Alber Elbaz. Photo: Supplied
A poignant tribute to late designer Alber Elbaz is set to close out the upcoming Paris fashion week. On October 5, creative directors and designers of more than 40 emerging and esteemed fashion houses will present their looks created in memory of the Morocco-born creative, who passed away at age 59 in April from Covid-19.
Photo: Courtesy of AZ Factory
The tribute show titled Love Brings Love is being organized by Elbaz’s label AZ Factory and will be livestreamed to the public. The round-up of designers has been described as “from haute couture to streetwear,” by AZ Factory chief executive officer Laurent Malecaze. “I would say it’s a large spread from very young designers to very renowned designers,” she shared with WWD. The complete lineup is yet to be revealed, however, according to sources, the runway could feature looks by Dior’s Maria Grazia Chiuri, Louis Vuitton’s Nicolas Ghesquière, Balenciaga’s Demna Gvasalia, Valentino’s Pierpaolo Piccioli, and Rick Owens. They will be joined by a number of looks that are being created by the AZ Factory studio and atelier for the occasion. While the tribute dresses by the enlisted houses are not being made for sale or commercial purposes, they may be exhibited by museums and foundations for public viewing in the future.
AZ Factory. Photo: Courtesy
Promising to be an event for the fashion history books, the tribute show is also bringing together artists known to have worked with Elbaz during his career spanning more than a decade. They include hairstylist Guido Palau, makeup artist Pat McGrath, Etienne Russo of production house Villa Eugénie, stylist and editor Babeth Djian, and musician Ariel Wizman for the soundtrack. The theme of the show is inspired by Théâtre de la Mode, the touring exhibition from 1945 that brought together top Parisian fashion designers including Christian Dior, Pierre Balmain, and Cristóbal Balenciaga, aiming to revive the post-World War II fashion industry.
Read Next: “I needed to fall in love with fashion again” Alber Elbaz on Ending His Hiatus with AZ Factory
