Fashion career profile
Alber Elbaz
Alber Elbaz was a Moroccan-born fashion designer who grew up in Israel and became known for emotionally expressive, technically accomplished womenswear. After studying fashion design at Shenkar College, he moved to New York and worked with Geoffrey Beene, then held creative roles in Paris, including at Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche from 1998 to 2000. His appointment as Lanvin’s artistic director in 2001 began a celebrated fourteen-year period in which he renewed the house’s visibility with fluid silhouettes, vivid color and a humane, playful approach to luxury. He also developed a widely noted collaboration with H&M in 2010. In 2021 he founded AZ Factory, an independent project developed with Richemont around experimentation, innovation and women’s needs. Elbaz died on April 24, 2021, shortly after presenting AZ Factory’s first collection. The profile distinguishes his historical house leadership from his final founder-led project.
- Role
- Former Artistic Director, Lanvin; Founder, AZ Factory
- Age at death
- 59
- Career appointments
- 2
- Fashion houses
- 2
- Richemont celebrates Alber Elbaz’s legacy with the launch of 'A Bunch of Designers'FashionNetwork · 2026-07-02
- Lanvin: Artistic Director, Lanvin (2001–2015)The Palais Galliera exhibition biography dates Elbaz's celebrated leadership of Lanvin from 2001 to 2015. · Palais Galliera
- Saint Laurent: Artistic Director, Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche (1998–2000)The museum biography records his appointment and tenure at the womenswear line. · Palais Galliera
- Final project: Founded AZ Factory in 2021 with RichemontElbaz created the experimental ready-to-wear project shortly before his death. · Palais Galliera; Richemont
- Life: 1961–2021The museum biography records his birth and death; Richemont announced his death on April 24, 2021. · Palais Galliera; Richemont
- 1989 — Begins working with Geoffrey BeeneElbaz moved to New York and became Beene's assistant and close collaborator.
- 1997 — Presents his first womenswear ready-to-wear collection for Guy LarocheThe museum chronology records the collection before his Saint Laurent appointment.
- 1998 — Joins Yves Saint Laurent Rive GaucheHe leads the womenswear line until 2000.
- 2001 — Becomes Artistic Director of LanvinHis fourteen-year tenure gives the Parisian house renewed visibility.
- 2010 — Creates a Lanvin collection for H&MThe collaboration brought his design language to a broad international audience.
- 2021 — Launches AZ FactoryThe project was developed with Richemont around innovation and respect for the female body.
- 2001–2015 — Artistic Director — LanvinHistorical appointment · Palais Galliera
- 1998–2000 — Designer, Rive Gauche — Saint LaurentHistorical appointment · Palais Galliera