Balenciaga
Cristóbal Balenciaga's couture house, founded in Spain. The double-B emblem marks pre-2013 pieces; the modern streetwear era uses a plain elongated wordmark.
- Origin
- Spain
- Founded
- 1917
- Category
- High Fashion
- Documented eras
- 5
How Balenciaga labels evolved over time. Match the markers below against the tag in hand to place a garment in its era.
1950–1959
Couture-Era Wide Tags
Original 1950s pieces were largely couture — wide rectangular tags with the text logo and the fashion house's location.
- Original 1950s Balenciaga pieces will often have been couture and very different from the type of Balenciaga seen in stores nowadays.
- The tags were wide rectangles.
- The text logo was used.
- With the location of the fashion house included.
How to spot it
A wide couture tag with the text logo and location.
Value signal
Museum-grade; 1950s Balenciaga couture is exceptionally rare.
1960–1969
France-Made White Tags
As popularity grew, a wider variety of tags appeared across garments — mostly the text logo, often referencing the house location or 'France', on white or off-white grounds.
- As Balenciaga’s popularity grew, a wider variety of tags would be used across a wider variety of garments.
- Many of them used the text logo.
- And often referred to the location of the fashion house or the country of manufacture being France.
- The tags were white or slightly off white.
How to spot it
The text logo on a white tag, often 'France'.
Value signal
Rare and collector-grade.
1980–1989
Uniform 'Paris' Logo Tags
As Balenciaga grew better known, tags became uniform — a simple design with the logo and the word 'Paris', some with small attached size tags.
- When Balenciaga became a more known brand the tags became more uniform.
- A simplistic design was used which usually just had the logo, with the word Paris.
- Some of these tags had small sizing tags attached as well or the sizing on the tag.
How to spot it
A simple uniform tag with the logo and 'Paris'.
Value signal
Strong; 80s Balenciaga is a sought era.
2000–2009
Double-B Emblem Tags
The brand looked beyond runway and couture; the classic interlocking double-B emblem appears on some of these tags.
- The brand started to set its sights outside of runway and couture fashion in the 2000s.
- The classic emblem was used on some of these tags.
How to spot it
The interlocking double-B emblem.
Value signal
Strong; the Ghesquière-era pieces draw demand.
2010–2019
Streetwear-Pivot Tags
After the pivot to luxury streetwear, an updated logo on white or black rectangles, with polyester wash tags at the waist for size and care.
- Since Balenciaga pivoted to a luxury streetwear brand, it updated its logo, designs and as a result the tags are very different to predecessors.
- The new logo is used on either white or black rectangles.
- Polyester washtags are included at the waist with the size and care information.
How to spot it
The plain modern wordmark on a white or black tag.
Value signal
Modern; the Demna-era hype keeps resale strong.