Fashion designer Elie Saab was born on July 4, 1964, in Lebanon. He began studying fashion at age nine, creating costumes for the women around him. In 1982, at the young age of 18, he opened an haute couture atelier in Beirut. His first collection, the evening and wedding dresses he designed, attracted attention from royalty and other celebrities. In 1997, he became the first non-Italian to be elected to the National Council of Italian Fashion. He subsequently presented his collections in Rome and Milan. In 2002, Halle Berry won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in the film "Tea Tree," and she made headlines by wearing an Elie Saab outfit at the awards ceremony. In 2005, he launched a ready-to-wear line, gaining popularity among upper-class women. He also had strong ties to Paris, and in 2000 he presented his haute couture and ready-to-wear collections in Paris. In 2006, he presented his collection at Paris Ready-to-Wear and opened his flagship store the following year.