PRIDE OF LEBANON

The son of a wood merchant, he launched his eponymous fashion label at just 18 years of age amid the fear and chaos of war-torn Beirut. Now Elie Saab is the king of Middle Eastern couture. He talks to Jakki Phillips about the road to success and the importance of giving back to his community

I’m starting to get the distinct impression that everyone in Beirut has met Elie Saab apart from me. My interview with the Lebanese fashion designer was delayed three days ago, so I’ve been killing time exploring the city and meeting an interesting assortment of characters along the way. Strangely, they all claim to know Saab. The group of artists at a gallery opening, the bespectacled architect in a backstreet bookstore, the strikingly beautiful jewellery boutique owner and even my hotel’s chef—they all talk of Saab with reverence yet familiarity, like a favourite uncle. Switching smoothly between English, Arabic and French—the three languages spoken by many of the population—they tell me he’s a great man, humble, inspirational and a symbol of hope for their country. They also ask me to pass…

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Tatler Hong Kong (Digital) - 1 Issue, February 2018

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