bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

moreOnThisArticles

urlAlias

commentCount

sponsorType

authorLocations

authors

paywallTypes

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

socialHeadline

headline

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

publishedDate

additionalInfoBoxes

images

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

createdDate

sponsor

factSheets

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

copyrighted

customTimezone

liveContents

Fran Lu

A fashion bracelet launched by the luxury brand Balenciaga is being mercilessly mocked in China, with some people even creating their own versions to poke fun at the chunky offering.
The supposedly vogue item bears more than a passing resemblance to a thick roll of clear sticky tape and has caused much hilarity on mainland social media.
It was featured in the fashion house’s Fall/Winter 2024 collection, which made its debut during Paris Fashion Week, according to Britain’s Independent newspaper.
In a video posted by TikTok influencer @highsnobiety, the product looks like a regular roll of clear tape, marked with Balenciaga’s logo.

Another Instagram influencer @myfacewheno_o said the product is being offered in three sizes. Some said it will be priced at around 3,000 euros (US$3,300).
A Douyin observer, who uses the handle @Jizhideliuxiaoben, said he had been enlightened by the design.
He made a tongue-in-cheek video showing his three creations, a tape ring, tape earrings and a tape necklace.
He was not alone.
Another jokingly praised the brand for being so “considerate” as to make a luxury fashion product that costs less than US$1.
The tape bracelet was worn by a model at the show.
Also, many other looks on show at Paris Fashion Week featured tops and trousers held together with scotch tape.
While Balenciaga has yet to list the accessory on its website at the time of writing, some guessed it would be another icon of the brand’s utilitarian style.
Previously, Balenciaga has sold a leather pouch that looked exactly like a full garbage bag for US$1,790, and a Kim Kardashian-inspired handbag wrapped in bright yellow and black tape for US$3,100.
In the latest collection, the brand also used dust bags as tops.
Online observers in China and overseas seized the opportunity to comment on the tastes of rich people.
One person said: “Rich people want to feel poor so bad.”

In 2023, a fashion trend led by young people in China who claimed to be poor but confident, known as the “No Money Style”, went viral.
The style features ragged trousers and brown leather jackets. The latter is known as “Maillard Style”, borrowing from the word for the browning reaction of steak meat.
Several luxury fashion items have stunned mainland Chinese social media before, such as Tiffany’s US$165 paper clip, Supreme’s US$30 clay brick, and Chanel’s plastic sandals priced at 5,000 yuan (US$700), which many said look no different from the sandals they bought for US$2 at markets.


Man in China fired for napping at desk after working late, sues firm, awarded US$48,000

China cabby stunned when passenger confessed ‘I killed a person’, he helps capture suspect

China mother jailed for abandoning son with brain injuries inflicted during family dispute

China’s second-richest man demands apology from ByteDance founder over online attacks

Trending in China

Clunky new US$3,300 ‘clear sticky tape bracelet’ from fashion house Balenciaga mercilessly mocked on China social media

A US$3,300 “clear sticky tape bracelet” made by fashion brand Balenciaga and launched in Paris, is being ridiculed on mainland social media. Photo: SCMP composite/Douyin/Instagram

Social media observers in China have wasted no time in making their own mocking versions of the chunky bracelet. Photo: Douyin

The Balenciaga tape bracelet was launched during Paris Fashion Week this year. Photo: Instagram/@vibe887

Renowned Taiwan musician uses AI to create digital version of only daughter who died at 22 to sing happy birthday to grieving mother

A famous Taiwan singer has recreated his late daughter who died of cancer using artificial intelligence technology so that she could sing a birthday song to her grieving mother. Photo: SCMP composite/Weibo/Facebook

Musician Tino Bao said creating the digital version of his late daughter helped him, and his wife, while they were grieving their loss. Photo: Weibo

Tino Bao used photos and recordings of his daughter, Bao Rong, to recreate her in digital form. Photo: Weibo

China teacher turned influencer famous for cute kindergarten song caught up in US$7,000-for-sex rumours, calls in police

A “girl next-door” kindergarten teacher in China who went viral thanks to videos of her singing sweetly to her pupils, has called in the police, claiming she has become the victim of online sex-for-sale rumours. Photo: SCMP composite/Douyin

The former nursery school teacher, who is now an online celebrity, says she is determined to dispel the sex-for-sale rumours about her. Photo: Weibo

Huang said she collected lots of evidence and has turned it all over to the police so they can investigate. Photo: Weibo

Crazed China teacher who smashed girl’s head on desk, punched boy in face is suspended, police launch probe after video of attacks goes viral

A crazed schoolteacher in China who physically assaulted two of her pupils in a sustained and violent attack has been suspended as police investigate the incident. Photo: SCMP composite/Douyin

The out-of-control teacher is seen pulling the hair of one of her female pupils as the child stands silently. Photo: Baidu

A boy student is punched in the face by the maths teacher who has been suspended as police investigate the incident. Photo: Baidu

Animal-loving China woman sacrifices life  in US with daughter to shelter 2,470 stray dogs and cats, incurs US$70,000 in debt over 15 years

The story of a 66-year-old woman in China who has spent the past 15 years looking after thousands of stray dogs and cats, sacrificing her family life and running up debts of US$70,000 in the process, has captivated mainland social media. Photo: SCMP composite/Weibo

Dong Shuzhen gave up her clothing business to devote her life to saving stray cats and dogs. Photo: Weibo 

Dong employs a team of 11 workers to make sure the strays are fed and cared for. Photo: Weibo

China shop owner who insulted tourist for asking prices and not buying anything feels wrath of police

A woman tourist in China who was mocked by a shop owner because she asked what his prices were but did not buy anything, called in the police who ordered the temporary closure of the business. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock/Douyin

The shop owner insulted the woman, who was with her partner, far right, and a fierce argument erupted ending in the police being called. Photo: Douyin

Confrontations over forced shopping often break out when tour groups visit travel hotspots in China. Photo: Shutterstock

News

People & Culture

Chunky jewellery piece from Spanish fashion house looks like roll of tape
Online wags in China ridicule creation, make own versions of unwieldy item


Mainland social media has been filled with hilarity over a clunky bracelet launched by a top fashion brand at Paris Fashion Week that looks like a roll of sticky tape.


Paris Fashion Week

Fashion

Clunky new US$3,300 ‘clear sticky tape bracelet’ from fashion house Balenciaga mercilessly mocked on China social media

Chunky jewellery piece from Spanish fashion house looks like roll of tape Online wags in China ridicule creation, make own versions of unwieldy item

Chunky jewellery piece from Spanish fashion house looks like roll of tape

Online wags in China ridicule creation, make own versions of unwieldy item