Bemused fashion fans slam £500 Balenciaga trainers

With their scuffed soles and faded fabric, you would be forgiven for thinking these trainers have been left to languish at the back of a wardrobe for years.

But in fact these are the latest offerings from luxury fashion label Balenciaga and have been painstakingly crafted to look like they have been pre-worn. 

And such sophisticated shabbiness does not come cheap. The multi-coloured ‘Triple S’ trainers come with a staggering £600 ($795) price tag.

Designer price tag: The £600 ($795) Balenciaga trainers are designed to look pre-worn

The shoes only go on sale later this month but have already caused a stir on Twitter, where fashion fans have been left bemused by their scuffed-up aesthetic.

One asked: ‘Why are people paying £500 for these new Balenciaga’s when you can just find them in lost property at school for £0??? [sic]’

Another said: ‘They look like an old a** pair of shoes that my mom keeps in a box in the garage.’

However other fashion-forward shoppers are clearly impressed by the unusual design as the shoes have already sold out online.  

Scuffed and faded: The shoes, which will be released this month, come in a range of colours

Scuffed and faded: The shoes, which will be released this month, come in a range of colours

Ridiculed: Not all fashion fans were convinced by the designer's pre-worn aesthetic

Ridiculed: Not all fashion fans were convinced by the designer’s pre-worn aesthetic

The shoes, which will be available in store from September 21, are described online as ‘multimaterial oversize trainers with complex sole’ and come in a number of different colour combinations.

It comes just months after the Spanish fashion house sparked widespread debate with the launch of its £1,6400 ($2,145) ‘Arena Extra-Large Shopper Tote Bag’, which social media users said looked just like the iconic oversized IKEA shopping bag. 

The connection was not lost on one witty Twitter user, who suggested the bold blue bag would perfectly compliment the controversial ‘Triple S’ trainers.

'Scruffy': Some Twitter users drew comparisons with practical shoes worn by some teachers

‘Scruffy’: Some Twitter users drew comparisons with practical shoes worn by some teachers

Others drew comparison between the shoes and a pair of retro Skechers sneakers. 

Last year, Balenciaga made headlines when they produced a version of the over-sized Thai laundry bag.  

Earlier this year, they were mocked for another bag that bore a striking resemblance to a blanket bag one might find at Bed Bath & Beyond – not Bergdorf’s. 

Distinctive: It comes just months after Balenciaga released the £1,6400 ($2,145) 'Arena Extra-Large Shopper Tote Bag' which social media users said looked just like an Ikea shopping bag

Distinctive: It comes just months after Balenciaga released the £1,6400 ($2,145) ‘Arena Extra-Large Shopper Tote Bag’ which social media users said looked just like an Ikea shopping bag

Inspiration? The Ikea tote, pictured, look strikingly similar to the one produced by the designer

Inspiration? The Ikea tote, pictured, look strikingly similar to the one produced by the designer

Perfect pair? One Twitter user joked the trainers would match perfectly with the bag

Perfect pair? One Twitter user joked the trainers would match perfectly with the bag

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