Cristobal Balenciaga

Cristobal Balenciaga was born in the small fishing village of Guetaria in the Basque region of Spain on January 21, 1895.



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At the age of thirteen, he astounded the Marquise of Casa Torres with his comments on her elegance. Realising his interest in Couture and his aesthetic potential, she allowed him to make a copy of the Haute Couture clothing she was wearing. Trembling, he did his work so well that she awarded him by wearing it.
In 1915, the first fashion house was opened in San Sebastian under the name BALENCIAGA.
In 1920, the second house opened in Madrid. He left Spain when the civil war broke out and established himself in Paris, where, in August 1937, he opened his showrooms at 10 avenue George V.
From 1937 to its closing in 1968 created some of the most outstanding and innovative examples of French and Spanish haute couture of the era.

Balenciaga retired in 1968 and died in 1972.
The House of Balenciaga was owned by Jacques Bogart SA until the Spring of 2001 when Gucci bought a controlling interest in the house.
The Balenciaga ready-to-wear collection was relaunched in 1987 and the stores reopened in 1989. Nicolas Ghesquire started designing for Balenciaga in 1995. Before that, he worked for Jean Paul Gaultier.

Today, C. B. is regarded as the master of fashion. His classic designs inspired the fashion industry throughout most of the twentieth century and continue to exert influence. The Balenciaga handbag line develop unique products, of the highest quality standards and design content.



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