Lebanese designer Krikor Jabotian talks classic glamour
After working in the creative department for renowned Lebanese designer Elie Saab, Jabotian was handpicked by the Beirut-based Starch foundation to showcase his own line and eventually set up his own atelier at the tender age of 23.
Now, the rising star is known for his wild imagination, beautifully structured gowns and growing list of celebrity fans — including Queen Rania of Jordan.
“I’ve always been driven by the classical period and the Renaissance is the rebirth of the classical world,” Jabotian told Arab News of the inspiration behind his work.
“For me, I always go back to classicism because it is the base of any conception of any design. I always go back in time and draw inspiration from that period and try to deconstruct it and reconstruct something that is inspired from that but in a more modern, contemporary way.”
With ethereal ruffles and cascading tulle, Jabotian is known for his flair and fairy-like glamour and offers up structured gowns that wouldn’t look out of place in the palaces of a bygone era. Yet, importantly, he manages to pay tribute to the past without straying into the realm of costume-like attire, straddling the line between haute couture and historical homage with finesse.
Jabotian, whose Beirut atelier was impacted by the Aug. 4 explosion in the Lebanese capital, has faced unforeseeable hurdles this year, but told Arab News it gave him time to reflect on his craft.
“With COVID-19, with all that happened in the world and all the drama that we have been dealing with, it’s important for us to take a step back and to enjoy the slow process of life levering quality over quantity and just doing things the right way — doing things with ethics,” he said.
The designer helms a team of 49 people in his atelier — from a talented petites mains, or seamstress, in her 60s, to his own mother — and it isn’t difficult to understand why they are drawn to the humble young talent.
“What’s interesting about our line of work is that you keep on learning from your mistakes. So, my aim is to always become a better version of myself,” he concluded.