Balenciaga's 2022 controversies: destroyed sneakers, trash pouches, and child model backlash

In May 2022, Balenciaga introduced a limited edition Paris Sneaker priced at $1,850, showcasing a distressed aesthetic. Demna, the creative director and a former refugee from Georgia, delved into themes of trauma in fashion, including 'Trash Pouches' that retailed for $1,790. The brand encountered significant criticism for its Spring/Summer 2023 'Gift Shop' campaign, which featured child models and bondage-inspired teddy bear bags, as well as a 'Garde-Robe' campaign associated with child pornography documents. Protests erupted in London and LA, and photographer Gabriele Galimberti received death threats. Demna had previously worked with Volodymyr Zelensky on United24's Rebuild Ukraine. The S/S23 collection included a mud-splattered runway by Santiago Sierra, opened by Ye (Kanye West), who was subsequently dropped. The year 2022 was marked by numerous crises, termed a 'permacrisis.'