Over the past few weeks, the internet has been buzzing with visuals created by artificial intelligence tools, many of which bear a striking resemblance to the fashion house Balenciaga. While some may see this as mere coincidence, others believe it may indicate a deeper trend.
One example of this AI-generated Balenciaga aesthetic is an image of Pope Francis wearing an oversized puffer jacket. However, it turns out that this image was created by Reddit user Pablo Xavier using the image generation tool Midjourney. In an interview with Buzzfeed, Xavier admitted that he had prompted the AI with the term “Balenciaga” to achieve this result.
The Balenciaga-inspired trend continued with a Harry Potter makeover. In a video on demonflyingfox’s YouTube account, mannequins resembling the actors from the popular book and film series were dressed in outfits reminiscent of Balenciaga’s style. This video has gained nearly 9 million views.
The success of these videos led to their creator exploring variations with other pop culture franchises such as Breaking Bad, Lord of the Rings, Peaky Blinders, Game of Thrones, Spiderman, and Star Wars.
These AI-generated visuals not only raise questions about the nature of reality and copyright concerns but also shine a spotlight on Balenciaga. The fashion house had a challenging end to the year, dealing with controversies surrounding its campaigns and public missteps by Kanye West, who is closely associated with the brand. However, these incidents also highlight Balenciaga’s strong connection to pop culture.
Balenciaga has effectively integrated itself into pop culture through collaborations and memorable capsule collections. The brand has partnered with iconic brands such as The Simpsons, Crocs, Adidas, Lays chips, and singer Aya Nakamura. This has helped establish Balenciaga’s distinct brand aesthetic, characterized by oversized silhouettes and a monochromatic palette with futuristic touches.
As Demna Gvasalia, the artistic director of Balenciaga, stated at the 2018 Vogue Fashion Festival, fashion is a reflection of the world around us. Undoubtedly, artificial intelligence is now playing a part in shaping Balenciaga’s artistic vision and brand identity.
Useful links:
– The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Fashion
– Will AI Tools Help Us Build a Better World?
