Balestra, Renato
Renato Balestra was an Italian fashion designer.
THE ORIGINS
Balestra made his début in the 1950s. His very feminine fashion is characterized by the large use of silk. In his recent Collections he has also used very modern fabrics marked by bright interwoven threads and combined with chiffon. A native of Trieste and a man of central European culture, he joined the world of fashion after studying engineering.
A bet between friends convinced him to sketch a design, and it was thought so highly of that, without his knowing, it was sent to Milan and he was invited to collaborate on a Collection for the fashion show in Florence. Furthermore, inspired by Jole Veneziani, the Fontana sisters and Schuberth, he opened his first atelier in Rome in 1960, on via Gregoriana, winning great success in America, in the Middle East, and the Far East. Among his most famous clients were Farah Diba and the Queen of Thailand. Today the house of Balestra is located on via Sistina and is particularly active. It has about thirty lines, from prêt-à-porter to men’s wear.
Autumn-Winter 2002/2003 collection
Balestra presents his Collection for Autumn-Winter 2002-2003 in the Royal Palace of Caserta.
Moreover, after being appointed honorary professor at the Academy of Fashion in Beijing, he published his book Alla ricerca dello stile perduto (Rusconi editore). He designed the uniforms for the pilots of Philippine Airlines and for the Alitalia flight attendants. In addition, he hosted the TV program Rosa Chic (RAI Uno) and was a regular guest on the evening TV show Chiambretti c’è, with great success.
The Christmas Medal of Rome
The mayor of Rome, Virginia Raggi, gave the designer the Christmas medal of Rome 2016 coined to celebrate the twinning’s 60th anniversary between Rome and Paris.
Moreover, in 2017, Renato Balestra was the guest of honor of the Arab Fashion Council, bringing one of his Haute Couture collections to Dubai for the second time. On November 17th, the Autumn /Winter 2017-2018 collection was presented during the Arab Fashion Week.
Princess Collection
The “Princess Collection” stems from the desire to make all women feel like princesses of a fairy tale. Black is the collection’s soul, always softened by transparencies and unexpected blazes of “sunny yellow.” The creativity and unmistakable style of Renato Balestra delineate this essential collection, where the skillful tailoring tradition blends well with a strong evolutionary and innovative spirit. The search for proportions and attention to detail is fundamental.
On May 11th, 2018, Renato Balestra was invited to Dubai for the third time by the Arab Fashion Council to present his new High Fashion Spring – Summer 2018 during the Arab Fashion Week. Renato Balestra continued his ascent in the Emirates, bringing all the Made in Italy’s prestige.
Costumes for the Cinderella
During the same year, Renato Balestra designed for the first time in 1998 the costumes for the Cinderella of Gioacchino Rossini for the Belgrade’s National Theatre. The Opera with Balestra’s costumes was staged on April 25th for the anniversary of the National Opera Theater’s foundation. The show, which celebrates the 20th anniversary of the first performance, is considered the most successful in the Serbian Theater’s history. During the evening, 22 creations of Haute Couture were also shown, accompanied by the beautiful voice of the international opera singer Jadranka Jovanović.
In 2019, the anthological exhibition had been produced by Armando Fusco productions. It was welcomed with great enthusiasm by Anna Imponente, the Superintendent of the Polo Museale della Campania, and Rita Pastorelli, Director of the Certosa and Museo di San Martino. The Celebration exhibition showed over 250 sketches, drawings, and clothes personally chosen by Mr. Balestra. Dresses aimed to highlight the evolution of his style during a long career full of successes. The exhibition included unpublished works of his early career and the costumes designed for the last representation of the Swan Lake for the Belgrade Opera Theater.
Costumes for the Swan Lake ballet
On June 2, at the Belgrade National Theater, the premiere of the ballet Swan Lake by Pëtr Čajkovskij went on stage with the costumes and the scenes designed by Renato Balestra.
Celeblueation
From January 8, 2020, Florence is colored with the iconic Blue Balestra for the inauguration of Celeblueation, the anthological exhibition of Renato Balestra, a tribute to the creative talent of one of the most prestigious couturiers in the world, under the patronage of the Italian Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities and Tourism. A variety of Three hundred pieces, including sketches, drawings, and clothes, evidence of a path that highlights the evolution of Renato Balestra’s style during a long career full of successes.
The current situation for the brand can be named as the harmony of tradition and modernity. Also, the heritage and style in constant movement. Moreover, the Italian style has made its mark on the International stage. Furthermore, Renato Balestra is one of a few Italian firms that still maintain family ownership combined with a robust managerial Company structure. The tradition that is continuously renewed.
Renato Balestra died in 2022.
Conclusion: Renato Balestra was an Italian fashion designer.
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