Straining towards perfection…

This exhibition presents the first retrospective devoted to the Parisian couturier Azzedine Alaïa. Alaïa quickly became the noble artisan, always straining towards the perfection of Parisian refinement. His apprenticeship was closely linked to the customer that he won over by tailored clothing in the finest tradition of chic.

From the 60s and 70s, he created the wardrobes of famous personalities like Louise de Vilmorin, Arletty or Greta Garbo. The system for designing that he managed to impose, while avoiding diktats and rules, confirmed his talent as a visionary. His media recognition held true in the 80s. A veritable plastic surgeon whose scissors only touched muslin or leather, Alaïa fashioned a new body. By inventing novel morphologies for the garment through the simple interplay of complex seams, Alaïa became the designer of a body of work that transcends time.