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 fuzzylizzie
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
