Balenciaga: Master of Illussion
By: Mari Davis
(Photo below: Nicolas Ghesquière on the runway, Spring 2002.)

Cristobal Balenciaga, patriarch of the House of Balenciaga was born in Guetaria, San Sebastian, Spain on January 21, 1895.

He studied needlework and dressmaking with is mother until 1910. It was in 1915 when he established his tailoring business under the sponsorship of Marquesa de Casa Torres.

He rose to international fame after World War II, wherein he became part of the triad who dressed the world's most beautiful woman with the launch of the New Look by Christian Dior.

Balenciaga is a master of illusion, envisioning the garment as a three-dimensional form.

His most famous contribution to fashion is the baby doll look which he introduced in 1957.

Getting his inspiration from Spanish art and vernacular costume and mixing it with his genius for illusion, the baby doll look was born.

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 Ghesquière started designing for Balenciaga in 1995. Before that, he worked for Jean Paul Gaultier.

"Balenciaga has one fantastic asset. He's called Nicolas Ghesquiere," says Domenico De Sole about the designer.

"Nicolas made a plea to us, so we decided to buy Balenciaga. The house was not getting the proper investment. Now it will," added Mr. De Sole.

Fall 2004

Website: www.balenciaga.com

Press Contact for
BALENCIAGA
Angie RUBINI
40 Rue du Cherche-Midi
75006 Paris
FRANCE
Tel: +33 (1) 56 52 17 17
Fax: +33 (1) 56 52 17 10

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Balenciaga: Universe of Fashion
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