Lebanese designer Rania Salibi wins Oscar Challenge

Couture designer Rania Salibi took the nod from America’s fashionistas to win the Oscar Designer Challenge, a competition to design an original gown to be worn on-stage by a presenter escort at the live telecast of the Academy Awards, sponsored by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. (more…)

Noor Fares: Upcoming Lebanese jewelry designer

Jewelry by Lebanese designer Noor Fares, currently available at stores in Los Angeles, London and Beirut, will be expanding to cover Dubai in 2010.

Fares, whose clients include the likes of Zaha Hadid, Francesco Clemente and Camilla Al Fayed, plans to eventually open her own boutiques in major cities around the world.

“I am looking at the Middle East and European markets. I will collaborate with fashion designers too,” said Fares, daughter of former deputy prime minister of Lebanon Issam Fares. Christie’s will be auctioning one of Fares’s pieces in Dubai.

“It is a sculptural piece, which is a combination of jewelery and art. It is made of wood, gold and colorless diamonds. I use a lot of wood in my works because in a lot of cultures around the world wood denotes good luck.” Her pieces range from $70 to $40,000. (Emirates Business)