Balenciaga is a luxury brand that makes clothes, shoes, accessories, and a wide range of fashion products. It’s popular amongst celebrities, musicians, influencers, and anyone who wants to stand out. Unlike many fashion brands, Balenciaga is keen on uniqueness; it’s almost impossible to find the company copying a design from another brand. Founded by Cristobal Balenciaga in 1917, this brand has come a very long way. Here are some unique facts you probably didn’t know about Balenciaga.
1. Christian Dior Referred to Cristobal Balenciaga as “the teacher of us all”
Cristobal Balenciaga was so good at design during his prime that Christian Dior praised him as “the teacher of us all.” It’s not just Dior; other designers like Coco Channel commented on how gifted Balenciaga was at cutting and sewing material by hand.
2. The Spanish Civil War Almost Wiped Out Balenciaga
After launching his first boutique in Spain, Balenciaga witnessed tremendous success, leading to the opening of more branches in Barcelona and Madrid. However, the eruption of the Spanish Civil War forced Balenciaga to close his stores. Lucky for him, he managed to move to France in 1937. Hopping on the Spanish Renaissance style, Balenciaga became a famous brand in France, receiving lots of recognition from the press.
3. Balenciaga Faced a Lot of Competition from Copycats
Balenciaga had to deal with several copycats trying to take credit for his work whenever he launched a new design. Therefore, from 1957 to 1967, he would launch new designs to the press a week before sending the items to his stores. This caught most of his copycats by surprise.
4. Balenciaga Once Released Worn Out Sneakers to the Market
Balenciaga is well known for its uniqueness. However, in 2022, they released a limited run of 100 extremely pre-stressed sneakers. These sneakers were so worn out that they were uncomfortable to wear.
The high-top and slip-on mule styles had completely worn-out soles and were super dirty, from the toe cap to the laces. After launch, the pre-stressed Balenciaga Paris Sneaker retailed for around $500.
5. Balenciaga Hired Its First Brand Ambassadors in 2023
Despite being in the market for more than a century, Balenciaga hired its first brand ambassadors in 2023. Sharing this news via an Instagram post on July 31, 2023, Balenciaga chose the Thai actor PP Krit Amnuaydechkorn and Isabelle Huppert, the French actress, as its inaugural brand ambassadors. This was the first time Balenciaga had considered working with artists. In 2024, they hired Kim Kardashian for the same role.
6. Balenciaga Once Released a Tape-Inspired Bangle that Had a $3,300 Price Tag
In 2024, Balenciaga released a tape-inspired bangle that cost $3,300 in an attempt to convert regular household goods into luxury items. This launch faced much criticism, considering that a roll of tape costs as little as $2 in most parts of the world. Strangely enough, many people bought the Balenciaga tape-inspired bangle.
7. Balenciaga was Sold to Kering in 2001
In 2001, Balenciaga was sold to Kering, a French-based fashion company that owns Alexander McQueen, Yves Saint Lauren, and Gucci. The multinational company acquired a 91% stake in the company. This, however, has not affected Balenciaga’s ratings in the market. On the contrary, the brand seems to be doing better.
8. Balenciaga Cut Its Ties with Kanye West over His Antisemitic Remarks
Kanye West is undeniably one of the most famous artists Balenciaga has ever collaborated with. However, after Kanye’s antisemitic remarks at the Drink Champs podcast in 2022, Balenciaga had no option but to distance itself from the rapper. The partnership, which started in 2014, led to success for both parties, with Kanye popularizing his Yeezy shoe brand.
9. Cristobal Balenciaga Got the First Ever Museum Dedicated to a Fashion Designer
In Getaria, Spain, there’s the Cristobal Balenciaga Museum, the first-ever museum dedicated to fashion designers. It preserves the legacy of the master of the haute couture. With a space of 6,000 square meters, the museum exhibits some of Cristobal’s finest art. It is home to over 5,000 pieces of clothing, shoes and accessories.
10. Balenciaga Collaborated with Gucci in 2021
Most competing fashion brands can’t withstand each other; Gucci and Balenciaga appear to be different. In 2021, these two brands collaborated on the Hacker Project Bags, leading to a hybrid bag featuring the retro Gucci theme with Balenciaga designs. The creative team also printed “This is not a Gucci Bag” on the bags. Upon release, the bags were received with a lot of enthusiasm as the coming together appealed to fans of both brands.
11. Balenciaga was Closed for 18 Years
In 1968, four years before his death, Cristobal temporarily shut down his Balenciaga brand. It remained dormant until 1986, when the Jacques Bogart Group, a France-based perfume and cosmetic company, acquired the company. Kering bought Balenciaga from them.
12. Cristobal Balenciaga Never Adhered to Fashion Norms
The reason Cristobal was called the master of design is because he never adhered to fashion trends. In the mid-1900s, when every designer created dresses with hourglass figures and cinched waists, Cristobal launched the sack dress. He also released the peacock tail dress, which was far from popular, around the same time.
13. Balenciaga Wasn’t Active on the Media
In the biography of Cristobal, he is referred to as a very private individual. Yes, he had close relationships with his customers, but he never wanted attention from the public. During his lifetime, he only participated in one press conference.