HELLO! India Exclusive with the 'fearless, enigmatic, timeless,' Zuhair Murad

When we live in times that force us to overanalyse the small movements of people in videos to clock whether something is AI, it’s reassuring to see fringe and fabric jounce just as nature intended. Who knew basic reality could hold such appeal? Lebanese couturier Zuhair Murad has built his reputation on exactly that: designs that send the imagination soaring, and clothes that move, shimmer, and transform in ways only a human body can animate. Think: idea after idea, each more tactile and maximalist than the next.

The 53-year-old fashion designer, who launched his namesake label in 1995 and became a regular at Paris Haute Couture Week from 2001, has dressed everyone from Jennifer Lopez, Beyoncé, and Blake 
Lively to Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, and Deepika Padukone — women who, on the world’s most-watched red carpets, embody his vision of glamour as both armour and seduction. In an exclusive conversation with HELLO!, Zuhair strips away the dazzle long enough to explain what fuels it: a belief in femininity without cliché, seduction tempered by restraint, and deft-cutting craftsmanship that still bows to the human hand. He also teases his Spring 2026 ready-to-wear collection — fluid, light, and proof 
that fantasy need not be artificial. 

HELLO! India: You’re often praised for the way you understand and celebrate the woman’s body. How do you decode femininity — and balance sensuality with sophistication — when translating it into your designs?

Zuhair Murad: Femininity is not a formula; it’s an essence. I observe women — how they move, how they carry their emotions — and strive to honour that in my creations. It’s always about harmony — sensuality without restraint can feel excessive, and sophistication without allure can feel distant. I love weaving them together — a daring slit tempered with a refined drape, or a sheer fabric embroidered with intricate motifs. My role is to sculpt confidence while leaving space for vulnerability so that the woman always remains in command of her story.

HELLO! India: Trains and trails are such a signature of your gowns. What do they add to a woman’s presence?

Zuhair Murad: Trains create movement. They give the silhouette a natural flow, like a soft current that follows every step. I love how a train builds momentum, extends a woman’s presence, and lets the look take flight without overpowering the woman.

HELLO! India: Couture is often described as a dream. What are the stories you most want your creations to tell?

Zuhair Murad: Couture is a language of storytelling. Through it, I narrate tales of passion, resilience, nostalgia, and fantasy. Each dress is like a chapter in a book, sometimes inspired by journeys, sometimes by myths, and sometimes by a simple human connection. The stories I want my creations to tell are not mine alone; they become the stories of the women who wear them.

HELLO! India: Do you approach designing for distinct cultures differently, or do you think your work speaks a universal language?

Zuhair Murad: My work speaks a universal language, but it’s always translated through one woman at a time. Culture shapes taste and references, yet modern women each have their own rhythm and way of wearing things. I design for women more than for any geography. In the end, when a piece truly flatters the woman, it transcends borders.

HELLO! India: Many of your pieces are likened to art. What inspires the intricate detailing — be it embroidery, embellishment, or silhouette?

Zuhair Murad: Art and nature are endless sources of wonder for me. I’m fascinated by the geometry of architecture, the delicacy of a flower, and the brilliance of light on water. Embroidery, embellishment, and silhouettes are my way of translating those impressions. Every bead, every stitch is like a brushstroke. Together, they create canvases that move with the body

HELLO! India: Has India inspired your designs in any way? We’d like to know whether you incorporated any Indian aesthetic elements in your creations.

Zuhair Murad: India has always fascinated me. The richness of its culture, the poetry of its textiles, and the devotion to craft… It’s a designer’s dream. What I admire most is how India has preserved its traditions while constantly evolving, and that duality deeply resonates with my own approach. This spirit also guided my latest ready-to-wear resort collection, where India was among the inspirations.

HELLO! India: Tell us about your Spring 2026 ready-to-wear collection. It’d be a HELLO! exclusive!

Zuhair Murad: It’s an ode to femininity in all its nuances. The collection draws from the poetry of faraway lands. Expect fluid silhouettes, light-infused fabrics, and intricate embroideries that echo ancestral savoir  faire yet feel entirely modern. The designs are about celebrating women with pieces that are sensual, powerful, and timeless — it’s a collection that invites discovery, one look at a time.

HELLO! India: When the spotlight dims and the sketches are set aside, how do you press pause and relax?

Zuhair Murad: I find peace in simplicity. Spending time with family, escaping to the sea, or walking in nature grounds me. Silence is precious after so much glamour. It’s in these quiet moments that inspiration often returns to me in the most unexpected ways.

HELLO! India: Finally, describe the Zuhair Murad woman in just three words.

Zuhair Murad: Fearless. Enigmatic. Timeless.

Priyanka Chopra Jonas' photo credit: Getty Images 

This story was featured in the Vol 1. Issue 5 of HELLO! India. For more exclusive stories, subscribe to the magazine here.