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Renato Balestra’s iconic brand gets a new personality

The historic Italian brand’s ‘Reload’ is aimed to inspire new generations with optimism as the new phase is led by women and principles of freedom, innovation and inclusiveness

February 7, 2022: Italian brand Balestra, which has a storied legacy, has announced its complete brand reload, which will be brought to life during the upcoming Milan Fashion Week with its first Ready-to-Wear Collection. 

Renato Balestra

Mr. Renato Balestra


Originally founded in 1959, the maison is facing an important generational shift, leading to a whole new design era. Balestra is currently led exclusively by women, with the founder’s daughters Fabiana and Federica Balestra at the head of the historical fashion house, and his granddaughter Sofia Bertolli Balestra steering research, design and brand identity. 

“Balestra is strength, boldness and pride. This is a return to beauty and freedom,” states Federica Balestra about the new, female-led strategy, which will also revolutionise the brand through a broader vision of inclusivity and empowerment.

Continuing with its excellence in craftsmanship, this new step forward will support the brand’s positioning and sustainable growth, leveraging its mastery of art, design, technology and Made-in-Italy savoir-faire to elevate standards of quality and innovation.

Balestra new logo

The new logo is an integral part of this evolution. Donned in the electric blue shade that is synonymous with this brand, the new logo maintains a clear link to the brand’s history yet stands boldly as the symbol of a new phase for the fashion house. A new website and visual identity are being developed to reflect this new character with a contemporary aesthetic.

Founder Renato Balestra was one of the few designers of his era who had the ability to merge art with commercial success. He has dressed Hollywood stars such as Zsa Zsa Gabor, Tina Louise, Joan Bennett,  Natalie Wood and Carrol Baker. He enjoyed great success in the Middle East and Far East as he dressed royals such as Farah Diba, Empress of Persia; Imelda Marcos, first lady of the Philippines; Saudi princesses; and Princess Noor bint Asem of Jordan on the occasion of her marriage to Prince Hamzah bin Hussein in 2003. Mr. Balestra also designed uniforms for Philippines Airlines (1985) and Alitalia Airlines (1986). He has designed costumes for operas. 

Renato Balestra blue gown

A Renato Balestra creation from Spring Summer 2014


In 1991, he wrote the book Alla Ricerca dello Stile Perduto (In Search of the Lost Style) that won two literary prizes. We are quite excited to see the new chapter in this brand's history.

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