Balenciaga

It is hard to envisage a notable fashion empire being created by a 16-year-old, but Spanish born Cristobal Balenciaga did just that. At the age of 13, Balenciaga opened his first design house in San Sebastian which quickly expanded to include branches in Madrid and Barcelona. The Spanish Royal Family and the aristocracy were among his greatest fans, but when the Spanish Civil War broke, he was forced to close his stores and move to Paris. The rest, as they say is haute couture history. Today, under the direction of Nicolas Ghesquiere and owned by the Gucci Group, Balenciaga is one of the best selling brands for womenswear, luxury handbags and designer jewellery.