Lebanese designer Rami Kadi set to hold debut show at couture week

The Beirut-based womenswear label will showcase its spring/summer 2019 couture collection in Paris this month

Rami Kadi with pieces from his autumn/winter 2018 couture collection. Courtesy of Rami Kadi

Hot on the heels of news that Maison Rabih Kayrouz has been inducted into the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture, another Lebanese designer is set to make waves at this season's couture week.

Beirut-based designer – and emerging darling of the red carpet – Rami Kadi will host his eponymous label’s first show as part of the spring/summer 2019 haute couture calendar later this month. The womenswear couturier has previously hosted presentations in the French capital during the biannual fashion week, but this year will mark the unveiling of his first catwalk show.

Held in the Four Season Hotel George V on January 22, the runway display will showcase a collection inspired by "the free spirit and creativity" of US music festival Burning Man. "[Rami Kadi] will be offering everything he is known for," a spokesperson for the brand told The National.

In that vein, the front row can likely expect lashings of luminescent embellishments, mesmerizing colour combinations and artistic silhouettes, as per Kadi’s previous collections. His spring/aummer 2019 couture will be “modern, but with an Arabesque element,” the spokesperson added, creating “a sumptuous mirage of power-dressing”.

Kadi, who honed his craft at the renowned ESMOD school of fashion, launched his first namesake boutique in 2011, and has become a designer to the stars in recent seasons. The Lebanese-American couturier dressed Hollywood’s Rachel McAdams, Beyonce and Jennifer Lopez last year, as well as Bollywood icon Sonam Kapoor, each finding favour in the label’s fusion of romantic details and glamorous touches.

"I'm feeling super excited and humbled to be showing at couture week," Kadi told The National. "It's a very special moment."

Couture week will this season take place between January 21 and 24, with mainstay labels such as Chanel, Christian Dior and Givenchy on the schedule. Below, find your guide to Kadi's fellow designers of the region showcasing their collections at the upcoming Paris Couture Week.

Elie Saab

Famed for his ethereal gowns and opulent adornments, Lebanese designer Saab has dressed everyone from Halle Berry to Cate Blanchett, and can often be found on the red carpets of awards such as the Oscars and Golden Globes.

Georges Hobeika

The designer opened his first atelier in Lebanon in 1995, and has participated in couture week since 2001. With his shows often attracting a plethora of A-list models, Hobeika’s celebrity clientele also includes Amber Heard, Dakota Fanning and Aishwarya Rai.

Maison Rabih Kayrouz

This season holds particular meaning for Lebanese designer Rabih Kayrouz, who will present his first show since joining the exclusive and small group of labels officially granted haute couture status. The namesake label was founded by the designer in 2008, following stints training at Dior and Chanel, and is famed for its timelessly minimal yet modern silhouettes and vibrant use of colour, with designs worn by Celine Dion, Ciara and Jada Pinkett Smith.

Zuhair Murad

The Lebanese couturier, who held his first catwalk show in Rome in 1999, is one of the red carpet’s most beloved designers, dressing everyone from Marion Cotillard to Blake Lively. His collections are famed for their drama and intricate attention to detail, with this month’s show unlikely to be an exception.

______________

Read more:

Lebanese designer Rabih Kayrouz granted access to elite fashion club

First Vegan Fashion Week to be held in February 

________________