Topic
15 facts from 1 episode, in date order. These are what speakers said on the shows, each linked to the moment it was said. They aren't independently verified.
1895
Cristóbal Balenciaga was born in 1895 in a Spanish fishing village, and his sailor father died young, leaving the family badly off.
“he's born in 1895 in Spain in a little fishing village. His father was a sailor, but he died young, leaving his wife and his children very badly off.”
1919
Balenciaga opened his first shop in 1919, when he was about twenty-four.
“in 1919, so that means Balenciaga's about twenty four at this time. He opened his first shop.”
1919
Balenciaga's first shop was in San Sebastian, a coastal city frequented by high society.
“he opened his first shop in San Sebastian on a coast more frequently by high society.”
1940
Balenciaga reopened his Paris house in September 1940 as one of sixty fashion firms the Germans allowed to operate.
“he was able to reopen, uh, his fashion house in September 1940, and he was just one of sixty firms that the Germans allowed to function.”
1972
Balenciaga closed his Paris house at retirement because he had no possible successor, returned to Spain, and died in 1972.
“Abruptly, he retired, shut down his Paris house completely because there was no possible successor, and returned to Spain. He died in 1972.”
Undated
Balenciaga's mother, Isa, worked as a dressmaker and taught the women of the village to sew.
“she set up as a dressmaker and taught the entire village, the little village, uh, all the women in the village on how to sew.”
Undated
Balenciaga's first original work was a pearl-set collar for his cat, which a grand lady of the neighborhood noticed.
“His first original work was a collar set with pearls for his cat. The collar was noticed by a grand lady of the neighborhood.”
Undated
At age twelve Balenciaga became a tailor's apprentice to learn cutting, a skill few dress designers have.
“At twelve, he becomes an apprentice at a tailor to learn cutting, an art that few dress designers actually possess.”
Undated
Balenciaga opened houses in Madrid and Barcelona alongside the San Sebastian one, and all three were named Isa after his mother.
“He opened a second house in Madrid and then a third in Barcelona. All three were called Isa after his mom.”
Undated
Balenciaga's Madrid house employed 250 people and the Barcelona house about one hundred.
“They had 250 people in the Madrid house alone and another one hundred working in Barcelona.”
Undated
After his first Paris collection, Balenciaga won the Duchess of Windsor as a client, and Saks Fifth Avenue placed a large order after his third collection.
“the next year, for his second collection, he actually gets the Duchess of Windsor as a client. And then for his third collection the next year Saks Fifth Avenue places a giant order”
Undated
According to the book the host cites, Christian Dior was not jealous of Balenciaga's superior skill and revered him.
“Dior was never jealous of Balenciaga's superior skills. He recognized them and revered the man who possessed them.”
Undated
Balenciaga gave one interview, to the London Times at his retirement, and left almost no photographs.
“He never gave interviews except once to the London Times when he decided to retire. He never went out in society, and there are virtually no photographs of him and none of him at work.”
Undated
Balenciaga could complete fittings for 180 outfits in a single day.
“In just one day, he could get through fitting sessions for 180 outfits by dint of intense concentration.”
Undated
Dior changed styles twice a year, while Balenciaga stayed fundamentally consistent, especially in evening dresses.
“While Dior made changes twice a year, Balenciaga was always fundamentally the same, especially in his splendid evening dresses, which were his specialty.”
Episodes