Abed Mahfouz ed:27Apr 25/6/09 08:37 Page 56
He still designs a popular and beautiful fashion destinations. “The other locations are fashion show finale, when everyone is saying
wedding line to this day, but the aura of haute usually in special events or as a guest of honor. congratulations and I am congratulating my
couture pervades all his work. “I realized that I Of course everywhere I go I try and leave a mark team and everyone who helped. This moment
was good at it, and haute couture attracts the but Rome has a special place in my heart, it em- after the show is priceless.”
high-end clientele that helped me make a good braced me when I started back in 2002, which Finding fulfillment in the hardest part of the
name for myself. I mean, who doesn’t like glam?” was when I did my first international fashion job – truly, the definition of career success. Of
Who doesn’t, indeed? Certainly not his clientele, show. The fashion week in Rome, which just cel- course, though, creative minds require constant
an enviable bunch of ladies if there ever were ebrated its thirteenth year, is a multi-faceted care and feeding, and for this family man, it’s
any. “Mainly our customers are princesses and event held in conjunction with one of Italy’s not found in nightclubs or at parties. “I like
sheikhas from the Gulf areas as well as European largest fashion trade shows, and is known for fos- going to the gym and staying healthy, sports let
aristocracy and some Lebanese high-end tering young up-and-coming talent as well as a lot of the stress out. I ski as well. And I love
clients,” he says, but money is not the most es- local Italian design favorites from the fashion ex- going to the beach, that’s why people love
sential thing they have in common. perts in Rome and Milan. Lebanon: we have everything. I cook for my kids
His designs are sought after by women Abed Mahfouz the brand has only ex- sometimes and I enjoy gardening, it’s very re-
who are chic and elegant, and who also have panded since those days, and he as the designer laxing. I love traveling with my kids (I have a
unique taste; one imagines they are drawn to is an expert at the delicate art of balancing the 24 year old daughter, my son is 30) since we
his similarly unique designs. “Every woman is demands of the company with the needs of the rarely spend time together in Beirut. So when
special in her own way,” he says, and the di- creative side, a problem faced by all of those we travel we try to cherish every moment. My
versity of styles in his collection allows his who wear the twin hats of businessman and son is obsessed with Italy, his dream is to live
clients to express their uniqueness. Many of artist. “I am both; I am grateful and lucky that I there; I enjoy Rome every time after my fashion
his collections have a distinct Middle Eastern work with a dedicated and loving team. We are show. I spend a couple of days just walking
flavor that resonates with his core clients, but more like a small family. My son has been tak- around and enjoying the views. But personally
as the Middle East continues to rise in promi- ing care of the management for years and or- I can’t live outside Lebanon; I love Beirut and
nence around the rest of the world, his designs ganizing shows everywhere. Sometimes it gets the Lebanese way of life.”
are drawing new eyes as well. Mr. Mahfouz too hard for me to get creative and manage at His mentions of his son emphasize the im-
sees the connection as natural: “Of course I am the same time, so I try and rely on my son and pact that Hassane Mahfouz is already having on
Lebanese and proud of my heritage and you team in hard times.” And while hard times have the company; in addition to coordinating a great
can always see that in my collections,” he says. been discussed ad nauseum in the world of lux- deal of the current business, he is now planning
“I always try to mix the best of both worlds. ury lately, it has not shaken the company (or the their next move that will include a prêt-a-porter
Plus women are always following new trends man’s) resolve to simply do what he does best. “I line and stores all around the world. As for
no matter what flavor they have. You see Amer- never compare myself to anyone. I think every Abed Mahfouz himself, he says, “I will keep
ican women wearing geisha costumes and designer has his own ways. We compete by working hard for my clients and fans on creat-
Japanese women wearing jeans. That’s the being different, that’s what keeps our creativity ing beautiful haute couture collections. We’ll
beauty of fashion – it goes around the globe going. After the worldwide crisis our clients be- have to wait and see how far Hassane Mahfouz
easily.” As he prepares a new line, he does sig- came less enthusiastic about spending big is going to take us in the next couple of years,”
nificant research and travel to textile and trend amounts of cash on dresses, but we become flex- he adds, something about which he is clearly
exhibitions around the world. “It’s a never end- ible with their needs and we work harder on the optimistic. “He has ideas about stores in every
ing race that I enjoy. I am always on the hunt collections to meet their demand.” Typically, major capital in the world, plus a home line col-
for new ideas. My vision has no limit,” he says. working harder means an early breakfast, a lection as well as many other things.” As the
Though his roots are in Lebanon, he is very newspaper, and then long days in the office and company has evolved from a young boy’s fasci-
much a part of the larger global fashion commu- atelier. “When in fashion show mode sometimes nation with the delicate handwork of his family
nity. “I present my collections in Rome during I stay late, I stay with my team when they are members, to a global couture company helping
the AltaRoma Alta Moda fashion week; that’s our working on the collection. I love the fact that we to set a new standard for Middle Eastern de-
main seasonal location,” he says, though his create and work hard and sometimes have a lot signers, “many other things” can only be ex-
name pops up frequently attached to other high- of stressful times, but the reward comes after the pected to be many wonderful things. square6
56 100 Thousand Club
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