The Fondation Azzedine Alaïa in Paris opened the exhibition “Azzedine Alaïa et L’Afrique” on July 6. The show highlights the designer’s lifelong inspiration from Africa, his birthplace. It features 62 looks spanning decades of his work.
Curator Olivier Saillard said the display reveals extensive influences from African cultures, materials, and aesthetics in Alaïa’s collections. Items include raffia ensembles from 2015 and 2016, a 1987 jacket with cowrie shells, and a 1990 macraméd dress with shells.
Saillard noted Alaïa’s fascination with Maasai culture from a 1980s Kenya trip and themes like light and shadow drawn from Tunisian mashrabiya screens. Gold pieces evoke Cleopatra, while colors such as olive and brick reflect his skill as a colorist.
The exhibition overlaps for about a week with Africa-themed shows at the Musée du quai Branly – Jacques-Chirac. Saillard emphasized that Alaïa viewed Africa as a state of mind rather than specific iconography.