The Tunisian-born couturier Azzedine Alaïa has died in Paris at the age of 77. Dubbed the “King of Cling”, many coveted his body hugging pieces and his predominant presence. Known as the designer who paved his own way within the fashion industry, Alaïa went against fashion schedules, and created his collections at his own pace.
Alaïa’s love of fashion began through his reading of Vogue at a young age. Lying about his age to attend the École des Beaux-Arts in Tunis, he began working as a dressmaker after graduating, before moving to Paris in 1957. There he started his career at Christian Dior as a tailleur, but soon moved to work for Guy Laroche for two seasons and then on to Thierry Mugler. He opened his first atelier in his Rue de Bellechasse apartment in the late 1970s, from where he dressed his private clientele, which included Marie-Hélène de Rothschild, Louise Lévêque de Vilmorin and Greta Garbo.
Alaïa always encouraged women to wear his clothes with pride, that wish was embodied to it’s fullest by the women who wore his ensembles.
Dressing starlets from the iconic Grace Jones, renowned top model Naomi Campbell, Rihanna, and Lady Gaga, who recently paid tribute to the designer by wearing several of his pieces during the American Music Awards, that took place on Saturday November 19th, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, California.
The Industry has lost a gem, one that can never be replaced, or replicated.
Rest In peace Azzedine Alaïa, couturier, visionary and fashion icon (1940 – 2017)
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