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The Fashion Industry’s Obsession with Everyday Items Turned High-End Accessories
Imagine walking into your morning meeting, coffee in hand—except instead of an actual coffee, you’re holding a £4,350 Balenciaga handbag. Sounds absurd, right? Well, according to the Guardian, that’s exactly what Lauren Sánchez did recently in LA, carrying what looked like a takeaway coffee but was actually a luxury calfskin clutch.
What’s the Deal with This Coffee Cup Bag?
Balenciaga has a history of turning mundane items into high-priced fashion statements, and this bag is no different. It mimics the brand’s own reusable coffee cup (which itself costs £85) and disposable coffee cups you’d typically toss away. The trend of turning everyday objects into high-fashion accessories isn’t new—just ask Gigi Hadid, who recently sported a Moschino handbag designed to look like an orange juice carton.
Other brands have jumped on the trend too. Louis Vuitton has a paint can bag priced at £1,980, while Balenciaga’s own crisp packet bags—available in flavors like spicy chili and salt & vinegar—sell for £1,450. Meanwhile, Anya Hindmarch has built a brand around luxury versions of British grocery staples, with bags inspired by Frosties cereal, Perelló olives, and Lea & Perrins sauce, all going for around £1,300.
Why Is This a Thing?
Fashion historian Iain R Webb notes that luxury brands have long borrowed from the ordinary. He cites historical examples like Marie Antoinette dressing as a shepherdess and the Vetements x DHL collaboration, where a basic courier uniform became a £185 statement tee.
But not everyone is impressed. Orsola de Castro, co-founder of Fashion Revolution, believes these designs are outdated. She argues that when Andy Warhol turned Campbell’s soup cans into art, it had meaning—it was rebellious. Today, she says, these designs have lost their edge and are simply “vulgar.”
The Bigger Picture: Wealth and Excess
The controversy isn’t just about the bag itself—it’s about what it represents. Sánchez, who is engaged to billionaire Jeff Bezos, has a reported net worth of over $30 million. When ultra-wealthy individuals turn everyday objects into expensive fashion statements, it highlights the stark divide between luxury and affordability.
Dr. Gaby Harris, a fashion culture expert, points out that these accessories allow the wealthy to play with mass consumer culture while remaining exclusive. With coffee prices at record highs and everyday expenses rising, a £4,350 coffee cup bag feels more like a tone-deaf flex than a clever statement.
Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, fashion is subjective. Some will see Balenciaga’s coffee cup bag as an ironic statement, while others will see it as yet another example of how disconnected luxury fashion has become from reality. What do you think—bold statement or just bad taste? Let me know in the comments!