Cristobal Balenciaga grew up in a small town in Spain. He was raised by a widowed mother and had no formal education in fashion, but gained experience with his seamstress mother. Despite this lack of formal training, Balenciaga succeeded in opening his first boutique in 1917. This boutique gained notoriety amongst Spanish royalty and aristocrats and later, Cristobal went on to open stores in Madrid and Barcelona. Originally called "Aisa" after his mother's maiden name the boutique was forced to relocate to Paris during the Spanish Civil War. A confident Cristobal Balenciaga reopened in Paris in 1937, and the Balenciaga house was officially launched.
Since its inception, Balenciaga has been responsible for many fashion innovations and today offers a wide range of clothing, accessories and shoes for men. From sliders to high-tops, the Balenciaga sneakers and shoes range is extensive and diverse. The Balenciaga shoes for men collection includes men's hiking shoes and slide sandals, as well as more innovative men's sneakers from this famous Parisian brand.