Kick-starting Paris Haute Couture Week, Association Azzedine Alaïa unveils its first parallel exhibition, presenting the work of Azzedine Alaïa and Gilbert Adrian – a designer held in great esteem by Azzedine Alaïa.
The exhibition is curated under the direction of Olivier Saillard and highlights the merging of two great couturiers and the fabulous outcome provided by the collaboration, no matter the time and distance. Indeed, the two designers focused on executing the same garments – the construction of the jacket – and the association presents to the world the two couturiers who came together to share their greatness and talent across a series of jackets.
The affinity between the two designers dates back to the sixties, when Azzedine Alaïa first arrived to Paris. As he began to collect work from many artists, he discovered Gilbert Adrian – who was an artist, costume designer and couturier – and grew to be a big fan of his. And so, fast forward to today, Alaïa’s fashion collection of masters of couture is one of the strongest departments in the Association Azzedine Alaïa’s archives, alongside his own work.
This exhibition in particular is a selection from a small part of Adrian’s work collected over the years by Alaïa, master of cut and fit. Also, two films will be shown highlighting the talents of Adrian and Alaïa: The Women, 1939 - starring Norma Shearer, Joan Crawford, Rosalind Russell, Joan Fontaine, Paulette Goddard and many feminine extras modeling Adrian’s designs and finally, A View to a Kill, 1985 – a James Bond movie, where Azzedine Alaïa made the costumes for Grace Jones as the character May Day.
The exhibition is set to run from January 21st , to June 23rd 2019.
