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LEBANESE AMERICAN UNIVERSITY GRADUATING FASHION DESIGNERS 2017 1 - 9 FOREWORD 10 - 85 GRADUATING DESIGNERS 86 - 87 ELIE SAAB ATELIER & AWARDS 88 - 91 SELECTED WORKSHOPS 92 - 93 LECTURES & SYMPOSIA 94 - 95 INTERNSHIPS & JURORS 96 - 97 LIVE PROJECT 99 CREDITS It gives me great pleasure to present to you the culmination of the hard work undertaken by the first cohort of our Bachelor of Arts in Fashion Design in collaboration with ELIE SAAB and London College of Fash- ion in this exciting catalogue. Fashion is a discipline that can be used to drive change, and our program is designed to turn our graduates into actu- al trendsetters. They are taught to become designers with a unique vision centered on their own approaches to fashion, but with emphasis on socially responsible, human-centered, and sustainable practice. Indeed, our collaborative program provides an education not only in de- sign, but also in the business plans that allow these designs to be manu- factured. Our goal, which I am thrilled to say we have reached, is to pre- pare young talents to enter the competitive marketplace, with a focus on inventiveness. Our ultimate goal, which our graduates will lead, is to draw attention to the fashion industry, as it has the ability to promote economic growth, create jobs and boost exports, as well as retain Lebanese talent within the country. Modeled on the best fashion design programs offered at leading univer- sities worldwide, we offer the region’s students an education of the high- est possible international standards without having to travel too far from home. We are honored to have partnered with two internationally recognized fashion industry leaders. Their expertise has provided our students with an even stronger academic degree in fashion design in line with interna- tional practices. The combination of the openness of a university and the luxuriousness of a brand like ELIE SAAB is one of the many things that make this course unique, as does the strong ethos of LCF for academic achievement that mirrors that of LAU. Our faculty strive continuously to motivate their students to create their own identity and present their own vision—an issue that is greatly stimu- lated by LAU’s diverse academic offerings. As such, fashion stands at the core of our liberal arts tradition. What we envisioned four years ago has materialized today. As you turn the pages you will discover that our stu- dents make the strong statement that more than just the clothes you wear, fashion is academic, ethical, political, social and art. Joseph G. Jabbra | Ph.D. President Lebanese American University 1 I have always dreamt of giving back to my country, sharing my experience and knowledge with the overflowing pool of young talent that is just wait- ing to burst into life. But for the last 15 years, the difficulty has been to set up a structured platform where students can study, learn and perfect the right skills they need to attain degrees of international standards. And as I write this, I am filled with pride and joy as I come to realize that this dream of mine has finally become a reality. Thanks to President Jab- bra, with whom I share the same belief and passion, this program was able to see the light. It is without a doubt his limitless energy and wholeheart- ed investment of self that have helped bring LAU and London College of Fashion together. This program, which only seems to be growing in poten- tial, sees more and more students enrolling, and may be the place where we see the talents of tomorrow’s global fashion industry flourish. So, dear students, after four years you have studied what needed to be stud- ied. You have learned what you like, what you do best, and what you believe you could excel at. But this is just the beginning. I remember the first time you all walked into my atelier and asked a million questions. Well, you will have a million more the moment you walk out into the real world. Never forget that the fashion industry is a tough, ruthless, competitive and complex world. And in order to find your place, you must learn to chal- lenge yourselves. Truly understand what fulfils you, but also what the mar- ket needs. Try to plan ahead, find your own personal signatures and what differentiates you from the rest. Do not let yourselves get stuck in what you already know. Your degree is a precious tool that will allow you to see beyond just fashion design. Take the time to explore the many other career paths that support and complete it. And do see the unlimited possibilities that are now at your fingertips … because every one of you can and will find a place in this in- dustry, as long as you plan it, believe in it, work hard for it and stay true to yourselves. Elie Saab 3 As we congratulate the First graduates from our trailblazing B.A. program in Fashion Design, I would like to thank the Lebanese American Univer- sity and Elie Saab for this unique collaboration which has enabled us to co-create a relevant and innovative curriculum that is embedded in the cultural landscape of Beirut and the Middle East. The program has en- couraged these fearless young designers to challenge the status quo and find complex ways to respond to a rapidly changing world. Here at London College of Fashion, University of the Arts London, our values are embedded in our ethos of Better Lives, which describes how fashion, as a discipline, can be utilised to drive change, build a sustainable future and improve the way we live. We have championed these principles for over 10 years, taking on initiatives and collaborations that reflect our deeply held view that fashion can be a catalyst for change. Our partnership with the Lebanese American University and Elie Saab embodies this ethos and proves how much can be gained through collaboration. The high stan- dard of the work shown within these pages is not only an inspiration for us here in London, but also for fashion in Lebanon and the Middle East. I would like to congratulate everyone who has helped these talented stu- dents develop their creative voice. And to the First cohort of graduates— you should be very proud of what you have accomplished. We look forward to following your journey into the fashion industry, which you will help to challenge, provoke and shape. Professor Frances Corner OBE Head of London College of Fashion Pro Vice-Chancellor University of the Arts London 5 First, I would like to thank LAU President Joseph G. Jabbra and Dr. Elie Haddad, Dean of SArD, for their constant support in the development of the Fashion Design program. I would like to equally thank Mr. Elie Saab and London College of Fashion for their valuable mentorship of the program. It has been a great journey witnessing the 17 young and talented women who joined LAU’s fashion program in 2013 turn into emerging designers today. While raising the creative bar for the Beirut fashion sector, the breadth of work shown in this catalogue positions the fashion program at LAU as a leading program in the region. The collections have been eval- uated by the internationally acclaimed Lebanese fashion designer Elie Saab and Douglas MacLennan, who has been teaching fashion design for the last four decades in the UK while directing international develop- ment projects. Since its inception, under the supervision of Jason Steel, a vibrant team of educators have trained the first generation of LAU fashion designers in acquiring a critical understanding of the social, economic and cultural factors influencing fashion. With an emphasis on self-discovery and em- ploying creative problem-solving strategies, the students were encouraged to create complex, sustainable and responsible fashion for a fast-evolving market. The program established a number of collaborative projects with industry and with local artisans in the production of garments. Our first runway show is taking place at the Abroyan factory, an aban- doned clothing factory layered with historical and social significance. With its large halls and high ceilings, this magical space is the perfect venue for understanding some of the important values underpinning fashion in our culture, and an ideal location for the first 17 designers to showcase their collections. I hope the 17 emerging designers will be a source of inspiration to the younger designers at LAU and beyond by forging new paths in fashion practices. I wish them all the success in pursuing their careers as innovative design- ers, and special thanks to all of the faculty and critics whose valuable input in the design process and production of this event was imperative. Yasmine Nachabe Taan | Ph.D. Chair | Department of Art & Design School of Architecture & Design [email protected] 7 The refugee crisis, the fluid political situation, representations of wom- en as wallpaper, gender, the struggle for identity: these are but a few of the complex narratives explored by designers on the program. We do not necessarily create fashion, rather we explore what it means to be human through the prism of fashion practice. Pioneers are not forged by fol- lowing the prevailing trends but by believing in the truth of their unique perspectives. Through this, we have menswear, sportswear, tailoring and complex textile sampling within the program—we also laugh a lot. Whilst I admire the fashion sector in beautiful Beirut, I cannot in good conscience allow young designers to blindly follow this aesthetic. Regen- eration happens when the status quo is challenged.