As Parisian fashion brand AZ Factory and its parent company Richemont take on a brand new collaborative model, LVMH Prize emerging talent winner Thebe Magugu will be the inaugural designer to create the upcoming assortment. After the loss of the label’s founding father, Israeli fashion designer Alber Elbaz in April of last year, 44 designers came together in tribute to the late revolutionary in a collaborative runway experience titled Love Brings Love.
Opening the door to its latest venture, AZ Factory will now be taking on guest designers to partner with the brand on each collection, dubbing them “amigos.” In support of rising talent, AZ Factory and Richemont hope to bolster the platforms and recognition of their guest collaborators through the project. Offering their guests an atelier, designer studio, marketing tools, and innovative communication vehicles, the support this collaborative program will provide ensures Elbaz’ legacy lives on.
First up on the docket is the South African designer Thebe Magugu. Winner of the 2019 LMVH Prize, his eponymous label, founded in 2016 in Johannesburg, churns out sumptuous garments, rooted in tradition, juxtaposed with sleek and modern silhouettes. Often created with a message in mind, his thoughtful designs speak to history, culture, and politics.
With the tribute show getting its very own exhibition, opening Sunday in Paris’ Palais Galliera, the partnership comes at the perfect time. Having participated in the Love Brings Love runway presentation alongside fashion juggernauts like Maria Grazia Chiuri of Christian Dior, Donatella Versace, and Giorgio Armani, Magugu’s contribution did more than hold its own amongst giants, making him an ideal fit as the first in the rotation of guest designers.
Magugu’s first project with AZ Factory will be unveiled in late March or early April.
Chief executive officer of Fashion & Accessories Maisons at Compagnie Financiere Richemont, Philippe Fortunato told WWD, “It’s not about collaborations. It’s about real creative partners who believe in the founder’s vision and spirit.”
