IHAB JIRYIS
Fashion Designer. One of the Most Sought-After Designers of Evening Wear and Exquisite Couture Gowns
Ихаб Джирис, модельер
Can you tell us about your journey into fashion — when did you first realize this is what you wanted to do?
Fashion has always been a part of who I am. Since childhood, I was fascinated by fabrics, forms, and the way a garment can express emotion. I grew up surrounded by creativity and culture, and I knew early on that design was not only a career — it was my language.
Who or what were the key influences in your early years (family, culture, city, mentors)?
My roots are everything. Growing up in an Arab Christian family in Galilee gave me a deep appreciation for beauty, detail, and spirituality. Later, my studies and mentors refined my eye and
discipline. Each place I lived and each person I met added a new layer to my identity as a designer.
How would you describe your “style signature” in just three words?
Regal. Emotional. Sculptural.
How do you think your cultural background shapes your aesthetics?
My background gives my work soul. The contrasts between East and West, sacred and modern, constantly inspire me. I design with respect for tradition but with a contemporary hand, creating pieces that speak across cultures.
Fashion has always been a part of who I am. Since childhood, I was fascinated by fabrics, forms, and the way a garment can express emotion. I grew up surrounded by creativity and culture, and I knew early on that design was not only a career — it was my language.
Who or what were the key influences in your early years (family, culture, city, mentors)?
My roots are everything. Growing up in an Arab Christian family in Galilee gave me a deep appreciation for beauty, detail, and spirituality. Later, my studies and mentors refined my eye and
discipline. Each place I lived and each person I met added a new layer to my identity as a designer.
How would you describe your “style signature” in just three words?
Regal. Emotional. Sculptural.
How do you think your cultural background shapes your aesthetics?
My background gives my work soul. The contrasts between East and West, sacred and modern, constantly inspire me. I design with respect for tradition but with a contemporary hand, creating pieces that speak across cultures.
You seem to favor royal silhouettes and timeless elegance — is there a fashion era or icon from the past that deeply inspires you?
Absolutely. The Renaissance and early 20th-century couture eras always inspire me. I love the structure, the craftsmanship, and the drama of those times. Designers like Balenciaga and Dior taught me that elegance is not about excess, but about precision and emotion.
Looking ahead to the next 5 years, how do you envision the evolution of Ihab Jiryis as a couture house?
I see the brand expanding more internationally, especially in the Gulf region and Europe. I want to collaborate with artists and architects, blending couture with other disciplines. The goal is to create not just fashion, but experiences that tell stories of identity and beauty.
Where do you find inspiration today — art, architecture, travel, history, street style?
All of them. I’m inspired by architecture’s structure, art’s emotion, history’s richness, and the honesty of street life. I believe inspiration lives everywhere — in light, silence, and human gestures.
How do you balance commercial requirements with creative freedom?
It’s always a dialogue. My clients come to me because they trust my vision. The key is to listen and translate their dreams through my language as a designer. When art and practicality meet, that’s where true couture lives.
Do you have rituals or habits that help your creativity flow?
Yes. I always begin with silence and music — sometimes classical, sometimes spiritual. I draw by hand, touch fabrics, and let the material guide me. Creativity for me is about feeling before thinking.
Which fashion (or non-fashion) icons do you admire and why?
I admire Alexander McQueen for his emotional storytelling, and Cristóbal Balenciaga for his purity of form. Outside fashion, I’m inspired by artists like Gaudí and Michelangelo — creators who transformed emotion into structure.
Is there a particular era in fashion or design that speaks to you the most?
The Gothic and Renaissance periods — both architectural and artistic — fascinate me. The power of light, structure, and faith in those eras continues to influence how I shape fabric and form.
Absolutely. The Renaissance and early 20th-century couture eras always inspire me. I love the structure, the craftsmanship, and the drama of those times. Designers like Balenciaga and Dior taught me that elegance is not about excess, but about precision and emotion.
Looking ahead to the next 5 years, how do you envision the evolution of Ihab Jiryis as a couture house?
I see the brand expanding more internationally, especially in the Gulf region and Europe. I want to collaborate with artists and architects, blending couture with other disciplines. The goal is to create not just fashion, but experiences that tell stories of identity and beauty.
Where do you find inspiration today — art, architecture, travel, history, street style?
All of them. I’m inspired by architecture’s structure, art’s emotion, history’s richness, and the honesty of street life. I believe inspiration lives everywhere — in light, silence, and human gestures.
How do you balance commercial requirements with creative freedom?
It’s always a dialogue. My clients come to me because they trust my vision. The key is to listen and translate their dreams through my language as a designer. When art and practicality meet, that’s where true couture lives.
Do you have rituals or habits that help your creativity flow?
Yes. I always begin with silence and music — sometimes classical, sometimes spiritual. I draw by hand, touch fabrics, and let the material guide me. Creativity for me is about feeling before thinking.
Which fashion (or non-fashion) icons do you admire and why?
I admire Alexander McQueen for his emotional storytelling, and Cristóbal Balenciaga for his purity of form. Outside fashion, I’m inspired by artists like Gaudí and Michelangelo — creators who transformed emotion into structure.
Is there a particular era in fashion or design that speaks to you the most?
The Gothic and Renaissance periods — both architectural and artistic — fascinate me. The power of light, structure, and faith in those eras continues to influence how I shape fabric and form.
What’s your vision for the future of fashion in the next 5–10 years?
Fashion will become more responsible, emotional, and human. Technology will evolve, but emotion will remain at the center. Designers will have to balance innovation with integrity.
How do you define “luxury” today?
Luxury is not about price — it’s about authenticity. It’s the time, handwork, and soul you invest in creating something meaningful. True luxury makes you feel, not just look.
What piece of advice would you give to someone just starting in fashion today?
Be honest with yourself. Learn, fail, experiment — but never lose your identity. Trends will pass; authenticity will always stay.
Finally: pick one word that best sums up your work in 2025.
Transcendence.
Fashion will become more responsible, emotional, and human. Technology will evolve, but emotion will remain at the center. Designers will have to balance innovation with integrity.
How do you define “luxury” today?
Luxury is not about price — it’s about authenticity. It’s the time, handwork, and soul you invest in creating something meaningful. True luxury makes you feel, not just look.
What piece of advice would you give to someone just starting in fashion today?
Be honest with yourself. Learn, fail, experiment — but never lose your identity. Trends will pass; authenticity will always stay.
Finally: pick one word that best sums up your work in 2025.
Transcendence.
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