Ihab Jiryis is a Palestinian Arab based in North Palestine, who prides himself for his Brand IHAB JIRYIS, evening wear and exquisite Couture Gowns. Ihab’s passion for fashion has been since he was a child, he has always enjoyed sketching designs. Ihab holds a first degree in fashion design from Shenkar College. He has developed his own Avant Grade label for 12 years now, he felt it wasn’t enough for him, he pursued his studies and achieved two master’s degrees; Masters in theatrical and cine, professional in dress and decor design and the second master is Master of Design Program, M.Des design. Ihab Jiryis as a fashion designer believes and acknowledges the power of the dress; the dress speaks to the audience and reflects our personality. Ihab Jiries believes that the dress identity comes from small details and superior quality of elite finish. Ihab’s collections have always been met with praise and showered with compliments for his unique innovations and designs. Ihab Jiryis is quoted for his manifest where he says, “your dress is your second skin, your natural skin is organic and your second skin should be a royal covering that protects it”.
FMM: Share your background and what intrigued you about fashion design.
I have always been passionate about fashion. Even though my parents encouraged me to pursue a career in art, they never considered it to be a career in the fashion industry. The competition in the industry was very intense, and it took me a long time to establish myself as a successful designer. My passion and drive to continue improving and growing were the factors that helped me overcome the challenges that I faced.
I am an ambitious individual who always seeks the best. This is why I decided to establish my own business and create my own brand so that I can stand out from the crowd.
FMM: What challenges have you faced as a Palestinian fashion designer?
A boy (who’s soon to be a ‘man’) born and raised in a small traditional typical Arab-Palestinian village in the Galilee, is expected to be everything BUT a fashion designer (or a dancer, or a makeup artist, or any “feminine” hobby or career of that matter).
My parents, the family, relatives and even the neighbors, they all expect you to pursue a ‘manly’ education and career. And if you’re to be academically achiever like I were then it’s a doctor, lawyer, engineer, or accountant.
My parents were very assertive and harsh when it came to my education and career, harsh enough that they almost shattered my dream apart… But that’s not their fault, it’s just the way it was in our community back then…After high school graduation I went to study computer science at the university, my body was at the faculty of science, but my heart was beating for fashion. Until one day I had enough, no more hiding my passion, no more my dream! Fashion and design school, here I come!
I dropped out of the science faculty and 4 years later. I proudly graduated from my first (and NOT last) fashion-design degree. Now what? What can an Arab-Palestinian young man in Israel possibly do with a fashion degree? Finding a job in Tel Aviv was not an option, they’d never hire me! Open my own business? How can I with absolutely no money? Until one day, a small window opened to me. A friend of mine asked me to design her dream wedding dress. And there it was, my first wedding gown and it was beautiful! And just like that, my phone started ringing, receiving orders for costume made wedding and evening dresses.
Step by step, with very little and so few sources, the name of Ihab Jiryis grew, and my business started growing, very slowly with tons of financial difficulties, but steady and proud. And all this magic happened (and still is) from the basement of my parents’ house in the very same village I was born and raised in; Kufr Yasif.
With every dress my passion grew more and more, and my lust to dig deeper and know more about the world of design and fashion grew bigger, that’s when I decided that I want to pursue my academic studies in fashion and designs.
Back to school for Master of Design (MDes), the more I learned the more I wanted to learn more, so after I was done with my first MDes, I found myself studying for another one; this time in a field that has always fascinated me: Theater! Another MDes in Theatrical and Cine; dress and décor. And now, as my passion for academic studies grows, I am about to finish my PHD in design. The first ever Palestinian designer to hold a PHD degree in fashion design.
So between my business, having developed my own Avant Grade, my own brand in which I combined my two worlds; the world of fashion and beauty and that of high academic studies of design, I found myself getting closer to my dream. Or so I thought… but then the biggest challenge ever has appeared, like a very thick wall which seems impossible to get through. Years upon years I’ve proudly watched amazing fashion designers from the Arab world reach far and proudly raise the name of their countries high, being proud of their hometowns and proud of their passport. Today, we Arabs are honored by the names of many Arab designers who have conquered the world of fashion and design.
And there it was, having established my name at my home occupied Palestine, or what is known as Palestine 48 (Israel) among my Arab Palestinian community withing the ‘green-line’ and in the WestBank, and having successfully pursue my academic studies, my next move was naturally wanting to dress the amazing women of the Arab world.
How can I? With my problematic passport and challenging identity, how can I dress and meet the beautiful Arab women all over the Arab world? How can I get the chance to be heard and to be able to proudly represent my Palestinian people, especially those whose voice have not been heard for many many years now; us the proud Palestinians who live within the green line.
FMM: Take us through your creative process.
Every process affects me directly through the bad and the good times. Being in the fashion industry can be very challenging because it involves constantly worrying about the future and the people who depend on you. I believe that the way that I approach the creation of each design is the way that I get involved in every step of the process. It is the way that I always try to find the perfect combination of materials and techniques.
I love every step in my creative process, I get to spend a lot of time with my team and come up with a lot of ideas. This is when the design ideas come to life. After that, the next step is the drawing part, where I try to avoid making mistakes. I have a passion for creating exquisite and functional luxury gowns, and I believe that the concept of luxury and beauty is embodied in every design that I create.
Creating a customized look is very important for me as it allows me to create a unique and beautiful outfit. It is also very challenging to maintain a consistent level of excellence in the design and construction of every piece. Every unique piece is made with a specific skill and is only as good as its feel-great factor.
I love working with sheer fabrics such as silks, tulle, and chiffons, as these feel very feminine to me, and they give me a depth and perspective. These materials also allow me to highlight the natural curves and shapes of a woman’s body. The process of creating a customized look is very time consuming. For simple designs, it usually takes around 350 hours to create and produce. For more sophisticated looks, it takes over a thousand hours to design, hand embroider, and tailor.
FMM: What is special about your recent collection?
I used various materials such as silk, and various types of textiles that are commonly used in the production of textiles. These materials are not only incredibly lightweight but also allow her to create a perfect silhouette.
The goal of my work is to create high-quality custom-made dresses that are designed to create an image of luxury and exceptional status for the world’s elite.
FMM: How have you evolved as a fashion designer?
I was born and raised in the holy land. my inclination and passion for fashion was visible from an early age. From my childhood, I was illustrating and tailoring outfits which defined my personal and particular style. That childhood passion led me to own my first degree in fashion design from Shenkar College and in 2010 I opened my atelier in kfar Yassif palastine. I has developed my own Avant Grade label for 12 years now, I felt it wasn’t enough for me, I pursued my studies and achieved two Master’s degrees; Masters in theatrical and cine, professional in dress and decor design and the second master is Master of Design Program, M.Des design. In 2021, I celebrated my international debut at the Arab Fashion Week, Dubai. I quoted by saying: Due to the rapid emergence and evolution of new brands and the increasing competition between established companies, many designers have decided not to follow suit and focus on the traditional aspects of fashion. For instance, at mine, the DNA of my label is rooted in the heritage of the craftsmanship and the one-off pieces that he creates. According to me, I enjoy working with various materials and techniques, and he also believes that the sky is the limit when it comes to my career as a designer.
FMM: What can we expect to see in 2023?
The world of fashion is a very personal place, and it has a lot of expectations that people have. Even though we try our best, the reality is that in the end, the expectations that people have are not met. The emergence of new trends keeps people anxious and thrilled. It is very important that the fashion industry supports a living and beautiful standard for its customers.
Diversification can be very risky and can limit the opportunities for IHAB JIRYIS. However, it is also important that the brand doesn’t get diluted. By being more accessible and appealing to a bigger market, IHAB JIRYIS can maintain its identity and reach even more customers.
I’m working more on the ready-to-wear collection and expanding more.
