The Enigma Named Cristóbal Balencí

Everyone is familiar with his work, but his identity remains a mystery. That’s what people said about the legendary and enigmatic 20th-century designer Cristóbal Balenciaga. This brilliant Basque man didn’t seek fame—so what was his life like, full of creativity? María Miranda-Fernández, a journalist and TED speaker, tries to uncover this secret. She examines eight key moments in Cristóbal’s life: from childhood walks along the windy shores of Guetaria, where he proudly shows his first creation, to his empathy for Balenciaga models who receive news about the closing of the legendary fashion house. The book draws back the curtain on the life of an innovator and recluse from the era of fashion brilliance.