In 2017, the fashion industry said goodbye to one of its greatest designers. Azzedine Alaïa was a virtuoso cutter who sculpted his dresses straight from women's bodies, exalting the sensuality and strength of those who wore his designs. Beyond his body-con designs in knit and ultra-stretch jersey that clung to every curve, we also remember his astonishing collaboration with Tati (1991), his collection inspired by the Marquise de Pompadour and his leather bustiers with patterns that evoke mashrabiya (1992), his three-dimensional and seamless dresses (2013), his love of leopard print, the suit with a waspish waist and the lace outfit that literally swathes the skin. Regularly flirting with bad taste, these sculptural and minimalist creations nevertheless bear witness to an exceptional couture savoir-faire and an infinite quest for perfection.
While regular exhibitions highlight the vast heritage left behind by Azzedine Alaïa - like the one that compared his work with that of Cristobal Balenciaga - the house he founded in 1965 is now presenting a new project, entitled Éditions, which brings to life some of the most iconic silhouettes. With the strictest respect for the originals, the company's workshops will reproduce around twenty cult designs created by Mr Alaïa between 1981 and 2017, that all bear witness to his irrepressibly innovative spirit. Among the re-released archive designs are a jacket from 1990, a skirt from 2008, a skater dress from 2013, a cotton satin ball gown from 2013 and a long crinoline knit dress from 2007, all of which complete the seasonal silhouettes and reveal not only the longevity but also the timelessness of the Tunisian couturier's work.
At 5pm today, the house will unveil on Instagram an artistic performance by Naomi Campbell, featuring dancer Hajiba Fahmy, to celebrate the launch of Editions.
Discover the Editions designs by the house of Alaïa on www.maison-alaia.com.
