The Origin of Balenciaga’s House of Fashion

The famous Balenciaga is a house of fashion painstakingly created by Cristobal Balenciaga born from a Spanish descent in Basque Country. He was very well known for being a couturier whose standards far exceed those of others. He had an uncompromising attitude when it comes to perfect style and design. Christian Dior even called him as “the master of us all”. The trademark of the Balenciaga house of fashion showcases bubble skirts and unique feminine, modern designs. Today, Balenciaga is owned by PPR, a French multinational company.

Balenciaga started as a small boutique in 1914 at San Sebastian, Spain. It expanded its branches in Madrid and Barcelona. His costumers ranged from the Spanish royal families to the aristocrats of the society. But he was forced to close his stores during the Spanish Civil War and transferred to Paris.

Balenciaga quickly became famous in the city of Paris. His store was located on Avenue George V. Within the span of two years, he garnered several overwhelming praises from the French press which increased his popularity. His first organized runway show featured designs heavily accented by Spanish Renaissance which were revolutionary in nature. He even managed to snatch important individuals in Paris to become an avid fan of his designs. One of these is the editor of Harper’s Bazaar, Ms. Carmel Snow.

One of the many influences of Balenciaga’s designs in the consumers during World War II is that some even took the risk of traveling to Europe just to see his famous line of clothing which featured square coat, with sleeves cut in a single piece with the yoke. He was also famous with contrasting designs like a black lace over bright pink fabrics.

Cristobal Balenciaga together with Charlotte Lee – Finglas have successfully laid down the foundation of Balenciaga’s house of fashion and brought it to the place where it occupies now.