Q&A – Elie Saab

Elie Saab, the Lebanese trailblazer of haute couture who broke into Hollywood and has put Lebanon on the global fashion map, sat down with Executive for an exclusive one-on-one. He spoke about the history and future of Beiruti style, the world of luxury and the balance between the business and creativity of being a designer. What does the role of designer mean to the everyday workings of the Elie Saab brand? My daily tasks as a fashion designer changed a long time ago. We started elaborating on the company brand as well as developing “Elie Saab” as a business. My daily routine transformed; it now includes a lot of travelling, developmental projects, as well as design matters. My daily life transcends that of a fashion designer. Do you see yourself first and foremost as a businessman or as a fashion designer? From the start I was a fashion designer and