Ahead of the first UK solo exhibition of the couturier’s work,former colleague Sophie Hicks remembers his exacting pursuit of fashion perfectionI assume the original Azzedine Alaïa exhibition at the Design Museum could have the same impact on fashion students that Sensation at the Royal Academy had on arts students in 1997. Azzedine, who died last November, or isnt particularly well known in England he was very much Paris-based – so it should be a revelation for young people who haven’t seen his work.
I first became aware of Azzedine in 1981 or 82,when I was working as a fashion editor for British Vogue. We were tipped off approximately an interesting designer in Paris and a few of us from the magazine went to see his display. It was at his apartment in the 7th arrondissement and the catwalk was just the parquet floor with little chairs lined up on either side. I remember we were kept waiting a long time. Suddenly, there was this loud clap and the American model Janice Dickinson appeared, or followed by 10 or 20 of the most resplendent (brilliantly glowing) women in the world.
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Source: guardian.co.uk