Left: Left to Right: Suit by Thierry Mugler, Fall-Winter 1990; Jacket by Azzedine Alaïa, Fall-Winter 1985; Outfit Azzedine Alaïa, Fall-Winter 1989. Photo ©Julien Vidal. Courtesy Fondation Azzedine Alaïa. Handout via The Gourmet Gazette. Right: Left: Dress by Thierry Mugler, Croisière Collection 1993. Right, dress by Azzedine Alaïa, Spring-Summer 1990. Photo ©Julien Vidal. Courtesy Fondation Azzedine Alaïa. Handout via The Gourmet Gazette

Paris, France — One enters into a world of juxtapositions in which well-cut clothes in blacks and whites and reds and blues predominate. These are the world’s of two of fashion’s most iconic visionaries: Azzedine Alaïa and Thierry Mugler. The two designers would become friends and would mutually influence each others collections back in the 1980s and 1990s. Alaïa who came to Paris in 1956 from his native Tunisia earned a reputation as one of the finest fabric cutters working in fashion. His cutting was more akin to sculpting and he was at times dubbed « the sculptor of fashion ». His garments were remarkable for their deft tailoring and innovations like using metal studs in his clothing. He would in fact be called upon by fellow designers to cut for them including Yves Saint Laurent and Thierry Mugler who invited him to create and (cut) his tuxedo suits for his Fall-Winter collection 1979-1980. It was after the show that Alaïa decided to open his own house.

Left: Azzedine Alaïa. Alice Springs. ©Helmut Newton Foundation. Courtesy Fondation Azzedine Alaïa. Handout via The Gourmet Gazette. Right: Thierry Mugler. Alice Springs. ©Helmut Newton Foundation. Courtesy Fondation Azzedine Alaïa. Handout via The Gourmet Gazette

An exhibition underway at the Fondation Azzedine Alaïa in the Marais neighborhood of Paris is hosting an exhibition juxtaposing the creations of the two designers offering a glimpse into these great Parisian fashion houses through two decades of distinguished and dignified creations: the 1980s and the 1990s. Azzedine Alaïa was also a great collector of fashion and so the exhibition was able to benefit from a collection of 200 pieces signed by Thiery Mugler, 40 of which have been selected for the exhibition which was curated by Olivier Saillard.

General view of the exhibition Azzedine Alaïa, Thierry Mugler, 1980/1990. Two Decades of Artistic Affinities. Photo ©Stéphane Aït Ouarab. Courtesy Fondation Azzedine Alaïa. Handout via The Gourmet Gazette

The exhibition also offers the opportunity to discover the studio workshop where Alaïa created his collections. Filled with patterns, samples and documents and a cutting table, it seemingly has not changed since the designer’s death in 2017. Another notable element is the video of his ground breaking fashion show held at Bergdorf Goodman in New York City in 1982. A show that the department store requested and which Mugler persuaded him to do. Mugler would accompany him to New York helping along in every step of the way from organizing the show to translating interviews. The show, Azzedine Alaïa, Thierry Mugler, 1980/1990. Two Decades of Artistic Affinities is on until August 31st. The Fondation Azzedine Alaïa, located in a stunning courtyard, works to conserve and showcase Azzedine Alaïa’s work and legacy as well as his extensive art, design and fashion collections. An excellent restaurant and bookstore are also nestled into the greenery-filled courtyard. 18, rue de la Verrerie, 75004 Paris, France. Tel: +33 (0)1 87 44 87 75.
©Trish Valicenti for The Gourmet Gazette