The ELIE SAAB brand is synonymous with haute couture. The Lebanese designer’s ethereal gowns are known to layer thousands of pearls and sequins onto gossamer tapestries of silk taffeta and organza that makes the wearer appear as if floating when she walks. Thousands of hours are put into each bespoke dress by craftsmen, conceiving memorable gowns such as the one a Jordanian queen adorned in 1999 for her coronation, embellished with diamonds and emeralds, as well as that famous burgundy mesh-and-floral embroidery dress that stole the limelight at the 2002 Oscars and that made the brand a red carpet staple.
The ELIE SAAB expansion
In recent years, the designer’s Midas touch has reached other avenues, such as perfumes, furniture, furnishings, architectural projects and property development. These collaborations are carefully picked to match the elevated status and desire that comes with the ELIE SAAB fashion brand. One of these is their first non-hotelier residence in Southeast Asia. The Rivus, which will be completed in 2023, is located in Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam. The partnership with Masterise Homes offers 121 potential residents an unparalleled villa living experience inspired by haute couture.
“ELIE SAAB is undergoing major development across the Far East. It so happens that our first project was in Vietnam, with many more to come. The success of our projects in Vietnam can be attributed to a number of factors—its location by the river has a special flavour, the villas, the types of furniture and materials we used, the houses’ big rooms and open spaces not present in an ordinary home,” says Saab.
Villa living in Vietnam
Vietnam as ELIE SAAB’s first choice of expansion into this region of the world is not surprising, as the country has seen a growing appetite for the kind of luxury and functionality demanded by an elite clientele who seeks not only high-end products but also an unprecedented, exclusive lifestyle—much like haute couture, which thrives on its exclusiveness; an ELIE SAAB made-to-measure gown is not your everyday dress, but worn on special occasions, to commemorate important events, and can only be seen on the privileged few equated with impeccable taste and exceptional repute.
Like its namesake implies, the gated villas are surrounded by water. It edges the coast of Dong Nai and Tac River, which the houses have sweeping views of. Engagement with the river is endless, as the development comes with a private marina. A mere 25 minutes drive away from the Ho Chi Minh’s Central Business District, The Rivus offers the tranquillity and respite of resort living without being far from amenities.
“I’m known for creating timeless pieces. If a woman has one of my dresses; even if it’s 30 years old, she can still wear it. So can her daughter and her granddaughter. This is an aspect of my work I will never relinquish. This also applies to my home line,” says Saab. In The Rivus, timelessness abides in a unique product. The ELIE SAAB name is stamped on a total of only 500 villas globally, including those in The Rivus. One can also expect bespoke accents, such as the signature ELIE SAAB metal inlay logo applied only to pieces in his villas, and not other interior products he has designed. Such exclusivity means that the value of a home in this development will always remain high.
An ELIE SAAB gown is a result of investment into hours of thought, artistry, rigorous study of movement and the female form, and deploys the best materials. Similarly, the architecture and design of the villas in The Rivus prioritise comfort alongside beautiful interior forms and textures, as well as the pleasantries of bountiful wind and sunlight. Their generous proportions, streamlined volumes, and large windows for views and natural illumination are qualities that are highly desired in modern homes. Solid grained wood and carved stones define the facades that are strong yet restrained foils to the picturesque Dong Nai riverside.
Best of both worlds
Tailored to individual households with different demands, The Rivus offers three collections, each named after a famous river in the world. The recently-launched Sava collection comprises four-bedroom mansions with two living rooms, which opens up possibilities to entertaining. The Seine and Danube collections, which have yet to be unveiled, are mansions to behold when they launch in the near future.
While the homes feature manifold rich textures and materials, they are classy rather than opulent. Dominant cream and grey tones provide a tranquil backdrop to subtle accents of marble, noble stones and bronze whose glimmer reflects the light from the water. This design approach is not too different from the creation of an ELIE SAAB gown, where pastel shades are a common base on which to layer beading, sequins, jewels and silk flowers, among other fine adornment.
The meeting of two stellar companies—Masterise Homes as a developer, alongside ELIE SAAB—makes for a strong partnership, which fuses local insight and world-class capabilities to create superior homes for Vietnam’s real estate market. This winning combination will be one that is valued and sought after for years to come, given its ties to fashion and a luxury lifestyle. It’s an enclave of homes with a wondrous community and true luxury at its core—an abode you’ll find hard to leave at any point of the day.
For more information, visit The Rivus.
