Who Is Azzedine Alaia's New Creative Director

Over three years following the passing of acclaimed designer Azzedine Alaïa, the maison announced today the appointment of Pieter Mulier as Creative Director. He will assume his role immediately.

Mulier, like many modern designers, studied architecture and design at Institut Saint-Luc in Brussels. He's noted as the "right-hand man" of Raf Simons. Dior and I viewers experienced the partnership between Simons and Mulier, as the atelier was considered to be closely tied to Simons and his work. The two began working together in 2002 at Simons's self-titled label, followed by Jil Sander in 2006, Dior in 2012, and most recently Calvin Klein.

“Always ahead of his time and open to all arts and cultures, Azzedine Alaïa’s powerful vision has served as an inspiration, as he always sought to give the necessary time to innovative and enduring creation,” said Pieter Mulier in a release. “It is with this tremendous sense of admiration and responsibility that I will seek to carry forward his legacy of celebrating femininity and placing women at the heart of creation.”

Considering Mulier's architectural background, we expect his design aesthetic to be clean, structured, and similar to the work he's produced alongside Simons. Mulier will be encountered by change and bring about change transitioning from Antwerp to Paris and leave his mark within the well-established and loved Alaïa. We anticipate his first collection this fall for Spring/Summer 22 collections.