Fashion has always walked the fine line between creativity and controversy and few brands embrace that tension quite like Balenciaga. Known for pushing boundaries with bizarre, conversation-starting designs, the luxury label has once again ignited a social media storm, this time over its new “Destroyed” model jacket.
The jacket, priced at $950 (around Rs 84,000), features heavily distressed fabric and a worn-out look that many have described as resembling clothes picked off the street. Despite the mockery, the first batch reportedly sold out within just 24 hours of release, proving that when it comes to Balenciaga, shock value still sells.
A video of the jacket, shared online, quickly went viral, with users expressing disbelief and amusement in equal measure. Some criticised the brand for glamorising poverty, calling it “stealing from the homeless and selling it for a profit”. Others viewed it through a more artistic lens, suggesting that Balenciaga’s design plays with the idea of “anti-luxury”, redefining what beauty and value mean in modern fashion.
Here is the video:
https://x.com/Rainmaker1973/status/1983859790372815278
You can watch this video directly on X by clicking here
This is how netizens reacted:
https://x.com/NoFilterMeSorry/status/1983886759156183203
https://x.com/StihlUser/status/1983896917378515396
https://x.com/_Beahmer_/status/1983872195177935252
https://x.com/SalahudeenRazim/status/1983883521044127793
https://x.com/asianamcape/status/1983906602479464699
https://x.com/wtflifewow/status/1983860529455046685
One user humorously remarked that they wouldn’t buy the jacket without a visible logo, fearing people might assume it came from a garage sale. Another joked that anyone could recreate the look by buying a cheap hoodie, running a lawnmower over it, and saving hundreds of dollars.
Some fashion commentators took a more analytical view, explaining that two kinds of people typically buy such pieces — those who see them as exclusive status symbols and those who purchase them ironically, as social commentary or even future collectibles. For some, wearing something so outrageous is about belonging to a niche, avant-garde crowd; for others, it’s about making fun of that very idea.
The “Destroyed” jacket is not Balenciaga’s first controversial creation. Over the years, the brand has made headlines for its “Fully Destroyed” sneakers priced at $1,850, a “Trash Pouch” bag resembling a garbage sack that sold for around $1,790, Lay’s potato chip bag clutches for about $1,700, a towel skirt for $925 and even a “Gaffer Tape” bracelet that cost close to $3,000.
As debates rage on, one thing remains clear, Balenciaga has mastered the art of keeping people talking. Whether seen as bold social commentary or as the peak of absurd luxury, the “Destroyed” jacket has once again proven that in fashion, controversy can be the most powerful currency of all.
Will you ever wear such a jacket?
