What Does Balenciaga Mean? 

The name Balenciaga refers to the House of Balenciaga, a luxury fashion brand founded in 1919 by Cristóbal Balenciaga. It is based in Paris, and is in the business of selling beautiful, exquisitely crafted goods. Cristóbal Balenciaga’s surname, Balenciaga is of Basque origins, from a medieval town located near Bilbao which is located in a north-central part of Spain. Which makes sense considering he was born in a Basque small fishing village.

Balenciaga is a luxury fashion brand founded by Spanish designer Cristóbal Balenciaga in 1919, known for its innovative designs and significant influence on modern fashion. 

Balenciaga originated as a Haute Couture Fashion House in Spain when Cristobal Balenciaga opened his first fashion house in San Sebastian. He eventually expanded to include branches in Madrid and Barcelona. Balenciaga has perhaps one of the most interesting backstories and origins that lead it to where it is today. 

After Cristóbal Balenciaga passed away, Balenciaga reinvented itself to produce ready-to-wear footwear, clothes, accessories, handbags and household items. Many years later, in 2022, Balenciaga made the move to re-enter the Haute Couture scene and held a fashion show in the original location Cristobal Balenciaga held his first show.