Spaniard, from San Sebastian, Spain, Cristóbal Balenciaga opened his first boutique in 1917. He founded Maison Balenciaga in 1937, in Paris, and his first fashion show featured designs heavily influenced by the Spanish Renessaince. He was respected  for his proficient tailoring and his pictorial imagination. He created exceptional beaded evening wear with a flare for the Spanish vernacular. Balenciaga was an innovator in his use of fabrics: he tended toward heavy fabrics, intricate embroidery, and bold materials.