Netizens ridicule Balenciaga's $4,900 tote that looks like a blanket bag
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The new Balenciaga bag that's inspired by a classic - the blanket bag.
PHOTO: FACEBOOK/BALENCIAGA
Chew Hui Min
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Luxury brands like Balenciaga struggle with pirated versions of their bags, but users on social media give them a hard time too when they spot a "copycat".
Incredulous netizens are trolling the French luxury brand for its US$3,500 (S$4,900) Blanket Square XL - a lambskin tote with large floral prints and hand-made twisted nappa handles that looks exactly like the bag people keep blankets in.
Part of its 2017 Spring/Summer collection, it is made of leather, and there's the Balenciaga label on the upper right corner, but it looks exactly like a blanket bag you would find in your grandmother's closet.
It's not the first time Balenciaga has tried out the high-fashion-meets-pasar-malam concept.
The market bags that hawkers stuff their goods in became the Bazar Shopper Tote for its Fall Winter 2016/2017 collection.
The bag, which costs about S$2,000 and was designed by the brand's then new creative director Demna Gvasalia, sold out.
American "ethical fashion" store Nomad Tribe Shop has also re-purposed some rather familiar looking door mats into bags.
Japanese fashion label Comme des Garçons has a signature tote bag that looks something like a chicken rice wrapper, retailing for about $80.
