Photo Courtesy of Balenciaga
Spanish fashion house Balenciaga is being accused of appropriating Black culture with its latest apparel release.
Last week, the atelier dropped new swag that, seemingly, columbused the urban (Black) trend of sagging pants with boxers showing. The culprit– a pair of trompe-l’oeil sweatpants. The Italian-made goofy-looking bottoms are wide-leg fleece sweats with a “micro tartan poplin waistband with embroidered Balenciaga tag.”
The price tag for the ugly a** pants– a whopping $1,190.
Once photos of the item began circulating on social media, Black Twitter called out the brand for being racist for imitating the sagging trend.
Trompe-l’oeil is a French term for visual illusion in art.
The website Business of Fashion
reported that “Trompe l’oeil is an art technique that has been borrowed by fashion, where a designer creates an optical illusion, through a change in perspective, dimension, or placement. From haute couture to the high street’s illusion dresses, this method is a popular way of changing shape or adding layers, belts and collars. It was first popularised by the designer Elsa Schiaparelli in 1927 when she wove a collar into a sweater.”The argument on Twitter is valid. White fashion houses have appropriated controversial looks in the Black community for decades.
And these overpriced sweatpants are just another example.