Internal war at the Azzedine Alaïa foundation.
The prosecution announced on Wednesday that an investigation was opened for "abuse of weakness", after a complaint lodged in August by Christophe Von Weyhe, the former companion of the star couturier of the 1980s.
According to the prosecution, these investigations, started on September 1 and entrusted to the Brigade for the repression of astute delinquency (BRDA), must determine whether Christophe Von Weyhe has been dispossessed of the foundation responsible for the legacy of Azzedine Alaïa, stylist Tunisian died in 2017, very recognized in the world of fashion.
Thus, Christophe von Weyhe, 84, believes that his degraded health was used against him so that a governance not in accordance with the wishes of the couturier is placed at the head of the Azzedine Alaïa foundation, directed by the famous Italian gallery owner Carla Sozzani, reports his lawyer, Caroline Toby.
A governance conflict
At the time of the stylist's death in November 2017, “Carla Sozzani will take up more and more space at the expense of Christophe von Weyhe, then very weak, by making him sign documents removing all rights to the foundation, ceding shares in society or organize donations to the foundation, ”explained Master Toby.
Christophe von Weyhe's niece and attorney, Susanne von Weyhe, co-signed the complaint filed in August.
Contacted, Carla Sozzani's entourage told AFP that she was absolutely not aware of the current procedure and therefore that she was not in a position to comment on it.
Known for her timeless dresses sculpting the female body, Azzedine Alaïa was an admired figure in the fashion world.
The Franco-Tunisian designer made a name for himself in the 1980s by inventing the bodysuit, the tight black boxer shorts, the zipped back skirt, which helped define the silhouette of the time.
In 1989, Azzedine Alaïa created the flag toga worn by the singer Jessye Norman for the Bicentenary of the French Revolution parade.
In the early 1990s, he made an impression by signing a collaboration with Tati, playing on the pink gingham pattern of the low-cost brand.
Preserving your work and heritage
Allergic to promotion, this discreet little man, invariably dressed in a Chinese suit, had the luxury of doing without advertising and presented his parades according to his own schedule, away from the frenzy of Fashion weeks.
He designed his clothes in three dimensions, using little drawing and preferring to create the dresses directly on the body of women.
In 2007, Azzedine Alaïa decided to set up an association in her name with the German painter Christophe von Weyhe, her historical companion, as well as with the renowned Italian gallery owner Carla Sozzani, her very close friend, in order to preserve her work and its heritage.
This association will be transformed into the Azzedine Alaïa Foundation.
It is recognized as being of public utility at the end of February 2020. Carla Sozzani chairs it, while Christophe von Weyhe, is its vice-president, according to the foundation's website.