Balenciaga apologises for bondage bear advert involving child

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They're also taking legal action against its creator

What I want to know is who the hell signed it off and why were the parents happy to let it go ahead?

I've included the images for anyone who hasn't seen them.

A few years ago there was a thread on here regarding an advert for a particular brand of clothes I believe for children (I think it may have been a Swiss or Swedish company) the pictures of the children and the staging were very disturbing. Many posters condemned it then along came a poster who apparently had some connection to the designers or brand berating those who complained for their lack of progressiveness it was just art, you are just unintelligent repressed prudes who just don't understand - the usual defence.

Fashion is awash with this type of stuff and Balenciaga is only the latest in a long line and the justification is always, always - it's just art.

The fashion industry is a cess pit of exploitation, there was an eye opening documentary on the abuses within the industry of models by agencies and photographers.

The photographer says he's the victim

Well he's right to point out that the products featured and models chosen would have had nothing to do with him.

An important question is who placed the papers that referenced the court case, because that indicates a level of intent that isn't deniable. Was it him? Someone in his team? Someone else?

And yes, absolutely right that he could have walked away, but I don't think that's his style. He strikes me as up to his neck in all this. However, equally I don't like Balanciega's attempt to pin it all on him, because someone in their company signed it off and they need to take responsibility.

Exactly. I think everyone of all political leanings should be calling this out. It's just another example of the left not doing so.

Making a stuffed animal, a child’s toy, with swollen black eyes wearing bdsm gear. Is Balenciaga saying that was someone else, too?

This is how things go in the US now. So many people want to see what the political other “side” says before taking a stance on anything. It’s really crazy. It’s not just the media, so many people in real life behave this way.

Making a stuffed animal, a child’s toy, with swollen black eyes wearing bdsm gear. Is Balenciaga saying that was someone else, too?

And hiring pre-schoolers for the shoot? Did the photographer do that without their knowledge? Hell no.

This is how things go in the US now. So many people want to see what the political other “side” says before taking a stance on anything. It’s really crazy. It’s not just the media, so many people in real life behave this way.

Batshit

When porn started to become more widespread, that was said about women who protested. Women were bullied with the gaslighting 'prudes/freedom of expression/its a free country/ its art'.

Now look where we are, porn is mainstream.

I have just sent Balenciaga a strong email. I found their address on their website.

Do Balenciaga have a high street presence? Or are they more elite? I wouldn't be surprised to see some more physical objections if they do.

I live in a run-down northern town where, like many places in the uk, the high street is practically dead. We have had a new designer shop open, part of a chain I think, that sells various designer brands. My first thought when I saw it was 'how long will that last'.

Anyway, walking past the window to get to a shop I can afford I noticed a pair of Balenciaga trainers in the window - I only clocked them because they were bloody ridiculous and similar to ones I have seen mocked here on Style and Beauty I pointed them out to DD as they were so OTT.

So I guess Balenciaga is being promoted as an aspirational brand here in the nothing-special place where I live, in an actual new shop. Make of that what you will.

Regarding the left wing media I wonder if it comes down to being seen to be progressive and liberal at all times, and it is simply not cool to risk being seen as reactionary in any way.

The photographer? Oh come on! I have a rudimentary knowledge of how fashion spreads are put together, but surely there would have been a concept produced on mood boards and discussed around a boardroom table with all the creative directors, a set designer, a scout very carefully selecting models, a director staging the shoot, specific instructions given to make up artists and hair stylists as to the look (of abuse) they want to achieve etc etc. And yes, the creative who came up with that bloody horrible bear. The bloody photographer is not the problem here. It's the people much higher up the food chain and their twisted and borderline criminal artistic "vision".

@VestofAbsurdity "The fashion industry is a cess pit of exploitation, there was an eye opening documentary on the abuses within the industry of models by agencies and photographers."

Yes, just look up 'Terry Richardson' aka 'uncle Terry', absolutely considered the coolest edgelord in the industry in the 1990s for his tawdry photographs, often including himself in the 'action' with his young female models. So many big brands, pop groups, celebs queuing up to work with him. And it was absolutely in plain sight.

"Love Is For Everyone" at Balenciaga:

twitter.com/twisterfilm/status/1595782646864711680?s=46&t=BOFPCYUNKpP5pNIzcoXDsg

The photographer is getting loads of negative feedback on Instagram, but Balenciaga seem to have deleted all posts. They’re really hiding from their accountability.

"Love is for everyone"

Bloody hell.

I worked in advertising for years. Big fancy ad agencies. Worked with top photographers.

It's bullshit that this was some kind of unilateral decision by the photographer. He would have been working to a very exacting brief which would have been approved by the brand at every stage.

Regarding the left wing media I wonder if it comes down to being seen to be progressive and liberal at all times, and it is simply not cool to risk being seen as reactionary in any way.

Yes I think that's true, but christ there's got to be a line somewhere. Turning a blind eye to child abuse because the woke bros are too cool to make a fuss isn't acceptable.

I hope they sue, I hope the photographer (from what I've seen of his work on this thread seems a one trick pony - line things up and get person to stand behind them aaaaaand repeat) also sues, I hope the parents of the children sue. I would love to hear what they say about each other in court. Which means no lawsuit will get that far, they'll settle if they sue.

I think the most disturbing thing, as pp have said, is how sad the children look and that those are the shots they picked to publish. Why do kids looking miserable fit the aesthetic they were going for? No good reason I can think of.

I thought the bondage bears were props created for the shoot, but it seems they're actually retailed by the company, is this correct?

I thought the bondage bears were props created for the shoot, but it seems they're actually retailed by the company, is this correct?

They are actually handbags, yes really.

This picture from their runway show is also disturbing:

i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/11/23/23/64767967-11463573-The_bondage_clad_teddybears_are_actually_handbags_that_appeared_-a-1_1669247372798.jpg

What is going on with the models legs?

Yes. Every single detail would've been curated by the company. He might well not have cared, but it wouldn't have been his decision.

I'm afraid anyone who still generously believes this was an unintentional accident, as opposed to intentionally planned, carefully, designed and strategised?

Is still at the 'be kind' stage of naivety and unconscious enablement.

I am not tolerating a society that celebrates depravity. That can fuck right off. If this is what comes of loosening boundaries and increasing 'tolerance' (except as a homosexual female in her 50s I have never in my lifetime experienced such homophobia, intolerance, hate and rage with desire to harm and suppress as I have experienced in the past few years from the be kind/inclusion/love or we'll kerb stomp and beat you to death mob) then stuff it.

It's mud spatter. They made their models walk around a mud trench for the show.

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