1-5-2024 (HONG KONG) A hardworking cook in Hong Kong has inadvertently sparked amusement online after being photographed wearing a tattered and hole-ridden t-shirt strikingly reminiscent of a luxury designer piece from acclaimed fashion house Balenciaga. Images depicting the man diligently working in the worn-out garment, which featured multiple large apertures across the back and sleeves, quickly went viral on social media as bemused netizens drew comparisons to Balenciaga’s S$1400 “Oberteil” oversized distressed t-shirt.
The original photos surfaced last Friday on a Facebook group dedicated to Hong Kong’s famed cha chaan teng cafe culture, shared by a user who cheekily inquired about the chef’s unique sartorial choices. While the exact location was not disclosed, the images clearly showed the culinary professional sporting a severely deteriorated white t-shirt barely clinging to his frame as he went about his kitchen duties.
The most prominent feature was an expansive hole stretching from the middle of the back all the way down to the cook’s thighs, with two more gashes adorning the upper back area. The shirt’s hem and sleeves were similarly frayed into long, dangling strips – a far cry from the glamorous high-fashion looks championed by luxury brands, yet bearing an unmistakable resemblance to Balenciaga’s intentionally distressed design.
“I would like to ask the chef what type of attire he usually wears,” quipped the original poster alongside the viral images, drawing a deluge of amused reactions and memes from fellow Facebook users. One commenter cheekily juxtaposed a photo of the Balenciaga Oberteil tee next to the cook’s tattered top, with both garments exhibiting a distinctly dilapidated aesthetic through numerous holes and shredded fabric.
“Same concept, different presentation,” remarked one user, while others poked fun at the astronomical S$1400 price tag attached to the Balenciaga designer offering in comparison to the cook’s evidently well-loved and humble threads. The Spanish luxury house has courted no shortage of controversy in recent years for its avante-garde, seemingly outrageous designs and exorbitant pricing strategies.
