As soon as news of Alber Elbaz’s first visit to the Middle East spread, Dubai was abuzz with excitement and anticipation. The Lanvin artistic director was accompanied by the brand’s CEO, Michèle Huiban, on a three-day trip to celebrate the launch of a capsule collection designed especially for the region.
The revered French house (which commemorated its 125th anniversary last year) went all out to mark Elbaz’s first trip to the Middle East; members of the royal family and VVIPs were invited to a private runway presentation to view the exclusive collection along with 34 looks from the brand’s Fall 2015 collection.
The celebrations culminated in a tasteful garden party in the Arabian Courtyard of the One&Only Royal Mirage, which was attended by the region’s industry players and socialites, including Dina Karam of UAE Trading; Style.com/Arabia’s VOICES contributors Nathalie Trad and “Desert Mannequin” Anum Bashir; Mohammed Al Habtoor; and Style.com/Arabia – DDFC Fashion Prize Selection Committee member Patrick Chalhoub. The guests chatted with Elbaz and enjoyed the tunes of a live band and a DJ in the candle-filled garden. The designer wanted guests to feel as if they were invited to a grandmother’s garden, stating, “We didn’t come with caviar, we came with dreams.”
—Stephanie Khouy
