Founded by Spanish-born Cristóbal Balenciaga in 1917 and established in Paris in 1937, the original house of Balenciaga defined modern couture with its many innovations to form and technique. Today it continues to uphold the vision of the House through boundary-pushing collections including women's and men's ready-to-wear, accessories, and objects d'art. The brand's unprecedented interactions with the expanding digital realm, material developments, and today's social responsibilities keep it at the forefront of modernity. In 2021, Balenciaga's 50th couture collection—the house's first since its founder retired in 1968 – reintroduces a standard of cutting-edge elegance
