Max Azria, founder of his eponymous label and resurrector of the Herve Leger brand, died this week , leaving behind a fashion footprint that will be remembered far and wide. The Tunisian designer died in the United States on Monday, aged 70, after a battle with lung cancer. The Sfax-born creative, who grew up in France and later moved to the US, was the founder of BCBG Max Azria, a label established in 1989 that revolutionised the industry by offering runway looks at a more attainable price. <strong>Scroll through the gallery above for a glimpse at Azria's runway shows throughout the years.</strong> "We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Max Azria. Max was a true visionary, who defined the contemporary fashion category," said Azria's company, confirming his passing in a statement. "BCBG stands for Bon Chic, Bon Genre or 'good style, good attitude', which reflects the legacy of the man himself, one we are committed to preserving in his honour." Azria, who has dressed celebrities such as Angelina Jolie and Halle Berry, presented his first catwalk collection at New York Fashion Week in 1996, and later introduced two lines to his growing portfolio: Max Azria Atelier and Max Azria. "When Max started BCBG in 1989 and I joined him in 1992, there was no contemporary market; he basically invented it based on the price point and type of clothes," the designer's wife and BCBG's chief creative officer, Lubov Azria, told <em>WWD </em>in a recent interview. Azria also revived French label Herve Leger in 2007, after buying the brand, renowned for its body-con bandage dresses, in the late '90s. The designer left his namesake label in 2016, and BCBG Max Azria filed for bankruptcy in 2017 and was taken over by Marquee Brands. The star is survived by his wife and six children. Following news of his passing, many stars have posted tribute to Azria, including <em>Will and Grace </em>actress Debra Messing. "He was the first designer to ever dress me when I came to LA and he made a custom dress for the night before my wedding," she posted on Instagram. "Such a generous, gracious man."
