Balenciaga

Balenciaga is a premium fashion brand located in Paris that was created in 1919 by the Spanish designer Cristóbal Balenciaga in San Sebastián, Spain. Balenciaga was known as a couturier of demanding standards, and Christian Dior referred to him as "the master of us all." Their bubble skirts and unusual, feminine, yet "modernistic" forms became the house's hallmarks. Not only are they known for Balenciaga's innovative fashion designs, but their cult sneaker collections have also shaken the sports shoe industry at the time.

Balenciaga's production under the direction of Georgian fashion maverick Demna Gvasalia may be the sartorial equal of Marmite or Björk, but there's no doubting he's altering the face of fashion, one fractured ankle at a time. The label's first standout shoe with Gvasalia at the helm was the sleek, minimalist speed sock, which paved the way for a few running sneakers from this luxury fashion business. But it was the now-inescapable Triple S that changed everything.

This monstrous sneaker single-handedly reshaped the fashion footwear world, establishing huge, chunky shapes as the new gold standard. Maximalism is eclipsing minimalism, and this Spanish fashion business is at the epicenter of it all. Luxury brand sneakers are more popular than ever, with men and women alike discarding their dress shoes in favor of some elegant comfort. Balenciaga is one such premium label that has successfully incorporated its high-fashion aesthetics into ordinary sports shoes.

Website: https://www.balenciaga.com/

Headquarters: Paris, France