The archive of Renato Balestra has been declared of historical interest by the MiBAC

In 2019, the Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities declared the Renato Balestra Archive of historical interest and of particular importance for the Italian cultural heritage. Balestra’s features over 40 thousand sketches and drawings. “The archive, in its unity and heterogeneity, has a particularly important historical interest for the knowledge and deepening of the style and creativity of the designer Renato Balestra, as well as the history of costume and Made in Italy. A mixture of technical and artisanal tradition, in which the sartorial construction of the clothes is combined with the skillful use of fabrics and embroideries”.

The archive consists of heterogeneous documentary materials produced over a period of time ranging from the early 1950s to the first decade of the 2000s and includes: press reviews, sketches of the Haute Couture and bridal collections, sketches of the uniforms designed for Alitalia, Agip Petroli, Philippine Airlines, Avianca Airlines, Wagon Lits, drawings of operas and ballets, such as Swan Lake, Cinderella, Turandot, Der Rosenkavalier, sketches of dresses commissioned by countless customers, lines licensed to Renato Balestra, patterns, samples of embroidery and fabrics.

The archive includes over 10 iconic dresses made between the 1960s and 2000s and the two wedding dresses specially made for the daughter of the former First Lady of the Philippines, Mme Imelda Marcos. Last but not least, thousands of photographs and videos of the haute couture collections, of Italian and foreign publications, prestigious awards and various awards conferred on the designer.

Renato Balestra, regarding the particularly important historical interest recognized in his archive, declared: ” I thank the Ministry for Cultural Heritage and Activities and the Archival and Bibliographical Superintendency of Lazio, in the person of Mrs. Monica Grossi, for this recognition, which fills me with pride and joy. I hope that this important declaration contributes to the diffusion of a deeper knowledge of fashion, to which I have dedicated - with enormous enthusiasm - all my creativity and passion”.