By Efstratia Nasioula
The fashion world is grieving the loss of beloved Moroccan-born Israeli fashion designer Alber Elbaz, who died on Saturday due to Covid-19. He was only 59.
“Elbaz was a rare character in the fashion industry, one unique, optimistic and generous designer who became well known not only for his creations but also for righteousness and fair treatment throughout his career,” Maria-Christina Kravvari, fashion editor at Marie Claire Greece, told Holloway Express.
Alber Elbaz was a charismatic and talented individual who transformed the luxury Parisian brand Lanvin into an established label with a strong identity. He took on the role of creative director in 2001, and ever since he worked hard to turn his vision into reality.
Most significantly, he signed Lanvin with a variety of collaborations with the cosmetics giant Lancôme and the clothing label H&M, and in 2012 he also published his first book featuring 3,000 images curated from a designer’s point of view.
Celebrity favourite
The favourite of many celebrities, Elbaz was also well known for his humble character and kindness. “Through three turbulent decades, no one in the industry had a bad word to say about him- quite an achievement in the fickle world of thousand-pound frocks,” wrote Jess Cartner-Morley in the Guardian.
In 2015, Elbaz started his own fashion brand called AZ Factory. Throughout his carrier he had worked with Yves Saint Laurent, Guy Laroche, Tom Ford and Tod’s. Elbaz’s work resulted in a slew of industry accolades in recognition of his contribution to fashion, including the 2005 CFDA International Designer award and Most Influential Designer at the inaugural World Fashion Awards held by WGSN.
In 2013, Elbaz was announced as the winner of the Geoffrey Beene Fashion Impact Award at the YMA Fashion Scholarship Fund dinner. In 2009 he was awarded the Grande Médaille de Vermeil de la Ville de Paris by Mayor Bertrand Delanoë, for his positive impact on the city, and in 2016 he was presented with the prestigious French Legion of Honour.
“Alber always thought of fashion as an embrace of life at its best,” said Anna Wintour, the global chief content officer for Condé Nast and editor of Vogue. “And when we wore his clothes, or were in his wonderful, joyful presence, we felt that, too.”
Putting comfort and fun first
His dresses were favoured by Hollywood actresses, including Natalie Portman and Meryl Streep. Streep in fact, wore one of his gowns, in gold lamé, when accepting the Oscar for her portrayal of Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady in 2012. That moment was definitely a wonderful highlight to his career.
“Alber’s dresses for Lanvin are the only ones that when I wear them, I feel like myself, or even a better version of her,” Streep said in 2015. His creations were also a “red carpet favourite of Beyoncé, Michelle Obama, Kim Kardashian and Sarah Jessica Parker”, according to the Guardian.
Euridiki Koffa, fashion blogger resident in feminism said that the talented artist devoted time and effort to working with women. “He committed a huge part of his work into making women feel good with their skin and within his creations,” she told Holloway Express. He was the first who created luxury gowns but make them so easy and effortless to wear, she added.
Elbaz once said that his vision is to “give women ease”. Moreover, he said, “it’s all about zip-in and zip-out”, meaning that a woman can wear an impressive dress without feeling trapped. His dresses are well tailored with fine lines and structure but with a convenient way of putting them on.
“I asked myself, ‘If I was a woman, what would I want?’” Elbaz told The New York Times back in January. “Something that is first comfortable. Something fun. Something that lets me eat a big piece of cake.”
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