Fashion, Memory & the Politics of Heritage: a forthcoming collaboration between MAFS Students & Foundation Azzedine Alaia
For the course ‘Fashion, Memory & the Politics of Heritage’, MAFS Students are working as a final project on a research publication that will be developed in collaboration with the Foundation Azzedine AlaĂŻa. This final publication will explore the creation of heritage in fashion, focusing on one of the most important auctions on fashion – La CrĂ©ation en LibertĂ©. Univers de Paul et Denise Paul Poiret – organised by the auction house Piasa Paris with a special exhibition at the Azzedine AlaĂŻa headquarters in 2005 (10-11 May). Organised by the expert Françoise Auguet, the auction presented a collection of Paul Poiret’s pieces owned and worn by Denise Poiret, wife of the couturier and her children. This auction not only became one of the most discussed events in the history of fashion auctions but it also allowed international museums like the Costume Institute at The Metropolitan Museum of New York to build their own collections and exhibitions. Azzedine AlaĂŻa was a central figure in this auction, not only because he hosted the event/exhibition of the collection and helped raise awareness about the importance of the collection but also acquiring some pieces from Denise’s Poiret collection.In February, students had the unique chance to visit the historical archives of the Foundation and are now working on four different themes for the forthcoming publication. Stay tuned for more info on this project!
