In August 1937 Cristóbal Balenciaga opened his first Parisian couture house, and in 1951 the Spanish-born couturier became the toast of fashion by creating a brand-new dress silhouette. Cristóbal died in 1972, but his legacy and firmly established design codes live on in the house as we know and love it today. Creative director Demna fuses that inherently Balenciaga balance of innovation and elegance with his own avant-garde touch. The house has evolved from the heartbeat of Paris to become one of the world’s most influential luxury brands, boasting contemporary, eye-catching designs crafted from premium materials.