Ikea trolls Balenciaga over $925 towel skirt

What happened: The mocking began after the French luxury fashion brand announced its Spring 2024 Collection on Instagram on Wednesday. While the post did not provide price details, the company’s website listed a beige-colored version for $925.

About the skirt: Balenciaga says the unisex, knee-length towel skirt is made with terry cotton in Italy. It comes with two buttons inside the waistline, an adjustable belt — with a buckle inside — and the Balenciaga logo embroidered tone-on-tone at the front.

Reactions: Many social media users poked fun at the product, with one Instagram user requesting a matching towel that they can wrap around their head.

Meanwhile, X users called out the skirt’s price tag, with one writing, “Now you can dry off AND turn heads with your questionable fashion choices for only $925.”

Joining the jokes: Amid the trolling, Ikea’s U.K. Instagram account posted an ad for its own, eerily similar-looking Vinarn bath towel. The clever comeback branded it as a “skirt towel” and featured a model dressed like Balenciaga’s own.

“Introducing the new VINARN Towel Skirt, a 2024 Spring fashion essential,” Ikea U.K. wrote in the description. The product, however, costs hundreds of dollars less than Balenciaga’s at 16 British pounds ($20).

Not the first time: This is not the first time Ikea has trolled Balenciaga. In 2017, the fashion house released a $2,145 bag that resembled Ikea’s iconic blue shopping tote, leading the furniture giant to release a print ad titled “How to identify an original Ikea Frakta bag.”

Balenciaga, for its part, is no stranger to unveiling bizarre products and subsequently drawing flak on social media. The company previously sparked outrage over a $1,800 Lay’s collaboration handbag, a $1,790 trash pouch and an “extremely-worn” limited edition $1,850 sneakers.