Balenciaga

Balenciaga was founded in 1917 by the Spanish couturier Cristóbal Balenciaga, and the house is now based in Paris. Pierpaolo Piccioli steers the creative direction, which END describes as a new era for the label. The look blends couture heritage, subcultural influence and avant-garde design. Footwear is a main focus. Its sculptural trainers, including the Triple S and the Track, helped shape the chunky-sneaker era. The menswear range applies the same thinking to everyday pieces: oversized t-shirts, logo t-shirts, heavyweight hoodies and outerwear. If you want clothes with a disruptive streak from a house that has been making them since 1917, this is a good place to start.