Launched during Paris Fashion Week, the exhibition offers a remarkable display of models created by two renowned couturiers, Balenciaga and Alaïa. This highly anticipated face-off between two fashion icons has long been a dream for Hubert de Givenchy. Finally, under the expert direction of Olivier Saillard, a joint exhibition has brought together over eighty exclusive designs from the archives of Azzedine Alaïa.
The Balenciaga creations showcased in the exhibition are sourced from the private collections of the late Franco-Tunisian couturier, who passed away in 2017. It is well-known that Alaïa was deeply passionate about Balenciaga’s work and greatly admired his talent. As a result, after the end of Balenciaga’s Haute Couture activities in 1968, Alaïa began collecting his designs. Despite the offer from Mademoiselle Renée, former deputy general manager of Cristobal Balenciaga, to alter or modify the pieces as he pleased, Alaïa made the decision to preserve these archival pieces intact. Throughout his career, he drew inspiration from these designs and incorporated them into his own work. This unique approach creates an intriguing dialogue between Alaïa’s creations and those of the Spanish couturier.
The significance of this juxtaposition is heightened by the recent announcement from Demna Gvasalia, Artistic Director of Balenciaga, confirming the reopening of the Maison’s Haute Couture studio. This move aims to connect these iconic designs with a contemporary context, emphasizing the timeless relevance of both designers’ works.
Venerated as “Azzedine Alaïa Collector: Alaïa and Balenciaga, Masters of Shape,” this extraordinary exhibition will be on display from January 20th to June 28th, 2020 at the Fondation Azzedine Alaïa in Paris, situated at 18 rue de la Verrerie. Starting in July 2020, the exhibition will continue at the Balenciaga Foundation in Getaria, Spain. Fashion enthusiasts should not miss this rare opportunity to witness the creative dialogue between two legendary couturiers.
For further information about the exhibition and its highlights, visit [link 1] and [link 2].
