“Architectural” is a word that defines the work of Cristóbal Balenciaga. A master of haute couture, his precise and sculptural silhouettes earned him unparalleled fame in the mid-20th century and his legacy has endured throughout the decades. Today, under the creative direction of Demna, the house of Balenciaga explores the “cutting-edge” through fashion.

A new exhibit, “Cristóbal Balenciaga: Master of Tailoring” at the SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion + Film in Atlanta, Georgia, takes us back to the house’s roots, when a 22-year-old Cristóbal Balenciaga established his name in Saint Sebastian, Spain.

The exhibition recreates the interior of the Balenciaga archives and salon in Paris, and the project is a collaboration between the museum, the Balenciaga archives, and the Fondation Azzedine Alaïa, which currently houses around 600 Balenciaga garments, while the Parodi Costume Collection based in Miami has also contributed several items to the exhibition. As such, the exhibition is curated by Gaël Mamine, Head of Collections at Fondation Azzedine Alaïa, Gaspard de Massé, Head of Archives at Balenciaga and Gonzalo Parodi, Director of the Parodi Costume Collection. Organizers aim to shed light on the foundations of the hugely popular brand and highlight the artistry and perfectionism that established the founder of the fashion house.

The exhibition “Cristóbal Balenciaga: Master of Tailoring” will be at the SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion + Film in Atlanta, Georgia (USA) until June 2, 2024.

Photos courtesy of SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion + Film