Tastes of the future: the maverick couture of Balenciaga

In this video, we explore the world of Balenciaga, the luxury fashion house founded in 1919 by Spanish designer Cristóbal Balenciaga in San Sebastián, and currently based in Paris.

Balenciaga had a reputation as a couturier of uncompromising standards and was referred to as “the master of us all” by Christian Dior. His bubble skirts and odd, feminine, yet “modernistic” silhouettes became the trademarks of the house.

“Balenciaga gave the world fashion. He was the beginning of everything, everything that is news – forever,” said legendary fashion editor Diana Vreeland, crediting the designer for creating the future of fashion.

Several designers who worked for Balenciaga would go on to open their own successful couture houses, notably Oscar de la Renta, Andre Courreges, Emanuel Ungaro, but his most famous and noted protégé was Hubert de Givenchy.

Today, the brand is owned by the French multinational holding company Kering, with Demna Gvasalia as its present creative director.

View the original video here.