVMH funds BOF to some level) publishes something, then that would be a warning sign.

 

[blueorchid]

and this is why i abhor moral panics. they mutate into witchhunts that target completely innocent people for otherwise innocuous actions and choices. twenty-first-century puritanism in action.

Yeah, but what did Demna/Balenciaga think was going to happen with these ad campaigns? "Hmm... there are Q-Anon/conspiracy theorists/a rise of right-wing populist politics around the globe... yes... the timing is GREAT for ad campaigns that are just (a) distasteful and (b) provide these lunatics enough cat-nip around these topics that we fall right into their playbook. Seems like a great idea!!!" What's that saying? "I never thought leopards would eat MY face."

You're calling it a "witch hunt," but with witch hunts we have to remember... there were no "witches", just people accused. Demna/Balenciaga put out a thoughtful ad campaigns. This isn't a witch hunt, it's facing the consequences of your actions.

 

[McKinney]

You're calling it a "witch hunt," but with witch hunts we have to remember... there were no "witches", just people accused. Demna/Balenciaga put out a thoughtful ad campaigns. This isn't a witch hunt, it's facing the consequences of your actions.

People are accusing anyone even remotely associated with the brand as pedophiles and groomers- yes, those in charge of the ads made a horrible choice but let's not equate that with actual pedophilia; I was a victim of child abuse, I know exactly what that word actually means and its upsetting to see people throw those type of accusations to anyone so nonchalantly. People are not only going after the team, but also terrorizing people who do not work for them anymore like Lotta, celebrities who once worked with them and random customers who tagged them on instagram- some of whom don't even know about the ad. The fact that Im hesitant to wear my balenciaga sneakers in fear of being called a child groomer or enabler sounds a lot like a witch hunt and not simply holding a brand accountable.