SLOW FASHION: Azzedine Alaïa was notorious for taking his time.
“I remember him calling me about a dress I’d wanted him to lend me for an exhibition, to ask me if I still needed it,” remembered curator Olivier Saillard, speaking at an event at the bookstore of the Azzedine Alaïa Association on Monday. “Unfortunately, the exhibition had opened several weeks prior.”
Saillard was one of the many names to have contributed to “Taking Time,” a book of conversations between Alaïa and his close friends, published by Actes Sud in French and Rizzoli in English on March 11.
Compiled by French writer Donatien Grau, the tome also features words by actress Charlotte Rampling; filmmaker Alejandro Jodorowsky; artist Julian Schnabel; designer Ronan Bouroullec, and dancer Blanca Li.
Naomi Campbell, a close friend of the late designer, wrote the preface, which was read out at the launch event. “Most of these conversations happened around Papa’s kitchen table,” wrote the model, using her nickname for the couturier.
“Taking Time” by Azzedine Alaïa and Donatien Grau.
“We started this book in 2013,” Grau explained during a talk presenting the book to the audience. “Contrary to most designers, like Paul Poiret, Elsa Schiaparelli and Mary Quant, Azzedine never wished to write down
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