Elie Saab facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Elie Saab
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Saab at his Spring 2012 Fashion Show
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| Born | 4 July 1964 |
| Occupation | Fashion designer |
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Elie Saab (1998–present) |
| Spouse(s) | Claudine Saab |
Elie Saab (Arabic: ايلي صعب) is a famous fashion designer from Lebanon. He was born on July 4, 1964.
He started his fashion business in the early 1980s. He became known for his beautiful bridal clothes. These often featured expensive fabrics, lace, shiny gemstones, Swarovski crystals, pearls, and detailed embroidery.
Elie Saab's main design studio is in Lebanon. He also has workshops in Milan and Paris. His special custom-made clothes (called couture) are sold in Paris, London, and Beirut. His ready-to-wear clothes are available in many stores around the world.
He is the first designer from Lebanon to join the important fashion group, Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture. This group sets the rules for high fashion. In 2016, Saab was a judge on Project Runway: Middle East. In 2019, Kate Middleton wore one of his gowns to the Royal Ascot event. This was the first time he dressed a member of the British royal family.
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Early Life of Elie Saab
Elie Saab is the oldest of five children. He grew up in Beirut, Lebanon. His father was a wood merchant.
Elie started sewing when he was a young boy. By age eight, he was very interested in fashion. He would cut patterns from newspapers. He used his mother's clothes for fabric. His sisters would pretend to be models for him.
Elie Saab's Fashion Career
Starting in Fashion
In 1981, Saab went to Paris to study fashion. But he soon returned to Beirut. In 1982, at just 18 years old, he opened his own design studio. He had a team of 15 people working with him.
At first, his studio focused on bridal wear. He made wedding dresses and gowns. He used rich fabrics, lace, and detailed embroidery. Pearls, crystals, and silk threads were also part of his designs. His reputation grew quickly in Beirut. Soon, important women in society wanted to wear his creations.
In 1997, Saab made history. He was the first non-Italian designer to join the National Chamber of Italian Fashion. That same year, he showed his first collection outside Lebanon in Rome.
In 1998, he launched his ready-to-wear clothing line in Milan. He also started an accessories line. He held a fashion show in Monaco, with Princess Stéphanie of Monaco attending. In 1999, one of his dresses, covered in emeralds and diamonds, was reportedly sold for $2.4 million.
Becoming Famous Worldwide
Elie Saab became very well known in the United States in 2002. This happened when Halle Berry wore one of his gowns to the Oscars. She was the first Lebanese designer to dress an Oscar winner.
In May 2003, a top French fashion group invited him to join. This group is called the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture. He showed his first special custom-made collection (haute couture) in Paris in July 2003.
In 2003, he worked with Pronovias to create a bridal line. It was called Elie by Elie Saab. In 2006, he officially became a member of the Chambre Syndicale. His first ready-to-wear collection in Paris was for Spring-Summer 2006.
Saab also designed outfits for the 2007 The Beyoncé Experience tour. In 2010, he dressed 102 celebrities for different events. This was a big jump from 40 in 2009. That year, he also signed a deal to create fragrances and cosmetics. In 2011, Madame Tussauds made a wax statue of Kate Winslet. It wore the Elie Saab dress she wore at the 63rd Primetime Emmy Awards. Also in 2011, Elie Saab launched his first perfume, Le Parfum.
In 2019, The Duchess of Cambridge wore an Elie Saab gown. This was for the Royal Ascot event. It was the first time a British royal wore one of his designs.
Recent Work and Partnerships
In 2012, Elie Saab worked with universities to start a bachelor's degree in fashion design. By 2013, his brand had stores in many cities. These included Beirut, Dubai, Paris, London, and New York City. His son, Elie Saab Jr, became the brand director in 2013.
Saab was a judge on Project Runway: Middle East in 2016. Between 2015 and 2017, the Elie Saab company opened new stores. These were in Paris, London, and Manhattan. The Manhattan store, which opened in October 2016, was his first in the United States. As of March 2017, his special custom-made collections are in Paris, London, and Beirut. His ready-to-wear clothes are sold in 160 stores and his own boutiques.
Elie Saab X Emaar
Elie Saab also partnered with a real estate company called Emaar. They created luxurious homes in Dubai. These homes are part of the Grand Bleu Tower at Emaar Beachfront. The apartments and penthouses have interiors designed by Elie Saab. They offer amazing views of the Arabian Sea and Dubai Marina.
Beirut Explosion, 2020
On August 4, 2020, a large explosion happened in Beirut. Elie Saab's main office and headquarters were badly damaged. His home nearby was completely destroyed. Despite this, he and his team worked hard to finish their next collection. In April 2021, Elie Saab started a special project. He decided to donate part of his sales to UNICEF. This money helps vulnerable girls in Lebanon get an education and support.
Famous People Who Wear Elie Saab
Many famous people and royals have worn Elie Saab's designs. These include Queen Rania of Jordan, Victoria, Crown Princess of Sweden, and Princess Madeleine of Sweden. Princess Maria-Olympia of Greece and Stéphanie, Hereditary Grand Duchess of Luxembourg have also worn his clothes.
In 1999, Queen Rania of Jordan wore Elie Saab for her special crowning ceremony. In 2012, Countess Stéphanie wore a beautiful Elie Saab dress for her wedding. Princess Claire of Luxembourg also wore a Saab-designed dress for her wedding. The First Lady of France, Brigitte Macron, wore an Elie Saab outfit during a visit to China.
Halle Berry wore a stunning burgundy gown by Saab to the Oscars in 2002. She won Best Actress that night. Many magazines called it "one of the Best Oscar dresses of all time." Berry wore another Saab dress to the Oscars in 2003.
Sandra Bullock wore Elie Saab at the 85th Academy Awards in 2013. She also wore his design at the movie premiere of Ocean's 8.
In 2018, Rose Leslie wore a beautiful Elie Saab wedding dress. It had floral embroidery. She wore it when she married her Game of Thrones co-star Kit Harington.
Jennifer Lopez has worn Elie Saab many times. She wore his designs to the 87th Academy Awards and the 2019 Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards. She also wore them to Global Citizen's Vax Live concert and Elie Saab's Paris Haute Couture Show.
Other famous clients include Nicole Kidman, Eva Green, Beyoncé, Aishwarya Rai, Anna Kendrick, Christina Aguilera, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Angelina Jolie, Celine Dion, Dame Helen Mirren, Emilia Clarke, Priyanka Chopra, Sonam Kapoor, Kendall Jenner, Taylor Swift, and Ons Jabeur.
Elie Saab's Personal Life
Elie Saab and his wife, Claudine, live in Lebanon with their three sons.
Filmography
- 2016: Project Runway: Middle East - judge
See also
In Spanish: Elie Saab para niños
- List of Maronites
