Sketches from the Balenciaga archive, Paris
Alaia rencontre Balenciaga by Beatrice Brandini
In October, on the occasion of its fiftieth anniversary, the Fondazione Museo del Tessuto, in collaboration with the Azzedine Alaïa Foundation in Paris, announces a spectacular exhibition Alaïa and Balenciaga Sculptors of Form, an exhibition project dedicated to two masters and absolute icons of French fashion, for the first time in Italy.
Alaïa couture dress Automne -Hiver 1988 – Cristobal Balenciaga Haute Couture dress 1960
The idea was born thanks to the desire of another great French couturier, Mrs. Hubert de Givenchy, who wanted to induce a dialogue between two historic talents of haute couture. The exhibition, curated by Olivier Saillard and presented at the Azzedine Alaïa Foundation in 2020, finally arrives in Italy at the Museum of Prato.
Alaïa bolero couture Automne -Hiver 1989 – Cristobal Balenciaga bolero Haute Couture 194
The exhibition will feature fifty dresses from the Azzedine Alaïa Foundation and original documents and videos from the Balenciaga Archive.
Alaïa couture dress Automne -Hiver 2003 – Cristobal Balenciaga bolero Haute Couture 1954
A wonderful dialogue, a happy meeting, a joy for those who love fashion and not only, because these two great masters are the demonstration of how fashion is a high artistic expression in all respects. Balenciaga first, Azzedine after, have demonstrated a technical ability and an inexhaustible creativity, capable of creating sculpture dresses, unforgettable creations that find their natural place in a museum.
Sketches from the Balenciaga archive, Paris
When the Maison Balenciaga closed for good in 1968, the young emerging designer Alaïa was called by Mademoiselle Renée, deputy general manager of the Maison, to choose a selection of the Master’s creations, because only his hands would be able to rework and renew them, without betraying them.
The young Alaïa was so amazed by the shapes, the architecture of the cuts and the technical skill of each piece, that from then on he cultivated a deep respect for the history of fashion and considered the encounter with Balenciaga’s work the starting point for the rediscovery of the great masters of cutting.
Images from the press conference. Filippo Guarini, Director of the Prato Textile Museum, Carla Sozzani, President of the Alaïa Foundation, Fabia Romagnoli, President of the Prato Textile Museum Foundation.
“Clients would bring me Balenciaga dresses and ask me to shorten the hem: I would ask them if I could keep the dresses and do something new for them instead. That was when I began to became aware of the fact that fashion is a cultural heritage. It is important to give young designers the opportunity to discover the work and techniques of those who came before them.” Azzedine Alaïa.
Other images from the press conference, two extraordinary protagonists of the history of fashion, Carla Sozzani and Suzy Menkes
The tribute to Cristobal Balenciaga and Azzedine Alaïa continues the Textile Museum’s study of the work of the greats of fashion, a journey that began in 2014 with Gianfranco Ferrè and continued with Walter Albini last year, passing through the English Ossie Clark and Celia Birtwell.
We can’t wait to admire these works of art in person, the appointment is for October 25, 2025 until May 3, 2026 in Prato at the Textile Museum.
The Textile Museum in Prato
Good life to all!
Beatrice