A rubbish bag for 1790 euros? A calculated scandal

Worn sneakers, copied Ikea bags, platform Crocs - the luxury label Balenciaga is considered an innovator and a master of provocation. Led by creative director Demna (he's renounced his last name since December 2021), the fashion house sparks both hype and outrage season after season. The latest coup: a leather garbage bag for about 1790 euros. A drawstring, as known from the yellow sack, serves as a closure and carrying handle. You carry the bag in one hand or throw it over your shoulder. Just as if you wanted to dispose of them in the next garbage can.

The “Trash Pouch” was presented for the first time in March in Paris as part of the autumn/winter shows, and is now available in stores. A calculated scandal: “I had to seize the opportunity to design the world's most expensive garbage bag. Who doesn't look forward to a fashion scandal?" said the 41-year-old designer in the American industry magazine "Women's Wear Daily".

Controversial designs like the "Trash Pouch" became a trademark of Balenciaga. Nevertheless, bizarre designs in luxury fashion are not new. In the past few decades, high-priced brands have launched polarizing creations, and there has even been a bag in the style of a garbage bag: The French company Louis Vuitton was ahead of the visionary Demna and launched the “Raindrop Besace” model for around 2000 euros as early as 2010 Market.

Designed by Marc Jacobs, it featured a shiny fabric with a print and an orange drawstring waist. The British newspaper The Guardian dubbed the bag the Rubbish Bag. In the second-hand shop "TheRealReal" you can buy them for almost 1500 euros. Above the price – probably with a view to Balenciaga – is the note “Smart Investment” (in German: “clever investment”).

On the used market, such polarizing designer pieces are sometimes offered at horrendous prices. First and foremost, a limited-edition silver-plated metal and black leather supermarket shopping basket created by Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel's Fall 2014 collection. On the e-commerce platforms "Farfetch" and "1stdibs", the price for the basket currently varies between 15,500 and 23,000 euros.

A cheap option seems to be Jil Sander's coated paper bag from 2012. Back then, for the equivalent of 270 euros, buyers received a bag in the style of a typical American “brown paper bag” – including the printed brand logo and ventilation holes. The peanut brown “Vasari” model was presented for the first time as part of the men's collection designed by Raf Simons. On the catwalk it was worn with pleated trousers and a knitted jumper or with a body-hugging suit. Those who didn't like the paper version had the option of purchasing a black leather version. Cost: around 600 euros.

But as controversial as the designs may be, they have always been able to fulfill their function as a bag. Things are different with the New York label Area. A mini folding chair studded with rhinestones and dangling from a silver-colored chain was launched there in autumn 2020.

It was declared a bag by the fashion brand and sold for around 890 euros – although it offers no storage space whatsoever. Nevertheless, he won celebrity fans, or perhaps because of this: Christine Quinn, American reality TV star in the Netflix luxury realtor series "Selling Sunset" and the latest Balenciaga muse, wore the accessory. The miniature chair is now sold out.

Designs like these are created to push the boundaries of luxury fashion, but more importantly, those of the consumer. As early as 2009, a year before the launch of the Louis Vuitton "Raindrop Besace", Marc Jacobs spoke about the phenomenon: "Louis Vuitton has a huge fan base of almost crazy people who want what they buy to be exclusive". , so the designer in the “Times”.

That means: As long as there are people who spend thousands of euros for a bag in the style of bin liners, there will be an offer. Two options remain: either you are outraged. Or you can sit back and enjoy the show