Balenciaga
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| Subsidiary | |
| Industry | Fashion |
| Founded | 1919 |
| Founder | Cristóbal Balenciaga |
| Headquarters | Paris, France |
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Key people
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Demna Gvasalia, Creative Director |
| Owner | Kering |
| Website | www |
Balenciaga (Spanish pronunciation: [balenˈθjaɣa]) is a French luxury fashion house founded by Cristóbal Balenciaga, a Spanish designer, born in the Basque Country, Spain. He had a reputation as a couturier of uncompromising standards and was referred to as "the master of us all" by Christian Dior. His bubble skirts and odd, feminine, yet ultra-modern shapes were trademarks of the house. The House of Balenciaga is now owned by the French multinational company Kering.
Cristóbal Balenciaga opened his first boutique in San Sebastián, Spain in 1919, which expanded to include branches in Madrid and Barcelona. The Spanish royal family and the aristocracy wore his designs, but when the Spanish Civil War forced him to close his stores, Balenciaga moved to Paris.
Balenciaga opened his Paris couture house on Avenue George V in August 1937, and his first runway show featured designs heavily influenced by the Spanish Renaissance. Balenciaga's success in Paris was nearly immediate. Within two years, the French press lauded him as a revolutionary, and his designs were highly sought-after.Carmel Snow, the editor of Harper's Bazaar was an early champion of his designs.
Customers risked their safety to travel to Europe during World War II to see Balenciaga's clothing. During this period, he was noted for his "square coat," with sleeves cut in a single piece with the yoke, and for his designs with black (or black and brown) lace over bright pink fabric.
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Wikipedia