History of the Balenciaga brand

Balenciaga is much more than a brand – it is a legend in the fashion world, whose history has set trends and defined modern elegance for decades. Its roots go back to a humble atelier in San Sebastián, Spain, where a young Cristóbal Balenciaga, fascinated by tailoring, began his journey into the world of fashion. From humble beginnings to global recognition, brand history Balenciaga remains an inspiration to both designers and fashion lovers around the world. Despite changes in leadership and evolving trends, it has always remained true to its roots, maintaining the spirit of innovation that has made it a legend.

In pursuit of opportunity

The name Balenciaga is nothing more than the name of its founder. Cristóbal Balenciaga was born in 1895 and, according to few sources, grew up in a small coastal town in Spain. His first exposure to fashion was when, after the death of his father, his mother began working as a seamstress to support the family. Like most children of the time, he was self-taught. Back then, there were no fashion schools or education in design or pattern cutting. Often families living in poverty learned from local churches how to sew based on practical experience. Interestingly, in his entire career as a designer, Balenciaga never once sketched a design in pencil on paper. But enthralled by his mother’s work, at the age of 12 he began his own journey into the world of fashion as an apprentice at the San Sebastian resort.

He founded his first fashion house in 1917, however, not under the prominent name we know today, but an abbreviation of his mother’s maiden name-Elisa. After some time, in the 1920s, he opened a second store, this time in Madrid. However, in 1937 Balenciaga was forced to move to France because of the Spanish Civil War. And it was in the fashion capital that he was hailed as the undisputed leader of French haute couture. His first fashion house on Avenue Georges V quickly became the most exclusive tailor shop in Paris On par with fashion houses such as the then Dior.

The era of innovation

Starting at such a young age, his pattern-cutting and garment construction skills were outstanding. As we mentioned, instead of planning or sketching his designs, he started with the fabric itself. Moreover, he knew the art of manipulating materials to bring out their full potential. Perfect craftsmanship was something that set Balenciaga apart from brands like Chanel and Dior. His genius won him numerous accolades, but the designer himself kept his circles narrow. He befriended and admired few, starting with the Christian Dior, through Hubert De Givenchy, to Carmel Snow and Diane Vreeland. He was an introvert who was known for his distance from the media and paparazzi.

Thus, Balenciaga not only demonstrated excellent tailoring, but also pioneered new techniques and materials. He introduced innovations such as the use of artificial fabrics, designing collarless jackets and evening dresses with modern cuts that redefined the standards of elegance. However, it was not until the 1950s and 1960s that the designer reached the apogee of his work. His bold designs, including the iconic baggy dress and railing coat, have won international recognition, inspiring generations of designers.

The history of the Balenciaga brand – heirs to a legacy

After an extremely successful few decades, Balenciaga unexpectedly closed his fashion house in 1968. Sadly, he died just four years later at the age of 77. The news of the fashion empire’s closure sent the brand’s customers into shock, but it is said that he himself believed that there was no longer a real way to design couture. It turned out otherwise, however. In 1986, less than two decades later, there was a Balenciaga’s new era. One who had the credit for this is Nicolas Ghesquière, known for breathing new life into Balenciaga right from his first show s/s 98. Many of his creations are still iconic today, From the Patchwork dress to the Motorcycle Lariat bag.

In turn, in 2001, the fashion house was taken over by the Kering, now owner of Saint Laurent, Alexander McQueen and Bottega Veneta. In 2015 Demna Gvasalia was announced as Balenciaga’s new creative director, and everyone has been talking about him ever since. He is also credited with helping to revitalize the brand in many ways, while maintaining the artistic integrity of Cristobal’s cuts and shapes. With Demna, the fashion house was recognized as Kering’s fastest growing brand in 2018.

It was he who relaunched the house’s roots and couture at the 2020 show. This important moment showed that the brand is returning to its true heritage. And that’s because Balenciaga has not produced a couture collection since Cristobal himself. Demna thus seems to be a worthy successor to the brand’s legacy. We continue to hear about his next moves to take Balenciaga to the heights of global fashion. Last year, at the s/s 23 show, he surprised the industry with his latest collaboration with Adidas, With athletes in the lead role.

Spirit of clothing

Today, Cristóbal Balenciaga’s influence is still evident in all of the fashion house’s designs, both in prêt-à-porter and couture. His masterful techniques survive in all of Balenciaga’s renowned collections. The brand continues to grow and reclaim its unique character with bold initiatives under Gvasalia’s leadership. From collaborations with the Simpsons to the selection of Kim Kardashian as its latest muse, the fashion house is thriving as it did in the 1950s. Brand history Balenciaga is not only a tribute to the past, but also an inspiration for the future. The brand continues the tradition of innovation and excellence that has made it a fashion icon. By combining tradition with modernity, it constantly pushes boundaries and shapes trends while remaining true to its roots.