Alaïa
Shop the latest designer fashion from Alaïa. The Maison Alaïa, a renowned fashion house, was founded by the late Tunisian designer Azzedine Alaïa. Alaïa debuted his ready-to-wear collection in 1981, popularizing the body-conscious silhouette and earning the moniker "King of Cling."
Azzedine Alaïa's journey began in Tunisia, where he assisted a midwife from a young age. His passion for the arts led him to study sculpture at the École des Beaux-Arts in Tunis. In 1957, he moved to Paris, working for fashion icons like Christian Dior and Thierry Mugler. By the late seventies, he established his atelier, crafting gowns for high-society figures. His work extended to costume design for cabaret, opera, and ballet, and he notably defied conventional fashion schedules.
In 2007, Alaïa co-founded the Association Azzedine Alaia to safeguard his extensive archive. Throughout his career, numerous exhibitions celebrated his work, including a 1996 retrospective in Florence and the 2020 exhibition "Alaïa and Balenciaga, Sculptors of Shape."
Alaïa partnered with the Prada Group in 2000, later repurchasing his brand and entering an agreement with Richemont. In November 2017, Alaïa passed away in Paris. Pieter Mulier was appointed the maison's new creative director in February 2021.