 
Exquisite Design. Exclusive Fabrics.
Susan Elias, whose design career spans a quarter-century, has launched a line of exquisite gowns that blend today's emerging trends with Europe's exclusive fabrics.
Departing from the traditional satin and chiffon of most custom designers, Elias imports luxurious fabrics from renowned French lace manufacturer, Solstiss, whose textiles grace the collections of Jean-Paul Gaultier, Karl Lagerfeld and John Galliano. The superior quality of the fabric coupled with Elias' expert craftsmanship, culminates in sensuous gowns that complement the feminine form.
Decades ago - long before Elias understood the intricacies of design - her inherent love of fashion, style, fabric and patterns emerged.
"At a very young age, I knew my goal in life was to become a designer," explains Elias. "I had an inner drive - a desire to create - that could only be expressed through the art of crafting fine clothing. As a child, I had no limits, no fears when it came to design. Today, I still approach my work as a fearless artist, willing to experiment and push boundaries."
Elias' creative drive was inspired by the bustling hum of her grandfather's garment factory in the Philippines, and by early memories of the delicate gowns that adorned her mother's feminine frame. Upon returning to the U.S. in the late 1960s, private sewing lessons gave eight-year-old Elias a tangible outlet for her creative impulses.
"I did not even know how to sketch at that time," Elias says. "I started working with patterns and creating designs and, suddenly, I had this enormous power to manipulate the fabric and produce an expression of my ideas."
Elias honed her craft at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, where she constructed her first haute couture gown before the age of 20. Elias remembers searching hundreds of shops in Manhattan's Garment District to find the perfect textiles.
After graduation, Elias launched her professional design career in Chicago after an apprenticeship with Christos and Richard Frederick's. She later created pieces for prominent media figures, CEOs, socialites and, most recently, the Julian Chang couture house in Miami.
Despite extensive training, it is more instinct than education that fuels Elias' work. She understands how to achieve the delicate balance between understated elegance and bold expression. She engineers signature pieces for discerning women who seek an often elusive combination of sensuality and sophistication.
"Everything is about the woman's body. How can a particular design enhance her beauty? How can it illustrate her thoughts?" Elias explains. "Each piece I create reflects an individual woman's grace, and the luxurious fabric provides a canvas for her personal sense of style."
Merging meticulous, hand-crafted detail with the finest European fabrics, Susan Elias brings the techniques and textiles of the world's most sought-after design houses to the wardrobes of modern, style-conscious women in South Florida and the world wide web.
To book a free consultation to create custom pieces or preview the latest designs from Susan Elias Couture, please contact us by email, info@eliascouture.com.
© 2004-2008 Susan Elias Enterprises, LLC.
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