Cristobal Balenciaga: His Styles Are Still in Fashion Today

Fashion, according to the American heritage dictionary, can be defined as the prevailing style or custom, as in dress. There are many eras' in fashion. One day something can be popular, and the next day it is old news. Nevertheless, this does not mean that certain styles cannot become popular again. Fashion runs in a cyclical pattern and many of today's styles are reinvented creations from artists of the past. One person who has made such an impact on fashion is Cristobal Balenciaga. His designs have been used repeatedly throughout fashion in the 20th century. But first, let us learn how he came into the fashion industry.

Balenciaga was born in 1895, in Guetaria in the Spanish Basque country. His mother was a dress maker and taught him to make clothes at an early age. The Marquesa de Casa Torres was friends with the Balenciaga family and noticed Cristobal's interest in fashion. This is what led to his employment as a tailor in 1913. He was employed by 'Louvre' in San Sebastian. In 1919 he opened his own studio under the name Balenciaga. He closed it soon after and opened another in 1920 under the name 'Eisa' after his mother. He managed to open three fashion houses which all fell by 1931 because of the fall of the Spanish monarchy. (Jouve, 1997) It reopened in 1932 and was managed by his sister. Cristobal still had a passion for his work and decided to move to France to begin anew. (Walker, 2006)