Cristóbal Balenciaga was one of the most influential and innovative fashion designers of the 20th century. He is considered the master of haute couture, the art of tailored and exclusive fashion craftsmanship. His life and work are marked by his Spanish origins, his passion for form and his pursuit of perfection.
Balenciaga was born on January 21, 1895 in Getaria, a small fishing village in the Basque Country. His father was a sailor, his mother a seamstress who taught him the craft. Even as a child he showed an extraordinary talent for drawing and tailoring clothes. At the age of 13 he began an apprenticeship with a renowned dressmaker in San Sebastián, where he learned the techniques of haute couture.
At the age of 24, he opened his own atelier in San Sebastián and soon became the favorite of the Spanish aristocracy and royalty. He created elegant and refined dresses inspired by Spanish folklore, history and art. He used luxurious fabrics such as silk, velvet, lace and brocade and experimented with colors, patterns and cuts.
In 1936, the Spanish Civil War broke out, forcing Balenciaga to close his stores and flee to Paris. There, in 1937, he opened his new house on Avenue George V and presented his first collection in the French capital. He was immediately recognized and admired as one of the leading fashion designers. He attracted customers from all over the world, including famous personalities such as Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly, Marlene Dietrich and Jackie Kennedy.
Balenciaga revolutionized fashion with his original and avant-garde creations. He invented new silhouettes like the balloon skirt, the sack dress, the babydoll dress and the tunic. He played with the proportions, the volumes and the structures of the dresses. He created masterpieces from a single piece of fabric, without seams or closures. He mastered all aspects of the fashion process, from designing to making to presenting.
Balenciaga was a very reserved and discreet man who rarely appeared in public or gave interviews. He devoted his whole life to his work and his art. He was a perfectionist who constantly sought new challenges and was never satisfied with the status quo. He was also a mentor to many young fashion designers who learned from him or were influenced by him, such as Hubert de Givenchy, Oscar de la Renta or Yves Saint Laurent.
In 1968, Balenciaga surprisingly decided to retire from fashion and close his house. He said, “There are no more couturiers. There are only fashion designers.” He died of a heart attack on March 23, 1972. He left an incomparable legacy in the history of fashion that continues to this day.