Eisa

Cristóbal Balenciaga opened Eisa in San Sebastian, Spain in 1917. Branches of Eisa were opened in 1933 in Madrid and in 1935 in Barcelona. The beginning of the Spanish Civil War in 1936 caused Balenciaga to leave Spain for Paris.

During the civil war the Eisa stores were closed, but when the war ended, in 1939, they reopened. Eisa was a profitable business for the designer because this label had loyal customers from the Spanish aristocracy and from American customers. Balenciaga himself managed Eisa with the help of his assistants until it was closed in 1968.

Written by by Lizzie Bramlett, fuzzylizzie.com

Thanks to Ruth Baza for her help with this entry.

See also: Balenciaga

from a c. 1955 hat

Courtesy of Ruth Baza

from a c. 1960 hat

Courtesy of Ruth Baza

from a c. 1962 mohair coat

Courtesy of Ruth Baza

from a c. 1965 black bolero jacket

Courtesy of Ruth Baza

from a c. 1967 suit

Courtesy of Ruth Baza