The fashion house rethinks how luxury is lived onboard
Elie Saab is expanding its luxury portfolio, entering the superyacht market through a new partnership with Italian shipbuilder Maiora. The first project, the 42-meter Maiora 42 Exuma, reinterprets traditional yachting by shifting its focus from a rigid structure to a more human-centered, experiential design. This move aligns with the fashion house’s recent strategic expansions into branded residences and interiors, leveraging its aesthetic language to shape luxury living beyond apparel.
The collaboration’s core innovation lies in its spatial reorganization. The design, with interiors under the creative direction of Carlo Colombo (and architectural studio A++ Group) for Elie Saab and exteriors by Cassetta Yacht Designers, moves guest and owner cabins to the main deck, a notable difference from conventional layouts. This adjustment allows for full-height windows and direct access to outdoor areas, creating an expansive, light-filled environment. The lower deck, in turn, is dedicated to crew quarters and services, optimizing operational efficiency.
The Maiora 42 Exuma’s upper deck is visualized as a fully panoramic living area, with glass surfaces and fold-down terraces that blur the distinction between interior and exterior spaces. This approach is exemplified by a pivoting circular sunbed on the bow, designed to follow the sun’s path. Inside, the yacht’s interiors feature bespoke pieces from the Elie Saab Maison collection, with luxurious materials like Fumo di Londra and Mystic Ocean marble and teak wood. All Italian-made, this palette of materials is selected for both their aesthetic value and durability.
The move into yachting marks a smart move for Elie Saab, which has cultivated a multi-category lifestyle brand. It signals a broader industry trend where fashion and luxury brands are increasingly extending their influence into new sectors, offering a complete lifestyle identity to their clientele.
With the first unit already sold and delivery set for 2027, the Maiora 42 Exuma serves as a statement on the future of luxury at sea, where a brand’s creative vision can redefine not just style but the very experience of living.
