Balenciaga S A is a luxury fashion brand using Made In Italy leather owned by the French multinational company Kering. It was originally founded in Spain in 1919 by Cristobal Balenciaga, a designer born in the Basque Country.
Company Info
Designer Brand: Balenciaga S A
Established: 1919
Location: Paris, France (Branches in Madrid & Barcelona)
Contact: 1-(646)-889-1895
Company Slogan: Master of Us All
Company Ownership:
Cristobal Balenciaga opened his first boutique in San Sebastian, Spain in 1917, which expanded to include branches in Madrid and Barcelonain. Because of World War I, he had to close all his stores and moved to Paris in 1937. The company was reopened after World War II in 1955, and currently has 1,325 employees.
Balenciaga opened his Paris couture house on Avenue George V in August 1937. His first fashion show featured designs heavily influenced by the Spanish Renaissance. Balenciaga’s success in Paris was nearly immediate. In the period of two years, the French press lauded him as a revolutionary, and his designs were highly sought-after.
Balenciaga started as a designer of high-end dresses. Today it is the designer and manufacturer of leather jackets for men and women, backpacks, totes, bags, skirts, boots and shoes. Their craftsmanship today is a confirmed industry standard. They take pride in their innovation and excellence in quality.
Product Lines: Leather Bags, Totes, Backpacks, Jackets for Men and Women, Shoes, Booties and Boots.
Notable Facts: In 1959, Cristobal Balenciaga’s work culminated in the Empire line, with high-waisted dresses and coats cut like kimonos. His trademarks includes “collars that stand away from the collarbone to give a swan like appearance” and shortened “bracelet” sleeves. His designs are outstanding.
Kering, who owns Balenciaga, is committed to using only vegetable tanned leathers for the Balenciaga brand. The vegetable tanning process takes much longer; however the finished leather has no metal substance such as chrome. Vegetable tanning is the most natural tanning process because it uses no chemicals. It is becoming more popular even though the process is more costly and lengthy because chemical tanning leaves harmful chemicals behind.
Material Used
Real Genuine Leather
Where It Comes From: Balenciaga leather products are Made in Italy. The Made In Italy stamp is found for authentication. Many types of leather and finishing processes are used. The most popular used skin in lambskin. Other leathers used include calf grained, embossed and patent, and python skin.
Leather Selection
Lamb Skin
Lambskin is the softest leather you can find since it comes from young not fully matured sheep. Its light, airy layered structure gives it an exceptionally soft, velvet-like texture or as some would say a soft, buttery soft feeling. It is light weight and wears well. In spite of its softness it is very windproof and protective. Compared to other leathers it is more supple which makes it an excellent choice for bags. Over time with extensive use it can stretch and the texture flatten somewhat; however with your care it can last for years. With rough treatment it can scratch, dent and wrinkle fairly easy.
Most Balenciaga handbags are made of lambskin though some are made from calfskin. Since 2005, the front pocket of Balenciaga bags are also partially lined in leather.
Calfskin Leather
Calfskin leather is tougher, handles harsh weather conditions and holds it shape better than lambskin. Calfskin is also considered a luxury leather. Polished calf skin can be described as velvet calfskin because it is velvety. In French it is known as Veau Velour. Smooth calfskin is leather which has been dried with the grain side firmly pressed against a sheet of glass.
Calfskin Nappa refers a full grain leather that exists with its natural characteristics. Suede is the underside of the skin.
Calfskin is used for shoes, booties, boots and jackets.
Suede Leather
Suede leather is the underside of the skin and gives a very velvety look. It is very soft, somewhat pliable and comfortable to the touch. These characteristics make it a good choice for shoes or boots.
Crocodile Embossed Calf Skin
Embossing calfskin with a crocodile pattern is a great alternative to the very expensive genuine Crocodile leather. Often calfskin is dyed as well to give it a very classy trendy look. It is most frequently used to make handbags.
Snakeskin Embossed Calf Leather
Snakeskin embossed calfskin gives an exquisite look of python skin. Designers like it because it is so soft and flexible yet strong. It makes a great handbag statement.
Patent Leather
Patent leather is made from calf leather that is finished with a high gloss. It is light and thin but strong. Its look is perfect for dress shoes.
Genuine Python Skin
Genuine python skin is very expensive, but has a distinct exquisite design all its own. The skin actually comes from live pythons not shed skin. The skin is dried and then died making it ready for coveted handbags. The skins are imported from South East Asia.
Balenciaga Leather Products
Balenciago is known for its real leather products Made in Italy. They are made by the finest Artisan craftsmen.
Balenciaga handbags are especially coveted; therefore some try to fake them to make a quick thousand dollars. You will know you have a real “Balenciaga” handbag if it has a leather tag inside with the name Balenciaga on the front and embossed serial number on the back or a metal plate on the front tag instead which will have a serial number indicator.
Lambskin and calfskin are the most commonly used real leathers. Both leathers are soft and luxurious. Additional processing is applied to make the embossed Crocodile. embossed Snake and Patent leather.
The Balenciaga Leather Collections
- Bags – Hand Bags, Cross Body, Satchel, Shoulder, Pouch, Backpack, Belt Bag, Tote
- Shoes – Ballerina Flats, Mules, Slides, Sandals, Pumps
- Jackets – Men And Women
- Skirts
- Accessories – Wallets For Men and Women, Card Cases, Belts, Coin Cases, Bracelets
- Boots – Booties, Chelsea’s, Combats, Derby, Oxfords