Everyone remembers their first designer piece. For some, it’s a dress that halts them mid-step, or a pair of shoes that catches the eye from afar. But more often than not, the journey starts with what hangs on the crook of an arm. It makes sense—an accessory is worth the investment for its practicality alone. It’s what you reach for every day, a constant companion through every hour.
Alaïa has finally arrived at Rustan’s Makati. For those who have long admired the Maison from a distance, these creations offer a beautiful place to begin. Truly, some things are worth the wait.
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A Legacy of Patience
Azzedine Alaïa was never in a hurry. He worked according to his own rhythm, designing clothes that celebrated the woman wearing them rather than simply announcing themselves from across the room. When he finally turned his attention to handbags, he brought the same intelligence and wit that defined his ready-to-wear. One of his earliest forays into the category was a playful collaboration with Louis Vuitton in the mid-eighties—a leopard-print tote complete with a matching set of cases for lipstick, makeup, and even a comb. Yet, he waited to create bags under his own name until the timing felt exactly right.
The Alaïa pieces that exist today carry that same sensibility. They’re carefully considered, from the way a handle curves to how a silhouette holds its shape. By the time you’re ready for that dress or that coat, your handbag has already taught you why you love the House.
Today, under the direction of Pieter Mulier, the collection has grown. Yet each piece still carries that original fingerprint. The only action left is for you to choose.
The Alaïa Winter Spring 26 collection is now available at Rustan’s Makati. For more details, visit maison-alaia.com/en-ph/.
Photos: ALAÏA
Frequently Asked Questions
Authentic Alaïa collections, including signature leather handbags and ready-to-wear garments, are officially available in the Philippines exclusively at the luxury department store Rustan’s Makati.
Rustan’s Makati currently showcases the Alaïa Winter Spring 2026 collection, which highlights the fashion house’s iconic structural silhouettes, leather accessories, and sculptural footwear designs under Pieter Mulier.
Handbags showcase Alaïa’s foundational design intelligence and sculptural precision in an everyday, practical format, making luxury accessories an enduring investment before expanding into the brand’s haute couture.
Pieter Mulier serves as the creative director of Alaïa, maintaining the late founder Azzedine Alaïa’s legacy by blending historical house codes with highly precise, contemporary silhouettes.
Azzedine Alaïa prioritized architectural construction, structural geometry, and a meticulous, unhurried design rhythm that completely celebrated the woman’s form rather than relying on overt branding elements.
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