A Burned-While-Ironing Shirt for 1.6 Million Won?...Still Selling Like Crazy

A 1.6 Million Won Shirt Printed With "Iron Marks"
Some Sizes Sold Out Despite Claims It Is Absurd

Luxury brand Vetements has drawn attention by unveiling a shirt that looks as if it was burned while being ironed. Despite its somewhat absurd design and the high price in the 1.6 million won range, some sizes are already sold out.

Vetements recently released the "White Ironing Burn Graphic Shirt" priced at around KRW 1.6 million. The shirt features a print on the left chest that imitates a scorch mark caused by ironing. Vetements website

The shirt is a new item released this spring by French luxury street fashion brand Vetements. Named the "White Ironing Burn Graphic Shirt," it is made of 100% cotton, with a pocket on the left chest and a printed design above it that mimics an iron burn mark. It is priced at 1,139 dollars (about 1.64 million won), and the XS and XL sizes are sold out.

On its official social media account, Vetements posted a photo of the shirt, seemingly taken in a store, with only the caption "???". The post appears to be staged with the controversy over the product in mind. Comments included, "It looks like clothes accidentally burned at home," "Did my mom make this?" and "We have the exact same shirt at home." Some users jokingly reacted by saying, "No need to buy a new one, I'll just burn a shirt I already have at home and wear it."

"An era when ironing marks become haute couture"

On fashion communities and social media, heated debates also erupted over the absurd design and high price of the shirt. One Instagram account with 11.35 million followers sarcastically commented that it was "a design anyone can easily make at home," adding that "many are questioning whether such a high price is really necessary."

A magazine in Singapore wrote, "Even if you accidentally burn your clothes while ironing, it might be worth thinking twice before throwing them away," adding, "We are living in an era when burn marks from ironing become 'haute couture' (custom-made clothing for a small number of clients, commonly used to mean 'high fashion' close to art)."

Trash bag pouch and coffee cup clutch also released

Balenciaga released a tote bag priced at 1.47 million won. Balenciaga website

Luxury brand Balenciaga is also famous for its outrageous designs. In 2022, it released the "Trash Pouch," inspired by a garbage bag, for 1,790 dollars (about 2.33 million won at the time), and in 2024 it sparked fresh controversy by launching a potato chip bag-shaped wallet for 1,750 dollars (about 2.36 million won). In August last year, it released a men's bag with a pay-as-you-throw trash bag design for 1.47 million won, and in April it became a hot topic by launching the coffee cup-shaped clutch bag "9 AM Clutch" for 8.07 million won.