Renowned Israeli-French fashion designer Alber Elbaz died from COVID-19 on Saturday night in Paris. He was 59.
Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook and Twitter
Elbaz had been battling the coronavirus for several weeks and was an induced coma for several days. His death was confirmed by Compagnie Financiere Richemont, his joint venture partner in AZ Factory, his latest fashion venture.
born in Casablanca, Morocco, in 1961, Elbaz moved to Israel with his family when he was 10 years old. He studied at the prestigious Shenkar College of Engineering and Design in Ramat Gan, and moved to New York in 1985,
He became one of the fashion world's stars soon after being recruited by Ralph Toledano to helm Guy Laroche in Paris in 1996. He followed that with a stint that saw him succeed couture legend Yves Saint Laurent at the helm of Rive Gauche ready-to-wear.
After three seasons, Elbaz was fired in the wake of Gucci Group's takeover of YSL, with Tom Ford taking over. Elbaz moved on to do one season with Krizia in Milan before sitting on the sidelines of the business for one year.
He eventually landed at Lanvin in 2001 and has been credited for turning the fashion house into a creative and commercial success.
Meryl Streep famously accepted her Oscar for Best Actress in 2012 for "The Iron Lady" wearing a draped, gold lame gown by Elbaz. Other celebrity fans included Demi Moore, Nicole Kidman, Catherine Deneuve, Kate Moss, Uma Thurman, Julianne Moore and Gwyneth Paltrow.
"I have lost not only a colleague but a beloved friend," Richemont founder and chairman Johann Rupert said in a statement.
"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," Rupert said. "He was a man of exceptional warmth and talent, and his singular vision, sense of beauty and empathy leave an indelible impression.
"It was a great privilege watching Alber in his last endeavor as he worked to realize his dream of 'smart fashion that cares.' His inclusive vision of fashion made women feel beautiful and comfortable by blending traditional craftsmanship with technology – highly innovative projects which sought to redefine the industry," he added.
Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter and never miss our top stories!
