Paris Fashion Week’s Balenciaga bag is VERY similar to Thailand’s £1.50 holdall | Daily Mail Online

A rainbow-striped bag worn by models on the Balenciaga runway at Paris Fashion Week looks remarkably similar to a Thai laundry bag, eagle-eyed fashion fans in the Far East have pointed out.

The bag, which hit the catwalk last Sunday, was part of Georgian-born designer Demna Gvasalia’s debut collection as creative director for the brand.

Instagram users didn’t waste any time in pointing out the similarities between the colourful, large striped bags on the catwalk and the laundry bags that are commonly used in Thailand – and cost less than two pounds. 

Hang on, that looks familiar! The Balenciaga bag appeared on the catwalk at Paris Fashion week on March 6th in Demna Gvasalia’s debut collection as head of design at the Spanish fashion house

Followers of fashion in Thailand soon noticed the similarity between the high-fashion design and the ‘sampeng’ bags available to buy from most markets which cost 75 baht (£1.50)

Since the catwalk show last Sunday, the new bag has seen many style bloggers in Thailand showing off their almost identical versions of the holdalls using the hashtag #BalenciagaBag.

The ‘sampeng’ bags are available to buy from most markets and cost 75 baht (£1.50) although since the trend it has reportedly increased to 100 baht (£1.99).

The cheap bags are made from colourful plastic and are usually associated with rural life in the country while it appears the Balenciaga version is leather. 

While the Balenciaga bag might be used to carry the paraphernalia of a fashionista’s life – smart phone, keys, designer purse – the humble ‘sampeng’ more commonly carries dirty washing or fruit and vegetables back from the market. 

An Instagram user jokingly captioned their picture  of laundry bags: ‘Straight from the runway #Balenciaga’

They come in large sizes too! Thai actress Pattarida ‘Tangmo’ Patcharaveerapong posted a picture to her Instagram with an oversized rainbow bag

We’re cool…and it didn’t cost much: Bloggers posted their pictures to Instagram showing off their almost identical versions of the bag and using the #BalenciagaBag

Among the bloggers, a Thai actress  Pattarida ‘Tangmo’ Patcharaveerapong posted a picture to her Instagram with an oversized rainbow bag.

While another actress Pachrapa Chaichua, posted a picture of her bag to her 5.9 million Instagram followers.

People in Thailand have reportedly been concerned that they will be prosecuted for carrying the copy-cat bags around.

Although there is a similarity, the laundry bags are much bigger and boxier, understandably because they are to carry lots of items. 

Nuntawan Sakuntanaga, director general of the Commerce Ministry’s Intellectual Property Department, assured people there was nothing to worry about.

Actress Pachrapa Chaichua, posted a picture of her bag to her 5.9 million Instagram followers

Some people in Thailand have reportedly been concerned that they will be prosecuted for carrying the copy-cat bags around, pictured women show their bags off on Instagram

A blue striped version of the bag during the fashion show at Paris Fashion Week, which mixed and matched clashing prints

At a press conference on Tuesday, she said the bags were not illegal as they were not the same material, or purporting to be a Balenciaga bag with a fake trademark. 

PLASTIC VERSUS FANTASTIC…BUT DID BALENCIAGA INFRINGE ANY COPYRIGHT LAWS?

Department of Intellectual Property Thailand director-general Nantawan Sakunkarn said at a press conference this week that the new Balenciaga handbag was not considered a copyright violation because the material is quite obviously different.

The Bankgok Post reported: ‘The rainbow bag has been used in Thailand for a long time. 

‘It’s not illegal to carry it to Europe as it’s not a copycat. 

‘If one intends to copy, the material, pattern, shape and colour must be the same.’ 

The Georgian designer added that his main concern was for designs to be functional.

Demna Gvasalia told The Cut: ‘My intention is not to make clothes that are completely new, or to be in a museum — as long as something is practical and somebody needs it in her wardrobe, then it makes sense to me.’

Demna was a co-founder of label Vetements but left to helm the luxury label, 

The designer mixed and matched clashing prints to create flowing dresses with handkerchief hems teamed with red and white striped tights while other looks seemed to evoke dowdy secretaries with sculptural interpretations of an office suit teamed with polo neck jumpers and large glasses.

Flesh was definitely not on show with skin covered by baggy styles or flowing fabric.

Vogue editor Anna Wintour and Gucci’s Alessandro Michele were on the FROW to watch Gvasalia’s collection.