AZZEDINE ALAÏA

Azzedine Alaïa opened his Paris atelier in the 1970s and debuted his first ready-to-wear collection in 1981. His collections were notoriously exclusive and held in intimate settings, which only increased the mystery surrounding the Alaïa brand. His designs are instantly recognisable with their tight fit, curved lines, precise seaming and preoccupation with knitwear, all designed to reveal the body rather than conceal it. By the time of his death in 2017, he had established himself as not only a visionary, but also one of the most talented fashion designers of all time.