Mini-Biography

- Born in Lebanon.
- 1985: Graduated from the “Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture Parisienne”.
- 1985: R. Abi Nader is one of the first Fashion Designers to have succeeded in France, in the line of other famous names like Oscar de La Renta, in Balmain.
- 1990’s: Opens his own Haute Couture House in Beirut, Lebanon.
- July 1997: Presents his first collection at the “Carrousel du Louvre”. Immediate success in the Arab World.
- July 1999: Presents his collection in Paris, alongside no other than late Yves Saint Laurent.
- 2000: Starts designing for Princesses and Royals.
- 2002: R. Abi Nader creates a collection which supports the “International Fur Trade”.
- 2003: Designs all the evening gowns for the Miss France Competition.
- 2004: Designs all the evening gowns for the Miss France Competition.
- 2005: Is elected as “Best Fashion Designer” to have worked in the Miss France Competition.
- Fall-Winter 2006-2007: Collection with a spirit mixing the 20’s, 60’s, and 70’s, in a modern way.
- 2006: Hotel Intercontinental, Paris
- 2006: Hotel Westin - Paris (Lancement de la montre by Robert Abi Nader
- 2007: Hotel Westin - Paris
- 2008: Hotel Banayantree in Bahrein
- 2009: Hotel Westin - Paris
- 2009: Miss France - Fuy du Pou
- 2010: Hotel Westin - Paris
- 2012/2013: Robert Abi Nader Boutique, Beirut Down Town

Fall-Winter 2009/2010:
Strong bold colors cover the entire dress. Big prints in bright orange for example are inspired by butterfly wings. Other dresses have sweet colors like beige and pale pink mixing together. And long gowns in satin beige material flow on the silhouette. Bright flowing long dresses are in bold block colors, such as just blue, or purple, or red, or even black.

Spring-Summer 2010:
Daring bold colors are used, such as green and orange mixed together on long flowing dresses, or only using a strong electric blue...One innovation: necklaces are sewn along with each dress, and are sometimes used as a solid base for creating daring deep cuts in the dress itself.
The daring blue mixes with the leopard print, and the leopard print is also repeated on other dresses in different shapes and sizes.
Finally, beautiful Emerald green is used as a block color on gowns, along with sewn jewels.

Article:

Robert Abi Nader is a Lebanese born Fashion Designer. He is one of the bright names in the Fashion World abroad.

In 1985,he graduated from no else than the “Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture Parisienne”, and he was also one of the first Lebanese Fashion Designers to succeed in France, in the line of other famous names like Oscar de La Renta, in Balmain.

The 1990’s saw the opening of his first Couture House in Beirut, Lebanon. All these great events could have led him to a well deserved pride, yet Robert Abi Nader is known, worldwide, for his humble and shy personality, when he has actually become a designer for Princesses and Royals.

In July 1997, R. Abi Nader presented his first Collection at the “Carrousel du Louvre”. It was, for him, the start of an immediate and long-lasting success in the Arab World. Abi Nader knows how to please his clients, and how to show the personality of each and every lady.
In July 1999, A.N. presented his Collection in Paris too, but, this time, alongside no other than the late Yves Saint Laurent.

In 2002, Abi Nader boldly creates a Collection which supports the “International Fur Trade”. Fur, a material which had once been strongly rejected by supermodels all around the world, in order to save endangered species ...This push from R. A.Nader was surely part of the rise in percentage which was recorded in the sales of the “International Fur Trade Federation”.

Robert Abi Nader has a way of decently showing the beauty of the silhouette, in glorifying feminity in a sensual yet refined, romantic way. And him collaborating with Joseph Abi Nader’s jewellery wise allowed him to add a sparkling elegance to his creations.

Abi Nader loves to use strong bright joyful colors, which sparkle on the French Catwalks where people are used to rather neutral colors, and delight the Princesses and Royals of the Arab World, who understand the need for lively colors in gowns.

In 2003, Robert Abi Nader designs all the evening gowns of the Miss France Competition. His work is so much appreciated that he is also asked to be responsible of the entire 2004 Miss France Competition! After having achieved these 2 consecutive major projects, R. Abi Nader is elected as the “Best Fashion Designer” to have worked in this event, with his name coming after prestigious Fashion Designers who had held this status during the last 25 years .Prestigious because Robert Abi Nader had become equal, if one may say, to the likes of Lolita Lempicka, Oscar de La Renta, between many others…And still, he remains humble and shy, a rare mix in one person. R. Abi Nader says that, thanks to his Lebanese origins, he is always being able to accommodate with a wide range of different tastes who ask to be evenly satisfied. He also believes that this mix between the East and the West is found in the creations of all standard Lebanese Fashion Designers. R.A.N. also feels that there is always a light yet stable touch which is found in all of his collections, and which prove his oriental identity. Yet he warns about exceeding the limit in showing too much oriental fashion to a pure occidental audience who might not accept, and worse, could reject the idea behind the collection. In other words, according to him, in order to reach stardom and keep it, one must give people what they want, while trying to keep a balance between art and culture.

Abi Nader chooses a cut for every Collection, and starts bringing it to life through the dresses and gowns, up to create a homogenous group. Each one of his Collection is created for a different kind of woman.

Between Robert Abi Nader’s upcoming projects is the dream to take part in an “Art for Art” show, where art is more important than fashion…

Web sources:
www.fashionbride.worpress.com
www.robert-abinader.com
www.robert-abi-nader.en.flip-zone.com
www.stylehive.com
www.lucire.com
www.sofeminine.co.uk
www.fashionmission.nl
www.proud2blebanese.com
www.thefashioninsider.com

Books,magazines,and newspapers:
-“AS.SAFIR” Newspaper-Friday October 17, 2008.

Prepared by artist Rana Bissat and William Matar