Which Spanish luxury fashion house was founded by Cristóbal Balenciaga?

Which Spanish luxury fashion house was founded by Cristóbal Balenciaga? The answer is Balenciaga.

Cristóbal Balenciaga began his fashion business in San Sebastián, Spain, in 1919, after opening an earlier boutique there in 1917. His designs soon attracted Spain’s royal family and aristocracy. The Spanish Civil War forced him to leave Spain, and he established his celebrated Paris couture house on Avenue George V in 1937.

Balenciaga became famous for sculptural, innovative silhouettes rather than simply following prevailing fashions. His influential creations included the tunic dress, cocoon coat, balloon jacket, baby-doll dress, and sack dress. Christian Dior called him “the master of us all,” while Coco Chanel distinguished him as a true couturier.

A common mix-up is treating the brand as originally French because its modern headquarters and historic couture identity are based in Paris. Its founder was Spanish, however, and the house began in Spain. Balenciaga closed his fashion house in 1968, and the revived brand is now part of the French luxury group Kering.