Fashion Designer Alber Elbaz, 59, Passes Away Due To COVID

Moroccan-Israeli fashion darling Alber Elbaz dies at age 59 after battling with COVID for three weeks. It is a sad time for fashion, globally, but his passing is only remembered by the greatness of his work that he has left behind. After being responsible for the resurrection of Lanvin as its Creative Director for 14 years (2001 to 2015), Elbaz has recently launched his new ready-to-wear line AZ Factory in 2020, welcoming his coming back to designer after a short hiatus while he traveled the world. Metro.Style mourns this loss.

“It was with shock and enormous sadness that I heard of Alber’s sudden passing,” said Richemont Chairman Johann Rupert, the company backing AZ Factory. “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.”

Alber Elbaz has always been a designer for women—he loves them, celebrates them, embraces them. His languid silhouettes are for the romantics at heart, for the bold women, and actually any kind of woman. No wonder Lanvin embraced femininity during his time there with easy clothes and stunning accessories filled with jewels on bags, shoes, and jewellery. It’s his wit and whimsy that made him an original.

“When you walk, look into five different directions,” Alber Elbaz once said. “Straight because you have to look forward. Look back because you have to remember where you’re coming from. Look to the sides to see who are the people that are going to be next to you if you need them. Look down to make sure you don’t step on anyone. Look up because you have to remember that someone protects us. This is, maybe, what my life is all about.”

Alber Elbaz will always be remembered. 

Art by Raff Colmenar