FASHION & LIFESTYLE

 

 

 

Home to a few of the most renowned designers, Lebanon is a constant source of new talents. The ever bubbling hub of fashion in the Middle East inherently welcomes a great creative flow in its very essence. It is no surprise that internationally acclaimed names like Zuhair Murad, Elie Saab are all native to the land of the cedars. With the success of these designers booming over the past decade, the path has been paved for young emerging artists to fully let their talents shine through.

Come discover some of the designers taking the country by storm

 

 

 Nada Debs Boutique:

 

A gorgeous boutique sits in Saifi Village, specializing in distinct pieces for home designs. Nada Debs, the woman behind it all, produces work that spans scales of discipline from product to furniture design. After growing up in Japan and returning to Lebanon, her gift of connecting cultures has translated into her style, ultimately allowing for her pieces to be unmatched elsewhere.

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 Sarah’s Bag:

 

Sarah Baydoun took it upon herself to build a Lebanese fashion house and social enterprise designed to empower local underprivileged women. After conducting research with an NGO that rehabilitates women at risk and ex-prisoners, she decided to set up a business such that employs the women whom she had met during her time volunteering. The result? Beautiful one of a kind luxury handcrafted bags and accessories popular for their stellar craftsmanship and vibrant high spirited appeal, empowering not only the women who make them but also those who wear them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Hussein Bazaza:

 

Bazaza is becoming a household name as a designer after originally making his name from Starch, an NGO. The organization by Rabih Kayrouz and Tala Hajjar designed to launch Lebanese designers has been a huge success over recent years and Bazaza’s talents allowed him to be one of the beneficiaries. Once his signature style was recognized, his work stood out from the crowd for embodying a style of romantic evening wear with a modern attitude. Therefore, in considering his pieces you find elements that are unique to his character and story; deeply soulful, evoking hints of femme fatale.

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 Sandra Mansour:

 

Widely considered “the hybrid”, Sandra Mansour made her name in the Lebanese fashion scene by combining her Lebanese roots to her Swiss upbringing. Launching her label five years ago from Lebanon, her designs were not taken lightly. She has since been celebrated for her use of rich fabrics, delicate embroidery and a simple elegance, allowing for Mansour to gain international recognition for her Bridal Ready to Wear collections and on a more local level grew popular for her store in Gemmayze.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Azzi & Osta:

 

The pair are said to redefine Lebanese couture with their signature surrealist style. Azzi & Osta create unconventional dresses that delicate tulles and embroidery with sharp geometric shapes, deconstructing and creating a fresh Lebanese couture aesthetic The designers’ only workshop is in the busy hub that is Ashrafieh, Beirut, but an international expansion is easily foreseeable in their bright futures.

 

Elie Saab:

 

A Lebanese fashion designer, his main workshop is in Lebanon, with additional workshops in Milan and Paris.

He started his business in the early 1980s and specialized in bridal couture (expensive fabrics, lace, gemstones, Swarovski crystals, pearls, detailed embroidery, etc.).

He is the first Arab to be admitted to the fashion industry’s governing body, Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture.Saab appeared as a judge on Project Runway: Middle East in 2016.As of March 2017, his couture collection ns are available in Paris, London, and Beirut, while his ready-to-wear clothes were in 160 retailers and his own boutiques. Kate Middleton wore a Saab gown to the Royal Ascot in 2019, marking the first occasion where Saab has dressed a British royal.

 

 Zuhair Murad:

 

A Lebanese fashion designer, he made his first appearance in 1999 on the catwalks of Rome with an acclaimed collection that led to his participation in the Italian calendar.

His extensive lines encompass haute couture, ready-to-wear and accessories. Plans to expand the fashion line are underway to include beauty products, perfumes, swimwear and lingerie, as well as furnishings. Two boutiques (including showrooms) have been opened; the first in Beirut and the second in Paris. He also has a showroom in Milan.

 

Adele, Marion Cotillard, Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, Ivana Trump, Cheryl Fernandez-Versini, Beyoncé Knowles, Jennifer Lopez, Kellie Pickler, Najwa Karam, Shakira, Katy Perry, Christina Applegate, Vanessa Williams, Ana Ortiz, and many more have been seen wearing his dresses.

 

 

 Reem Acra:

 

Reem Acra is a renowned international designer known for her breathtaking collections in Ready-to-Wear, Bridal and Haute Couture. She combines tradition with a modern aesthetic and leads the way by continuously redefining the boundaries of fashion

After successfully establishing herself in the bridal market with her detailed and innovative couture designs, Acra expanded into Ready-to-Wear in 2001. Celebrated for her ability to make women look confident and sensual, celebrities such as Angelina Jolie, Taylor Swift, Jennifer Lopez, Beyonce, Halle Berry and Selena Gomez have worn her captivating designs to VIP and red carpet events such as the Oscars, Grammys and Golden Globes. 

Reem Acra’s collections are carried by some of the world's most exclusive retailers including Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue in the United States, with an international presence in over two dozen countries at luxury retail outlets around the world.