Azzedine Alaïa, Cristóbal Balenciaga. Sculptors of Shape
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Exhibitions
The Prato Textile Museum celebrates 2 iconic French fashion designers
The exhibition “Azzedine Alaïa, Cristóbal Balenciaga. Sculptors of Shape.” is an exceptional exhibition project coming to Italy for the first time.
The idea for the exhibition came from the Azzedine Alaïa Foundation in 2020, per the wishes of Hubert de Givenchy. A few months after the passing of Azzedine Alaïa (1935–2017) and decades after that of Balenciaga (1895–1972), Givenchy—a great admirer of Balenciaga and a key figure in classical fashion—confided in the Azzedine Alaïa Foundation regarding his desire to bring together these two great talents, both highly skilled experimenters with forms and volumes that have profoundly marked the history of fashion.
The temporary exhibition, on display at the Museo del Tessuto (Textile Museum) until May 3, 2026, was designed for the exhibition spaces on the second floor of what was once the Campolmi factory. 25 creations by Alaïa, considered one of the last couturiers, capable of mastering every stage of creating a garment from design to tailoring, dialogue with as many garments by Balenciaga, in a flanking that goes beyond time.
Alongside these garments, the Textile Museum is exhibiting for the first time in Italy, 12 original Balenciaga drawings dated between 1950 and 1968 from the Balenciaga Archives in Paris.
