Balenciaga’s Creative Director Personally Apologizes As Brand Drops Lawsuit
Last week, luxury fashion label Balenciaga found itself making headlines once again—just that this time, it wasn’t for its outlandish designs. The brand has landed itself in hot water over a controversial campaign that many took to be trivializing child abuse.
Balenciaga had announced it was suing the production company behind the images, North Six, and set designer Nicholas Des Jardins, whom it said had added a hidden court document without its knowledge.
However, it seems the fashion house has decided to make a u-turn on its decision, with CEO Cédric Charbit stating that the company “has decided not to pursue litigation,” though he did not explain why.
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Demna Gvasalia, the label’s creative director, took to Instagram to issue a public apology for the controversy, writing that he wanted to “personally apologize for the wrong artistic choice of concept for the gifting campaign with the kids.”
“It was inappropriate to have kids promote objects that had nothing to do with them. As much as I would sometimes like to provoke a thought through my work, I would never have an intention to do that with such an awful subject as child abuse that I condemn,” said the creative director, who more commonly goes by his first name Demna.
According to CNN, Balenciaga will now be implementing new actions at the fashion house to prevent a similar episode from occurring. For one, the label’s image department will be reorganized, with new systems set in place to vet future content.
CEO Charbit has pledged that employees will undergo new communications training, and that the brand will go on a “listening tour” with child advocacy groups to help the company “make a difference in protecting children.”
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[via CNN and Rolling Stone, cover image via Tang90246 | Dreamstime.com]
