Balenciaga, the under-fire luxury fashion brand over two recent controversial ad campaigns, has signaled its plans to sue the production company North Six for its role in creating one of the ads.
The backlash began when online scrutinizers noticed a page from the 2008 Supreme Court decision United States v. Williams in the backdrop for an ad showcasing a $3,000 purse.
The ruling upheld the constitutionality of a child pornography conviction.
The label, which is already facing condemnation over a different campaign involving children, initiated the lawsuit Friday in the New York State Supreme Court. Balenciaga is seeking at least $25 million in damages from production company North Six, Inc., set designer Nicholas Des Jardins and his company
Balenciaga hired North Six and Des Jardins to develop and produce its Spring 2023 campaign, according to the court summons.
The ad, which has since been removed from the company’s website, was part of the fashion house’s Spring 2023 collaboration with the activewear brand Adidas.
That ad campaign also drew backlash because it featured images of children holding plush bears wearing fishnet tops and leather harnesses, surrounded by objects like flasks and chain necklaces.
The ad was photographed by famed documentary photographer Gabriele Galimberti, who shot in a similar style (though with less provocative objects) for a series called “Toy Stories”.
The ad was met with accusations that the fashion house was condoning the sexual abuse of children. Social media users and media commentators described it as “creepy,” “demonic” and “horrifying.”
In its statement to CNN, Balenciaga said “all the items included in this shooting were provided by third parties that confirmed in writing that these props were fake office documents. They turned out to be real legal papers most likely coming from the filming of a television drama.”
