Ikea reveal genius advert for its 40p shopping bag in response to Balenciaga’s £1.6k blue tote
The Swedish furniture store offer a checklist for identifying an 'original Ikea FRAKTA bag'
IKEA have issued a hilarious advert for its 40p shopping bag so its customers can rest assured they've bought the real deal.
The amusing ad is in response to French luxury fashion house Balenciaga's new handbag which looks suspiciously similar to the iconic Ikea FRAKTA bag.
But while the Ikea holdall would set you back a modest 40p, the designer tote carries a significantly higher price tag of .
Naturally people found the similarity between the two bags hilarious, with many taking to social media to mock Balenciaga's "homage" to the Ikea staple.
The Swedish store even issued a response, with a spokesperson explaining they are "deeply flattered that the Balenciaga tote bag resembles the Ikea iconic sustainable blue bag".
They added: "Nothing beats the versatility of a great big blue bag!"
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Now Ikea has gone a step further, whipping up an advert to help its customers identify an "original Ikea FRAKTA bag" should there be any confusion with Balenciaga's tote.
The simple poster comes with a set of instructions, encouraging consumers to "shake it" to hear its iconic "rustle" and "throw it in the dirt", as a true FRAKTA can be rinsed clean with a garden hose.
The creative director of Acne, the agency who created the ad, said the best thing about it is its timing.
How to identify an original Ikea FRAKTA bag
1. Shake it. If it rustles, it’s the real deal.
2. Multifunctional. It can carry hockey gear, bricks and even water.
3. Throw it in the dirt. A true FRAKTA is simply rinsed off with a garden hose when dirty.
4. Fold it. Are you able to fold it to the size of a small purse? If the answer is yes, congratulations.
5. Look inside. The original has an authentic Ikea tag.
6. The price tag. Only $0.99 (40p).
Johan Holmgren told : "I wanted to act fast, so I called Morten Kjaer from Ikea Creative Hub. He loved the idea.
"The day after the Balenciaga bag was launched, I said, ‘We’ll have the creative work ready within two hours.’
"We then went to one of our fashion photographers, Anders Kylberg, and shot the bag in his studio, with that same feeling and lighting as the Balenciaga bag.
"That same day, we sent the finished work to all markets."
It's not the first time Balenciaga have been mocked for its unusual bag designs.
In August last year it produced a £975 Bazar leather tote with stripes similar to cheap vinyl washing bags.
And last month people ridiculed the brand for their £2,325 tote that looks exactly like a blanket bag.