‘Early mornings symbolize a serene and peaceful time, untouched by the hustle and bustle of daily life.’ With her newly launched brand, The Early Riser, Maria El Debs invites us to embrace the day with a positive mindset and radiate that energy with our fashion choices.
Maria chose ‘The Meadows’ for her first photoshoot, also the name of her first collection. ‘This collection is an ode to the land that holds a very special place in my heart, a land my family has cherished for generations in the heart of the Beqaa Valley.’ Inspired by this piece of grassland, in Qab Elias, she envisioned a color palette in harmony with the landscape; hints of wildflowers and earthy tones. The Petal textured dress, the Clay top with delicate cutouts, the openwork Sandstone top, the soft toned Golden Hour dress, the Celestial light blue set or the gradient Grape strapless dress, the collection captures the essence of the Qab Elias landscape and its timeless traditions, its vineyards, fields of sage, the fine-grained soil... ‘The fabrics mimic the rustle of leaves, the flowing breeze…’ The Early Riser infuses a touch of sunshine in our wardrobes ‘just as the early morning sun brings warmth and light, our collection seeks to bring joy and colors to your style. We aim to uplift spirits and evoke a sense of optimism and happiness through our designs.’ The name of the brand is about that readiness to conquer what lies ahead, embrace the day feeling confident and empowered. It also ‘reflects the essence of timeless fashion. It emphasizes our commitment to creating fashion pieces that transcend fleeting trends and stand the test of time.’ The young designer is excited about her first upcoming project, a pop-up event this summer, taking place on July 5th and 6th, at Sarah's Bag boutique, ‘a place that has always inspired me with its success and unique ideas. This event will provide a fantastic platform to showcase my summer collection alongside some brand-new pieces.’ Maria has now started creating her winter collection, ‘which fills me with immense enthusiasm.’ She launched her business online about a month ago with a future goal to also open a showroom ‘to provide an even more immersive brand experience.’
‘My love for fashion stems from the joy of dressing up and feeling confident in one's own skin. I believe that taking care of oneself both physically and emotionally starts with how we present ourselves to the world.’ When she was younger, Maria tells us ‘I used to draw dresses, then I wanted to go to fashion school. My father was opposed to the idea of pursuing fashion as a full time job, so I completed my studies in business school at the New York University by taking all the classes I could take in art (that is my minor), and fashion marketing.’ After graduating, her passion for the industry was still intact and being away from Lebanon for some time gave her time to reflect on what truly mattered to her, she realized she wanted to come home and create ‘what I have always wanted, something of my own.’ She is learning the craft on the go ‘through trial and error, along with the unwavering support of my mother.’ Maria is happy to have found a ‘remarkable team of manufacturers,’ in Beirut who have generously shared their knowledge and talent with her. ‘This journey has been filled with a very steep learning curve, and I am so grateful for the guidance of the manufacturers, the incredible team is located in the neighborhood of Bourj Hammoud, known for their skilled artisans and craftsmanship,’ a vibrant hub that also provided her access to fabrics 'the foundation of my designs.’ She chooses fabrics before imagining the design ‘I have found that I would rather have incredible fabric that can make pieces that last a lifetime instead of creating designs with low quality fabrics that can be worn for a very short period of time before the fabric gives up on you.’ After each piece is created, the young entrepreneur brings it home, and the ladies of her family, ‘her grandmother, her aunt and her mother, meticulously inspect every detail, ‘I believe this is what makes it so special.’ An ode to a land, a family, traditions, The Early Riser invites us to start off with a dose of sunshine.