Balenciaga Returns To Haute Couture After 52 Years
The maison’s last Haute Couture collection was designed by its founder Cristóbal Balenciaga 52 years ago
Prolific fashion house Balenciaga is going to back to its Haute Couture roots this summer. The famed luxury brand is set to showcase its first Haute Couture collection in 52 years during Autumn/Winter 2020 Haute Couture Week in July. The collection, which is being designed by Balenciaga’s creative Director Demna Gvasalia, will reintroduce the brand’s Haute Couture tradition which can be traced back to the maison’s founder Cristóbal Balenciaga, one of the most celebrated couture masters in fashion history.
“Haute Couture is the very foundation of this House,” said Demna Gvasalia, “So it is my creative and visionary duty to bring Couture back to Balenciaga. For me, Couture is an unexplored mode of creative freedom and a platform for innovation. It not only offers another spectrum of possibilities in dressmaking, it also brings the modern vision of Balenciaga back to its sources of origin. Couture is above trends. It’s an expression of beauty on the highest aesthetic and qualitative levels.”
Cristóbal Balenciaga remains one of the most celebrated couture masters in fashion history
Cedric Charbit, President and CEO of Balenciaga, added, “It’s an honour to bring back the Haute Couture to the House, highlighting the heritage of Cristóbal Balenciaga. This project was possible due to the success of the creative vision of Demna Gvasalia as well as the exceptional results of Balenciaga these past few years.” He continued, “Establishing a dedicated team and atelier replicating the original salons at the historical address 10 Avenue George V represents a strategic step in further expansions. Coming back to the Haute Couture that was left off by Cristóbal Balenciaga in 1968 links the House’s past, present, and future.”
All images courtesy of Balenciaga