Alaïa, Azzedine (1940– )

Tunisian-born fashion designer. He became popular during the 1980s for his soft leather, stretch fabric, and figure-hugging designs (he is nicknamed the ‘King of Cling’). Alaïa began making clothes to order 1960 and launched his own label 1965. The ‘body’ or ‘bodysuit’, akin to the leotard, is credited to him.

Alaïa has decorated his fabrics with rubber paint, mixed furs, and leather, and has created a spongy stretch chenille. He began designing and making clothes while studying sculpture at art college in Tunis. After working for a dressmaker in Tunis he moved to Paris 1957, where he worked briefly for the house of Dior, and then for Guy Laroche.