Balenciaga is a luxury fashion house founded in 1917 by Cristobal Balenciaga in San Sebastian, Spain. The house moved to Paris in 1937, where it operated as a haute couture maison until Cristobal Balenciaga's retirement in 1968. The brand was revived in the 1990s and is now owned by Kering, the French luxury conglomerate. Demna serves as the brand's creative director, having joined in 2015.
Cristobal Balenciaga is regarded by fashion historians as one of the most technically accomplished couturiers of the twentieth century, known for innovations in silhouette construction including the balloon jacket, the sack dress, and the cocoon coat. The modern house under Demna has shifted toward a contemporary aesthetic that incorporates streetwear references, oversized silhouettes, and deconstructed tailoring.
Balenciaga's current product range includes men's and women's ready-to-wear, handbags, shoes, accessories, eyewear, and fragrances. The Triple S sneaker, introduced in 2017, became one of the most commercially significant luxury sneaker designs and helped establish the chunky sneaker category. The Hourglass bag, City bag, and Le Cagole are among the house's key leather goods. The brand also produces Balenciaga Couture, a haute couture line reintroduced in 2021.
Balenciaga operates boutiques in major cities worldwide and sells through its own e-commerce platform as well as select luxury retailers. The brand's production is based primarily in Italy and France. Balenciaga's pricing positions it within the high luxury segment, with entry-level accessories available alongside couture and limited-edition pieces at significantly higher price points.