Turning heads and calling it “art” is nothing new, but there are lines that even the edgiest refuse to cross. In November, the Paris-based fashion brand Balenciaga released back-to-back ad campaigns featuring blatant references to child pornography, violence, and sadomasochism. One featured a toddler holding a stuffed animal dressed in sexual clothing. In another, a child lies on a couch surrounded by wine glasses. To remove all doubt about Balenciaga’s intentions, a final photo featured a purse partially covering a printed Supreme Court opinion from United States v. Williams, a case that dealt with child pornography and the First Amendment.
To say that Balenciaga is an important player in the fashion industry is an understatement. They’ve dressed everyone from the Kardashians to Rihanna to Nicole Kidman to Justin Bieber. The most charitable interpretation of this ad campaign was that they hoped to sell more clothing. Given the various elements placed in these ads, not to mention the hyper scrutiny typically afforded ad campaigns for luxury companies, the more likely interpretation is far more disturbing.