2023 was on track to be Balenciaga’s biggest year yet. Now, the future seems uncertain for the once-revered house. Fashion exile is brutal, vast and lonely – many labels struggle to return once pushed there. So, what’s next? CULTED took to TikTok to review the brand’s foggy road ahead following their highly controversial (and swiftly pulled) holiday ad campaign, and viewers had a fair bit to say about the future of Balenciaga.
Controversy aside, the topic of Balenciaga’s rich history was raised by @alts27, who referred to the brand’s decades as a fashion figurehead and stated “They have so much history to lean on for their comeback (aside from memory and power)”. After such a scandal, is a pending comeback realistic for the house? Whilst one commenter agreed that they believe the brand will definitely come back – albeit “extremely slowly. I don’t think their brand is just completely gone like that” (@humansvisions), there were certainly opposers to the theory.
One commenter bluntly stated “Looking forward for the house to close.” (@internetlau) Radio silence on Balenciaga’s social media may indicate a PR hiatus, but suggestions of a full shutdown of the historical house sits on an extreme side of the spectrum. Despite this, one user named @NoMoreBalenciaga2023 has seemingly dedicated their whole account to the brand’s downfall this year (if their username is to be taken literally) leaving smatterings of anti-Balenciaga responses in the comment section.
Do Balenciaga supporters still exist, or has the controversy left the world on the fence? With accusations surrounding external companies and unauthorised sign offs rife within the case, it’s hard to know what really happened. Though many have shunned the label, some advocates clearly still remain, as @jaack.aep unwaveringly commented: “i still love them idrc”. The verdict? Whilst social media remains largely divided following the fallout, Balenciaga have taken a step back – for how long, no one knows.
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