It is a behind-the-scenes look of everything that happens behind the finished collection presented to the public. A pure narrative of research, ideation, creation, and realization. A careful and intimate gaze at Pieter Mulier’s entire creative process. A private vision of aspects never revealed before. At the center of the narrative is the latest Alaïa collection, Autumn Spring 25, presented at the Guggenheim Museum in New York last September. A celebration of the Maison’s unique historical moment, an unprecedented artistic exchange. A strong connection between Alaïa and the city of New York. The beauty being pursued is simple, modern, direct, and pure. The freedom of body and spirit. An homage to centuries-old tradition and a tribute to the future.
The project stems from the unique collaboration between Mulier and Seklaoui, a relationship that goes beyond the professional sphere and instead unfolds in their shared obsession with the idea of raw, unfiltered, direct beauty. Their aesthetics are immediate, straightforward, and real. Anthony Seklaoui’s photographic style is both sensitive and documentary-like, attuned to fashion as well as the desire to tell a story. And it is precisely through his unfiltered shots that the complete dedication and exceptional savoir-faire behind every garment are revealed.
“This book is a mapping of the feelings culminating in a show. It records all the hands, minds, and crafts coming together to create the secret chemistry of a collection.”
Like a true archival photo reportage, the book narrates and documents step by step the entire journey leading to the final creation of a fashion collection. Each image represents the purest vision of every aspect depicted. It not only becomes a visual testimony of teamwork and expertise but also delves into the intensity behind it — the vulnerability of the individual, the raw elements that enable the pursuit of the longed-for and celebrated perfection. The primary intent of this narrative is to give well-deserved importance to all the overlooked or lesser-known moments. Each chapter explores a different aspect of the collection’s construction. Seklaoui’s photographic lens progressively moves inward, drawing closer to materials, textures, details, and the skin of the models, ultimately focusing on the true core of the story: the person around whom a precise narrative is built.
The true promise of this book is the translation of such an ephemeral moment — the public presentation of a collection — into a timeless reality, just as Maison Alaïa defines itself. Rigorous and sculpted minimalism. Whispered and weightless sensuality. Solid and defined structures. Fresh and effective fluidity.
Alaïa by Seklaoui is published by MÖREL. For further information visit morelbooks.com or maison-alaïa.com.
“Anthony has a remarkable eye, one that can extract beauty from the chaos. Alaïa by Seklaoui is a tribute to our friendship, but most of all to all those who contribute to the magic of a collection coming to life. The ateliers, the teams, the production, the girls walking the show—all those who are part of the Alaïa circle.”
