What was the first name of Cristóbal Balenciaga's mother?

Cristóbal Balenciaga’s mother was named Martina Eizaguirre Embil.

Martina was a seamstress in Getaria and played an important role in her son’s early exposure to clothing construction. Balenciaga grew up watching her work, alongside his siblings Agustina and Juan, in a family whose circumstances became more difficult after his father died while Cristóbal was still young.

Her profession gave Balenciaga an unusually direct introduction to fabrics, cutting and fitting. One widely repeated account says that the Marchioness of Casa Torres, a client of Martina’s, noticed the boy’s ability and encouraged his ambitions. Balenciaga later trained as a tailor and developed the technical mastery that became central to his reputation.

Martina is sometimes confused with other women associated with Balenciaga’s story, including aristocratic clients and royal patrons. Carmen, Isabel and Maria are not the documented first name of his mother. The surname Eizaguirre also appears in Balenciaga’s full birth name, Cristóbal Balenciaga Eizaguirre.