Take a walk on the wild side…
is part of a lyric sung by American musician Lou Reed that popped into my head while I was reading the biography of Lebanese designer Jean Louis Sabaji. While many designers play it safe when it comes to designing clothing by following the status quo, Jean Louis has always been fond of change, uniqueness and originality. The designer lives for everything that is outlandish. Sabaji, who unveiled his first collection in 2012, draws inspiration for his collections from Mother Nature. The main inspiration for his latest spring-summer 2014 collection are fruits, flowers and insects. This couture collection celebrates the beauty of nature and includes modern and artistic designs. When Jean Louis Sabaji says he is inspired by Mother Nature it doesn’t mean he just uses different flower prints…et voila!…Jean Louis recreates flowers with different fabrics, every petal on display, from Calla lilies to giant roses. Wearing these unique designs would make you feel at one with nature. My favorite is a breathtaking bridal gown; a ball gown fitted at the bodice, with a full skirt decorated with giant roses. I can’t stop staring at the roses and keep wondering how Jean Louis has executed this design. The same goes for another ensemble of his, a white corset-like bodice combined with a pair of perfectly tailored trousers. The artistic part of this ensemble is a tutu style ‘skirt’ around the waist, it resembles honeycomb or Calla lily flowers…remarkable craftsmanship! Another artistic design is a figure hugging, blue gown with high neckline and lots of soft fabric pouring downwards like a wild waterfall. Each design is more artistic and creative than the other. I’ve been staring at the collection images for a while now, admiring the designs and trying my best to figure out how the fabrics are draped and how the pieces are executed. I am a big fan of artistic designs like these. You can showcase these designs in an art gallery and people would pay good money to go see them. Obviously it would be even better to be able to wear one of these designs; to make a statement and stand out of the crowd.
Visit jeanlouissabaji.com to see more from this designer.
