Balenciaga Teams Up With the National Children’s Alliance Amidst Ongoing Drama

Culture

| LAST UPDATE 02/09/2023

By Bernadette Forster
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Peter White / Contributor via Getty Images

Amidst a swirl of controversies, luxury fashion giant Balenciaga has taken an unprecedented step towards bettering the lives of children. It looks like the brand's New Year's goal for 2023 was to ensure that more children get to experience safety and security. Here's a look.

On February 8th, 2023 they announced a partnership with National Children's Alliance and parent company Kering Foundation to provide initiatives on child-related topics such as abuse prevention and intervention practices. It's a move that signals a change of direction for both companies after facing backlash from their 2022 child ad scandal

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The luxury fashion has made a surprising return to the social media spotlight, despite being absent on Instagram for many months. This follows widespread confusion and criticism of their holiday gifting campaign earlier this year, which could signal an exciting comeback from one of today's biggest fashion houses. The National Children's Alliance made a promise to provide increased access to trauma-focused education and training as well as greater public awareness about child abuse. The mission is clear: equip adults on best practices for protecting children’s safety and promote an environment of happiness by building strong foundations early in life.

"Balenciaga and the Kering Foundation announce a partnership with National Children's Alliance (NCA)," reads their Instagram post, which was made on Balenciaga's Instagram account. The statement was followed by three pillars, which included "[helping] children heal from trauma," facilitating access to "Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Training," "[providing] education for Balenciaga about child protection," and "[raising] public awareness on child abuse and child protection." The brand has committed to support the National Children's Alliance, allowing them to train close two thousand professionals in evidence-based mental healthcare and enhance access for an estimated 55,000 children. The move will undoubtedly result in positive outcomes for those affected by child abuse across America. And although the Balenciaga brand faced some negative attention, many well-known individuals have maintained their support by continuing to rep the clothing in public appearances. Perhaps the brand's most recent move will sway public perception as well? Stay tuned to find out.

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