HOT COUTURE
L E B A N E S E F A S H I O N C O N Q U E R S T H E R E D C A R P E T
L E B A N E S E F A S H I O N C O N Q U E R S T H E R E D C A R P E T
Senior Thesis Design Project | 2013 | GMU
For my senior thesis, we were instructed to design, write, and hand-bind our own book. I am of Lebanese descent, so I wished to write a book about Lebanese culture and its impact on the western world. What are Lebanese people famous for other than their delicious cuisine? Fashion. Specifically, haute couture. Lebanese fashion designers have conquered the Hollywood red carpet during this new millennium, and their designs are continuing to grow in popularity all over the globe. Despite on-and-off regional conflicts, including a civil war, which lasted from 1975 until 1990, Lebanese fashion designers broke through the struggles of instability in the country. In this book, I focused on popular Lebanese fashion designers and how living in Lebanon influenced their work. The designers I highlighted are: Elie Saab, Zuhair Murad, Georges Hobeika, Georges Chakra, and Reem Acra.
These five designers all have one thing in common: their main source of inspiration, Beirut. This city, amid its political struggles, has always been a garden of outdoor cafes, exquisite architecture, and vibrant nightlife. The Lebanese culture is greatly influenced by the country’s French connection and Beirut’s own tradition as the most liberal city in the Arab world. These designers studied fashion abroad, most commonly in Paris, but always acquired a sense of style and design from their upbringing in Beirut. After many years of showcasing their designs in Lebanon, Italy, and Paris, France, the demand from celebrities and royalty to be dressed by Lebanese fashion designers was skyrocketing. By presenting these beautiful works of art on celebrities, as well as royalty, it is anticipated that the public acknowledges all of the effort and creativity that these designers put their hearts and souls into. Because the French controlled Lebanon for a portion of the early 20th century, this relation supported the expansion of the designers with great ease. I have great confidence that in the future, more people will be models for the wonderfully gifted side of the Middle East, emanating a positive impression to the rest of the world.
For my senior thesis, we were instructed to design, write, and hand-bind our own book. I am of Lebanese descent, so I wished to write a book about Lebanese culture and its impact on the western world. What are Lebanese people famous for other than their delicious cuisine? Fashion. Specifically, haute couture. Lebanese fashion designers have conquered the Hollywood red carpet during this new millennium, and their designs are continuing to grow in popularity all over the globe. Despite on-and-off regional conflicts, including a civil war, which lasted from 1975 until 1990, Lebanese fashion designers broke through the struggles of instability in the country. In this book, I focused on popular Lebanese fashion designers and how living in Lebanon influenced their work. The designers I highlighted are: Elie Saab, Zuhair Murad, Georges Hobeika, Georges Chakra, and Reem Acra.
These five designers all have one thing in common: their main source of inspiration, Beirut. This city, amid its political struggles, has always been a garden of outdoor cafes, exquisite architecture, and vibrant nightlife. The Lebanese culture is greatly influenced by the country’s French connection and Beirut’s own tradition as the most liberal city in the Arab world. These designers studied fashion abroad, most commonly in Paris, but always acquired a sense of style and design from their upbringing in Beirut. After many years of showcasing their designs in Lebanon, Italy, and Paris, France, the demand from celebrities and royalty to be dressed by Lebanese fashion designers was skyrocketing. By presenting these beautiful works of art on celebrities, as well as royalty, it is anticipated that the public acknowledges all of the effort and creativity that these designers put their hearts and souls into. Because the French controlled Lebanon for a portion of the early 20th century, this relation supported the expansion of the designers with great ease. I have great confidence that in the future, more people will be models for the wonderfully gifted side of the Middle East, emanating a positive impression to the rest of the world.
