The Lebanese fashion scene is very much alive. But the ever increasing number of Lebanese male fashion designers, following in the footsteps of Elie Saab, should not obscure the presence of talented Lebanese women designers. “Women can be successful too,” says Ella Zahlan who was recently nominated “The Number One Fashion Designer of the Mediterranean.” She believes that men and women designers are equal.
Born in Africa and raised in the Middle East, she has been exposed to a fusion of cultures, which introduced her to different life styles. She has been in the fashion business for the last two decades. She admits that fashion design is a passion as well as the love of her life.
Ella opened her first boutique in Beirut in 1996. She admits that she encountered many difficulties at the beginning of her career but she believed in her talents and thinks that patience is the most important factor to overcoming difficulties.
The key to her success lies in two words: Perfection and femininity. Her style from her very first fashion show in Cairo to her latest Ready-to-Wear Autumn-Winter Collection in Milan is imbued with femininity. “Femininity is a hidden feeling that you only can sense and not see... it is the impression embodied in a certain cut of a dress, or my own angle of seeing things, or for example the touch of a lady who would visit my house of fashion,” she says.
She favors tulle, chiffon and lace, fabrics which give a sense of femininity: “They fly around on the catwalk, they are fascinating to work with while draping or cutting and the final result is sensational. These fabrics enhance a woman’s appearance: They make her look thinner, elegant and bring out a dash of pizzazz each time she moves.” According to Ella every color has its own energy but black remains the classiest.
Ella believes that Dalida and Marilyn Monroe were symbols of femininity; presently, she sees Beyonce and Penelope Cruz as icons of femininity. Lately, her collections have been influenced by famous women such as the Italian-French singer Dalida and the Lebanese star Sabah: “I am a big fan of Dalida, and there are a lot of similarities between us in terms of a fusion of culture between oriental and occidental; as for Sabah, she is an idol, a legend that I cherish and wanted to honor because she has been a real friend and was wore my very first design. I wanted I wanted to thank her in my own way for our 20-year relationship and, most of all, because she believed in me.” Like many haute-couture designers, Ella Zahlan believes the future of fashion lies in exclusive yet accessible brands of Ready-to-Wear. There are too many clothes chains all around the world featuring the same items.
Ella Zahlan’s Ready-to-Wear Collection offers superior quality, and a look which is not ‘fast fashion’ but rather a timeless style. Many women are fed up with disposable fashion found in the same chains everywhere. They want to personalize their look and search for creative and bold designs. Both her Ready-to-Wear and Haute Couture Collections are characterized by beautiful fabrics, perfect finishing, the best embroidery as well as matching accessories. Her Ready-to-Wear collections are available in Egypt, Europe, Russia, the United States and the Gulf. She says, “My relationship with my clients in the Gulf is based on a solid friendship established over many years. As is well known, the Arab woman takes great care of herself. She is very demanding and chooses her fabrics very carefully. She also pays great attention to the richness of the embroidery. I have always aimed to create unique pieces which require research, energy and a lot of work.”
