Black men have been harassed, discriminated against, and in some cases even killed for wearing so-called “sagging jeans” that hang low and leave the exposed waistline of underwear underneath. But now, one of the world’s biggest and most popular luxury fashion brands is being accused of not only culturally appropriating the style but also trying to cash in on it, marketing a pair of grey sweatpants that hang low on the hips and appear to have exposed boxers around the waistline — for $1,190.
CNN’s Fernando Alfonso III has reported that Balenciaga “has been lambasted by some fashion and Black history experts for what they say is cultural appropriation.”
The scandal appears to have started with a TikTok user named @mr200m__ spotted the Trompe-L’Oeil pants and said, “This feels racist. They’ve woven the boxers inside the trouser.”
