One year after Azzedine Alaïa tragically passed away, the Tunisia-born designer’s legacy is still shaping generations to come, with the opening of La Librairie, a bookstore located within the late couturier’s house in Paris.
Situated in the historic neighbourhood of Le Marais, the bookstore is the first of many transformations Alaïa’s home is set to see as it transitions into a full-blown Alaïa Museum. Housed on its shelves are a vast selection of books on fashion, photography and art from the revered designer’s personal collection, all carefully curated by his long-time friend and co-founder of the Azzedine Alaïa Association (soon to be renamed Azzedine Alaïa Foundation), Carla Sozzani.
“Everything is unique, one-off or very rare, difficult to find,” she told WWD. “It makes the place a destination and also gives a sense to the bookshop because Azzedine was a collector… It’s nice to have a bookshop where young people can come and pick up something inexpensive, and where collectors can come and find something special.”
From tables by famed French designer Jean Prouvé and marble tops by American artist Kris Ruhs to chandeliers by Serge Mouille – the bookstore will also display mementos from Alaïa’s travels,
The bookstore, which opened its doors just last week, is set to be joined by a café in January, which will also be housed in the building, transforming a part of the house that was once a small boutique ran by his twin sister.
