DUBAI: The past year has not been easy for Lebanese couturier Elie Saab, despite his status as one of the world’s most popular designers. With events postponed – from red carpet premieres to unconventional weddings – a glamorous couture gown almost needed 2020. Then, in August, Lebanese designer Beirut ‘s restaurant and home wreaked havoc during the Beirut explosion, which resulted in more than 200 deaths and left hundreds of thousands homeless.
“I feel that COVID-19 is one thing, and the explosion is another,” Saab told Arab News in a rare interview. “I think what the people of Lebanon have suffered since 4 August onwards is far worse than the war. It has been a very difficult time for all the people of Lebanon. I don’t know if the Lebanese sometimes forgot about COVID-19 only coming out of the terrible accident of the 4th, ”he said.
Prior to the pandemic, Elie Saab made up to 12 collections a year.
It appeared before the disease spread, the couture house was operating at a rapid pace, making up to 12 gatherings per year. “People were running in all directions. No one was satisfied, everyone wanted more. The benefits of COVID-19, for wanting a better term, are that people have regained their conscience and returned to their normal, simple life, ”he said, finding a cash line in the situation. .
To keep up with the demands of its client, Saab turned to the world of e-commerce. “Through the COVID-19 pandemic, going online was the only way to deal with our messages,” he said. “Our shops around the world were closed for over five months. To establish a point of contact between us and our customers, going online was the only way to do it. ”
The Lebanese designer Beirut’s vending machine and his home were badly damaged during the Beirut bombing.
Despite the controversy, Saab’s proven track record and philosophy is to be commended.
Couturier Elie Saab Maison recently added a set of furniture, lights, rugs and home decor, to his portfolio. Despite limitations posed by the coronavirus pandemic, the designer opened the line’s first store in Milan to a grand ceremony.
Elie Saab also released a collection of 28-piece watches.
“Elie Saab Maison is a mix of the simple and the luxury,” he explained. “At the same time, you will find a simple cup or one made entirely of bronze worked in a different way. There are details that show Elie Saab’s touch in every piece, ”he said.
He also recently canceled a 28-hour collection as well as a children’s line.
“Children’s collection is more focused on department stores and multi-brand children’s stores,” he says. “I wanted the royal costumes to remain the same as the dresses we make, but I wanted them to be quieter. ”