Couture is a marriage of beautiful, high-end fabrics and detailed craft. It’s kind of a magic aimed at celebrating a woman’s complex beauty. And when it comes to delving inside this incredible phenomenon discreetly, a hot-favorite designer credited with making women icons of timeless style is the Lebanese-Italian red-carpet heartthrob Tony Ward.

In an exclusive interview with Arab News, we sat down with him to find out what prompted him to become a designer, what he likes the most about his job and much more.

Ward’s passion for fashion arose while he was growing up. He was constantly surrounded by the effervescent world of fashion thanks to his father who was Beirut’s most brilliant tailor at the time. “I was lured by the most beautiful silks and the perfectly cut suits which made my dad extremely famous. Even to this day, he is regarded like that. His makings truly are flawless. He gave me my true sense of detail,” he says.

Even though Ward’s father’s fashion heritage influenced him immensely, he was willing to go one step ahead and join a prestigious fashion academy. And he finally went on to study at L’Ecole de la Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne and graduated from the institute in 1993. Then, he worked with big names from the industry — Claude Montana at Lanvin, Gianfranco Ferre at Christian Dior and Karl Lagerfeld at Chloe. And based on his personal experiences, he admits that there are some techniques and craftsmanship that cannot but be learned at specialized schools and applied at the Masters Ateliers. “I consider the experience I gained from my time spent at Lanvin and Dior to be very important and very defining in my overall career, where I learned how to create a timeless Haute Couture Collection in the highest Parisian standards the world raves about,” he says.

In Ward’s inspiration lies the secret to his exquisite couture dresses that draw everybody’s attention. It all comes from his readings, his keen interest in art, contemporary architecture and films. “The inspirational connotations derived from these help me envision various sculptural forms, create innovative techniques and play with the boundaries of light and transparency to create elegant and regal, refined silhouettes,” he says. “I pay great attention to detail; however, the inside of the dress is as important to me as the outside. Besides, my great motto when I design a collection is “Less is more.”

Ward sources fabrics from Italy a lot. And it’s quite understandable why. As he puts it clearly, “They have the best techniques for haute couture fabrics. We have our custom-made gazars produced there, as well as hand painted brocades and one-of-a-kind organza fabrics.”

According to him, the sheer demanding nature of couture lies in the quality of the fabrics, the time spent on each dress and of course the incredible exclusivity whereas the prêt-a-porter is readymade. “A couture garment is a precious product that’s handmade and perfected in the finest details. It’s made to measure the client. Also I allow myself more originality for my couture collections as each dress is one of a kind,” he says.

The other thing for which Ward is such a big name to reckon with is his accurate knowledge of Middle Eastern women’s profound taste for fashion. It’s intricately reflected in his gorgeous couture dresses. “Middle Eastern and Khaleeji women are generally very sophisticated, fashionable and elegant. It’s not surprising they’re often called the most “beautiful women” in the world. We’re very proud of it,” he admits. “I’m constantly challenged to create innovative designs tailored to this market, where women are just fascinating and their sense of fashion an inspiration. Their style is a perfect mix between Orient and Occident, which makes it all the more interesting.”

When it comes to who Ward considers his muses, he proudly expresses joy that they are his kids. “I just adore their modern approach to life. In a way, they are game changers for me,” he says.

With growing popularity as it’s obvious, the Tony Ward team is busy developing a new accessory line. “I’m definitely seeking to spread my wings in this area. Also we are in serious talks to include and be part of Singapore Fashion Week,” he says. “Right now, we are participating in Paris Fashion week for couture and ready to wear, New York for the ready to wear, Moscow for the couture, and Milan for the bridal wear collection. We also participated in the Dubai Fashion Week last season and it was a great success.”

Being sought-after globally for his romantic dresses that high-profile celebrities often choose to wear on special occasions, Ward’s love for what he does is profoundly apparent. “I love that I’m able to design collections that are worn by women who want to feel exclusive and precious. I love it that I can create that for them and help enhance their beauty,” he says.

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