Sybille Abillama and her husband Ziad are part of a new trend among dynamic designers who are redefining the meaning of preciousness and desirability.
In Beirut they have founded Atelier S/Z whose main concept is to recycle objects and transform them into things of great beauty: Instead of throwing away a used car alloy wheel, it is used to create a tray or a table,” explains Sybille.
The creative couple is challenging the notion of luxury by creating exclusive pieces from humble materials. These pieces are often multi-functional and eco-friendly.
A growing number of consumers, appalled by the excessive consumption and the desire to encrust everything with diamonds or Swarovski crystals, is turning away from such displays and refusing to pay the outrageous prices the displays cost.
Seasoned clients are now looking for designer objects, made with passion and love, objects which have a story to tell. Jaime Hayon, the renowned Spanish designer, likes the small defects, the signs of the human hand, found in hand-made objects, “the sophistication of defects.”
In a world which has never seen wealth displayed on such a scale, the notion of luxury has reached a point of no return. Luxury is now being rethought by designers all around the world who are concerned with making pieces from unexpected materials. Sybille Abillama has created an original, organic-shaped vase from black rubber.
Atelier S/Z showcases creativity, innovation and freshness. It produces one-off objects as well as limited editions which reflect the nomadic, fast-moving, environmentally-aware society we are living in. Abillama dubs her style “futurist” and says that her favorite designers are Zaha Hadid, the genial Iraqi-born architect, and the iconic French designer Philippe Starck.
One of the S/Z flagship creations is the “Y Not” teapot exhibited in Italy and currently displayed at the MIAO — International Museum of the Applied Arts This quirky object combines humor and craftsmanship. It is a piece of art and yet its price is reasonable
Sybille has a Fine Arts diploma from ALBA (Lebanese Academy of Fine Arts) and later went to Parsons School of Design in New York for a painting course. When she is not designing objects and furniture, she exhibits her paintings in Geneva, New York and Lebanon.
While she acknowledges that the biggest difficulty she faces in her business is promoting her items and designs, she is thankful for the way people react when they see them.
Few deny that it was easier before globalization, a time when there were fewer designers but on the other hand, globalization has created a larger market.
Moreover, an increasing number of clients worldwide, are looking for objects which recall the hand of the maker. The prevalence of over-consumption in a world of diminishing resources is triggering new consumer trends.
The value of an object is no longer dictated solely by its material. Small firms and studios such as Atelier S/Z have an edge when it comes to following trends and also possess a greater knowledge of the materials they work with.
They are also not interested in associating their products with celebrities, a strategy often used to boost sales. Buyers are more concerned in acquiring objects they can connect with, objects that talk, rather than choosing an object merely for its price tag. The value of an object is no longer dictated solely by its price: the passion and skills which went into fashioning it also contribute to its worth.