Milan, February 2025 | Bonaveri was selected as the technical partner of the exhibition CRISTÓBAL BALENCIAGA | Shoes from Spain Tribute, held at the Palazzo Morando in Milan, February 21st through to March 2, 2025. The exhibition, designed by Elisa Ossino, features 25 mannequins from the Sartorial Atelier Collection.
A tribute to the sartorial genius of Cristóbal Balenciaga, whose revolutionary approach to fashion continues to inspire the contemporary world, and to the artisanal tradition of Spanish shoemaking, merging the craftsmanship of handmade expertise with the creativity of modern artisanship.
The exhibition, conceived and curated by Javier Echeverría Sola and promoted by the Federation of Spanish Footwear Industries (FICE), brings together two worlds that share a common commitment to artisanal excellence, customization, and innovation: on one side, Balenciaga’s mastery in creating timeless haute couture garments; on the other, the skill and artisanal quality of Spanish footwear, crafted by the best brands in the industry. Bonaveri, a leader in the production of high-quality mannequins, helps bring this exhibition to life, offering its expertise to display Balenciaga’s creations as true sculptures, through mannequins that themselves represent an equal level of artisanal craftsmanship.
The twenty-five Cristóbal Balenciaga garments on display come from museum collections such as the Cristóbal Balenciaga Museum in Getaria, the Museo del Traje in Madrid, and the Disseny Museum in Barcelona, showcased on Bonaveri’s Atelier collection busts, which reflect the same sartorial approach that made the Spanish couturier a pioneer in fashion. The mannequins highlight the lines, silhouette, and structure of Balenciaga’s garments, echoing his vision of fashion as an art form. Sartorial expertise, passion for craftsmanship, and know-how are the values that unite Balenciaga and Bonaveri, creating a perfect symbiosis between artisanal tradition and contemporary innovation.
“Balenciaga always treated his garments as sculptures, and Bonaveri mannequins are the perfect complement to display them,” says Andrea Bonaveri, CEO of Bonaveri. “Our mannequins, the result of over 70 years of craftsmanship that enhances haute couture, help present these garments just as Balenciaga envisioned them: as living works of art, telling stories of style and excellence.”
Designed by Elisa Ossino Studio, every corner of the exhibition narrates a story of craftsmanship and perfection, where the garments, treated as sculptures, interact with shoes created by twenty-five of the most prestigious Spanish brands, which also bear witness to a rich artisanal heritage. The footwear, displayed alongside Balenciaga’s garments, serves as a further tribute to the meticulous tailoring and craftsmanship that define both the couturier and the finest Spanish artisanal traditions.
