AZ Factory to close Paris Fashion Week with Alber Elbaz homage show

By

Godfrey Deeny

Published
Jul 28, 2021

AZ Factory, the fledgling fashion house founded by Alber Elbaz, will stage a special homage show to the late designer that will to close out this autumn’s Paris Fashion Week.

 
“The show, entitled Love Brings Love, will be held October 5th, 2021 at 8pm CET and will pay tribute to Alber’s creative vision and his extraordinary love for the fashion family,” the house said in a release on Wednesday.
 
The next Paris women’s ready-to-wear season is due to be staged from Monday, September 27 to Tuesday, October 5.

One of the most outstanding designers of the past quarter century, Elbaz died of complications caused by Covid-19 in Paris on April 24, 2021.
 
His death came just three months after Elbaz had launched AZ Factory as a “democratic brand” in January 2021, backed by the giant luxury group Richemont.
 
The debut collection featured Elbaz's signature cocktail-hour sophistication, superlative draping and ability to enhance feminine beauty with exotic finishes, which characterized his designs at Lanvin, where he was creative director for 15 years. However, unlike the luxury marque Lanvin, AZ Factory featured a price point targeted at a far wider demographic audience, while still containing the essential DNA of Elbaz.
 
Elbaz also broke rules with his launch, staging what he called “show fashion” - a mock variety TV show with mid-range price clothes. Somewhat ironically, the collection was launched during the haute couture season, which dresses the world’s richest women.

 
“Haute couture stands for experimenting and individuality so I feel we are right to be in couture,” said Elbaz at the time. 
 
The debut collection featured eco-dyed, nylon microfiber traditionally used in active wear, as AZ Factory employed innovative, 3D knitting technology to create woven details inspired by couture craftsmanship.
 
Named AZ Factory after the first and last letters of his name, Elbaz’s project was an intensely personal voyage for one of the most loved individuals in fashion.
 
In the immediate aftermath of his passing, there was speculation that Richemont might closed down the infant house. However, in June, AZ Factory launched two new product stories.
 
The first of the new stories, SuperTech-SuperChic, became available on June 12 to mark the founder’s 60th birthday. While the second, Free To, started retailing online shortly after.

At the time, the house first revealed plans to honor the late designer during the womenswear spring/ summer 2022 in Paris.
 
“The event will celebrate the extraordinary life and work of the brand’s founder, paying tribute to his creative vision and joyous spirit,” AZ Factory said in June.