Founding his eponymous fashion brand in 1982, Elie Saab had been interested in fashion and design since his childhood. The Lebanese fashion designer began his label with a collection of bridal couture, later adding a ready-to-wear line in 1998. In the same year, the brand expanded to encompass accessories, fragrance and cosmetics. Elie Saab is inspired and influenced by his home city of Beirut, which is where his first boutique was opened. This influence can be seen in Saab’s striking designs which are amplified by embellishment. Demonstrating his impact in the fashion industry, Elie Saab was invited to become a member of the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture in Paris, and to this day, the brand remains one of very few officially ordained haute couture labels in the world.
Designing clothes for women, Elie Saab produces haute couture, bridal wear, ready-to-wear, eyewear, accessories and fragrance. The label is celebrated for its glamorous and dramatic evening-wear, which has been a red carpet favourite of celebrities from Priyanka Chopra to Angelina Jolie. Intricate and elaborate detailing is consistent throughout Elie Saab collections, with stunning embellishments, lace elements and exquisite embroidery a signature of the brand. Feminine silhouettes are another staple of the brand, using elegant shapes to highlight the female form while making a statement with accentuated shoulders and powerful lines. Elie Saab fuses romantic elements of fluid silks, flowing shapes and beautiful detailing with an unconventional edge, seen in theatrical detailing throughout. Always opulent and impressive, from elegant gowns to sleek jumpsuits, Elie Saab designs have a distinctive, fairytale character.
With boutiques across the world, from London to Beirut to New York, Elie Saab collections can also be found online through Harrods and Farfetch.