Arab designers rule the runway at Paris's Haute Couture Week – in pictures

From Rabih Kayrouz's anniversary show to Nicolas Jebran's debut, here are the collections you need to see

The Azzi & Osta Haute Couture Week autumn / winter 2019-20 presentation. Getty Images

Rami Al Ali's fall / winter 2019 / 20 Haute Couture presentation. Courtesy Rami Al Ali

Rami Al Ali's fall / winter 2019 / 20 Haute Couture presentation. Courtesy Rami Al Ali

Rami Al Ali's fall / winter 2019 / 20 Haute Couture presentation. Courtesy Rami Al Ali

Nicolas Jebran's autumn / winter 2019 / 2020 Haute Couture collection. Getty Images

Nicolas Jebran's autumn / winter 2019 / 2020 Haute Couture collection. Getty Images

Nicolas Jebran's autumn / winter 2019 / 2020 Haute Couture collection. Getty Images

Nicolas Jebran's autumn / winter 2019 / 2020 Haute Couture collection. Getty Images

Nicolas Jebran's autumn / winter 2019 / 2020 Haute Couture collection. Getty Images

Lebanese fashion designer Rabih Kayrouz on stage at Maison Rabih Kayrouz's autumn / winter 2019 / 2020 Haute Couture show. AFP

Maison Rabih Kayrouz's autumn / winter 2019 / 2020 Haute Couture collection. AFP

Maison Rabih Kayrouz's autumn / winter 2019 / 2020 Haute Couture collection. AFP

Maison Rabih Kayrouz's autumn / winter 2019 / 2020 Haute Couture collection. AFP

Maison Rabih Kayrouz's autumn / winter 2019 / 2020 Haute Couture collection. AFP

Lebanese designer Georges Hobeika's autumn / winter 2019 / 2020 haute couture collection. EPA

Lebanese designer Georges Hobeika's autumn / winter 2019 / 2020 haute couture collection. EPA

Backstage before Georges Hobeika's autumn / winter 2019 / 2020 haute couture show. EPA

Backstage at Georges Hobeika's Haute Couture Week autumn / winter 2019-20 presentation. Getty Images

The Azzi & Osta Haute Couture Week autumn / winter 2019-20 presentation. Getty Images

A detail at the Azzi & Osta Haute Couture Week autumn / winter 2019-20 presentation. Getty Images

Backstage at the Azzi & Osta Haute Couture Week autumn / winter 2019-20 presentation. Getty Images

Lebanese designer Georges Hobeika's autumn / winter 2019 / 2020 haute couture collection. EPA

Lebanese designer Georges Hobeika's autumn / winter 2019 / 2020 haute couture collection. EPA

Lebanese designer Georges Hobeika's autumn / winter 2019 / 2020 haute couture collection. EPA

Lebanese designer Georges Hobeika's autumn / winter 2019 / 2020 haute couture collection. EPA

This region has always enjoyed dressing up, so it can be no surprise that so many Arab names have been invited to join Paris Haute Couture Week.

Scroll through the gallery above to see the runway highlights.

Here is the best of the regional designers that have showed so far this week.

Maison Rabih Kayrouz

Rabih Kayrouz celebrated his 20th anniversary with a upbeat, optimistic collection. Filled with eye-popping colours and walked by many of the Lebanese designer's friends, Kayrouz's trademark architectural approach was put aside in favour of more relaxed and wearable pieces.

Nicolas Jebran

Lebanon's Jebran marked his Couture Week debut with a technically skilled collection that showed off his remarkable cutting skills. Already a hit with A-list celebrities, this beautiful opening salvo will no doubt attract a whole new audience of devotees.

George Hobeika

Lebanese designer Hobeika offered a truly dreamy show, filled with all the romantic froth we have come to expect. A charming blizzard of sequins, silk and feathers, this was very much aimed at the woman who dresses for dinner.

Azzi & Osta

A relatively new arrival on the haute couture circuit, the Lebanese duo of Azzi & Osta nonetheless delivered an assured show brimming with sharp detailing. Known for dresses with well executed cut-away panels, this show instead offered something more elegant and more refined, hinting at a new direction. Thankfully, the skilled construction was still much in evidence, but now within a more formal silhouette.

Rami Al Ali

A experienced hand at Haute Couture week, Al Ali once again delivered a concise yet broad-reaching collection. With a deep understanding of what his clients really want, the Syrian designer moved from classical goddess gowns to ultra modern cocktail dresses by way of full skirts and boat neck collars. Little wonder, therefore, that so many women turn to the house when they want to ramp up the glam.

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