Balenciaga

In fact, the question of “what did Balenciaga do?” is a tricky one to answer, because there have been a number of different controversies that have shaped the modern brand image and impacted public reaction.

The good news is that the genius designs and the public controversies can coexist, and there’s an argument to be made that those controversies are just a consequence of Balenciaga pushing boundaries. If it played things safe, it wouldn’t be the same brand.

The History and Background of Balenciaga

The Brand’s Origins

Balenciaga got its start just after the First World War, being founded in 1919 by Spanish designer Cristóbal Balenciaga, who also gave the company its name. Cristóbal already had a reputation for being a talented designer, and it didn’t take long for him to crack the luxury market, with his premium clothing being sought after by everyone from royals and aristocrats to celebrities and public figures of the time.

After the Spanish Civil War, Cristóbal relocated to Paris, with the French culture and language and the capital’s fashion heritage having a huge impact on the growing company. Cristóbal’s designer legacy mostly revolves around the high-end fashion for women that his surname would eventually become synonymous with. That brings us to today, where Balenciaga is seen as one of the world’s most successful high-end fashion brands, with collections ranging from womenswear to Balenciaga Homme.

What Really Happened with Balenciaga

We're going to focus here on the answer to “what did Balenciaga do in 2022”, when the company experienced the largest brand controversy in its history.

So, what happened with Balenciaga? Well, the company ran a pair of advertising campaigns that drew public backlash due to their controversial subject matter. The first had both children and elements of bondage-inspired fashion in the same ad, while the second referenced a United States Supreme Court case about child pornography.

These two ads resulted in a huge amount of campaign criticism, with consumers, celebrities and industry commentators alike all asking what the company’s marketing team was thinking. These reputation issues are still following the brand today, although they didn’t do enough damage to put the company at risk of going under. 

Exploring Balenciaga Collections

Balenciaga Women and Balenciaga Men

Like many luxury apparel houses, this one also separates its main designer collections based upon the intended gender of the wearer. 

Balenciaga Women covers women’s fashion pieces like dresses, knitwear, outerwear, skirts and casualwear, as well as handbags, jewellery and other accessories. Balenciaga Men (also known as Balenciaga Homme) is the men’s fashion arm of the brand, offering hoodies, tshirts, jackets, trousers, denim jeans and other designs that aim to reflect contemporary attitudes to style and clothing.

Most fashion fans are particularly taken by Balenciaga’s designer footwear, with everything from sneakers/trainers to sandals, boots and smart shoes that wouldn’t be out of place in an office. Then there are the accessories, such as the belts, wallets and sunglasses, which offer people an approachable way to buy from the brand when money’s tight.

As a result, it’s not unusual for people to start with a smaller purchase before diving in feet first to buy something a little bigger. 

Shoes and Outerwear

If you’ve seen your friends and family (or your favourite celebrity) wearing Balenciaga, the chances are that they’ve been wearing the brand’s luxury outerwear. For example, the Casaco Balenciaga jackets are comfortable and lightweight enough to be super versatile, making them a good pick when you want to look good and you’re not quite sure what the weather will be like.

Some of the most sought-after products come from the Balenciaga Track range, which covers everything from sneakers to athletics gear, partly because they also make for great casual clothes and tap into existing streetwear fashion trends. For example, the Buty Balenciaga sneakers are designer shoes that also feel great when you’re racking up miles around the city.

If you’re relatively new to Balenciaga, your best option is to run a search for the products you’re interested in, whether that’s sneakers, jackets, hoodies or trainers. Bear in mind that there’s also a thriving resale market, and be sure to look at sizing before you make a purchase.

Balenciaga’s Collaborations and Key Products

Balenciaga Wallet and Balenciaga Rodeo

Balenciaga is interesting because it’s one of the few luxury designers that isn’t afraid to work with other companies on branded items that bring together the best of both brands. Throughout the years, their trending products have included collaborations with everyone from Adidas and The Simpsons to the NBA. 

If you’re looking for a classic bag that will look just as great in the mall as at an awards ceremony, consider the Balenciaga Rodeo, which a lot of people have compared to the Fendi Peekaboo. If you’re going to the casino, then you’ll also want to think about a Balenciaga wallet, which is one of the most popular entry points for new customers.

If a designer wallet isn’t your thing, consider luxury accessories like handbags, belts, sunglasses, caps, scarves and jewellery. You can even get your hands on fragrances, although these are difficult to find if you’re looking for older products.

The Adidas Collab

Perhaps the most famous collaboration of all is the Adidas Balenciaga collaboration, which was released in 2022 as part of the Resort collection. Given that people are obsessed with everything that either brand does, this particular brand collaboration was always going to be a big success.

The fashion partnership mixed together the luxury feel of Balenciaga with the fighting power and brand loyalty of Adidas, creating a range of sportswear, clothing and accessories with a huge amount of crossover appeal. It even brought in some fans who were new to both brands.

The very nature of this limited collection meant that there was a sudden spike in searches for both brands, resulting in a huge amount of visibility and increased demand. It’s a case study of what a successful fashion partnership should look like.

Where to Buy Balenciaga

Finding the Best Sales and Discounts

Now, just because it is a high-end, luxury fashion brand, that doesn’t mean that you can’t get your hands on affordable Balenciaga items, especially if you’re searching for Balenciaga Bleu during sale season. In fact, even the most die-hard customers look out for Balenciaga Soldes (sales), and that’s a big hint for our first major tip.

That’s because if you’re looking for discounts, one of your best options is to search for local-language variants, or at the very least to consider shopping internationally. There can be huge variations in regional demand, and sale season in one country is often at a different time to the sales in other countries.

Other options include using price-sensitive and multilingual search phrases, which can bring up the more obscure listings that might not otherwise surface, as well as using branded search variations. For example, consider searching for two or more brand names at once.

How to Identify Fakes

If you’re buying pre-owned and pre-loved products then it goes without saying that you need to be on the lookout for fake Balenciaga items. As with any high-end fashion brand, scammers look at counterfeit goods as a quick way to make some money.

The good news is that no buyer guide would be complete without an authentication guide, and we’ve got you covered. Some of the best ways to spot fake vs original products include:

• Examine the logo: Counterfeit products often have uneven spacing, incorrect fonts or low-quality printing and embroidery.
• Inspect the stitching: Genuine products will have clean and consistent stitching. Any stitching errors suggest a poorly made knock-off.
• Examine the materials: Balenciaga only uses the highest quality leather and fabrics in its products. Cheap materials are always a red flag.
• Check the packaging: Make sure that the product comes with its original packaging. 
• Check the seller: Finally, do your research into the seller. When reselling luxury goods, reputation matters.

Brand Position

Why the Company Stays in the Spotlight

The answer to this question is fairly simple. Going back to what we talked about when we covered what happened with Balenciaga, the company is notorious for courting media attention through PR campaigns and collaborations.

True, they don’t always get it right, but then they say that there’s no such thing as bad publicity. That might not quite be the case with Balenciaga, but its continued commitment to cultural relevance and its willingness to do whatever it takes to spark consumer interest is exactly why it never strays far from the spotlight.

In fact, you can’t talk about the company without talking about its marketing and PR. Luxury branding is only one part of the story, and to fully understand Balenciaga and its appeal, you also need to think about its controversies and collaborations. It’s only when you link them together with its products that you get to see the full picture.

Ultimately, Balenciaga is noteworthy because it’s a luxury brand with a difference. Its dedication to combining fashion influence with popular culture and iconic collaborations has ensured that search demand has stayed high, meaning that it’s going as strong in 2026 as it was over 100 years ago when it was founded.

Of course, its luxury reputation and its commitment to quality products have also helped to keep people talking and coming back. It’s this mixture of a high level of brand awareness and an even higher degree of quality control which characterises the brand and keeps people coming back year after year.