Azzedine Alaïa – Fall/Winter 2003 Azzedine Alaïa archives © Patrick Demarchelier

Azzedine Alaïa goes on display . At the Palais Galliera in Paris an exhibition to celebrate the career of the couturier who has deffined the contemporary aesthetics of the body, a real “sculptor of clothes.” All fabrics, fine or simple become valuable works of art in his hands.
Alaïa is one of the few able to cope with all the stages of the construction of a gown – from ideation, design to realization.
His journey begins in Tunis. After studying sculpture at the Art Institute of his city learns to sew thanks to her sister. The first clothes are copies which makes for some acquaintances. Then flies to Paris, he worked for Christian Dior and for Guy Laroche. From there it is a short step to success.

The exhibition will display, from 28 September to 26 January, 70 pieces of his most spectacular garments, made by Alaïa from 1979, when he launched his first collection pushed by his friend Thierry Mugler.

Alaïa dress – 1996 Azzedine Alaïa archives © Ilvio Gallo, 1996

Alaïa dress – Fall:Winter 2003 Azzedine Alaïa archives © Paolo Roversi, 2013

Alaïa dress – Spring:Summer 1990 Azzedine Alaïa archives © Ilvio Gallo, 1996

Alaïa dress – Spring:Summer 1990 Azzedine Alaïa archives © Ilvio Gallo, 1996

Alaïa dress – Spring:Summer 1991 Azzedine Alaïa archives © Ilvio Gallo, 1996

Alaïa dress – Spring:Summer 1994 Azzedine Alaïa archives © Paolo Roversi, 2013

Alaïa dress – Spring:Summer 2010 Azzedine Alaïa archives © Peter Lindbergh for Alaïa, 2013

Alaïa dress – Spring:Summer 2010 Azzedine Alaïa archives © Peter Lindbergh for Alaïa, 2013

Related articles

• Sculpting Fashion: Olivier Saillard Talks Alaïa at the Musée Galliera (style.com)
• LEGENDS OF FASHION: Azzedine Alaia (retrofitcouture.com)
• Azzedine Alaïa: reasons to love fashion’s favourite maverick (theguardian.com)