Fashion career profile
Azzedine Alaïa
Azzedine Alaïa was a Tunisian couturier born in Tunis in 1935. He studied at the School of Fine Arts in Tunis before moving to Paris in 1956. That June he briefly interned in Christian Dior’s workshops, then worked three seasons at Guy Laroche’s couture atelier from June 1958 to November 1959. Alaïa developed a private clientele from an atelier on rue de Bellechasse, establishing his fashion house there in 1964. His first New York runway show took place at Bergdorf Goodman in 1982, followed by his first Paris show under his own name for Spring/Summer 1983. His work centred on couture cutting, sculpted silhouettes and close study of the body. He preserved an extensive archive of patterns and garments, documenting a continuous practice that lasted more than six decades.
- Role
- Founder and fashion designer
- Nationality
- Tunisian
- Age at death
- 82
- Career appointments
- 2
- Fashion houses
- 2
- Guy Laroche — Couture atelier designer1958–1959 · former
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- Early training: School of Fine Arts in TunisThe foundation places his studies before his move to Paris in 1956. · Fondation Azzedine Alaïa
- Dior workshop internship: Joined the workshops on 25 June 1956; stayed only a few daysThe foundation’s exhibition dossier supplies the exact arrival date and makes clear that this was a brief internship. · Fondation Azzedine Alaïa
- Couture atelier: Guy Laroche, June 1958–November 1959The foundation chronology dates his atelier work and describes the period as three seasons. · Fondation Azzedine Alaïa
- Maison established: First workshop and private-client house on rue de Bellechasse (1964)The foundation records the address as his home and work base for the following twenty years. · Fondation Azzedine Alaïa
- Runway milestones: First New York show at Bergdorf Goodman (1982); first Paris show under his name (1983)The foundation distinguishes the Bergdorf presentation from the following year’s first show under his own name in Paris. · Fondation Azzedine Alaïa
- Recognition: Two Fashion Oscars (1985)The foundation records awards for Best French Collection and Best Designer of the Year. · Fondation Azzedine Alaïa
- 1950 — Studies at the School of Fine Arts in TunisThe foundation’s chronology records his art studies before his move to Paris.
- 1956 — Moves to Paris and briefly joins Dior’s workshopsBegins a short internship at Christian Dior on 25 June.
- 1958 — Joins Guy Laroche’s couture atelierWorks there for three seasons, through November 1959.
- 1964 — Establishes his private-client houseCreates his first workshop on rue de Bellechasse in Paris.
- 1982 — Presents his first New York runway showShows at Bergdorf Goodman with support from Thierry Mugler.
- 1983 — Presents his first Paris show under his own nameThe Spring/Summer collection is shown at rue de Bellechasse.
- 1964–2017 — Founder and Creative Director — AlaïaHistorical appointment · Richemont
- 1956–1956 — Workshop Intern — DiorHistorical appointment · Fondation Azzedine Alaïa