Master of Couture – Azzedine Alaïa

For the first time in the Nordics, creations by one of fashion history's biggest stars – Azzedine Alaïa – are being presented.

With superior craftsmanship and a sculptural vision, Azzedine Alaïa (1935–2017) made creations in the borderland between couture and art. Together with the Azzedine Alaïa Foundation, Sven-Harrys Konstmuseum has gained unique access to Alaïa's archive and handpicked forty haute couture garments from the peak of his career.

Azzedine Alaïa was born in Tunisia in 1935 and trained at the École des Beaux-Arts sculptor department in Tunis. His artistic vision took him all the way to Paris where, in 1956, he began working in the French haute couture world, which at the time was dominated by Christian Dior and Cristobal Balenciaga. Alaïa's talent and determination were extraordinary. Despite the lack of education in fashion, he managed with hard work and talent to get ahead in the tough fashion world and create his own fashion house. His innovative approach to structure and form cemented his position as a pioneering master tailor. The cult-declared design earned him devoted fans that included, among others, supermodels Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford, Linda Evangelista, and celebrities such as Michelle Obama, Lady Gaga, Grace Jones and Tina Turner.

In the exhibition Master of Couture – Azzedine Alaïa, the visitor will be able to enter the world of haute couture and get to know the fashion genius Azzedine Alaïa through his art of tailoring. In subtly chiseled creations, Alaïa highlights the duality of clothing as both couture and sculpture. The design of the exhibition will be deliberately spare, which allows the couture to be in the spotlight. The elegant form of each couture creation is showcased on specially designed mannequins designed by Alaïa himself. The visitor will have the opportunity to explore the characteristic details of his iconic designs and experience the sculptural tailoring that made Alaïa a pioneer in the world of fashion.