Emerging Fervour

I came across Joe Challita not too long ago and couldn’t help but do a write up on him and his creations. They’re just so beautiful!

A law graduate, Challita’s true passion is fashion and so in 2004 he gave it all up to pursue a career in fashion design. In 2007 he graduated from East Sydney College with a fashion degree and has been based in Beirut ever since (he was raised in Australia).

Through his Lebanese heritage and culture, Challita worked with beautiful fabrics to create his Vintage Nouveau style. And taking a chance to follow his Haute Couture dream, Challita appeared on Mission Fashion – a reality TV show based in Beirut with a mission to select a top model and top fashion designer. One thing led to another, and Challita received an invitation to train at the Elie Saab Fashion House in 2007. Challita has been in Beirut since, pursuing his dreams to dress the women of the world!

Check out these Challita Couture pieces

I came across the fabulous Krikor Jabotian through Tanya Traboulsi, who listed Krikor as one of her favourite fashion designers during an interview I had with her. Coming from Lebanon, I’ll jump at the chance to write about anything coming out of the Middle East and Krikor is just one of them.

Krikor Jabotian is a 24 year old Lebanese designer who studied fashion design at the French Fashion Institution ESMOD in Beirut. After graduating, he made it into Elie Saab’s creative team, giving him the experience he needed to make it into the fast-paced world of fashion. And his story begins…

Krikor – fabulous name by the way – tell us a little about who you are for our readers

I am a 24 yr old Lebanese young designer from Armenian origin. That’s where I get my fabulous name from. I am a dreamer, with a lot of dreams to share …

These are pieces from my latest Au Gre d’une Brise collection >

We know fashion has its ups and downs…what was your most life changing moment?

Well, I have been blessed that I have gotten the chance to be able to show my work and who I am at a young age. I think having my own atelier and showroom at the age of 23 was my most life changing moment.

Will you be selling any of your creations over here in the UK?

At this moment we are still very new since we haven’t been open for a year yet, but the UK is surely a place I see myself in the next couple of years to come.

Who is your favourite designer and why?

Where shall I start ? Madame Grais , Madelaine Vionnet to Jeanne Lanvin (I love the way her new identity is being elaborated in a very modern way with Albert EL Baz)

In my opinion the older designers made their collections with a lot of passion, with a lot of authenticity along with love for what they do. It’s very hard to see the same these days since everything is so commercial and its more about how much they sell than the actual art. Nevertheless there are a lot of contemporary designers that I admire, Alexander McQueen for example for his amazing conceptual art pieces.