Azzedine Alaïa, genius couturier, who died in 2017, was a collector of haute couture creations, and it is this aspect of his personality that is the focus of a new exhibition at the Palais Galliera, in Paris.

His passion for the history of haute couture was sparked when the house of Balenciaga closed in 1968. Azzedine Alaïa collected dresses from the Spanish company, whose fascinating study was the beginning of his exploration of fashion’s rich heritage.

Over the years, Alaïa has built an extraordinary collection of more than 20,000 creations, a treasure trove that represents the art of his predecessors. From the birth of haute couture in the late 19th century to the most accomplished contemporary designers such as Jean Paul Gaultier, Comme des Garçons, Alexander McQueen, Thierry Mugler and Yohji Yamamoto, his collection shows the evolution of fashion through the ages.

The fashion designer, who had a deep admiration for the great couturiers of the past, had included in his collection creations by Jean Patou, Madame Grès, Paul Poiret, Gabrielle Chanel, Madeleine Vionnet, Elsa Schiaparelli and Christian Dior.

The Franco-Tunisian fashion designer arrived in Paris in 1956 at the age of 21, designing for Greta Garbo, Louise de Villemorin, Arletti and Cécile de Rothschild.

In 1980 he presented his first ready-to-wear collection, began curating the looks of Tina Turner, Grace Jones and made models Naomi Campbell, Stephanie Seymour, Cindy Crawford, Tatiana Patitz superstars.

In the exhibition “Azzedine Alaïa, couturier collectionneur” 140 creations of the priceless collection, which Alaïa created in absolute secrecy, are presented in the description of the exhibition.

No one saw her while the fashion designer was alive, neither in France nor elsewhere, it is noted.

The exhibition curated by the director of the Palais Galliera Museum, Mirren Arcaliuz, and the director of the Alaïa Foundation, Olivier Saillard, opens on September 27, 2023 and will run until January 21, 2024.