Azzedine Alaïa moved from Tunisia to Paris in the 1950s, eventually developing a private clientele before establishing his own fashion house. Between 1964 and 1966, he set up his first workshop at 60 rue de Bellechasse, where he lived, worked, and dressed some of Paris's most prominent women. His intimate approach to fashion would remain fundamental to the maison throughout his career.

Rather than following seasonal fashion schedules, Alaïa became famous for presenting collections only when he believed they were ready. His close understanding of anatomy informed technically complex dresses, knitwear, leatherwork, and tailoring that celebrated rather than disguised the body. This fiercely independent philosophy made Alaïa one of the most respected designers of the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries.

Key Milestones:
• 1964: Azzedine Alaïa establishes his fashion house in Paris.
• 1964–1966: Alaïa establishes his workshop at 60 rue de Bellechasse, serving a private Parisian clientele.
• 1980s: Alaïa rises to international prominence through body-conscious dresses, sculptural tailoring, leatherwork, and innovative knitwear.
• 2007: Richemont acquires the maison, supporting its long-term development while preserving Alaïa's creative independence.
• 2017: Azzedine Alaïa dies in Paris, leaving behind one of contemporary fashion's most influential design legacies.
• 2021: Pieter Mulier presents his first collection for Alaïa, beginning the maison's next major creative chapter.

Alaïa continues demonstrating how technical mastery, independence, sensuality, and respect for the body can create fashion that transcends seasonal trends.