Balenciaga

Founded in 1856 by Cristóbal Balenciaga, a Spanish fashion designer known for his innovative and influential designs.

Cristóbal Balenciaga Eizaguirre, a renowned Basque fashion designer, is born in Getaria, Gipuzkoa, Spain.

Cristobal Balenciaga opens his haute couture House in San Sebastian, Spain.

In 1918, Cristóbal Balenciaga opened his first boutique in San Sebastián, Spain, which later expanded to include branches in Madrid and Barcelona.

Cristóbal Balenciaga founded the luxury fashion house in 1919 in San Sebastián, Spain. The brand later expanded to include branches in Madrid and Barcelona, with designs worn by the Spanish royal family and aristocracy.

Cristóbal Balenciaga founded the renowned fashion house that continues to influence the fashion industry.

Due to the Spanish Civil War, Balenciaga closes his stores and moves to Paris, where he establishes his iconic house of Balenciaga on the Avenue George V.

By 1939, Balenciaga was being praised in the French press as a revolutionizing force in fashion, with buyers and customers fighting to gain access to his collection.

In 1947, Balenciaga opened his fashion house at 10 Avenue George V in Paris. The presentation of his first collection was met with immediate success by the press and buyers.

In 1951, Balenciaga revolutionizes fashion by introducing broader shoulders and eliminating the waist in his designs, marking a significant shift in silhouette.

In 1952, Balenciaga launched his first boxy suits and introduced the iconic “Parachute” dress. These designs revolutionized the fashion industry.

In 1953, Balenciaga introduced the balloon jacket, an elegant sphere that encased the upper body and provided a pedestal for the wearer’s head.

In 1955, Balenciaga designed the tunic dress, which later evolved into the chemise dress of 1958, showcasing his innovative approach to fashion.

In 1957, Balenciaga created his high-waisted baby doll dress, the gracefully draped cocoon coat, and the balloon skirt, shown as a single pouf or doubled, one pouf on top of the other.

In 1958, Balenciaga introduced the chemise, which had no discernible waist but was considered universally flattering and copied by many ready-to-wear manufacturers.

In 1959, Balenciaga introduced the Empire line, featuring high-waisted dresses and coats cut like kimono, marking a significant milestone in fashion history.

In 1960, Balenciaga created the wedding dress for Fabiola de Mora y Aragón for her marriage to King Baudouin I of Belgium.

In 1967, Balenciaga reversed his earlier decision of staging runway shows one day before retail release. This change marked a shift back to the traditional practice in the fashion industry, where designers would debut their collections four weeks prior to them hitting the shelves. Balenciaga's reversal had implications on the fashion calendar and industry norms.

In May 1968, Cristóbal Balenciaga abruptly shuts down his fashion house in Paris. This decision shocked the fashion industry and left many in disbelief.

On March 23, 1972, Cristóbal Balenciaga, the renowned fashion designer, passes away in Spain. His death marks the end of an era in the world of haute couture.

Cristobal Balenciaga passed away on March 24, 1972, in Javea, Spain. He was laid to rest in his hometown in the Basque region.

Cristóbal Balenciaga's funeral took place on March 25, 1972, and was attended by everyone in the fashion and social world. Diana Vreeland praised Balenciaga for revolutionizing fashion with his innovative designs and use of color.

The World of Balenciaga exhibition took place in New York at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1973, showcasing the works and legacy of the iconic fashion designer.

After almost twenty years of inactivity, the Balenciaga brand was brought back to life by Jacques Bogart SA with Michel Goma leading as the creative director.

Dutch designer Josephus Thimister took over as the designer of Balenciaga in 1992, marking the beginning of the restoration of the brand to an elite, high-fashion status.

From 1997 to November 2012, Nicolas Ghesquière leads the house of Balenciaga, leaving a significant impact on the brand's aesthetic and direction.

In July 2001, Gucci Group, later known as Kering, purchases Balenciaga as part of its luxury brand acquisition spree.

In 2002, Balenciaga's designer Nicolas Ghesquière admitted to imitating the work of Kaisik Wong by creating a patchwork vest in his collection that resembled Wong's design from 1973. This acknowledgment sparked discussions about originality and inspiration in the fashion industry.

In 2003, Kate Moss was seen carrying the City bag, a moto-inspired calfskin tote launched by Ghesquière that later became known as the City bag. Moss' endorsement of the bag played a significant role in changing executives' perception of its market potential.

In 2004, Balenciaga introduced its menswear line, which was overseen by Ghesquière.

Balenciaga's Fall/Winter 2005 line was successful in terms of sales and attracted celebrity customers like Anna Wintour.

In 2006, a special exhibition dedicated to Balenciaga was held at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris, showcasing the designer's iconic creations and influence in the fashion world.

In March 2011, Balenciaga celebrated the opening of a fashion retrospective at M. H. de Young Museum, showcasing 120 pieces from Cristóbal Balenciaga's career.

June 2011 marks the establishment of the Museo Balenciaga in Getaria, Spain, the birthplace of Cristóbal Balenciaga. Queen Sophia of Spain and Hubert de Givenchy inaugurate the museum, celebrating the designer's legacy.

On November 5, 2012, Balenciaga announced the departure of creative director Nicolas Ghesquière and appointed Alexander Wang as the new creative director.

In February 2013, Alexander Wang showcased his first collection as the creative director of Balenciaga, honoring the legacy of Cristóbal Balenciaga.

On October 2, 2015, Alexander Wang presented his final collection for Balenciaga, showcasing the spring 2016 ready-to-wear line at Paris Fashion Week.

A look back at the history of Balenciaga, a renowned fashion house, showcasing its journey of successes and challenges over the years.

In 2016, Demna Gvasalia introduced the Balenciaga Speed Trainer, a knit calf-length sneaker design that resembles a sock. Despite criticisms of its aesthetics, the Speed Trainer became a bestseller for Balenciaga.

By 2018, Balenciaga had achieved the distinction of being Kering’s fastest-growing brand, showcasing its remarkable success and growth within the fashion industry.

On July 7, 2021, Balenciaga stages its first haute couture show in 53 years at 10 Avenue George V, blending traditional tailoring with a modern aesthetic.