Yesterday, the world mourned the loss of legendary fashion icon, Alber Elbaz. The Moroccan-born, Israeli-French pioneer died on Saturday at the American Hospital in Paris, after contracting COVID-19.
Elbaz was born in Casablanca, Morocco, in 1961, and moved with his family to Israel at the age of 10. Early on in his life, Elbaz’ talent manifested in his drawings, with his first dress being drawn when he was seven.
The young prodigy then studied fashion designing at the Shenkar College of Engineering and Design, before leaving from Israel to New York, then heading to Paris in pursuit of his passion for fashion.
Elbaz worked at Guy Laroche and Yves Saint Laurent, but he is best known for his time at Lanvin as their creative director. There, he transformed the label into the Hollywood-favorite it is right now. Working with the likes of Beyoncé, Michelle Obama, Kim Kardashian, and Sarah Jessica Parker, Elbaz made sure to work on projects that reinvented the fashion industry.
In 2014, Elbaz once again shocked the fashion community, announcing that he will be taking a five-year hiatus. On this issue, he told Wallpaper magazine: “I’ve had the time to observe and live a life, not as a fashion designer, but just as a human being.”
Alber Elbaz returned to the spotlight in 2021 announcing the launch of his own size-inclusive label AZ Fashion. Back in 2009, he told The Guardian: “I am overweight, so I am very, very aware of what to show and what not to show,” he said, “and I am sure there is a huge link with being an overweight designer and the work I do.”
Unfortunately, his time has come before realizing this vision. Nonetheless, he remains one of the biggest names in the fashion industry, remembered for his kindness and creativity.
Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends.