Finally, A $600 Simpsons T-Shirt!

In an act that would’ve broken “hypebeast” Instagram in 2013, the luxury fashion brand Balenciaga partnered with America’s favorite cartoon family, The Simpsons, for its Spring/Summer 2022 collection. For those who have scrolled through thousands of comical, haute couture Bart Simpson illustrations on Instagram and Pinterest, seeing him on an actual fashion campaign is a surreal experience and an indicative moment in fashion’s shift to streetwear collaborations.

The Paris-based brand announced the collaboration with the release of a 10-minute animated video, starring television’s favorite satirical American family, the Simpsons, on Oct. 2. When Homer forgets Marge’s birthday, he emails Balenciaga and asks for “the cheapest thing with your label on it.” The fashion house, thinking the email is a joke, sends Marge a €19,000 chartreuse gown, which she wears all around town, including to an all-you-can-eat lobster buffet. When she sends the dress back, her story of feeling special inspires Balenciaga’s creative director, Demna Gvasalia, to fly to Springfield on a plane with wheels shaped like Balenciaga’s infamous speed sneakers (the sock one that looks like a branded condom for your foot), and create a show for Paris Fashion Week using the residents as his models. With the promise of a new KFC on the Camps-Élysées, of course.

Even though we loved Bart’s ironic graphic tee and over-the-knee leather boots that he wore skating down the runway, Balenciaga released merch with designs of the show’s characters. The collection includes a $260 keyring and a $995 mini shopping bag that looks like it’s not even big enough to fit a to-go container from Panda. However, our personal favorite is the $650 oversized t-shirt that is so big it might be a tripping hazard for those under 5 feet, 5 inches (definitely not recommended for those making the drunken trek up the Mount steps).

Balenciaga itself is no stranger to pop culture collaborations. Kids everywhere begged for their parent’s credit card when the brand partnered with Fortnite earlier this year. The collab featured not only physical clothes, but virtual Balenciaga branded “skins” that could be purchased with in-game currency.

The days when European houses set fashion’s biggest trends is largely over. Streetwear, which draws much of its inspiration from pop culture, has dominated fashion over the last 10-15 years because of its accessibility and versatility. More recently, luxury fashion brands have tried to regain their prestige through collaborations with street-style brands, such as Louis Vuitton x Supreme in 2017 or Dior x Nike in 2020. Sneakers, hoodies, and t-shirts are now just as valuable as trousers, dresses, and blazers.

These disingenuous and label-centric collaborations define consumerism in today’s fashion industry. Two well-known brands that have no connection to each other can release a product that will sell out just because their names are printed on it. Literally, a KFC x Crocs shoe sold out (forget chicken fingers, how about chicken toes!). Now, Jerk loves the new Crocs renaissance, but even we must admit the absurdity of this.

In a time where trends move faster than ever, brands and companies constantly discover ways to stay relevant by any means necessary. Look, we get it; the winter months would be especially chilly without a Springfield wool scarf wrapped around your neck, and your Halloween costume wouldn’t be complete without those official Louis Vuitton x Squid Games slip-ons. But ask yourself whether you're paying hundreds, even thousands, of dollars for clothing or for the label sewn into the back.

(P.S. that Squid Games collaboration doesn’t exist yet, but don’t think for a minute that it isn’t coming. Hint, hint: Louis Vuitton named HoYeon Jung their newest global ambassador a few weeks ago.)