Luxury fashion brand Balenciaga has irked netizens with one of its recently launched products, with many slamming it for cultural appropriation.
The brand is selling a pair of sweatpants that appear to resemble the “sagging” trend, popularised by young African-American men.
For the uninitiated, “sagging” is a style in which a pair of trousers is worn significantly below the waist. It is predominantly a male fashion trend, known to have been popularised by skaters and hip-hop musicians in the 1990s. Later it became a symbol of cultural awareness and rejection of values of the mainstream society.
According to businessinsider.in, the style was banned in many American cities as recently as 2019.
Balenciaga’s wide-legged sweatpants come with red and green waistbands. They cost $1190 (Rs 87,522.95).
Netizens were quick to point out that the pants that appeared to have “boxers sewn in” tried to create the “illusion of ‘sagging’”.
IKYN | Balenciaga pants with the boxers sewn in to create the illusion of ‘sagging’…are retailing for about Ksh 119,000 ? #Raeonsoundcity .@SoundcityKenya
I just wanna know who thought it was a good idea to tuck them in this way ? pic.twitter.com/4WxAyV39k8
— It’s pronounced -RAY- (@Iamthe_Rae) September 7, 2021
A social media user wrote: “@BALENCIAGA gentrifying cheap sweatpants and boxers has got to be the most annoying bulls**t I have ever seen. Like more than Igloo Australia rapping with a southern accent annoying. Y’all just love Black style but don’t want to give us any credit.”
@BALENCIAGA gentrifying cheap sweatpants and boxers has got to be the most annoying bullshit I have ever see. Like more than Igloo Australia rapping with a southern accent annoying.
Y’all just love Black style but don’t want to give us any credit.
— ?????? ?????. (@HennyCassanova) September 6, 2021
Here’s how others reacted:
Balenciaga is selling grey sweatpants with boxers attached for $1200. Why are we really buying that trash when we obviously create and move fashion & culture.
— ? Ace (@TheRulersBack_) September 7, 2021
Balenciaga is playing with black people at this point ????sagging pants sweatpants?????? Nah, they playing.
— I’m just here lmao (@AmaniHyman) September 7, 2021
@BALENCIAGA did you run out of ideas, or is this a typical practice? You have no shame when it comes to profits. Those sweatpants you are selling are so ugly and I cannot believe someone will pay $1,200. #balenciaga #Racists
— Mimoza (@mimozas17) September 7, 2021
Keep supporting these racist brands @BALENCIAGA https://t.co/Ga3vWzOC4O
— Maybe: Benjamin ?⃤ (@speaklessb) September 7, 2021
What do you think about these pants?
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