Alber Elbaz’s 10 most inspiring quotes: remembering the legendary Lanvin fashion designer who died aged 59 from Covid-19

Legendary fashion designer Alber Elbaz, who is widely acknowledged and respected for his successful revival of French fashion house Lanvin, passed away in Paris on April 25 at the age of 59. The news was announced by luxury group Richemont, partner of his new venture AZ Factory, with Covid-19 the cause of death.

“I have lost not only a colleague but a beloved friend,” said Richemont’s founder and chairman Johann Rupert in a statement on the same day of Elbaz’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.”

The Moroccan-born Israeli fashion designer is known for his masterful couture craft, weaving a vision for fashion, rather than simply crafting clothes – despite being an expert in sewing head-turning red-carpet gowns.

Kicking off his career at French couture house Guy Laroche, Elbaz helmed Yves Saint Laurent as creative director for three seasons from 1998, until the brand was acquired by Gucci. He eventually made a name for himself through his tenure at the then small-scale Lanvin.

Through his deft use of materials like silk to create feminine designs, Elbaz brought a one-of-a-kind romanticism, beauty and elegance to the house of Lanvin as well as the fashion industry as a whole, uplifting the French maison to a top-tier brand across the globe during his 14 years there. “I don’t want to see a dress with a woman. I just want to see a woman, with a beautiful dress,” he once said.