How did Alber Elbaz Lead Lanvin To The Top Of International Fashion In 14 Years?

Fashion Designer Alber Elbaz started designing clothes from the age of 10. He was indeed a fashion prodigy. Hailing from a family of Sephardic Jews, Elbaz migrated from Morocco to Israel. One might say that Elbaz has been creative ever since his childhood. Few people know that his father was a hair colorist and his mother, an exquisite painter. Elbaz spent his younger days in the military service. He then went on to study designs in Tel Aviv, where he was reborn as the fashion designer Alber Elbaz.

Rise of a Legend 

After finishing his degree, Alber moved to New York, where he began his career at a bridal studio. Eventually, he was invited to work in Paris, where he started out at Yves Saint Laurent. He developed a keen understanding of women's clothing. When asked about his designs in an interview, he proudly exclaimed, "The dress that creates a perfect shape – that was yesterday... I don’t want to make clothes that bring more stress to women. I want my dresses to be like hugs.”  He left after a brief stint at Saint Laurent, believing his growth at the brand would be limited. Later, he joined a company that would come to define him.

Vogue pronounced Fashion Designer Alber Elbaz’s work for his beloved Lanvin as “powerfully pretty”. He could present femininity in a way that no other designer of his time could. Elbaz was known to make handcrafted dresses, which women absolutely adored. Elbaz explained his philosophy in an interview, “If you can’t eat it, it’s not food, and if you can’t wear it, it’s not fashion, it is something else.”

Fashion Designer Alber Elbaz at Lanvin

When Fashion Designer Alber Elbaz joined Lanvin, it was a dormant brand. But in the 14 years of his association with the brand, Elbaz did the unthinkable. He transformed the image of the company and multiplied its sales exponentially. One might wonder what led to such a big jump. 

Fashion Designer Alber Elbaz used 7 strategies to transform Lanvin from a relatively unheard brand into a fashion powerhouse. Below are the key highlights:

Lavish Collaborations 

Elbaz worked very hard to polish Lanvin’s image. He collaborated with Acne and introduced his brand to the H&M line in 2010. This was a huge break for the brand. It catalyzed sales and pushed Lanvin to the forefront of the fashion world. 

Crafted Friendly Clothes

Fashion Designer Alber Elbaz challenged feminine stereotypes. In an industry where slenderness was prized, he played with designs to make dresses more comfortable and contemporary. His dresses always reiterate his belief that fashion should be wearable.

Designs For All Shapes

Fashion Designer Alber Elbaz chose not to restrict his dresses to the young and slim. He designed beautiful attire that could be worn by people of all shapes and sizes. His designs revealed zips and stitches, giving the dresses a unique character. 

Redefined Party Attire

In 2012, Meryl Steep wore Lanvin when she received her Oscar for The Iron Lady. Many other renowned actresses, such as Tilda Swinton, popularized Lanvin on the red carpet. The reason for Fashion Designer Alber Elbaz’s soaring popularity was his ability to redefine party dresses from overtly sexy to sensual.  

Building Dream Stores

One of the most crucial elements in building the image of a brand is its store. Fashion Designer Alber Elbaz designed all the Lanvin stores personally, managing its window displays and arranging the dummies. He also created a customized list of songs and fitted lights that made these stores dream-like. 

Recruiting Non Models

In his fashion shows, Elbaz recruited common people with no background in modeling. This was a unique initiative that baffled the fashion world. He firmly believed that Lanvin was a brand for everyone, and he wanted his campaigns to resonate this belief. 

Played With Accessories

One of the many factors that made fashion designer Alber Elbaz famous was his love for accessories. Lanvin’s accessories were always in the news for their unique style and beauty. The jeweled necklaces and beautiful purses he crafted were a favorite in the fashion world.

End of an Era

In his exquisite career as a fashion designer, Alber Elbaz won several awards and elevated Lanvin’s brand image. He is the proud recipient of CFDA’s 2005 International Award, and was listed as Time’s 100 Most Influential People in 2007. 
However, despite all his success, he frequently did not see eye to eye with the owner of Lanvin, Madame Wang. This rift took a drastic turn when Elbaz left Lanvin after 14 years. On his journey, he transformed Lanvin from a sleeping beauty into a fashion success story. Fashinza pays tribute to this fashion tycoon, who died young in 2021 due to Covid-19.