A great name in
haute couture, the House of Balenciaga was founded in the year
1937, originally in
Spain. In
1968, his House moved to the centre of the fashion world,
Paris.
Balenciaga was favoured by the royalty and aristocracy of Europe, and provided a specialist line in huge evening coats with dolman sleeves, full skirts, tunic and chemise dresses and pillbox hats.
Balenciaga is also noted for developing the fabric known as gazar, and for being the first House to employ the young Oscar de la Renta.
sources include encyclopedia.com & encarta.com