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Abed Mahfouz is a renowned fashion designer who began his job by helping his sister to design evening gowns in the 80s. He is from Lebanon and has continued designing for his brand, which he opened in 95. At the earlier times of his career, he showcased his creative designs in Beirut’s hotels, including Al Bustan and Phoenicia (Rahhal, 2017). His first international showcase was in Milan at the beginning of the 21st century. With his passion and dedication, Mahfouz charmed his way into Altaroma Fashion Week Rome and, as he claims, did the best shows of his life. Mahfouz claimed that he was convicted that the people valued him and, so he spent 15 years doing shows in Rome and developing a strong presence in the country. Afterward, he proceeded to Paris, where he worked for two years. He quit Altaroma and returned home to Beirut in 2015 (Rahhal, 2017). Being from the Gulf, Mahfouz ensured that he had his professional shop in Beirut, where he also worked with other Lebanese designers.
Collection
Mahfouz’s first collection was gowns for brides, which he showcased in his home county. The second collection which he released was evening gowns. Mahfouz’s third collection was also made up of dresses for brides and, he named the collection “The Dreamer” (Al Halima). He later released collections in 2004, which focused on releasing clothes for autumn/ winter and another one in 2008 (Hassen and Tremblay, 2019, Pg. 3). Additionally, his most successful work was 2010 ready to wear collection, which he showcased during the New York fashion week. Over the past few years, Mahfouz has continued designing beautiful pieces and adding them to his distinct collections. Some of the notable pieces from the collections include;
Figure One: One of the dresses from Mahfouz’s Haute Couture Collection
Figure One: One of the dresses from the ready to wear Collection
Figure: Dress from Mahfouz’s bridal collection
In his fashion house, Mahfouz’s collection has been grouped into the; Abed Mahfouz Haute Couture, Abed Mahfouz Prêt-à-Couture, Abed Mahfouz Prêt-à-Porter and the Al Halima line which is made up of wedding dressing. His collection shows not only his creativity but also his experience as a designer (Hassen and Tremblay, 2019, Pg. 4). The Haute Couture, which he made, was meant for individual clients and, he designed them to fit their specific body size. They are the highest quality gowns and, many people consider them as pieces of art, not just outfits. Mahfouz has also designed the Prêt-à-Porter and, made to fit measurements of a couple of models and, at times, mass-produced. As he explained, the Prêt-à-Porter collection was to consist of natural colors like pink, orange, among others (Hassen and Tremblay, 2019, Pg. 6). In 2018, he released the floral blossom collection with which he drew inspiration from his native home, Beirut, design as well as from Paris.
The beauty of his designs
Mahfouz has been praised for his ability to find harmony in style. He also can mix different spirits resulting in a balanced look that is worth buying. Look at Mahfouz’s designs it is evident that he tends to appreciate women’s form by using accenting silhouettes with he accompanied with draping. He also likes playing with design in a way that highlights the shoulders of the women that wear his dresses. The main inspiration for his collection is women’s beauty, and he tries to emphasize it (Costa, 2015, Pg. 1). His intended markets for his collection are the high-end buyers, which include royalties in the Gulf region, celebrities, and rich people. He has dressed international celebrities such as Selena Gomez and Olivia Palmero, among others (Costa, 2015, Pg. 1). In the same way, Mahfouz’s designs not only show glamour but also are sensual, which makes them admired by many women. He also uses unique cuts, especially for the bridal gowns, which differentiates them from others in the market.
Unique qualities
Mahfouz is exceptionally keen on the details, which, as he claims, have helped a lot during his rise in the international fashion industry. His impeccable leadership has allowed him to work with his tailors through the many projects that he has embarked on during his career (Costa, 2015, Pg. 1). His commitment to his team has enabled him to create a collaborative environment between his direction, marketing teams, and designers, which has propelled his success internationally.
Challenges Faced
Mahfouz has faced various challenges. For instance, his professional office got destroyed during the bombing that happened in Beirut in 2013 alongside his design and fashion pieces (Costa, 2015, Pg. 1). Additionally, the political instability in his country has affected sales in other countries especially for haute couture outfits. This affected his returns that year because he is currently based in Beirut. Mahfouz also faced fierce competition while he was working in Italy and France from well-established European designers.
In conclusion, Abed Mahfouz is a successful fashion designer who originates from Lebanon. He began his career by helping his sister to make evening gowns and later began designer. He has various collections which has showcased in not only Beirut but also Italy and Rome. Mahfouz produces high end clothing for women and celebrities. Unique qualities such as keenness to details and, good leadership that have played a big part in his rise to international fashion industry. Some of the challenges he faced include the stiff competition from European designers as well as the political instability of his home country where he is currently based.
References
Hassen, T.B. and Tremblay, D.G., 2019. Local rooting and creativity within the fashion industry in Beirut. EuroMed Journal of Business.
Costa, M.A.F.D., 2015. A Importância do Design de Moda na Preservação da Cultura e Tradição (Doctoral dissertation).
Rahhal, N., & Rahhal, N. (2017). Abed Mahfouz – Executive Magazine. Executive Magazine. Retrieved 2 May 2020, from https://www.executive-magazine.com/special-report/abed-mahfouz.