Alber Elbaz, an Israeli fashion designer and the founder of Richemont-backed label AZ Factory, has died at the age of 59, Switzerland-based luxury goods holding company said. He took his last breath at the American hospital in Paris. Elbaz had served at a number of fashion houses including Lanvin, Geoffrey Beene, Guy Laroche and Yves Saint Laurent.

Elbaz served as the creative director of Lanvin in Paris from 2001 until 2015, and took a five-year break before launching the AZ Factory.

“It was with shock and enormous sadness that I heard of Alber’s sudden passing. Alber had a richly deserved reputation as one of the industry’s brightest and most beloved figures. I was always taken by his intelligence, sensitivity, generosity and unbridled creativity. He was a man of exceptional warmth and talent, and his singular vision, sense of beauty and empathy leave an indelible impression," said Richemont chairman Johann Rupert in his tribute to Elbaz.

"It was a great privilege watching Alber in his last endeavour as he worked to realise his dreams of ‘smart fashion that cares’. His inclusive vision of fashion made women feel beautiful and comfortable by blending traditional craftsmanship with technology—highly innovative projects which sought to redefine the industry," Rupert added in the statement.

Born in Casablance, Morocco, Elbaz was raised in Israel from the age of 1. He studied at the Shenkar College of Engineering and Design. In 1985, he started his work in fashion in New York with the iconic designer Geoffrey Beene, staying on for seven years as head designer. In 1996, he became the design director at Guy Laroche in Paris, before succeeding Monsieur Yves Saint Laurent at YSL as creative director of Rive Gauche from 1998 to 2000.

In 2001, Elbaz started his 14-year tenure as creative director at Lanvin, earning critical and commercial success for the house, and cementing a worldwide reputation as a beloved designer. In 2019, in partnership with Richemont, he announced AZ Factory—his dynamic new approach to innovation and design, as well as his unshakable attention to the real needs of women globally.

Elbaz's honours and recognitions include the International Award from the CFDA in 2005; the Chevalier of the Légion d’Honneur as well as Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People In The World distinctions in 2007; an honorary doctorate from the Royal College of Art in London in 2014; and he was made Officier of the Légion d’Honneur in 2016.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (RKS)

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