Azzedine Alaïa Foundation — Attraction in Paris

Racist and snobby!!

I went to see AZZEDINE ALAIA, THIERRY MUGLER show this morning, with a ticket I reserved online in advance. When I arrived, there was a group waiting to buy tickets so it took quite some time. While waiting, there is a white couple arrived and cut the line to ask the gentleman who sells the tickets to scan their QR code, because they also bought tickets online and it took 5 seconds to scan their tickets. I witnessed people arrived few minutes after me has gone in, so I tried to have the gentleman to scan my ticket too. He then asked me to wait. I feel hurt and wondering if it’s because my Asian skin or if I didn’t dress like a rich man.

The worst thing happened when I finished the visit and got out of the fondation. Three people run out and calling me «sir », including the director of the fondation. They asked me if I have already been to the fondation. I said yes, because I have seen another show long time ago ( there wasn’t the bookstore neither the restaurant at that time at least one or two years ). Then they said, « We just want to let you know that there are cameras everywhere in the fondation. So all the actions inside will be filmed. » I thought they have filmed me and would asked me to signe « portrait licensing consent », because they might use the images of me in the future. I told them « it’s fine with me ». Yet they didn’t ask me to sign anything but told me again with a very strong tone « if you ever come back, please be reminded that there are cameras everywhere. » I said ok then they left. I thought it over, it’s too strange these three people just did to me. Did I do anything wrong ?! I went in to the fondation again, found one of the three. She said someone stole a catalog during the previous exhibition, and from the image of their camera, they believed it’s me!! I was so humiliated and angry and asked to see the video. She said I don’t have the right to see it. I then asked her to go seeing the video again and then come back to tell me if it’s me. She said that it was 6 months ago and the video is no longer exist. So I don’t have their image to prove it’s not me. 6 months ago I was in Taiwan!!! And last time I visited the fondation was in 2018 !

The lady who warned me about camera everywhere is their director!

Do they print out the picture of the thief and put it next to their computer, and tell the same thing to every Asian man visiting the fondation? Do they have the right to do so??

They accused people without any evidence. Not all Asian look alike!! And they don’t care how people care about their honor.

They didn’t really apologize properly after my explanation. Maybe they still believe it was me who took their catalogue. But will they stop doing this to other Asian men?

I then left with humiliation because I have other appointments not to be missed, and with a lot of anger that grows even more afterwards.

The exhibition is good though. But the experience of my visit is so bad that I’m still trembling due to the anger while writing this.

I feel really really bad to have been to this place. And I’m sure many years later, I will still remember I was...

Visiting the Alaïa Foundation in Paris feels like stepping into a temple of timeless beauty — a place where creativity, craftsmanship, and pure emotion intertwine. Nestled quietly in the Marais, the space radiates the spirit of Azzedine Alaïa — intimate, soulful, and profoundly human.

Every corner whispers his story — from the meticulous stitching on a garment to the quiet reverence of the atelier. You don’t just see fashion here; you feel the devotion behind it. The foundation preserves not just his masterpieces but also his philosophy — that true elegance is born from integrity, freedom, and love for the craft.

The exhibitions are curated with such tenderness and respect that one can sense Alaïa’s presence — his discipline, generosity, and unwavering eye for beauty. The team at the foundation carries his legacy with genuine warmth and grace, welcoming visitors like guests to a friend’s creative home rather than a formal museum.

It’s rare to encounter a space so intimate yet universal, where artistry and humanity coexist so harmoniously. The Alaïa Foundation is not only a tribute to a visionary designer but a living reminder that fashion, at its best, can be art — and art, at its deepest,...

Monsieur Alaia was not only the innovator in fashion but also had the vision to preserve the legacy and cultural values of fashion. He had collected numerous pieces from many masters in the past and had the opportunity to take over a vast collection from Balenciaga when the house shuttered. He realized the importance to continue the legacy and also to pass it towards the next generations. The foundation is located where he used to base and work, and it is the best place to understand his philosophy and works. Merci Beaucoup, monsieur Alaia, I have always been a big fan and will always be one for you and your devotion to our style...