BALENCIAGA Men
Founded in 1917 by Cristóbal Balenciaga, the design house continues to be a key reference in original design. Internationally renowned, Balenciaga built its reputation in the late 1930s, after opening a boutique in Paris, the Spanish designer presented his first Iberian-inspired collections. Infanta dresses were a great success, as were his bullfighter boleros which he transformed into evening jackets, applying lavish embroidery work and trim detailing. Film stars of the time such as Greta Garbo and Marlene Dietrich instantly swore by his designs, raving about his little black dresses with prominent hips and flamboyant evening wear. The years that followed were dedicated to experimenting with volumes, which, even today, contributes to the brand's DNA. In the 1950s, the designer presented the Tonneau line, fitted at the waist. Then, scarf coats were introduced before unveiling a semi-fitted line, fitted at the front and loose at the back, transforming the silhouette from front to back. Lines became straighter and fluid up to the release of the Baby-doll dress in 1958, almost like a sculpture, created an even more abstract female form.
In 1968, while France was amid a transformation, Cristóbal Balenciaga closed his Parisian house and returned to Spain, where he died in 1972. Since 2016, Demna Gvasalia (also founder of the VETEMENTS label) has been reinterpreting the couture spirit of the label's founder by injecting a touch of transgressive creativity, playing on volumes through an avant-garde and futuristic vision. Reinventing the classics and shaking up the codes, the Georgian designer produces a world where man and woman are as one, where Haute Couture is blended with streetwear and oversize is legion. An approach that challenges conventions and an appealing blend of genres, as highlighted by the success of key pieces such as the Triple S, Speed trainers, the Hourglass coat, a bag as well as logo t-shirts and sweatshirts. In short, a winning combination that, in just a few years, has positioned Balenciaga as one of the most sought-after brands.
