‘Savoir Talks With Georges Chakra’
1. Being one of the first Lebanese Couturier to showcase your collections in Paris since the early 1990’s that definitely has set a milestone in the fashion house of Georges Chakra. Tell us more on how that was inspired or transformed into how it might have evolved your path on what Georges Chakra stands for today?
Showing in Paris was always a dream of mine, especially after reading and following the major French brands for most of my life. It then became a goal when I started the company with my partner Jocelyne. So, when we finally headed to Paris back in the day, it forced me to push myself, to be better and to create innovative designs and an amazing collection that put Georges Chakra on the map. This were the steppingstone to what the brand developed into today. I still feel that that first collection was one of the best collections I have made to date.
2. Can you tell us more on your approach or your first thought maybe on what goes into creating a couture design?
Currently, I am working on my new Couture Spring Summer 2023 Couture collection, so for this season, I was inspired by a specific color. I felt very strongly towards this shade and told my team ‘For this season, we are focusing on this color’. Every season is different, sometimes it a pattern or a fabric that inspires me, other times is a spirit or a feeling.
3. From where do you draw your inspirations from and is it something that happens instantly or do you have a particular surrounding or setting you have to be amongst?
I actually look to my comprehensive design and magazine archive, this helps jumpstart my creativity and vision for the upcoming season. I have been collecting magazines since my university days and I developed a quite a large archive that I have in my home. The setting I must be in is more than a physical space, it is a mindset that motivates my imagination.
4. We know for sure, Georges Chakra as an international brand definitely uses the finest textiles to create the collections but can you tell us a bit more on how you choose the textiles and sometimes as we have seen it could be something quite eccentric or not that familiar?
We work with several fabric creators, so when the team and I sit for the fabric meetings, I look for the unusual, the ‘new’ and the fabric that makes everyone say ‘wow’ as soon as we see it. That is how I know that whatever I create with this specific fabric will have the desired effect on the runway and with our clients. For example, the plastic transparent fabric that we used in the Summer of 2006 or the paillette and embroidery made of thin wood pieces, or the strips of plastic that we molded into dresses that are now sitting in a museum in Norway. Working with the fabric creators is a symbiotic relationship and we rely on each other to develop innovative daring pieces.
5. With all the fashion influencers being dressed by haute couture designers do you think this has been a positive calling to your brand and of course we all know that your brand has been a favorite for Hollywood celebrities as well, how important is it for the brand to maintain that image too in your opinion?
After the boom of influencers, the ones that have become established Fashion influencers have become a brand of their own with their own following. When we work together and develop a relationship we actually have to figure out if both our brands are compatible and if our clients/followers mesh well and the stories we both tell follow similar paths. But everything plays a role as well, stylists, and photographers and the entire team. It is a very delicate link because it might affect us both negatively.
6. Tell us more about Georges Chakra bridal and how much does the brides opinion matter in the design itself? Is the process a mutual inspiration of both the bride and yourself?
We launched a Bridalwear Ready-to-Wear line in 2021. It focuses on contemporary looks that are typical of the Georges Chakra brand. However, for my Couture brides it is a more thorough and personal experience. Her opinion is of course extremely important and the first thing I ask about. In order to understand the vision that the she has for her big day and how she feels and sees herself, we look at samples of fabrics, embroideries and colors and even inspirations. From there we develop several sketches and samples. Start to finish, the whole process takes about 2 months before the couture atelier starts work on a sample toile.
7. How do you maintain your brand image and do you consider social media or the digital world we live in these days to be a positive way of communication in reaching your audience or is it not who the brand is?
There is constantly a need to reimagine the brand visuals but follow and maintain the brand values to keep followers excited to see you. As a brand in
8. What is being worked on now? Any exclusivity to be shared with us?
There are several projects in the works, but most importantly and excitingly it is the redevelopment and relaunch of the ready-to-wear line.
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