This year marked the graduation of the first cohort of fashion design students, from the Lebanese American University’s BA in Fashion Design (LAU). The 16 graduates showcased 127 looks, with designs ranging from womenswear, menswear, and sportswear to knitwear, embroidery and textiles. Earlier this month LCF, LAU and Elie Saab came together to celebrate the collaboration and the students’ successful graduation. London College of Fashion has been collaborating with LAU and Elie Saab for the past 4 years supporting the curriculum. This graduation is an exciting example of international collaboration and how LCF work at institutional level.
Students staged their first collections, which were very diverse and included couture-inspired pieces and practical, casual styles. By working with specialist artisans and ateliers, the show highlighted LAU’s design program provides students with an opportunity to be a part of the international fashion scene.
Head of LCF Professor Frances Corner attended and spoke at the event where she thanked the LAU and Elie Saab for the collaboration, which enabled the co-creation of an innovative curriculum embedded in the cultural landscape of Beirut and the Middle East. She said:
Here at London College of Fashion we believe that fashion as a discipline can be utilised to drive change, and improve the way we live. Our partnership with Lebanese American University and Elie Saab embodies our values. The high standard of the work shown throughout the programme is not only an inspiration for us here in London but also for fashion in Lebanon and the Middle East.
Designer Elie Saab commented:
I have long dreamed of giving back to my country. I wanted to share my experience and knowledge with the pool of young talent, but in the last fifteen years the difficulty had been to set up a structured platform where students can study, learn and perfect the right skills they need to attain degrees of international standards.
LAU president Dr. Joseph G. Jabbra also thanked Elie Saab and LCF, for their continuous support and congratulated the graduates wishing them success in the future. LAU and Elie Saab have invited LCF to continue working with them on a new collaborative commitment.