Ali Younes couture livens up feminine elegance

Designing riveting dresses is his passion that ultimately makes him triumphant at wooing A-list celebs whenever they are about to make their red carpet appearances. For such abundantly glam occasions his name always effortlessly pops up as one of the hot favorites to go to. Well, he is none other than Ali Younes, the sensational designer from Lebanon.
In an exclusive interview with Arab News, we sat down with him to find about his overall fashion journey, his next strategy for the brand and much more.

What triggered your interest in fashion at first?
My mom was a dedicated seamstress, and I absolutely loved watching her work; the details she carefully put together, how she chose the fabric, and how bits and pieces would ultimately come together as an absolute work of art. I was so taken by her work that at the age of 9, I set out to make a dress for my sister. I found fabric at home, got a pair of scissors, and started cutting and sewing … the result was a silver and gold shimmering mermaid evening gown that was arguably quite a la mode for a nine year old!

What does it entail for you?
Fashion is a lifestyle where abstracts and beauty and concepts all come alive on a moving human canvas. And there is always room for more creation, more innovation, and more beauty. It’s purely a love for life.

What is it that makes your brand so appealing?
My approach to design is simple sophistication. My pieces are not overdone. Moreover, they do not blindly follow shifting trends and pop movements yet they represent without fault feminine, elegant fashion.

Which fashion school did you go to in order to study the know-how of fashion?
I graduated from ESMOD in Ain El Mraisseh, Beirut, Lebanon. It is the leading fashion school worldwide.

Where do your inspirations come from?
It’s simply my love for life and living to the fullest. Along the way you will find so many things your inspiration might be coming from: the streets, the people, the landscapes, and the music. I personally think that a designer should be in a constant state of observation and receptivity as inspiration abounds wherever he or she walks.

What’s the most demanding part of your work while designing haute couture collections?
Haute couture is all about details and process from drafting to designing to beading and finishing. It’s a long yet interconnected cycle that has to be delicately and thoroughly maintained to ensure a piece is flawless haute couture in the true sense of the word.

In what way is haute couture more of a delicate thing to excel at?
Make no mistake about it. Haute couture is not mainstream at all. It’s not mass production. It’s about the details, the craftsmanship and the manual labor … no machinery is used, elevating the artistry and value of every single piece is the only priority.

Do you visualize a woman’s figure before you start?
While the design is indeed for women, it’s not designed for a specific figure or set of measurements. However, it’s important to note that it’s ideally intended for a delicate feminine figure … nothing over the top, nothing too pronounced or accentuated.

Who is that perfect woman in your view for your magnificently designed dresses?
Any woman who is in touch with her own personality, her sense of identity … she is someone who has an appreciation for her figure and for the role of fashion in adding to a woman’s presence. She is a glamorous, enchanting, beautiful woman.

What fabrics do you use in the making?
It depends on the theme of the collection and the related research that goes into the preparation, part of which is the selection of fabrics. But as a personal preference, I enjoy working with delicate fabrics like lace, tulle, chiffon, and such flowing fabrics. And we do all the beadings in our workshop.

Who are your role models and muses you often look up to and if so, then why?
The first name that comes to mind is Monica Bellucci; she is the perfect woman with her curvy figure, the Mediterranean look, her undeniable attractiveness. Another would be Sophia Lauren who is arguably the epitome of femininity, glamor beyond understanding, sheer beauty and presence. You know we end up with a union with fashion, not just an accessory.

What’s your latest collection all about and what inspired it?
We are actually preparing for the Beirut Fashion week with an Autumn Winter collection. While we can’t go much into details, it’s definitely tailored for the Red Carpet with touches of mystique and almost Goth. It was inspired more or less by the desire to retain the identity of red carpet haute couture but with a completely different conceptualization and execution.

Which celebs have worn your designed dresses so far?
So far, the list includes Jennifer Lopez, Eva Longoria, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Amanda Holden, Jordan Sparks, Jeannie Mai and others.

To what extent does celebrity endorsement matter to you?
Celebrity endorsement plays a validating and reassuring role as internationally renowned women who are seen as fashion icons and female role models choose to show themselves to the world in selected pieces. Evidently, the correct celebrity endorsement is what we refer to because fashion designers must also be selective and certain about what the celebrity represents because she is, in a way, a spokesperson and ambassador for the brand whenever she chooses to make an appearance.

How sophisticated are women in the Middle East when it comes to defining fashion individually?
Women in the Middle East are quite fashion savvy and up to date. Throughout the region, famous female figures as well as the rest of the women of their respective communities make fashion choices every day, choosing what they like from the ocean of brands and labels available to them, and contributing to shaping the next season’s choice of fabrics, colors and cuts.

What influence do Middle Eastern designers like you have on the fashion fraternity globally today?
Humbly speaking, I cannot quite say that I’ve experienced a personal influence on the global fashion fraternity. It is not because my work is not up to par but rather, in a time of global connection and social media omnipresence, it has become extremely challenging to put your name out there and let it be heard above all. Everyone is literally and digitally in the spotlight compared to a couple of decades ago when fashion weeks and shows and labels were not as many and were not as instantly and continuously publicized as they are these days.

What’s next on the table for the brand? Or what new things do you want to bring in?
We are happy to announce that we are soon opening in Beirut. Another exciting undertaking we are almost close to completing is the launch of our ready-to-wear line, including accessories like shoes, purses, headpieces, etc.

— [email protected]