She is a strong woman that believes in the power of dreams. She enjoys a calm morning among the city’s most iconic artistic attractions. Each line and each frame is a close friend that she grew up gazing into.
While she appreciates art, she also sees beauty in the sharpness of geometry; she cannot help but fall for the simplicity of straight lines and the balance of rectangles.
Even though she appreciates practicality, she often fails to ignore a well-embroidered tulle fabric. She is a fashion aficionado, who waits from season to season to wear Sandra Mansour’s latest designs.
Mansour is the region’s new fashion star that has managed to attract increasing attention across the Arab world, as well as in Europe and the US.
Despite the region’s intensive appreciation of couture fashion, Mansour specialises in ready-to–wear (RTW). Unlike the region’s well-known list of international designers, Mansour prefers creating affordable garments that could be restyled and shuffled multiple times.
After launching a couple of successful collections, her aesthetic effortlessly captured many women across the globe.
While being based in Lebanon, Mansour regularly showcases her new masterpieces at Paris Fashion Week (PFW). On the other hand, she is also a favourite of many international clients due to her presence on the world-wide acclaimed ecommerce website, Moda Operandi.
Even though it is widely known that the fashion industry is often linked to cities such as New York, Paris or Milan; Mansour is keen on maintaining her brand in the heart of her home land. According to the designer, building a successful global brand in Lebanon further adds to her aesthetic and long-term goals.
With that said, the young designer favours a simple and dreamy taste. Nonetheless, her work is widely known for smart details, intricate fabrics, and eye-catching embellishments.
Daily News Egypt talked with Mansour to learn more about her RTW label, bridal designs, and upcoming plans.
How would you define your aesthetic?
Elegant and effortless.
What made you establish your brand in Lebanon, despite studying in Paris and regularly showcasing your collections at PFW?
I came back to Lebanon for several reasons. The essential one being it’s thriving with inspiration; the colours and the people; one can’t help but be inspired.
Another aspect was the craftsmanship. Lebanese tailors are some of the best in the world, and they helped me and my vision come to life. It was also very important for me to be recognised as a Lebanese designer, as it was evident that the market was growing and I wanted to be a part of it.
Who is the Sandra Mansour bride?
She is soft, elegant, and strong. All bridal gowns are made to measure, so the brides I work with are beautiful, strong women with a very firm sense of what they want and what they aspire to look like on their wedding day.
Why did you favour specialising in RTW rather than couture?
I love RTW and couture, but with RTW, I create pieces that can be translated into individual outfits day and night. On the other hand, with couture, you are limited to dramatic pieces that are not as easy to wear.
How did being available on Moda Operandi affect your brand?
Moda Operandi gave me exposure, especially in the US market. Working with them has also allowed me to experiment with different design possibilities. For instance, we have teamed up to create capsule collections; our most recent being a Kaftan Capsule collection for Ramadan.
Tell us more about your FW17/18 collection. What was your main inspiration behind it and what are the main stories that you aimed to communicate through it?
Surrealism played a great role in our FW 17/18 collection; it was inspired by the manipulations of art and fabric.
Using the technique of fabric patchwork re-embroidered together to create a story, expresses the interpretation of every individual in each piece.
Rudolf Bauer, the avant-garde German painter, was also a huge reference in the Doux Reves collection, as geometric shapes came to life while interpreting dreams and their repetition.
What is your favourite trend for FW17/18?
I try not to follow trends; I really try to set my own for myself and the brand.
What are your near-future plans?
A ready-to-wear bridal line and a boutique that envisions the Sandra Mansour journey.
