Balenciaga jupe towel and bondage teddy bears.
Balenciaga ain't afraid to court a little controversy. Pictured, left, happy-ish kid with bondage teddy bear handbag and, right, the towel skirt. | Photo: Balenciaga

Balenciaga accused of cultural appropriation after moving into surf fashion space with wearable $1000 towel

Fashion house goose-steps over ancient surfing tradition…

The French-owned fashion house Balenciaga has stared down claims of cultural appropriation from surfers after releasing a wearable “jupe towel” for a little under seven-hundred European shekels.  

Balenciaga, which was pilloried in 2022 after running an advertising campaign which featured happy kids holding teddy bear handbags dressed in sexy bondage outfits, shockvertising as they say, has appropriated the once-popular custom among surfers of changing out of wetsuits with a towel wrapped around waist.

Balenciaga jupe towel
Balenciaga&Rsquo;S New 700 Euro Jupe Towel.

Available only in beige, the “towel skirt” forms part of Balenciaga’s spring 2024 range. It is made of terry cotton, can be worn by men or women, features a regular fit, a mid-rise waist, an adjustable belt with a buckle inside, is knee-length and has a Balenciaga logo embroidered on the front.

It is made of one hundred percent cotton and to preserve its structural integrity must be dry-cleaned only.

The cargo pants worn by the model in the photograph cost 1600 Euros. 

Both items are, “made up of essential pieces with sophisticated finishes and noble materials. The house’s DNA is reflected in bold silhouettes without visible logos, precise cuts and minimalist manufacturing techniques.”

Importantly, Balenciaga is a brand that “strives strive to constantly reduce the environmental footprint of our products. The remaining carbon emissions linked to the entire life cycle of this product have been carefully calculated, and we are committed to investing the corresponding funds in carbon capture projects that protect biodiversity, restore natural ecosystems and thus combat climate change.”

Although surfing’s demographic shift to the vulnerable adult learner, median age fifty, means the poncho has taken the place of the makeshift towel skirt long employed by surfers (“If you want to wear a hoody towel and dress like a baby you may as well wear a diaper to wear with it”), it still remains a prized tradition among some. 

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tim_nelsen

INFLUENCED BY VAN HALEN and Tequila from Sammy~

200.00 worth of gear puts you here!

https://i.ytimg.com/vi/aEIt…

ud6

As a long time surfer I can assure you serious surfers don’t buy Balenciaga nor do they care about stupid ideas of cultural appropriation. We’re wearing shirts with hawaian national flower when we’re not wearing board shorts and rash vests. There are posers that buy into brand names, but serious surfers care about surfing. Nothing else and certainly not the bs of landlubbers.

Firelipe Torpedo

Kelly slater endorses mutual ayahuasca trip for Palestinians and Israelis on Instagram story. Some beachgrit headlines write themselves

tim_nelsen

an AI blog from K12? Challenge!

SaltyHB
tim_nelsen

homer’s my drinking buddy~

AI (for ever) .

“ for a little under seven-hundred European shekel”

If you converted euros into Aussie dollars that get ya down payment on a really, really badly built dog box apartment in Sydney that you may never ever be allowed live in because it’s all ready about to fall down!

Swampgoat

That outfit is ridiculous ( coming from someone who wears shit till it dies). But I’d get it if I saw it in an op-shop and it fit me.

Gil Gunderson

If they start doing a comfy little square of astroturf to stand on while I use said poncho, then I’m in!

Anyone know where I can get some coconut perfu… err cologne?

Sean Connery

Found it-

Hayden x Balenciaga

Hayden a prolific shaper, artist, and visionary from Sydney’s north shore has teamed up with fashion kingpin Ballennnciiiiaaagggga to bring you tropical paradise where ever you go.

Coconewt Cologne

$499 AU

(For a limited time only)

snapper

Sure looks like our Walmart 3.99 bath towels.

Derek Hynd's Missing Fins

“The house’s DNA is reflected in bold silhouettes without visible logos, precise cuts and minimalist manufacturing techniques.” My young son honors the same in our house, by manufacturing such bold, precise, and, given his skillset, maximalist objects in the shitter every day.

dad dad

You know whats wrong with this world? There is a big fashion brand using sexually suggestive content with a child and nobody seems to notice. Its not ‘art’ and its not controversy. Its disgusting and we need to start seeing the signs all around us that this kind of pedo signalling is going on.

JoJo the Dog Faced Boy

Why does this remind me of Outerknown?

Desktop Drudgery

I operate in staunch opposition to the hoodie towel. This has its drawbacks for other beach users as recently my threadbare regulation towel, weakened by salt and sun exposure, ruptured at the anus as I was doubled over removing my wetsuit.

JoJo the Dog Faced Boy

Thanks for the visual

The Bitchy Crab

If there was ever a sign that surfing is dead, I nominate, and have the evidence to back it up, that it was the change poncho that killed it.

Jimmy the Saint

Now now now, we don’t all live in semi tropical paradises! I got a cheap knockoff version of a Dryrobe that is indispensable if you happen to be getting changed when it’s windy and lashing rain out of the back of your car. Otherwise you are quicker getting changed using a towel. The towel poncho, which I also have is absolutely useless!

FelipesFrontFoot

I staunchly refuse even the towel tied around waist and standby the nude up change. It is really the only way to roll. Rain, hail or shine.

ValiantScorn

Ahhh, the freedom of a toweless change then being registered as a sex offender for the rest of your life.

FelipesFrontFoot

Not a problem down my neck of the woods brother, as I don’t live in the “land of the free”. Although while in the great land of ‘merca recently ran my usual program with with no adverse outcome

notsurfingtoday

But… it feels so fluffy and safe

Hippy

At your anus?

You should have used your safe word

RQ.

a fool and their money etc


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