Remembering fashion designer Alber Elbaz, 'the legend of French elegance'

In this file photo taken in 2005, Casablanca-born designer Alber Elbaz salutes at the end of his Spring/Summer 2006 show for Lanvin in Paris. Photo: AFP

Alber Elbaz, the fashion designer whose playful designs transformed the storied French house Lanvin into an industry darling before his shock ouster in 2015, has died aged 59 after a battle with Covid-19, the Richemont luxury group said Sunday (April 25).

"It was with shock and enormous sadness that I heard of Alber's sudden passing," Richemont chairman Johann Rupert said in a statement.