Yigal Azrouël

Yigal Azrouël is an Israeli fashion designer. He was born in Israel of French-Moroccan descent and currently lives in the United States.

The Israeli-born designer is the youngest of eight children, with five older sisters. And that strong feminine childhood presence has influenced Azrouel to design for women.

In 1998, Yigal Azrouël launched his first collection in New York. The following year, he began his participation with 7th on 6th/NY Fashion Week. In August 2000, Yigal Azrouël opened a full service showroom and production facility. As of 2007, this Garment District location produces 90% of Yigal Azrouël products.

In February 2001, Azrouël's first website for innovative design was launched.

In February 2003, Azrouël opened his first freestanding boutique in Manhattan's Meatpacking District, located on West 14th Street, designed by Dror Benshetrit. His boutique was among the first of the neighborhood's retail ventures. The aesthetic and architecture of his boutique have been featured in many publications, and his boutique has been the location for two of Azrouël's Spring fashion shows.

In July 2004, Azrouël was inducted into the CFDA. In October 2004 Azrouël showed his Spring/Summer 2005 collection at the Ritz Paris for his first international showing.

In June 2006, the collection was picked up by Milan's Studio Zeta and wholesale international distribution boomed.

In 2009, at New York's Fashion Week 2009, Yigal Azrouel fired his front-of-house publicist, People Revo-lution's Kelly Cutrone, for inviting call girl Ashley Alexandra Dupre to sit in the front row at his show.