Israeli fashion designer Alber Elbaz dies at 59

Israeli designer Alber Elbaz, best known for being at the helm of the French fashion house Lanvin for 14 years, has died at 59

PARIS -- Israeli designer Alber Elbaz, best known for spending 14 years at the helm of France's Lanvin fashion house, has died at 59, the luxury conglomerate Richemont said Sunday. A spokesperson for Richemont told CNN that Elbaz died Saturday from COVID-19. In a statement, Richemont's chairman Johann Rupert said “it was with shock and enormous sadness that I heard of Alber’s sudden passing. Alber had a richly deserved reputation as one of the industry’s brightest and most beloved figures. "I was always taken by his intelligence, sensitivity, generosity and unbridled creativity. He was a man of exceptional warmth and talent, and his singular vision, sense of beauty and empathy leave an indelible impression," Rupert said.