IKEA Has The Perfect Response To Balenciaga For “Copying” Its Iconic Blue Bag
"Unlimited edition."
By John Lim — 21 Apr 2017, 06:26 PM
Luxury fashion brand Balenciaga has designed a large blue tote bag that bears a striking resemblance to IKEA's iconic crinkly "FRANKTA" bag, but with a significantly higher price tag
Meet the "Arena Extra-Large Shopping Tote Bag", the bag has the same similar blue hue and double shoulder straps like the 'FRANKTA."
According to the product listing, the bag is "constructed of blue wrinkled, glazed leather."
Sure.
When you compare both bags next to each other, there's only one major difference - the "FRANKTA" is sold for RM2 while Balenciaga's creation clocks in at USD2,145 (RM9,432)
GQ points out that everyone shouldn't be too surprised by the unexpected design direction and pricing.
The fashion house's designer Demna Gvasalia - who is also behind luxury streetwear label Vetements - took the fashion world by storm when he sold a USD300 (RM1,318) t-shirt bearing the logo of shipping company DHL.
IKEA, however, was pretty excited that it had inspired the French fashion label
"We are deeply flattered that the Balenciaga tote bag resembles the Ikea iconic sustainable blue bag for 99 cents. Nothing beats the versatility of a great big blue bag," a company spokesperson told Today.
But that didn't stop the furniture retailer from taking a playful jab at Balenciaga in a Facebook post
"Get the big blue bag that started it all at a price that’s 4,000 times more affordable. Visit our stores to check out this and other authentic IKEA designs that are all the rage," said the description of the photo album that was posted yesterday on IKEA's Facebook page.
At the time of writing, the post has garnered over 2,300 likes and 700 shares.
