What Spanish city did Cristóbal Balenciaga open his first boutique in?

Cristóbal Balenciaga opened his first boutique in San Sebastián, Spain.

The boutique opened in 1917, marking the beginning of Balenciaga’s career as an independent fashion entrepreneur. San Sebastián, a fashionable Basque coastal city, gave him access to wealthy clients, including members of Spain’s royal family and aristocracy. His early success there helped establish the reputation that later supported expansion.

Balenciaga subsequently opened branches in Madrid and Barcelona, which is why those cities can sometimes be confused with his first location. The Spanish Civil War eventually forced him to close his Spanish stores and move to Paris. In 1937, he opened his Paris couture house at 10 Avenue George V, the address that later inspired the name of his first perfume, Le Dix.

A related date often causes confusion: Balenciaga’s first boutique and early fashion activity date to 1917, while the company is also commonly listed as formally founded in 1919.