Few designers can say their influence was so far-reaching that Greta Garbo came knocking on their door demanding a new outfit – but that was Alaïa. More than just a clothes-maker, Alaïa was a creative genius, close collaborator, and friend— powering iconic fashion moments and redefining modern haute couture.
On this day, 5 years ago, the world lost not only one of the greatest couturiers of all time, but a cultural icon for fellow Tunisians like myself. Walking down the well-trodden cobble streets of Sidi Bou Said, my family homeland, Alaïa’s humble roots were not too dissimilar from my own. For the people of Tunisia, he proved that the country was not just a manufacturer of clothes but rich territory for creativity.
