The peaks and valleys of history and geography, alongside a reverence of art, sculpture, and—above all—womankind, underpinned the Alaïa summer/fall 2025 runway presentation.
An original soundtrack deftly by composed by Gustave Rudman, titled Liefde, which translates to Love, filled the space with the towering sounds of soprano Fatma Saïd‘s Aatini al-Nay wa-Ghanni, layered with words by Lebanese-American writer, poet and visual artist Khalil Gibran. This ode to a myriad of cultures, people, and places was mirrored in artworks by Dutch sculptor Mark Manders, enhancing the sleek space and heavenly collection with shared textures of limitless imagination.
Sculptures by Mark Manders Mirror the Identity of Alaïa
Courtesy of Alaïa.
Courtesy of Alaïa.
“Manders’ work fascinates me—each of his sculptures seem itself a work either in progress, or marked by the passage of an imaginary time, reminiscent at once of many different cultures,” said Belgian fashion designer and Alaïa Creative Director Pieter Mulier.
“And that idea of a non-linearity—of space, and of time—was inspiring. The idea of codes of beauty outside of any era or geography, free of boundaries, is innately keyed to the philosophy of Alaïa, our identity.”
The Modern Alaïa Heroine Dons Art and Armor
Courtesy of Alaïa.
Courtesy of Alaïa.
Sparking a warm, nuanced conversation between societies, artists, and landscapes, Alaïa welcomes diverse perspectives and horizons into the forms and fabrics of its latest garments. It is with respect and remembrance that a new and beautifully blended collection is born.
“The idea of codes of beauty outside of any era or geography, free of boundaries, is innately keyed to the philosophy of Alaïa,”
Pieter Mulier
Each look struck an expressive chord and unfolded like a moving sculpture before our eyes, dancing along the body with meticulous draping and pleating. The modern Alaïa heroine is powerful and playful, and the clothing she dons is both art and armor. Elongated and gathered skirts—some with columns of yarn—poured out at the waist like cascading waterfalls. Each iteration swung to and fro with ballet-like poise, evoking grace and a dignified presence.
A Platform for the Resilience of Women
Courtesy of Alaïa.
Courtesy of Alaïa.
The sensuality of skin spoke out like poetry from beneath gossamer tops, which were boundless, enveloping the neck and head as angelic halos. Here, Alaïa’s portrait of femininity unfurled—veiling, disclosing, and painting a picture of undefined beauty.
The maison placed an awareness and championing of the female body, of every curve, at the center of its beguiling collection. Three-dimensional vests with ruffle-like structures reflected flora and fauna, as if in an embrace from Mother Nature herself. A serene palette of cream, grey, and nude, ebony, navy, and berry, hosted glints of yellow and turquoise.
“Your body is yours,” said Mulier. “The message is about singularity, individuality, the eternal strength and resilience of women, empowering them through their clothes. That always inspired Azzedine, and it always inspires me—the strength of beauty.”
Courtesy of Alaïa.
Courtesy of Alaïa.
