Balenciaga dirty sneakers sold out

Balenciaga dirty sneakers sold out. Story by Eleonora de Gray, Editor-in-Chief of RUNWAY MAGAZINE.

Who said that Modern Couture is dead? Balenciaga is always been a Modern Couture fashion house. Fabulous classy looks, impeccable style created by Cristóbal Balenciaga, known for his exquisite craftmanship and innovative designs. He was a visionary designer who came from XIXth century and brought a modern Princess to grace. He was designer of Mona von Bismarck.

He saw the future of fashion… but he didn’t see this coming….

When François-Henri Pinault, CEO of Kering luxury group, purchased Balenciaga in 2001 he didn’t know what to do with this house. How he was relieved when he met Demna Gvasalia, Georgian designer, who he appointed as creative director of Balenciaga in 2015.

Boy, was he relieved! Finally here’s the designer who can continue the line of the modern couture envisioned by Cristóbal Balenciaga…. He already imagined appointments with all Royal families lined up, and specially when Demna more and more get into Couture “thing”.

He started from large shoulder looks, so known from 1990s, then made couple of velour dresses, placing them in Parisian Museum of Decorative Art and New York The MET (The Metropolitan Museum of Art).

2022 is a another step to high up, after reproducing Ikea and trash bags, he finally reached his final crown jewel – the dirty sneakers. These sneakers are not just used or dirty. No one wears sneakers to this stage. Few days ago Balenciaga put them on sale for $1,850. And according to their announce – they are already sold out. By queens, no doubt.

Balenciaga was panned by Chinese buyers after it launched $1,850 trainers, banned as “potentially dangerous content” by social media networks, specifically Twitter, which you can see if you are emotionally strong enough…

This indeed is a triumph…. So let’s imagine… Balenciaga 1950s vs Balenciaga 2020s, and see the transformation.

Balenciaga 1950 vs Balenciaga 2022 - Mona von Bismarck impeccable style
Balenciaga 1950 vs Balenciaga 2022 – Mona von Bismarck impeccable style
Balenciaga 1950 vs Balenciaga 2022 - Envelope Dress and Dirty Trainers
Balenciaga 1950 vs Balenciaga 2022 – Envelope Dress and Dirty Trainers
Balenciaga 1950 vs Balenciaga 2022 dirty sneakers
Balenciaga 1950 vs Balenciaga 2022 dirty sneakers
Balenciaga 1950 vs Balenciaga 2022
Balenciaga 1950 vs Balenciaga 2022

Shocking isn’t it? Shocking not because the sneakers are dirty and completely trashed. This is just banal, done and redone so many times by the artists starting from 1970s. Andy Warhol is one of the best examples. Shocking because it is horrifying to see how wonderful Haute Couture house has been trashed and destroyed.

This is not art, this is not fashion concept, it’s just dirty sneakers. But these sneakers are indeed sold out… so it goes from “crazy” to “pretty sick” fashion department.



Posted from Paris, Le Marais, France.