Haute couture is not about fashion. Handmade and costing hundreds of thousands of dirhams per piece, it exists so far beyond everyday life that it occupies a realm of its own. From this elevated position, designers are free to explore ideas and cultural storytelling that stretch both their imagination and the virtuosity of the atelier.

It is a world of wonder and exquisite beauty, offering either a narrative response to – or an escape from – the realities of daily life. In an era of constant uncertainty, couture feels more than ever like a space to pause, and to breathe.

As Paris Haute Couture Week 2026 – which runs until January 29 – gets under way, we look at some of our favourite designers.

Georges Hobeika

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