Alber Elbaz leaves Lanvin; let’s look back on 14 amazing years

Alber Elbaz is leaving Lanvin after working as the brands head of design for fourteen years. A period in which the Isrealic creative revived the before called ‘sleeping beauty’. Fourteen years in which talented Elbaz managed to bring back the fashion house, that turned 125 last year, as one of the most influential brands known for it’s party proof and ultra elegant designs.

Presumably a discussion between Elbaz director Michèle Huiban and Chinese owner of the brand Shaw-Lan Wang made the 54 year old designer, who owns 10% of Lanvin, decide leave. Yet it is no secret that Elbaz has been struggling with the pace of today’s fashion (the pressure to design at least 6 collections a year) for quite a few seasons. He validly spoke out against the influence and noise of social media and the internet, changing fashion for the worse.

“In this digital age, we live through our screens, documenting the moment. We no longer look: we film. We no longer listen: we tape. And we no longer talk: we post”, he said.

The news of Elbaz’ exit at Lanvin arrives in the same week as the announcement of Raf Simons leaving Dior. Therefore Elbaz is named as a potential successor for Dior, even though nothing is confirmed yet.

So before we further eleborate on what Elbaz next move will be. Let’s look back on those fourteen years of Lanvin fashion under his wing. A period in which Lanvin enlivened, filled with highlights (it’s popularity growth with A-listers like Oprah and top models, Lanvin for H&M, the larger than life show props – the door, the chair, the stairs -, it’s refreshing use of diverse models in several campaigns ánd on the runway, the exposition Alber Elbaz/Lanvin: Manifeste of last year).

Shows like pure poetry that had everyone sitting on the edges of their seats.

Collections based on the idea that elegant clothing can in fact be comfortable, following the power, passion and insecurity of the modern woman, using and further developing Lanvin’s signature in the spirit of Jean Lanvin.

Thank you Alber Elbaz for fourteen amazing years of Lanvin fashion.