Alaïa, the Tunisian fashion aficionado, discovered his passion for the industry by immersing himself in the pages of Vogue during his youth. Despite fibbing about his age, he managed to enroll in the École des Beaux-Arts in Tunis, where he honed his skills as a sculptor. Transitioning into the world of fashion, he initially worked as a dressmaker before relocating to Paris in 1957. Commencing his professional journey at Christian Dior as a tailleur, he later ventured to collaborate with Guy Laroche for two seasons and subsequently Thierry Mugler. In the late 1970s, Alaïa inaugurated his inaugural atelier within his Rue de Bellechasse residence. This studio served as the creative hub where he fashioned garments for an exclusive clientele, including prominent figures such as Marie-Hélène de Rothschild, Louise de Vilmorin, and Greta Garbo.