Debuting in Fall/Winter 2016, the Bazar bag was the first accessory designed for the house by Demna Gvasalia after his appointment as Creative Director of Balenciaga. It marked a decisive break from the brand’s previously refined, sculptural language, ushering in a new era of subversive, street-inflected luxury.

Directly inspired by the oversized striped utility bags found in Thai Sampeng markets, the design reimagined a cheap, disposable object in multicolored Arena lambskin leather with polished palladium hardware. The contrast was intentional—and humorous. What was once banal and low-cost became an aspirational luxury item, sparking immediate debate.

More than a bag, the Bazar became a manifesto for Demna’s Ugly Chic philosophy: finding beauty, value, and cultural relevance in the mundane. Today, it stands as an archival symbol of fashion’s shift toward irony, provocation, and conceptual luxury in the late 2010s.

Measurements: width 37 cm, height 37 cm, depth 18 cm.