Not long after opening his Beirut-based couture atelier at the tender age of 18, Elie Saab's clientele grew from his sisters and women in the neighborhood to princesses and film stars who lined up to get their hands on the self-taught designer's haute couture gowns. Known for his fusion of eastern and western cultures, luxurious fabrics and detailed embroidery, Saab became the first Lebanese designer to dress an Oscar winner in 2002 when Halle Berry walked the red carpet in one of his gowns at the 75th Academy Awards.

"I believe that creating your own identity is the first and most important thing to do."