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Balmain (fashion house)

Pierre Balmain S.A.
Société Anonyme
Industry Fashion
Founded 1946
Founder Pierre Balmain
Headquarters 44 rue François 1er, Paris, France
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Olivier Rousteing, Head Designer
Products Haute couture, ready-to-wear, perfume, jewellery, accessories
Owner Mayhoola
Website www.balmain.com

Balmain (French: [balmɛ̃]) is a French fashion house that was founded by Pierre Balmain. Balmain was born in 1914 in France. His father owned a drapery business and his mother and sister owned a fashion boutique where he often worked after his father’s death in 1921.

He attended the École des Beaux-Arts in 1933-1934 with intent to study architecture but instead ended up spending the majority of his time designing dresses. After working for atelier Robert Piquet as a freelance artist and spending time with Edward Molyneux, he left school to work for Molyneux.

In the late 1930s, he served in the French air force and the army pioneer corps. After peace was declared, he worked at Lucien Lelong and opened his own fashion house under his name. He released his first collection in 1945 and his first fragrance in 1949.

In the period following World War II, Pierre Balmain was "a king of French fashion" and outfitted stars including Ava Gardner and Brigitte Bardot, the Nicaraguan first lady , and Queen Sirikit of Thailand.

The brand is mentioned in the 1969 song "Where Do You Go To (My Lovely)?" by Peter Sarstedt, where he says in the lyrics, "Your clothes are all made by Balmain".

In 2015 H&M announced a collaboration with Balmain, making Balmain the 11th guest-designer collaboration. In April 2016, Balmain opened its New York flagship store in Soho.

After Balmain's death in 1982, the house was led by Erik Mortensen, described by Vogue as "Pierre Balmain's right hand". Mortensen had joined the house to work as Balmain’s assistant in 1951. After succeeding Balmain, Mortensen worked to maintain the brand aesthetic in the ever-living world of couture while still maintaining the progressive spirit of creativity in the fashion industry. He won two Golden Thimble awards, one for his Autumn/Winter collection of 83/84 and one for the Autumn/Winter collection of 87/88. He left the house in 1990. After his departure, designer Hervé Pierre took over until 1992 working as director of ready-to-wear and haute couture.


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