Balenciaga: Shaping Fashion at London's V&A Museum

The Victoria & Albert Museum in London will open 'Balenciaga: Shaping Fashion' on May 27, 2017, the first UK exhibition dedicated to Spanish couturier Cristóbal Balenciaga (1895-1972). The show is divided into three sections—Front of House, Workrooms, and Balenciaga's Legacy—featuring over 100 historical garments, hats, accessories, drawings, fabric samples, and archival photographs. The final section connects Balenciaga's influence to contemporary designers including Alexander Wang, Molly Goddard, J.W.Anderson, and Demna Gvasalia, who has been art director of the maison since 2015. Gvasalia, a Georgian designer previously at Margiela and Vuitton, was named 'Person of the Year' in 2016 by Business of Fashion. Balenciaga, known for his sculptural silhouettes, envelope dress, and chou evening gown, rejected the New Look and kept press away from his shows. The brand is part of the Kering group owned by François Pinault. Previous institutional exhibitions include 'Balenciaga & Spain' at the Museo de Young in San Francisco (2011) and the opening of the Museo Balenciaga in Getaria (2011).