Oh, patents! Azzedine Alaïa (1935-2017) (1)

 Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

The Tunisian-born couturier, Azzedine Alaïa, established his fashion house in Paris, France, in 1964.  Since then, several iconic Azzedine Alaïa pieces have been granted US design patents. For example, the it-pièce (in English, hit piece) Le Papa bag, is a patented design. The US design patent USD979236S1, titled Shoulder bag, was granted on Feb. 8, 2023, to Angela Lauria, and assigned to Azzedine Alaïa SAS, in Paris, France. 

Le Papa bag honors the deceased founder, Azzedine Alaïa, and his eponymous fashion house, known to function more like a family. A family that is continuing his legacy. According to fashion lore, Azzedine Alaïa developed close working relationships with his models, including  Grace Jones, whose costumes he designed, in 1985, for the 14th James Bond movie, A View to Kill.  

Below, the patent Figure image 1.1, together with black and white marketed models of the treasured Le Papa piece. A piece produced in three different sizes and several different materials. A design that turns the "A", representing the house's name, Alaïa, upside down.

As a reminder, a US design patent covers the ornamental aspects of an inventive design, or how the design looks. In contrast, a US utility patent covers the functional aspects of an invention, or the way the invention works. Thus, this patent excludes all but the stunning looks of Alaïa's Papa bag.

References

A View to Kill (1985). James Bond movie, starring Roger Moore and James Bond and  Grace Jones as May Day and music by Duran Duran. (Original Trailer)

https://youtu.be/pxQS8iAlr9w

Bobard-Deliere, M. (2022). It-pièce : Le Papa d’Alaïa, le nouvel intemporel. Elle Magazine France.

https://www.elle.fr/Mode/Accessoires-de-Mode/It-piece-le-Papa-d-Alaia-le-nouvel-intemporel

Maison Alaïa (website)

https://www.maison-alaia.com/us

Thomas, M. (2022). Le Papa, nouveau sac emblématique de la maison Alaïa. Marie Claire Magazine France. 

https://www.marieclaire.fr/le-papa-nouveau-sac-emblematique-de-la-maison-alaia,1429533.asp