Balenciaga is a European luxury
fashion house founded by
Cristóbal Balenciaga, a Spanish
designer, born in the
Basque Country,
Spain. He had a reputation as a couturier of uncompromising standards and was referred to as "the master of us all" by
Christian Dior. His bubble skirts and odd, feminine, yet ultra-modern shapes were trademarks of the house. The House of Balenciaga is now owned by the
French multinational company
Kering.