Alber Elbaz, creative director of luxury fashion house Lanvin from 2001 until 2015, died from Covid-19 on Saturday 25 April 2021, in Paris, at the age of 59. This short interview piece, Alber Elbaz: After I left Lanvin, which was filmed five years ago, takes a look at the philosophy behind his creative genius.

"Not talking but posting. Not Watching but filming. Not listening but taping," says Elbaz in an impassioned interpretation of our current age. Although the legendary fashion designer appreciated the application and ubiquity of technology, he believed nothing could beat the magic of an in-person conversation or a physical act of kindness.

Even before his appointment at Lanvin—and even before his time as a creative designer for Yves Saint Laurent—he had a drive to find humanity in fashion. This sensitive understanding of the importance of clothing garnered him a role call of fans that included Rihanna and Michelle Obama. It was also Lanvin that Beyoncé chose to wear when she confirmed her pregnancy on the red carpet at the VMAs in 2011.

"Alber had a richly deserved reputation as one of the industry’s brightest and most beloved figures," read a tribute from Richemont, the luxury holding company that backed Elbaz. "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."

In a dog-eat-dog industry that sometimes leaves no room for empathy, Elbaz chose to see competition as inspiration. Earlier this year, Elbaz announced the launch of a new, size-inclusive label called AZ Fashion. Its mission statement is to "design beautiful, practical, and solutions-driven fashion that works for everyone." This is very much in the spirit of Elbaz's philosophy; using clothes as a tool to empower, encourage, and enlighten the world.