Georges Hobeika Celebrates the Beauty of the Lotus for Fall 2016 Couture

“I have a love for the lotus; while growing in mud it still remains unstained.” – Confucius

Lebanese couturier Georges Hobeika isn’t content with simply crafting exquisite gowns for elite clientele; instead, he imbues his gorgeous collections with a slice of personal philosophy and lifts up origin stories rooted in symbolism. For Fall 2016 Couture, Hobeika focused on the lotus flower, which grows in mud and the stem of which pushes up through the water to blossom above its surface. The lotus is significant in both Buddhism and Hinduism as a symbol of unity and purity, and Hobeika employs the symbolic bud in order to communicate a message of hope, harmony, and love. This romantic, spiritual notion is supported by a cast of intricately embroidered gowns, each bearing Hobeika’s trademark craftsmanship.

Fall 2016 Couture’s vivid tapestries came in shades of celeste blue, lavender, dove gray, fuchsia, royal purple, emerald, and taupe, in dozens of variations of occasionwear from gowns and cocktail dresses to breezy separates. Scattered across the surface of shantung silk, gazar, crepe, and organza was an array of crystal and pearl embroidery that formed lotus blossoms and vines in a perfect balance of manmade craftsmanship and delightful garden inspiration. With slicked-back hair and immense ear sculptures, Hobeika’s models resembled ethereal water nymphs – a cue not lost on those who understand where the lotus blossom comes from.