This world famous fashion designer is based in Beirut and uses beauty as a balance to war.

The sit-in protest, in a grubby, makeshift tented village, has paralyzed downtown Beirut, forcing several businesses to close.

"It's not easy but the Lebanese always rise above all difficulties," the designer said after his show in the French capital, which later this week hosts an international donors' meeting for Lebanon.

Estimated to be costing the economy around $70 million a day, it is focused outside the offices of the prime minister, Fouad Siniora, whose wife is one of Saab's high-profile clients.

"No one would believe a fashion collection could be made in such a situation," Saab said in Paris yesterday, as he finalized the selection of models for his show.

"We are right in the heart of it. My showroom and offices are just 20 meters away. There are tanks, troops, hundreds of people chanting. Last week, the roads were closed, making it almost impossible for me and my staff to get to work."

He added: "I started my business in 1982 when Israel invaded Lebanon, so I have always known war and strife. But it is part of the spirit of the Lebanese people to compensate with beauty. I do my part with beautiful clothes."

The collection, inspired partly by the designer's belief in the dawn of peace for his country, features red carpet gowns in shimmering pearl tones of rose, lilac, beige and silver. Tiers of finely pleated organza ripple around the body like rays of sunlight.

Metallic lace is hand-beaded with sequins to resemble dewdrops and hourglass silhouettes of lace show under veils of tulle.

Saab, who most recently dressed pop star Beyoncé for the Golden Globes in Hollywood and also counts actors Halle Berry and Catherine Zeta-Jones among his clients, is one of 25 designers showing at this Paris couture season including British designer John Galliano.

Source: Telegraph , Reuters

Here are some pics of Elie Saab's collection

Models present creations by Lebanese designer Elie Saab as part of his Spring-Summer 2007 Haute Couture fashion collection in Paris, January 22

Models present a wedding dress creation by Lebanese designer Elie Saab as part of his Spring-Summer 2007 Haute Couture fashion collection in Paris, January 22, 2007. R

A model presents a creation for Lebanese fashion designer Elie Saab's his spring-summer 2007 Haute Couture fashion collection, Monday Jan.22, 2007

A model presents a creation by Lebanese designer Elie Saab during the Spring/Summer 2007 Haute Couture collections in Paris. Lebanese designer Elie Saab kicked off four days of haute couture catwalk shows with glamorous goddess gowns that glinted like a new day dawning over his native Beirut