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Home · Fashion

How Fashion Designer Azzedine Alaïa Helped Pave The Way For Iconic Black Models

How Fashion Designer Azzedine Alaïa Helped Pave The Way For Iconic Black Models
Foc Kan/Getty Images
By Crystal Tate · Updated October 24, 2020

Fashion designer Azzedine Alaïa, who was known as “The King of Cling” for his form-fitting clothing that accentuated the female body, died on Saturday at the age of 82. Alaïa, who was from the North African country of Tunisia, debuted his first ready-to-wear collection in 1980, and helped champion diversity during a time when there was a lack of diversity in the fashion industry.

He dressed numerous Black celebrities, and even helped a few iconic Black models go from relatively unknown to household names.

 

Azzedine Alaïa with longtime friend, Tina Turner, at The French Gala in New York in 1986. (📷 @WWD Archive) #wwdfashion #azzedinealaia

A post shared by WWD (@wwd) on Nov 18, 2017 at 4:34pm PST

 

During the ‘80s, Alaïa’s designs were seen on the likes of everyone from Naomi Campbell to Grace Jones to Tina Turner, and the designer continued to remain prominent in the fashion industry over the next few decades. Campbell eventually became one of his protégées and even developed a father-daughter relationship with the designer, affectionately calling him “Papa.”

In an interview with The Independent, Campbell revealed how Alaïa helped launch her career. “I didn’t know how to do runway when I started modeling, but he believed in me,” said Campbell. “That brought attention from other designers, and is kind of how I became known—because other designers heard of this little girl Azzedine was working with.”

#it's ALAIA TIME !!! Go Papa @azzedinealaiaofficial #unique #legend #mypapa #unconditionallove❤️❤️❤️🙏🏾

A post shared by Naomi Campbell (@naomi) on Jul 5, 2017 at 9:01am PDT

      

Veronica Webb, who became the first Black model to have a major cosmetics contract after signing as Revlon’s spokesmodel, also credited Alaïa with her rise to supermodel stardom. In a Vanity Fair interview, Webb said, “Did he start my career? Are you kidding? Myself, Naomi, Stephanie—he taught us how to use our forks, how to walk, how to take rejection, how to present ourselves. He treated us all like flesh-and-blood children.”

                                                                                                                                       

In addition to Campbell and Webb, other former Black models like Bethann Hardison and Pat Cleveland, who started modeling in the 1960s and became known as the first Black supermodel, worked with Alaïa and considered him a friend. They both paid tribute to the late designer.

ALAIA!!! This is how I will always remember our times with Azzedine. When the models meant as much to him as the dresses he put them in. Azzedine had an incredible eye and thats where our love began...finding the right model. In 2011 Paris, we discussed the girls, watched old videos of his collections and talked about what was and his missing the girls. That was a time never to be forgotten. You made us all so happy.

A post shared by Bethann Hardison (@bethannhardison) on Nov 18, 2017 at 9:19am PST

I will never stop hugging Azzedine Alaina in my heart, I feel so sad and hurt that he is gone😩 all the laughs and the naughty playful smiles and just talking with our eyes we were beyond words , now he is beyond time what a gift Azzedine has given to the world of Fashion ,his talent will be missed but never forgotten as he has inspired soo many other artist RIP my funny sweet friend 💓🌈

A post shared by Pat Cleveland (@patcleveland) on Nov 19, 2017 at 5:50pm PST

 

 

Rihanna and Mariah Carey also worked with and had close relationships with Alaïa, and they both shared touching tributes to the designer on Instagram.

my dear ALAIA.... you will live on forever. rip.

A post shared by badgalriri (@badgalriri) on Nov 18, 2017 at 5:57am PST

 

 

 

Devastated to hear about the passing of my friend Azzedine Alaïa. Mr. Alaïa was a genius and an incredibly kind man. Thank you for everything. R.I.P.

A post shared by Mariah Carey (@mariahcarey) on Nov 18, 2017 at 12:00pm PST

 

In Webb’s Instagram tribute, she truly summed up the influence and impact the designer had on the fashion industry, and those who wore his designs: “Azzedine, you will live forever in the hearts and minds of those who love you. The history of fashion is changed for the better because of you.”

 

Today I lost a father figure and best friend. Fashion lost one of it’s guiding forces. Azzedine, you will live forever in the hearts and minds of those who love you. The history of fashion is changed for the better because of you. 💕🤺xx

A post shared by Veronica Webb (@veronicawebb) on Nov 18, 2017 at 5:03am PST

 

 

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