Balenciaga, one of the greatest couturiers of history, managed like no other, to combine body, air and fabric using lace. The couturier, during his career, reinterpreted this traditional technique and gave it a place of honor in the contemporary fashion. The exhibition’s design, hold in 3 different areas, as well as transmitting the relation between Balenciaga and lace, contains more than 60 pieces of dresses, fabrics, documents and photographs.

Hiruki studio has developed a museography and illustration project that aims to encourage the viewer to observe the filigree work of the lace and feel the textures, playing with it throughout the space, combining opacity and transparency, as the master of lace did in his creations.

Besides, the tour contains three didactic areas: in the first one, the visitor would be able to touch and feel different kind of laces, learning the incredible variety of finishes and techniques; in the second one, by the overlapping of various printed plates, the viewer will be able to change the silhouette of the mannequins combining different dresses made with lace; and in the last one, dress replicas would be available for visitors. The project has been developed as part of the Donostia / San Sebastián European Capital of Culture, within the “conversations” programme.

Co-production: Cristóbal Balenciaga Museoa and Cité Internationale de la Dentelle et de la Mode de Calais
Curator: Catherine Join-Diéterle, Honorary Curator of French Heritage and former director of the Palais Galliera Museum.
Attached curator: Igor Uria
Exhibition design: Hiruki studio
Illustration: Hiruki studio & Markos Ansorena
Graphic design: TGA+asociados
Production: Mamba studio
Serigraphy: Druc
Photography: Óscar Guillén