Is Balenciaga Still Canceled?

Balenciaga has been a hot topic over the past few years, and many times, not for the best reasons. Their most recent appearance at Paris Fashion Week also garnered a lot of attention, and the public appears to be divided on how they feel about the brand. 

Balenciaga has had quite a few ups and downs over the past few years. For those who may not be aware, Balenciaga has been heavily criticized for their controversial campaigns. Towards the end of 2022, Balenciaga was seemingly unanimously canceled, as the public was outraged by their holiday campaign featuring extremely inappropriate pictures with children. 

In an effort to mitigate the fallout, Balenciaga’s creative director, Demna released an apology for the role he played in the 2022 scandals. Balenciaga’s president and CEO, Cédric Charbit, also released a statement in an attempt to take accountability for the role he played in the campaign. 

Since this controversy, Balenciaga had appeared to take a step back, keeping a low profile throughout much of 2023 as they attempted to gradually improve and rebuild their image. They were careful to not draw too much attention as they put on their first show since the incident in March of 2023. While they kept relatively quiet, some celebrities still attended shows and wore Balenciaga despite all the controversy surrounding the brand. Balenciaga also appeared at Paris Fashion Week in the fall, and didn’t appear to garner significant attention. 

Balenciaga appeared to make a “comeback” with their December show in Los Angeles. The setting was on an iconic palm tree-lined street with the Hollywood sign as the backdrop. Notable celebrities in attendance included Kim Kardashian, Kendall Jenner and Nicole Kidman. Nicole Kidman was also announced as a brand ambassador for the brand. Another major moment was Cardi B closing out the show. This show seemed to mark a bit of a transition for Balenciaga as they emerged back into the spotlight.

This brings us to Balenciaga’s most recent appearance at Paris Fashion Week. Kim Kardashian, who had announced a new partnership with Balenciaga as a brand ambassador earlier this year, arrived in a black lace Balenciaga gown. She drew attention for having a Balenciaga name tag hanging on the back of her dress. Other celebrities in attendance included Serena Williams, Vittoria Ceretti, Cole Sprouse and Ashley Graham. 

To invite guests to the show, the Balenciaga team purchased various items on eBay to send to each guest. Demna raised several questions, literally, at the Balenciaga show at Paris Fashion Week, including “What is fashion, and why does it continue to be relevant?” As well as reflections like “I think that creativity has become a new form of luxury.” 

As the show ensued, it became clear why Kim Kardashian had the Balenciaga tag still attached to her dress. Pieces featured on the runway also had tags still attached. Meanwhile, other pieces were wrapped in tape, had the eBay logo on them, and more. Other notable pieces included a floor length gown made of underwear.

Naturally, some people took to social media to voice their opinions after Paris Fashion Week. While it appears that many celebrities have seemingly forgiven Balenciaga, understandably, the general public has mixed opinions on the brand. Some may not have strong feelings, while others voiced criticism and significant concerns with the brand.

What are your thoughts? I’d love to know!