In a hilarious display of tongue-in-cheek marketing, IKEA, the Swedish furniture giant known for its affordable and practical household items, has taken aim at Balenciaga's extravagant $925 towel skirt with its own version.
Balenciaga, prone to eyebrow-raising fashion statements, debuted its Spring 2024 towel skirt, a simple terrycloth wrap-around garment that retails for a staggering price tag. The internet was abuzz with reactions, ranging from amusement to disbelief, as the fashion house once again pushed the boundaries of luxury and absurdity. Not to be outdone, IKEA, ever the master of affordable home essentials, seized the opportunity to poke fun at Balenciaga's extravagant creation. IKEA's version, aptly named the VINARN, is a straightforward, no-frills towel that comes in various colors, including white, beige, and light pink. And at just $10, it's a the smallest fraction of the cost of Balenciaga's luxurious counterpart.
Not only did IKEA's VINARN towel bear a hilarious resemblance to Balenciaga's pricey counterpart, but the company also went the extra mile to mimic the Balenciaga runway look. IKEA's model was styled in a black hoodie, sharp black sunglasses, relaxed beige pants, and black shoes, creating an uncanny resemblance to the Balenciaga presentation. With its characteristic wit and self-awareness, IKEA described the VINARN as bearing a "striking resemblance to the skirt, at a fraction of the price of the designer version."
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Perhaps IKEA's cheeky invention is a product of revenge against Balenciaga? Back in 2017, Balenciaga infamously revealed its version of IKEA's iconic blue FRAKTA bag, retailing at a staggering $2145, compared to IKEA's humble price of $1 per bag. Balenciaga designer Demna Gvasalia has always been fascinated by IKEA's iconic blue FRAKTA bag. Years later, Gvasalia paid homage to this "perfect example of ready-made" by creating a luxury leather version for Balenciaga. At the time, IKEA appeared unfazed by the expensive Balenciaga duplicate. In an interview with TODAY, an IKEA spokesperson expressed amusement at Balenciaga's appropriation of their iconic blue FRAKTA bag, stating, "We are deeply flattered that the Balenciaga tote bag resembles our iconic sustainable blue bag for 99 cents. Nothing beats the versatility of a great big blue bag!"
