Creativity Benefits From More Time and Less Distractions!: Interview with Georges Hobeika

When this issue is out on newsstands, you and your team would probably be in the final stages of completing your Haute Couture Collection - how much does it hurt you that it has been canceled this season?

This cancellation decision was expected, as the priority of everyone is to stay safe. The whole world is reviewing its priorities at the moment and we fully respect and support that. Our business will be affected, but we are choosing to shift our focus and think of the bigger picture.

Will there be a complete break, or are there alternatives?

We fully expect to have a collection by July, and we will decide how to present it when we are closer to the release date.

How did you, as a businessman, deal with the challenges of the last few months?

There were challenges, as our whole way of working has been disrupted. It has been possible to meet demand, and we’ve achieved that at a slower pace and by using a more strategic process.

And how was the time for you personally?

This has been a time for reflection and gratitude. What’s happening at the moment has rearmed my love and appreciation for my team. This is also a time to go back to creativity, which benefits from more time and fewer distractions.

Trend researcher Li Edelkoort says that the systems we are accustomed to now seem bizarre and that the world can only be saved with draconian measures...

My vision for the future of fashion is a positive and optimistic one. The world is rapidly changing before our eyes, and we all have to find a way to flow with it. I believe that the fashion world will adapt to the results of this crisis.

Could an haute couture presentation also be outsourced digitally?

I believe that it can. It’s something that has already been done successfully and that we will see more and more of in the future.

Edelkoort also talks about a century of craftsmanship...

Craftsmanship has always been the core of Maison Georges Hobeika, from Couture to Ready-to-Wear. People will always appreciate the craftsmanship and the unique precision of work done by hand. Luxury sustains itself as a celebration of quality, no matter how it is delivered.

What lessons have you personally learned from the crisis and the accompanying standstill?

To be grateful for everything we have, and to always be committed to remaining positive. As we know: “This too shall pass.”

Photo: Georges Hobeika