In 1917, Cristobal Balenciaga founded the Balenciaga fashion house in Spain. At the peak of his career, this fashion designer known for his “uncompromising standards” was even hailed as the creator of the “New Look” (Christian Dior) as “the hero of all of us”. the master of us all.
Since its inception, Balenciaga has been leading important trends in the fashion industry. In 1937, Mr. Balenciaga opened a fashion house in Paris. His first show was an astonishing success and he was praised by the media as a “fashion innovator.”
In the 1950s and 1960s, Balenciaga’s innovations in technology and materials inspired the birth of new silhouettes of women’s clothing, which is recognized as his highest achievement in the fashion industry. To this day, his sculptural creations are still considered masterpieces of haute couture.
In 1968, Cristobal Valenciaga closed the fashion house. He died in 1972 in his hometown in the Basque region of Spain. The fashion house remained dormant until the late 1990s. In 2001, Kering Group reopened the door to fashion and once again established Balenciaga as one of the most influential brands in the fashion industry. In October 2015, Demna Gvasalia was appointed as the brand’s artistic director.
Under the leadership of Gvasalia, Balenciaga has continued its historical glory, constantly innovating from clothing, accessories to experiences, which seems to be a spiritual call to fashion pioneers. Gvasalia’s outstanding creations at Balenciaga won him the International Ready-to-Wear Designer of the Year award at the British Fashion Awards in 2016 and the Best Accessories Designer Award in 2018. In 2017, the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) selected him as the Best International Designer.