Photo: Tony Ward ©

“The Architect of Detail” — a description that fits his masterful design sensibility to a T. Tony Ward has couture in his blood and manages to turn each runway show into an event. Through the exquisitely crafted silhouettes he creates, women do not dress for an occasion: they dress for life. Le Monde Economique went in search of a few confidences…

By Sabah Kaddouri

Is it an even greater challenge to take over a family brand than to start from scratch?

Tony Ward: Honestly, yes. Because this is not just a business — it is a project of the heart. When you start from zero, you carry only your own expectations. But when you step into a family legacy, you are holding the dream of someone else’s lifetime in your hands. My father created something beautifully powerful in 1952, and my greatest challenge has been to strike the balance between honoring his precious craftsmanship and bringing my own modern vision to it. You want to make your family proud while also finding your own path, and that creates a very unique kind of emotional pressure.

What lessons have you learned along the way?

Tony Ward: Patience and humility. In Haute Couture, perfection cannot be rushed. Fabric has a will of its own, and every detail takes time. But above all, I have learned that you are nothing without your team. A gown is not created by a designer alone; it is shaped by those magical hands that work with love for hours. Treating people with respect and staying grounded, no matter how large the house becomes, is the most valuable lesson my journey has taught me.

You are a leading name in Lebanese Haute Couture, a fashion capable of appealing from Hollywood to Bollywood. How do you explain this “Lebanese genius” that is ultimately only shared by the French and Italian schools?

Tony Ward: It comes from our history and our spirit. Lebanon sits at the crossroads of cultures… Lebanese women have an innate love for glamour and celebration; they do not simply dress for an occasion, they dress for life! That passion, combined with the technical savoir-faire inspired by the French school and Italian fluidity, creates a very special kind of magic. We know how to make a woman feel like her own muse, as I always say, wherever she may be in the world.

Which words best define your stylistic signature?

Tony Ward: “Architect of detail.” I love structure, clean lines and geometric cuts, always softened by movement and the delicacy of hand embroidery. It is a contrast between strength and lightness: turning a dress into a work of art while offering the comfort of a second skin to the woman wearing it.

Which designers or personal figures have inspired you in your career? And where do you find inspiration from one collection to the next?

Tony Ward: My father, Elie, will always be my greatest source of inspiration; he passed on to me the soul of couture. My years in Paris, working alongside great masters such as Gianfranco Ferré at Dior and Karl Lagerfeld at Chloé, also shaped my vision of structure and craftsmanship. As for my collections, inspiration comes from everywhere: architecture, nature, light, travel, or even a simple conversation.

Between the creative process and business, what does your typical day look like?

Tony Ward: It’s a beautiful organized chaos! I usually start early with a coffee and a quiet moment to focus. Then my day splits in two: one half is pure emotion and creativity in the Atelier, the other pure reality, between meetings, financial plans and corporate strategy. I constantly move from discussions about delicate beadwork to the demands of international logistics!

What is an indispensable everyday object?

Tony Ward: My sketchbook and my pen. I never go anywhere without them. Ideas do not wait for office hours — they seize you on a plane, in a car or over dinner…

Rihanna, Aishwarya Rai… You have dressed some of the biggest celebrities. Who would you love to see wearing Tony Ward, and why?

Tony Ward: I love dressing women who possess a powerful, authentic energy… Women who command attention the moment they walk into a room, simply by being themselves. I would love to dress someone like Anne Hathaway or Meryl Streep. Both have that incredible ability to wear Couture with natural ease and confidence!

The Tony Ward woman in three words?

Tony Ward: Confident, radiant and timeless.

Quote:

Tony Ward: “I love dressing women who possess a powerful, authentic energy… Women who command attention the moment they walk into a room, simply by being themselves.”

Find all our Interviews