Renowned Fashion Designer Alber Elbaz Dies at 59 from COVID-19

Alber Elbaz, the legendary bow-tied artistic director who headed the Lanvin fashion house from 2001, died of Covid-19 this Saturday, April 24, at the age of 59, the Richemont group confirmed in a statement. "I have lost not only a colleague, but also a beloved friend," said its founder and chairman, Johann Rupert. "I was shocked and deeply saddened to learn of Alber’s sudden passing. [...] He was a man of exceptional warmth. He was very talented, and his unique vision, sense of beauty and empathy will leave an indelible mark," he paid tribute.

Born in Casablanca in 1961, Alber Elbaz grew up in Tel Aviv. His parents had settled there when he was still a baby. In 1982, his passion for fashion led him to the Shenkar College, the city’s fashion and textile school, where he would get his start. He began his career in New York with American designer Geoffrey Beene. In 1996, he became artistic director at the Guy Laroche fashion house. Two years later, he was in charge of Yves Saint-Laurent Rive Gauche women’s ready-to-wear. In 2001, Alber Elbaz became artistic director of Lanvin. In 14 years, he gave this fashion house a new image. His creations were successful. His exuberant and endearing personality attracted attention. Over the years, the man became a fashion star.

His adventure at Lanvin ended in 2015. After several collaborations with Tod’s, Converse, Lancôme and Frédéric Malle, he embarked on a new adventure. In late 2019, he partnered with the Swiss Richemont to create his own brand, AZ Factory. "It’s a new beginning. A digital luxury brand based on innovation and technology, but above all, a place to experiment and try new ideas," he had said at the launch of his brand.

An adventure that would be short-lived. "Tragic disappearance of Alber Elbaz, great fashion designer and great artist, intensely attached to know-how, wanting the innovation he understood the full scope and necessity of. He had so much talent and also genius. Immense sadness," Pascal Morand, executive president of the Fédération de la haute couture et de la mode in France, reacted on Twitter.