Balenciaga roasted for $4,200 tote bag with built-in glove: ‘Weird puppet show’
Balenciaga is once again having a moment on the internet — this time for selling an odd handbag with a built-in glove.
People are mocking the luxury fashion brand for its Glove Large Tote Bag that’s made to be carried over the shoulder, but with the wearer’s arm going through the handle and into a full-length glove.
The bag is part of Balenciaga’s Summer 23 collection and comes in black or neon pink, with a price tag of $4,290.
Since the glove is built-in, the tote can only be worn on the right shoulder — which isn’t exactly practical for left-handed trendsetters, or even right-handed ones with sore arms.
The glove bag is made from “smooth calfskin” with a “lambskin lining” and has two inner pockets.
A description of the bag on the website reads: “To be worn on the right shoulder. 1 fixed glove.”
People on the internet had a field day with the company’s latest move.
“If I was rich, I would’ve used this Balenciaga glove/bag to scrub my toilet and clean my bathroom floor,” one person tweeted. “Like, what else was the purpose???”
The bag is part of Balenciaga’s Summer 23 collection.
Jam Press/Balenciaga
The bag comes in black or neon pink with a price tag of $4,290.
Jam Press/Balenciaga
The glove bag is made from “smooth calfskin” with a “lambskin lining” and has two inner pockets.
Jam Press/Balenciaga
“It looks like a weird puppet show,” another shopper said. “And not ideal if you want to put it on your other shoulder.”
This isn’t the first bizarre fashion statement Balenciaga has been mocked for.
The fashion label has been slammed for its outlandish, pricey creations, like a $1,790 purse that resembled a trash bag, a $360 hat destroyed by a laser and “dirty” outfits covered in holes for over $5,000.
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A description of the bag on the website says, “To be worn on the right shoulder. 1 fixed glove.”
Jam Press/Balenciaga
A description of the bag on the website says, “To be worn on the right shoulder. 1 fixed glove.”
Jam Press/Balenciaga
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A description of the bag on the website says, “To be worn on the right shoulder. 1 fixed glove.”
Jam Press/Balenciaga
A description of the bag on the website says, “To be worn on the right shoulder. 1 fixed glove.”
Jam Press/Balenciaga
A description of the bag on the website says, “To be worn on the right shoulder. 1 fixed glove.”
Jam Press/Balenciaga
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Balenciaga — which has been associated with the likes of Kim Kardashian — came under fire last November after putting out a series of ads featuring children in Balenciaga apparel, holding plush toys dressed in bondage getups.
In one image, a ginger-haired little girl sported a T-shirt from the brand while holding a strap connected to a white teddy bear, which was wearing a vest and a padlocked choker around its neck.
In another, a brunette child appeared in a blue outfit while clutching a purple plush animal sporting similar BDSM attire.
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Because the glove is built-in, it can only be worn on the right shoulder.
Jam Press/Balenciaga
Because the glove is built-in, it can only be worn on the right shoulder.
Jam Press/Balenciaga
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Because the glove is built-in, it can only be worn on the right shoulder.
Jam Press/Balenciaga
Because the glove is built-in, it can only be worn on the right shoulder.
Jam Press/Balenciaga
Because the glove is built-in, it can only be worn on the right shoulder.
Jam Press/Balenciaga
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The fashion house was quick to pull the ads and later addressed the controversial campaign in an Instagram post.
“We strongly condemn child abuse; it was never our intent to include it in the narrative,” Balenciaga wrote in the statement. “Our plush bear bags and the gift collection should have not been featured with children.”
Balenciaga came under fire last November after putting out a series of ads featuring children holding toys in bondage gear.
Jam Press/Balenciaga
“This was a wrong choice by Balenciaga, combined with our failure in assessing and validating images,” the fashion label added. “The responsibility for this lies with Balenciaga alone.”
The company announced it will partner with a children’s advocacy group after facing backlash.
