Balenciaga

Cristóbal Balenciaga was born in 1895 in Getaria. After honing his skills as an apprentice in San Sebastián, Balenciaga opened his first fashion house in 1917 In Spain. In 1937, amidst the Spanish Civil War, Balenciaga moved to Paris and set up shop on Avenue George V where he quickly became heralded as the king of couture.

Creative director Nicolas Ghesquière reinvigorated Balenciaga after making a name for himself with a 1997 debut collection that put the silhouette first, much like the house’s founder. Over the next 15 years, Ghesquière applied the tailoring Balenciaga was known for to the trends of the time and created standout pieces of his own, such as the Lariat bag, Moto bag and gladiator boots.

Following Ghesquière’s 2012 exit and Alexander Wang’s brief stint as creative director, Vetements founder Demna Gvasalia was appointed artistic director of Balenciaga in 2015. Since his appointment, the brand has once again found new popularity, becoming known for its exaggerated footwear, oversized silhouettes and tongue-in-cheek accessories. Yet, Demna's collections maintain a through line that honors the house's original legacy and codes, from "cocoon" and "swing" shapes to sharp tailoring and experimental, otherworldly cuts.