Marina Raphael On Making The Magic Behind The Handbags For Elie Saab’s Haute Couture 2027 Collection
For Elie Saab’s Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2026-2027 collection, Marina Raphael creates handbags that extend the Maison’s vision of craftsmanship, femininity, and couture beyond the runway
When Elie Saab presents a runway show, every detail contributes to the story. The gown, the embroidery, the silhouette, and the accessories become part of a larger fantasy. For the Fall/Winter 2026-2027 Haute Couture collection, “Le Bal des Rêves Indomptés” (The Ball of Untamed Dreams), the Lebanese designer created a dreamlike universe where couture, craftsmanship, and imagination came together in perfect harmony.
Inspired by the idea of transformation, the collection riffed on the boundary between reality and the dreamverse. Flowing silhouettes, dramatic velvet gowns, sculptural headpieces, and intricate details created an undeniable sense of movement, and within this world, handbags were designed not as finishing touches, but as an essential part of the couture story.
As Artistic & Design Director of handbags at Elie Saab, Marina Raphael approached the accessories as a keystone of each look. “The handbags for ‘The Ball of Untamed Dreams’ were conceived as a natural extension of the Haute Couture narrative,” Raphael explains. “They translate the collection’s dreamlike universe into sculptural objects of exceptional craftsmanship.”
For Marina, creating a couture handbag begins with the same approach as designing a couture look: understanding the emotion behind the collection and translating it into form. “A couture handbag has to be approached with the same level of artistry, precision, and craftsmanship as the couture look itself,” she says. “It should feel almost like an object of art rather than simply a bag.”
The handbags mirror the collection’s focus on movement and transformation. Their vintage-inspired silhouettes are reimagined through a contemporary east-west shape, while soft suede is folded and moulded into curved, sculptural forms. Swarovski crystals were painstakingly applied by hand, creating a subtle play of light across the surface with each sashay.
One of the key details is the sculptural Wave clasp, a signature element of Elie Saab handbags. Designed to reflect movement and fluidity, it adds a distinctive finishing touch to the designs while connecting them to the wider identity of the Maison. For Marina, these details are what elevate a handbag beyond seasonal whimsy. “Trends come and go, but the pieces that truly endure are the ones that become part of someone’s life and memories,” she says. That sense of longevity is central to how she approaches design. A handbag, in her view, is not simply something functional; it becomes part of important moments and personal stories.
“Beyond the runway, I hope these pieces come to represent elegance, strength, intention, and quiet confidence,” Marina explains. “It’s never just about carrying an accessory; it’s about carrying something that reflects who you are and how you want to feel.”
Marina’s perspective is shaped by her experience creating for both her own label and Elie Saab. Working across these two worlds has allowed her to explore different expressions of design, from sculptural shapes and proportions to the craftsmanship and femininity that define the Maison.
“Having the opportunity to design for both my own brand and a global fashion house like Elie Saab has broadened my creative perspective,” she says. “Each experience informs and enriches the other.”
Her connection to craftsmanship also comes from her Swarovski heritage, which influenced the way she views materials and detail from an early age. “Watching how a perfectly cut crystal is created taught me that true luxury comes from precision, innovation, and an uncompromising attention to detail,” she says.
With ‘The Ball of Untamed Dreams’, Elie Saab continues to explore couture as a world of transformation, where craftsmanship becomes storytelling. Through Marina Raphael’s handbags, that same vision extends beyond the gown, creating objects designed not only to be worn, but treasured.
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