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‘BALENCIAGA. La elegancia del sombrero’ at Museu del Disseny

Balenciaga's signature hats

The exhibit 'BALENCIAGA. La elegancia del sombrero' will be free of charge during the first days.

On 17 June, the Museu del Disseny de Barcelona will be launching an exhibition about Balenciaga's hats that has been put together after years of joint research with the Cristóbal Balenciaga Museoa. In BALENCIAGA. La elegancia del sombrero visitors will find a selection of hats the designer created in the millinery departments of the Haute Couture House in Paris and Madrid, from the late thirties until the closure of the Balenciaga houses in 1968. Through this collection, they will discover the importance of this accessory, which was used as a social and cultural distinction, not only for the piece itself but for what it meant to be Balenciaga's client.

Cristóbal Balenciaga, one of the most important haute couture designers of the 20th century, established a very characteristic style and silhouettes in his hat designs. The refined and stylized volumes, with simple, almost abstract shapes, made his creations authentic sculptures. In this exhibition, visitors will take a deep dive into his unique work, from his innovative forms, his search for materials and techniques, or the artisanal character of his hat production. They will also learn about the importance of the feminine world in Balenciaga’s creations, as the Paris and Madrid departments were run by women and the milliners and salespeople were women too.

From 17 to 20 June, on the occasion of the opening, tickets for the exhibition will be free of charge and you can buy your tickets through this link. For the rest of the days, admission to the exhibition will be 3 euros (reduced: 2 euros), and tickets can be purchased on the museum.

Publication date: Wednesday, 09 June 2021
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