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The Exhibition

The essence of elegance, exquisiteness, and timelessness that characterized the work of Cristóbal Balenciaga arrives in Milan, with his first monographic exhibition in Italy.

Cristóbal Balenciaga | Shoes from Spain Tribute’ is a project promoted by the Federation of Spanish Footwear Industries and curated by Javier Echeverría Sola, which allows us to admire the master’s work through today’s eyes, with a forward-looking vision.

The leading Spanish museums and private collections join forces to showcase their finest pieces, reminding us that Cristóbal Balenciaga was “the master of us all.” A key aspect in the dissemination of his work, as Sonsoles Diez de Rivera has always stated, to whom this exhibition owes much.

The exhibition presents a carefully curated selection of his most spectacular and timeless pieces, displaying them as if worn today, in a “total look” adaptable to 2025. A tribute made possible thanks to the twenty-five Spanish footwear companies and various artisans and artists who created the shoes accompanying Cristóbal Balenciaga’s pieces.

This dialogue between the master’s creations and footwear highlights high craftsmanship, the excellence of “handmade” work, and innovation—values that defined the EISA – BALENCIAGA house and continue to inspire the industry internationally.

Cristóbal Balenciaga

Getaria, 1895 – Jávea, 1972

“A couturier must be an architect for shape, a painter for color, a musician for harmony, and a philosopher for balance.”

Discover more about the master
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Shoes from Spain Tribute

“This exhibition is born as a dialogue between the values that defined the haute couture ateliers of master Cristóbal Balenciaga and that are still alive today in our footwear ateliers and brands.”

Rosana Perán Bazán

President of the Federation of the Spanish Footwear Industries

Within the strategic plan of the Federation of Spanish Footwear Industries (FICE), the 2025 tribute to Cristóbal Balenciaga stands out, an exhibition that not only pays homage to the genius of Haute Couture but also honors and promotes the Spanish footwear sector. This exhibition, which gathers twenty-five complete looks composed of original Cristóbal Balenciaga pieces with contemporary footwear from twenty-five selected Spanish brands, is a clear representation of FICE’s core values: craftsmanship, quality, design, innovation, and excellence. These values, which Balenciaga, as the undisputed master of Haute Couture, also reflected in his work, remain alive today in the workshops of Spanish footwear, which continue to preserve their artisanal and unique character.

The project aims to elevate footwear to a category of art and culture, recalling the 2005 “Milano ai piedi di Carmen” exhibition, which highlighted the relationship between footwear and opera. This time, the focus is on the figure of Cristóbal Balenciaga, whose work is connected with the creations of Spanish footwear brands. What distinguishes this exhibition is its contemporary vision: the 2025 shoes seamlessly integrate into the original Cristóbal Balenciaga looks from the 1930s, 40s, 50s, and 60s, creating a fusion between the classic and the current that demonstrates the timelessness and mastery of the designer.

This is the first time that a monographic exhibition of Cristóbal Balenciaga is held in Italy, a key country in the history of fashion, and it takes place at the Museum of Fashion and Costume of the Comune di Milano, located in the heart of the Fashion Quadrilateral. This occasion not only pays tribute to Cristóbal Balenciaga’s legacy but also highlights the historical relationship between Haute Couture and footwear, a sector that FICE has tirelessly worked to internationalize and position at the forefront, showcasing the richness and uniqueness of Spanish footwear on a global scale. Additionally, it is worth noting that Cristóbal Balenciaga never designed footwear but only provided his clients with the fabric with which to cover the shoes.

With this tribute, FICE reaffirms its commitment to the promotion and future of the footwear sector, blending tradition and modernity in such an iconic setting as Milan. This exhibition not only celebrates a fashion genius but also values the effort and know-how of Spanish companies, which continue to work with the same passion and dedication as Cristóbal Balenciaga, bringing the tradition of Spanish footwear to international stages.

Created in 1977, the Federation of Spanish Footwear Industries is the business organisation that represents the general interests of the Spanish footwear sector at national, European and international level.

As a whole, FICE and its Associations bring together 400 companies. Its work is focused on boosting the competitiveness of companies, enhancing their strengths and favouring a sector of the future. The federation’s strategies focus on sustainability, digitalisation, internationalisation and talent management.

Spain is one of the world’s leading countries in the manufacture of quality footwear. A sector that will exceed six billion euros in turnover and which combines tradition, craftsmanship, quality, design and creativity.

Palazzo Morando

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For the first time, Italy hosts a monographic exhibition dedicated to the genius of Cristóbal Balenciaga, and it does so in an incomparable setting: Palazzo Morando | Costume Moda Immagine.. Located in the heart of Milan’s Fashion District, this historic 16th-century palace becomes the ideal venue to celebrate the master, whose work marked a turning point in the history of Haute Couture.

The spaces of Palazzo Morando reflect a fascinating contrast between the modernity evoked in the ground floor, where most of the exhibition takes place, and the majesty of the first floor. In this latter, surrounded by lavish rococo ornaments, gilding, and chandeliers, the final piece by Cristóbal Balenciaga is hidden, displayed surrounded by the elements typical of the aristocratic palaces for which his dresses were designed.

Palazzo Morando, which houses the Museum of Fashion and Costume of the Comune di Milano, stands out not only for its architectural and historical significance but also for the legacy of Countess Lydia Caprara Morando Attendolo Bolognini, who donated the building and its collection to the Comune di Milano in 1945. Her role as a cultural patron finds a beautiful parallel with the Marchioness of Casa Torres, Cristóbal Balenciaga’s early patron. Both women, each in their own context, nurtured the development of exceptional talents, leaving an indelible mark on the history of art and fashion.

This exhibition, in addition to celebrating the designer from Getaria, allows for a rediscovery of the magic of Palazzo Morando, a space where the secrets of the past and the beauty of the present come together to pay tribute to a universal creator.

Elisa Ossino Studio

“Stairs, bases, mirrors, and drapes highlight the lines, folds, and volumes of Cristóbal Balenciaga’s dresses, emphasizing their architectural aspect.”

Elisa Ossino Studio

 

The museography, designed by Elisa Ossino Studio, pays tribute to Cristóbal Balenciaga, one of the great masters of fashion who knew how to transform fabric into sculptural art. In an evocative and refined journey, Cristóbal Balenciaga’s dresses, true timeless works of art, engage in a dialogue with high-quality Spanish footwear, renowned for its craftsmanship.

The exhibition path unfolds through a play of light and shadows, marked by the alternation of two hues: the butter-white of Cristóbal Balenciaga’s atelier at 10 George V in Paris and the deep black of the house’s most iconic creations. The dresses, displayed on tall minimalist structures and placed in the center of lighting that creates sharp contours and dramatic shadows, are presented as works of art, three-dimensional sculptures that interact with space and the viewer. The exhibition explores various aspects of Cristóbal’s vision: the tension between structure and softness, the bold use of geometric shapes, the delicate balance between references to tradition and strong innovation, and the use of symbols that become immediately iconic.

In a sequence marked by spatial counterpoints made up of stairs, pedestals, mirrors, and draperies, the installation highlights lines, folds, and volumes, emphasizing the architectural aspect of the dresses, accompanied by a selection of high-craftsmanship Spanish footwear whose forms harmoniously engage with the timeless elegance of the garments.

The exhibition is circular: it begins and ends with a tribute to the grand white draperies that still distinguish the Maison’s atelier today. Each visitor thus has the feeling of participating in the designer’s creative workshop, experiencing the same atmosphere in which each Cristóbal Balenciaga fashion show is prepared. The rooms do not necessarily follow a didactic temporal sequence. Instead, they prioritize the desire to tell the many facets of the couturier: the relationship with innovation and tradition, the strong bond with his clients, evening gowns, the depth of black, the bridal dress, and the crystal gown; a kaleidoscope of true wearable architectures that express Cristóbal’s contemporary genius.

The setup thus constitutes an immersive journey made up not only of the works on display but also of stage settings, words, images, and documents that open up the understanding of Cristóbal Balenciaga’s personality, a man from the 20th century who remains a reference point and a source of inspiration for the fashion world, both present and future.

Elisa Ossino Studio, founded in 2006 by Elisa Ossino, is a multidisciplinary studio focusing on residential and retail interiors, product design, exhibition and creative direction.

Elisa Ossino is an architect and designer. Sicilian, she trained in Milan, where she studied at the Polytechnic. Her research combines geometric abstraction,  onochromes, metaphysical and surrealist references, creating a coherent and allusive relationship between space, identified by the strong stroke of her sign, light and objects. Inspiring Elisa’s compositional style is a figure of suspension, recurring in the design lightness of each intervention. She favors essential lines and geometries that are translated in space into signs capable of giving a marked scenographic sense. The metaphysical nuance of her objects, their atmospheric  and immaterial quality, is combined with stylistic references that look to modernism and Bauhaus, primitivism and surrealism. Her work often invokes a strongly pictorial dimension, traceable to the two dimensions. The deep interest in the preciousness of craftsmanship, capable of producing unique outcomes, coexists in every activity of the Studio with experimentation with new materials, inspired by circular economy processes.

Over the years, Elisa Ossino has collaborated with Amini, Boffi, Cartier, Cristina Rubinetterie, De Castelli, De Padova, Dieffebi, Fantini, Foscarini, Hermes, Living Divani, Molteni, Porro, Rubelli, Salvatori, Trussardi, V-Zug, Viccarbe, Zanotta, and is Creative Director of Amini and Dieffebi.

She has received prestigious national and international awards, including Red Dot Award in the Best of the Best category, Honorable Mention at Compasso d’Oro ADI, iF Design Award, Edida Award and Best of Interiors of Elle Decor Italy. Her name has been listed several times among the AD100 in the AD Architectural Digest network. The popup store designed for Hermes won the Prix Versailles 2021. In 2018 she was named Young Designer Talent and in 2021 Designer of the Year by Elle Decor Japan.

In 2016 Elisa Ossino Studio created the anniversary exhibition Lumiere for Foscarini, at the Palazzo della Triennale in Milan. In 2016, she created the scenography for the dance theater performance TreD at the Teatro dell’Arte of the Triennale. Exhibitions include La casa fluida (2021) and Material Home (2024), conceived for Elle Decor at Palazzo Bovara during Design Week, and Augusto Betti Artista + Designer for Paradiso Terrestre, at Galleria Sozzani, in 2023.

In 2016 she was part of the W-Women in Italian Design, the ninth edition of the Triennale Design Museum presented at the 21st edition of the Milan Triennale International Exhibition.

In 2021 she was included among the new excellences in the RebelBiennale2021 exhibition of the Venice Architecture Biennale – Italy Pavilion. The Venice Design Biennale dedicated her solo exhibition Una stanza tutta per sé in 2021; in 2023 she participated in a group show with Del sentire.

She has been a lecturer for several years at the IUAV University of Venice at the Master’s Degree “Interactive Media for Interior Design” and at Istituto Marangoni at the Master’s Degree in Product Design. She has given talks at the Politecnico of Milano and at H-Farm.

Spanish Embassy

Cristóbal Balenciaga | Shoes from Spain Tribute reaffirms the importance of Spanish culture and design in the world and projects our heritage – in this case, through fashion – towards a future of innovation and excellence.’

Miguel Fernández-Palacios M.

Ambassador of the Kingdom of Spain in the Italian Republic

As Ambassador of the Kingdom of Spain in the Italian Republic, it is an honour for me to present the project ‘Cristóbal Balenciaga Shoes from Spain Tribute’, an initiative born from the commitment and leadership of the Federation of Spanish Footwear Industries (FICE) with ICEX – España Exportación e Inversiones as main sponsor, joined by Turespaña and the Cervantes Institute of Milan as part of a joint action of cultural diplomacy of the Embassy of Spain in Italy and promotion of the Spain Brand abroad. This collective effort underlines the excellence and tradition of our creative industry and its ability to dialogue with the fashion world through innovation and craftsmanship.

A tribute to the legacy of Cristóbal Balenciaga

Cristóbal Balenciaga, widely recognised as one of the greatest innovators in the history of fashion, is the focus of this exhibition. The exhibition highlights his influence on global fashion and his ability to reinvent shapes and colours, all inspired by Spain’s rich culture. Although Cristóbal Balenciaga never designed footwear, this exhibition seeks to imagine what his vision would have been like by combining his Haute Couture with Spanish shoemaking craftsmanship.

The exhibition features twenty-five original Cristóbal Balenciaga outfits, on loan from both public and private collections, and the shoes designed and produced specifically for this occasion by twenty-five of Spain’s finest brands. Each piece combines tradition and modernity, showing a ‘total look’ that highlights the timelessness of Cristóbal Balenciaga’s design.

Spanish tradition at the heart of design

The exhibition also celebrates the legacy of Spanish craftsmanship, highlighting traditional techniques such as embroidery and embossing, not forgetting the creation of sculptural heels. This approach underlines the importance of footwear as a key element in haute couture, connecting tradition with the contemporary demands of international design.

The Palazzo Morando, a historic 16th century building converted into the Fashion Museum of the Comune di Milano, serves as the perfect setting for this tribute. This space offers an unrivalled setting to highlight the cultural and historical relevance of the pieces on display, reinforcing the connection between Spain and Italy through fashion.

International impact and cultural diplomacy

The exhibition not only has an artistic and cultural value, but also a significant impact on cultural diplomacy. Its organisation, during one of the most relevant events in the world of fashion, ensures wide visibility and serves to highlight Spain as a world leader in innovation and tradition.

This joint initiative, led by FICE, with the sponsorship of ICEX, and also supported by Turespaña and the Cervantes Institute in Milan, demonstrates the power of collaboration to strengthen cultural and economic ties between Spain and Italy.

In conclusion, ‘Cristóbal Balenciaga Shoes from Spain Tribute’ is not just an exhibition, but goes beyond it, to be a bridge between the past and the present, between tradition and modernity, between today and tomorrow, and always from a vision of fashion that, being Spanish, is also universal. ‘Cristóbal Balenciaga Shoes from Spain Tribute’ reaffirms the importance of Spanish culture and design in the world and projects our heritage – in this case, through fashion – towards a future of innovation and excellence.

Miguel Fernández-Palacios M.

Ambassador of the Kingdom of Spain in the Italian Republic

Sponsors and partners

organized by
Cristóbal Balenciaga Tribute - Logotipo Shoes from Spain
exhibition design by
Cristóbal Balenciaga Tribute - Logotipo Elisa Ossino Studio
main sponsor
Cristóbal Balenciaga Tribute - Logotipo ICEX
ICEX sponsors the fashion sector under the brand name
Cristóbal Balenciaga Tribute - Logotipo Spain Fashion
with the patronage of
Cristóbal Balenciaga Tribute - Logotipo Comune di Milano
Cristóbal Balenciaga Tribute - Logotipo Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana
institutional sponsorhsip
Cristóbal Balenciaga Tribute - Embajada de España en Italia
Cristóbal Balenciaga Tribute - Acción Cultural Española
Cristóbal Balenciaga Tribute - Turespaña
Cristóbal Balenciaga Tribute - Instituto Cervantes Milán
Cristóbal Balenciaga Tribute - Cesce Seguros
Cristóbal Balenciaga Tribute - Generalitat Valenciana
Cristóbal Balenciaga Tribute - La Rioja
Cristóbal Balenciaga Tribute - Govern de les Illes Balears
Cristóbal Balenciaga Tribute - Castilla la Macha
Cristóbal Balenciaga Tribute - Región de Murcia
Cristóbal Balenciaga Tribute - Menorca
supported by
Cristóbal Balenciaga Tribute - Swarovski
Cristóbal Balenciaga Tribute - Palazzo Cordusio
Cristóbal Balenciaga Tribute - Micam Milano
Cristóbal Balenciaga Tribute - Fundación Ficia
Cristóbal Balenciaga Tribute - Ifema Madrid y Momad
Cristóbal Balenciaga Tribute - Concentrix
technical partners
Cristóbal Balenciaga Tribute - Bienme Solutions
Cristóbal Balenciaga Tribute - Bonaveri
Cristóbal Balenciaga Tribute - Dedar Milano
Cristóbal Balenciaga Tribute - DeltaLight
Cristóbal Balenciaga Tribute - Dresswall
Cristóbal Balenciaga Tribute - Medit
Cristóbal Balenciaga Tribute - OmniDecor

Exhibition credits

Organized by
Cristóbal Balenciaga Tribute - Logotipo Shoes from Spain
With the patronage of
Cristóbal Balenciaga Tribute - Logotipo Comune di Milano Cristóbal Balenciaga Tribute - Logotipo Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana
Location
Cristóbal Balenciaga Tribute - Logotipo Palazzo Morando
Curated by

Javier Echeverría Sola

Exhibition coordination by

Imanol Martínez Gómez

Javier Echeverría Sola

Exhibition design by

Elisa Ossino Studio

Assembly, adaptation, curation, preservation and mannequinage

Mercedes Amézaga S.L.

Mannequins

Bonaveri

Communication

Attila & Co.

Photography and videography

Juan Carlos Vega

Web design and development

Marta Aguinaco

Sara Zaloña

Setup

Studio Grassi Design

Garden setup

HW Style

Transportation

TTI

Lending institutions

Cristóbal Balenciaga Museoa

Museo del Traje de Madrid

Museu del Disseny de Barcelona

Colección Sonsoles Diez de Rivera y de Icaza

Collección Antoni de Montpalau

Colección Alventosa-Talamantes

Colección Teresa Berganza

Swarovski Heritage Collection

Colección Tere Garasa

Colección López-Trabado

Shoes from Spain
Cristóbal Balenciaga Tribute - Logotipo Alhamas Cristóbal Balenciaga Tribute - Logotipo Alohas Cristóbal Balenciaga Tribute - Logotipo Casteller Cristóbal Balenciaga Tribute - Logotipo Chie Mihara Cristóbal Balenciaga Tribute - Logotipo Creaciones S.W. Cristóbal Balenciaga Tribute - Logotipo Defloresyfloreros Cristóbal Balenciaga Tribute - Logotipo Flabelus Cristóbal Balenciaga Tribute - Logotipo Gaimo Cristóbal Balenciaga Tribute - Logotipo Hispanitas Cristóbal Balenciaga Tribute - Logotipo Kanna Cristóbal Balenciaga Tribute - Logotipo Lottuse Cristóbal Balenciaga Tribute - Logotipo Magananni Cristóbal Balenciaga Tribute - Logotipo Magrit Cristóbal Balenciaga Tribute - Logotipo Martinelli Cristóbal Balenciaga Tribute - Logotipo Mascaró Cristóbal Balenciaga Tribute - Logotipo Pedro García Cristóbal Balenciaga Tribute - Logotipo Pedro Miralles Cristóbal Balenciaga Tribute - Logotipo Pertini Cristóbal Balenciaga Tribute - Logotipo Pikolinos Cristóbal Balenciaga Tribute - Logotipo Pitillos Cristóbal Balenciaga Tribute - Logotipo Pons Quintana Cristóbal Balenciaga Tribute - Logotipo Pretty Ballerinas Cristóbal Balenciaga Tribute - Logotipo Ras Cristóbal Balenciaga Tribute - Logotipo RIA Menorca Cristóbal Balenciaga Tribute - Logotipo Zinda
In partnership with
Cristóbal Balenciaga Tribute - Logotipo Ángeles Espinar Cristóbal Balenciaga Tribute - Logotipo Corina Roselló Cristóbal Balenciaga Tribute - Logotipo Encarnita Berrio Cristóbal Balenciaga Tribute - Logotipo Francisco Carrera Iglesias “Paquili” Cristóbal Balenciaga Tribute - Logotipo Jesús Rosado Bordados Cristóbal Balenciaga Tribute - Logotipo Mariana Barturen Cristóbal Balenciaga Tribute - Logotipo Teresa de la Pisa
Main Sponsor
Cristóbal Balenciaga Tribute - Logotipo ICEX
ICEX sponsors the fashion sector under the brand name:
Cristóbal Balenciaga Tribute - Logotipo Spain Fashion
Institutional Sponsorship
Cristóbal Balenciaga Tribute - Embajada de España en Italia Cristóbal Balenciaga Tribute - Acción Cultural Española Cristóbal Balenciaga Tribute - Turespaña Cristóbal Balenciaga Tribute - Instituto Cervantes Milán Cristóbal Balenciaga Tribute - Cesce Seguros Cristóbal Balenciaga Tribute - Generalitat Valenciana Cristóbal Balenciaga Tribute - La Rioja Cristóbal Balenciaga Tribute - Govern de les Illes Balears Cristóbal Balenciaga Tribute - Castilla la Macha Cristóbal Balenciaga Tribute - Región de Murcia Cristóbal Balenciaga Tribute - Menorca
Supported by
Cristóbal Balenciaga Tribute - Swarovski Cristóbal Balenciaga Tribute - Palazzo Cordusio Cristóbal Balenciaga Tribute - Micam Milano Cristóbal Balenciaga Tribute - Natura Bissé Cristóbal Balenciaga Tribute - Fundación Ficia Cristóbal Balenciaga Tribute - Ifema Madrid y Momad Cristóbal Balenciaga Tribute - Concentrix
Technical Partners
Cristóbal Balenciaga Tribute - Bienme Solutions Cristóbal Balenciaga Tribute - Bonaveri Cristóbal Balenciaga Tribute - Dedar Milano Cristóbal Balenciaga Tribute - DeltaLight Cristóbal Balenciaga Tribute - Dresswall Cristóbal Balenciaga Tribute - Medit Cristóbal Balenciaga Tribute - OmniDecor
With special recognition

Sonsoles Diez de Rivera y de Icaza

Acknowledgements

Alessandra Panico / Alessia Cappello / Andrea d’Amico / Alicia Castaño / Andrea Serafini / Andreina Longhi /
Andrés Martínez-Novillo / Angelo Grassi / Barbara Beghin / Bianca Stampacchia / Blanca Perez-Sauquillo / Carlo Capasa / Carlos Tercero / Carmen Balsa / Carmen Jordán / Carolina García / Chiara Gozzelino / Eleonora Beccacece / Elisa Carbonell / Elisa Ossino / Elisa Palomino / Eloy Martínez de la Pera / Erik Rovina / Francisco Javier Echeverría / Gianfranco Maraniello / Guillem Bernat Alventosa / Helena López de Hierro / Igor Uría / Ilaria De Palma / Inmaculada Ballesteros / Irene Ovejas / Ismael Núñez / José Luis de Vicente / Josep Casamartina i Parassols / Juan Carlos Vega / Juan Gutiérrez / Katharina Haller-Seeber / Laia Calleja / Laura Flores / Leonardo Caliandro / Luca Imperio / Lydia García / Mª Asun Sola / Marco Omini / Marta Aguinaco / Marta de la Rocha / Marta de Yraolagoitia / Marta Michela Toniolo / Martina Loi / Marzia Richieri / Massimo Schifano / Mercedes Amézaga / Miguel Ángel Fernández Palacios M. / Miren Vives / Montserrat Xirau / Pablo Conde / Patrizia Bertocchi / Pietro Grassi / Pilar García Heras / Purificación Villarroya / Raffaella Colutto / Raffaella Ossino / Riccardo Pilu / Román Padín / Rossella Graziani / Sandra Vilchez / Sara Zaloña / Silvia Brasero / Tere Garasa / Teresa Basterdes / Tommaso Sacchi / Verónica Belló / Veruska de Prado / Xavier Vilanova