Balenciaga x Under Armour Sneakers Surface; Alipay T-Shirt Sparks Social Media Ridicule

Balenciaga's upcoming collaboration with Under Armour reveals new sneaker designs for Spring 2025. Meanwhile, the Balenciaga and Alipay $650 T-shirt has sparked widespread ridicule on Chinese social media.

Balenciaga and Under Armour Tease Collaborative Collection Featuring Apparel and Sneakers for Spring 2025

While the details of the Balenciaga and Under Armour collaboration are still under wraps, the announcement has sparked curiosity. According to Complex, the revelation comes ahead of Balenciaga's Spring 2025 runway show in Shanghai on May 30.

Leaked images from Reddit featuring the Under Armour-branded hoop earrings that the collaborators teased on Instagram hint at a collection that includes co-branded sweatpants, shorts, elongated t-shirts, hoodies, and pique-style shirts. The possibility of collaborative footwear is also in the air, adding to the anticipation.

It's no secret that high-end labels and sportswear brands have been teaming up more frequently in recent years. Balenciaga's previous collaboration with Adidas is a prime example. Other notable partnerships include Dior x Air Jordan 1, Gucci x Adidas Gazelle, and Louis Vuitton x Nike Air Force 1. Given this trend, the Balenciaga and Under Armour collaboration is not surprising, but it's still a significant development in fashion.

The Instagram caption featuring the Balenciaga x Under Armour hoop earrings indicates that the collaborative collection's debut will occur in the early months of 2025. We will provide official updates soon.

As these images from @myfacewheno_o on Instagram demonstrate, the forthcoming collaboration between Balenciaga and Under Armour will include a sneaker component. Among the products offered are Speed Trainer variants and the 3XL. The release dates for both silhouettes are set for spring 2025.

Balenciaga Teams with Alipay on $650 T-Shirt, Faces Social Media Ridicule in China

A collaborative T-shirt worth 4,700 yuan (approximately US$650) by Spanish luxury fashion house Balenciaga and Chinese mobile payment platform Alipay has generated chatter and debate on Chinese social media.

The oversized, short-sleeved garment, designed to be androgynous, is available in black and only two sizes. The white front features the renowned Balenciaga print, complemented by the Chinese character zhi, which serves as the Alipay logo positioned to its left.

According to South China Morning Post (SCMP), Balenciaga's online store in mainland China began stocking the limited edition shirt on May 30, following its unveiling at the fashion house's Spring Summer 2025 show in Shanghai. Additionally, it was available at select physical retailers on May 31.

Balenciaga says the collaborative fashion item will be exclusively available in mainland China.

Ant Group, the fintech subsidiary of Alibaba Group Holding, which owns the South China Morning Post, operates Alipay. On Friday, Ant should have responded more promptly to a request for comment.

The unexpected collaboration between the fintech company and the 105-year-old European fashion house has generated extensive discourse on social media platforms in China. Numerous Internet users derided the costly price and simplistic design.

On the microblogging platform Weibo, a fashion influencer with the handle Mars Amateur Fashion Critique remarked, "This certainly looks like a parody." In another famous Weibo comment, a user suggested that a payment QR code should be inscribed on the T-shirt rather than the logo.

Another user wrote, "Should Alipay not provide these as uniforms for its employees?" Some jestingly described the garment as "the most costly corporate uniform."

The French luxury conglomerate Kering currently owns the Paris-based Balenciaga. It has a history of collaborating with various brands, including those whose designs have garnered significant social media attention.

Alipay, one of China's two dominant digital wallets, is a ubiquitous name and a daily utility for millions of people, so its new collaboration was notable.

The partnership results from Ant's recent international market expansion, which was undertaken to "substantially" increase the worldwide reach of its cross-border mobile payment service Alipay+.

In March, Ant International president Douglas Feagin stated that the organization intends to "complete the coverage" across all Asian countries and accomplish double-digit percentage growth in Alipay+ usage among international merchants this year. He added that the company has plans to expand into Europe and the United States.

Photo: Samuel Regan-Asante/Unsplash