Moroccan-born fashion designer Alber Elbaz has passed away in Paris at the age of 59. Known for his revival of the Lavin fashion house, Elbaz's career also included stints at Guy Laroche and Yves Saint Laurent. He occasionally collaborated with brands such as Tod's, and in 2019 launched AZ Factory.

AZ Factory aimed to fuse technology with fashion and bring luxury to a wider audience at more accessible prices. At the start of this year, the brand made its debut on luxury platforms Farfetch and NET-A-PORTER. The launch included talks with Elbaz and a digital “world tour” of the AZ Factory to allow consumers to explore the brand in 3D.

A statement has been released by Richemont, the Swiss-based luxury conglomerate that backed AZ Factory.

Its chairman Johann Rupert said: “It was with shock and enormous sadness that I heard of Alber’s sudden passing. Alber had a richly deserved reputation as one of the industry’s brightest and most beloved figures.

“I was always taken by his intelligence, sensitivity, generosity and unbridled creativity. He was a man of exceptional warmth and talent, and his singular vision, sense of beauty and empathy leave an indelible impression.

“It was a great privilege watching Alber in his last endeavour as he worked to realise his dreams of ‘smart fashion that cares’. His inclusive vision of fashion made women feel beautiful and comfortable by blending traditional craftsmanship with technology – highly innovative projects which sought to redefine the industry.

“Alber will be greatly missed by all of us who had the good fortune to know him or work with him. On behalf of all of my colleagues at Richemont and AZ Factory, I wish to extend our sincerest condolences to his family and friends.

“On a personal note I would like to add that I have lost not only a colleague but a beloved friend. Rest in peace Alber.”

Alber Elbaz (Portrait credit: A.KOO)