Demna‘s Winter 2022 show elevated Balenciaga from one of the world’s most revered brands to one that became respected beyond the glitterati of fashion week, as it paid tribute to the ongoing crisis in Ukraine with a poem recited by the Creative Director himself and offered showgoers a custom Balenciaga T-shirt focused on the colors of the Ukrainian flag.
Similarly, the show itself was a powerful and immersive experience, as models were subjected to freezing conditions inside a snow machine protected by glass, separating the guests from the models while visually articulating how Demna felt fleeing his home country of Georgia, and similarly, how Ukrainian families are currently fleeing the war.
Aside from the blizzard and the shattered Apple iPhone 6 invitation, there were plenty of fashion moments that made the world take notice, such as the Trash Pouch.
As Demna told WWD, “I couldn’t miss an opportunity to make the most expensive trash bag in the world, because who doesn’t love a fashion scandal?” Indeed, the designer has done just that, as this luxurious accessory is modeled after a disposable garbage bag, except it is made of supple calfskin leather. It is not the first time this has been seen on the runway, as Vaquera released a puffy shell mini dress and Lanvin SS14 saw models clutch onto trash bag-like pouches.
However, Balenciaga’s interpretation is arguably the most subtle to date. Everything from the bag’s drawstrings to the interior made of calfskin is available in four colorways: black, white and red, blue and black, or yellow and black. A delicate coat has been applied to the accessory to give it an irregular shininess, similar to the glossy black bags you use to line your bins, and subtle branding has been printed on the front.
The Balenciaga Trash Pouch costs €1,400 EUR ($1,790 USD) and is available now in Balenciaga boutiques and online.
