Courtesy of Elie Saab
Few designers can conjure an entire constellation in a single garment, but Elie Saab’s uniquely magical gowns do just that. Known for his presence on the red carpet—celebrities from Michelle Yeoh to Angelina Jolie and Halle Berry, to name a few, have turned to him for their most important moments—the Lebanese designer has created many an intricate and dazzling look. It makes sense, then, that Saab would appoint Greek-Austrian designer Marina Raphael as artistic and design director of handbags. Known for her use of crystallization, often involving thousands of tiny crystals applied by hand, Raphael’s bags have been worn by everyone from Jennifer Lopez to Priyanka Chopra, as well as garnering fans including Bella Poarch, Kelsey Merritt and Bryan Yambao.
Naturally, it has taken a special kind of synergy to find a designer that blends seamlessly into the Elie Saab universe. Over the past four decades (Saab opened his first Atelier in 1982), the designer has honed the brand’s DNA through an obsession with his craft as a couturier, each piece exemplary of the level of detail that Saab is renowned for. This obsession is shared by Raphael, which has aided her in the building of her own eponymous brand and is one she now brings to the Elie Saab handbag category. “Working with Mr. Elie Saab, who has played an integral part of cultivating my passion for exceptional quality and craftsmanship, is a truly humbling experience,” says Raphael. “He has been a revolutionary in the world of couture and fashion, and his unparalleled creativity and attention to detail have always left me in awe.”
A sixth-generation member of the Swarovski family, sparkle is not only in the designer’s blood but has also become a recognizable feature of her designs. It is perhaps a combination of her vision, which encapsulates an effortless blend of cutting-edge technology with heritage craft, and her pursuit of excellence within the handbag category that caught the attention of Elie Saab and his son, CEO Elie Saab Jr. “It was essential to find someone who genuinely aligns with our values and vision, and Marina embodies this alignment perfectly,” says Elie Saab Jr. “With a unique skill in capturing and interpreting the ELIE SAAB aesthetic, she was a natural fit for this role.”
In her new position, the designer will present four Ready-to-Wear and two Haute Couture collections per year. Fans of both ELIE SAAB and Marina Raphael will surely be delighted; a dance between the intricacy of the Elie Saab ethos and the architectural silhouettes for which Marina Raphael has become known, the handbags exemplify their joint vision, according to Raphael. Describing the collection with words such as “bold” and “elegant,” Raphael’s first collection for the House features is sure to include recognisable styles that are set to become icons of the handbag line. But what can you expect from the debut collection, set to be shown at the Haute Couture show in January 2025? Our guess: uniquely structural handles, architectural yet elegant silhouettes, and, of course, show-stopping sparkle, if the DNA of both designers is anything to go on.
“My vision is to blend the artistry of Couture with everyday wearables,” says Raphael. “The silhouettes are designed to be instantly recognizable, featuring versatile day-to-night pieces and some beautifully embellished dazzling crystal creations.”
