From packaging to fashion statement: Balenciaga unveils the tape bracelet

Rebecca Manzi Rebecca Manzi
Posted on 11/03/2024

Balenciaga once again rides the wave of uselessness with its new "tape bracelet" which looks in every way like a roll of scotch tape with the brand imprinted on the bottom

In its latest fashion statement, Balenciaga has once more stirred up a storm of attention and debate. This time, the buzz is all about the “tape bracelet”, a creation that seems to push the boundaries of style and practicality. Crafted to resemble a roll of transparent tape, this accessory distinguishes itself with the iconic Balenciaga logo clearly visible against its sticky backdrop.

The fashion world first caught wind of this provocative item during Balenciaga’s Fall/Winter 2024-25 show in Paris, where it was part of a broader narrative that toyed with the concepts of packaging and shipment-ready fashion. A model was seen adorned with a dress sculpted to her body using similar adhesive tape, walking among references to E-bay and garments with price tags dangling from them, emphasizing the theme of consumerism ready to be dispatched directly to the shopper’s home.

The bracelet’s journey to viral fame was sparked by a video from Highsnobiety, capturing the fascinated and puzzled reactions of the social media sphere. While the exact price of the tape bracelet remains a mystery, with the piece not yet available for purchase, other bracelets from the brand’s official site range from €295 to €1600, hinting at what the future might hold for this unusual accessory.

Balenciaga non è nuova a queste provocazioni

Renowned for its surrealist and sometimes Dadaist provocations, Balenciaga is no stranger to stirring the pot with items that blur the line between everyday objects and high fashion. Under the creative direction of Demna Gvasalia, the brand has previously unveiled items like bags mimicking potato chip sacks and pre-destroyed sneakers as sly critiques of consumerism and capitalism.

With a history rich in eccentric creations, such as an Ikea-like tote and a “trash pouch” resembling a black garbage bag priced at €1700, Balenciaga continues to challenge perceptions of value and desirability in contemporary fashion. These pieces, often seen as unnecessary yet irresistibly popular among the affluent, underscore the brand’s knack for turning the mundane into the coveted, further cementing its status as a provocateur in the fashion industry.

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Thirteen years on: limited change since Japan’s 2011 Disaster

Germana Carillo Germana Carillo
Posted on 11/03/2024

Today marks 13 years since a strong earthquake and tsunami hit the northern coast of Japan. Nearly 20,000 people died, entire cities were wiped out, and the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant was destroyed, creating profound radiation fears that persist to this day. As the nation celebrates the anniversary, let's understand what's happening now at the plant and nearby areas

In 2011, a 9.0 magnitude earthquake in Japan triggered a tsunami, leading to one of the world’s worst nuclear incidents as it devastated the country.

Despite numerous issues and government promises, Japan last year decided to extend the lifespan of its 11 reactivated nuclear reactors by 60 years post the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster. While 43 reactors are shut down due to severe structural problems and obsolescence, Tokyo is building new ones. Moreover, many of the 11 reactors that survived the Fukushima disaster are still undergoing maintenance, and in 2020, less than 5% of Japan’s electricity was generated from nuclear energy, down from 30% before the incident.

Additionally, a controversial plan to release over 1.3 million tonnes of treated water from Fukushima Daiichi was initiated last year, raising alarms across the Pacific and sparking political debates.

What happened 13 years ago?

On March 11, 2011, a 9.0 magnitude earthquake caused a tsunami that hit northern coastal cities in the Iwate, Miyagi, and Fukushima prefectures. The tsunami, reaching heights of up to 15 meters in some areas, struck the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, destroying its power supply and cooling systems for fuel, leading to reactor meltdowns.

Hydrogen explosions caused significant radiation leaks and contamination. Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings claimed the tsunami was unforeseeable, yet investigations and court rulings highlighted human error, safety negligence, lax regulatory oversight, and collusion.

Since then, Japan has implemented stricter safety standards and initially moved towards phasing out nuclear energy. However, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s government has reversed this policy, accelerating the restart of operational reactors to maintain nuclear power as Japan’s main energy source. Meanwhile, a recent earthquake on January 1 in central-northern Japan, which damaged many homes and roads but not an inactive nuclear plant, has reignited concerns about the adequacy of current evacuation plans.

What has happened to the residents in the meantime?

About 20,000 of the over 160,000 residents evacuated from Fukushima have not returned home.

In Futaba, the hardest-hit town and home to the Fukushima Daiichi plant, a small area was reopened in 2022, allowing about 100 people, or 1.5% of the pre-disaster population, to return. Okuma, another host town, has allocated part of its land for a temporary storage site for nuclear waste from decontamination, with 6% of its residents returning.

The discharge of treated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant

In August, Fukushima Daiichi began discharging treated water into the sea, with a current release of a fourth batch of 7,800 tonnes. Daily seawater sampling results have reportedly met safety standards, but the plan continues to face protests from local fishermen and neighboring countries, particularly China, which has banned Japanese seafood imports.

Meanwhile, the government has allocated 10 billion yen to support Fukushima’s fishing industry. The contaminated cooling water is pumped, treated, and stored in about 1,000 tanks. According to the government and TEPCO, the water is diluted with large amounts of seawater before release, making it safer than international standards.

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