Victoria and Albert to showcase Balenciaga retrospective

London’s Victoria and Albert museum will stage a fashion exhibition next year showcasing the work of Cristóbal Balenciaga, marking the first exhibit on the couturier’s work in the UK.

The retrospective exhibit entitled ‘Balenciaga: Shaping Fashion, will coincide with the Spanish designer’s 100th anniversary of his first store opening in San Sebastián, Spain as well as the 80th anniversary of his famous Paris salon.

Cristóbal Balenciaga represents the “pinnacle of haute couture in the 1950s and 1960s” the museum stated and the exhibition will take an almost “forensic look at the craftsmanship and skill that made Balenciaga’s creations so special and explore how his work has shaped future fashion design”.

The exhibition will run from May 27, 2017, to February 18, 2018, and will feature around 100 garments and 20 hats crafted by the couturier, alongside sketches, photographs, film and fabric samples, many of which have never been seen before.

In addition, the retrospective will also examine in detail the craftsmanship and techniques that earned Balenciaga the reputation as one of the most pioneering designers of the 20th century and look at how his work impacted the future of fashion design.

The Victoria and Albert has had hosted a number of successful fashion exhibitions in recent years, including the Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty exhibit which remains the museum's most-visited exhibition to date.

Balenciaga: Shaping Fashion will take place from May 27, 2017 to February 18, 2018.

Image: courtesy of Victoria and Albert Museum