Tag Archives: Fashion

There is something quite impressive that emanates from Zeina Makki; a quiet strength that surges through the phone as she answers our questions. This feisty-yet-petite thirty year old who alternates between film and television can ease into the character of a well-liked endearingly innocent role as easily as she does into that of a politically-engaged […]

I often wonder what it would be like had I studied fashion. What references would I look at? How would I design? How would I source? How would my family react? To answer these questions, I spoke with Five students from the MENA region and let’s just say, vicariously lived through them. It’s September of […]

It is often forgotten that Yves Saint Laurent was born in Algeria, in a town called Oran. Lilia-Yasmin, however, is bringing attention to the French designer’s North African heritage, as part of her greater vision to spread Arab culture through fashion. Under her Paris-based fashion label Atlalfromgalbi, Lilia-Yasmin produces a popular oversized T-shirt and tracksuit […]

What do we look for when we flick through the pages of a fashion magazine? When we browse the digital versions or social media outlets? To make our eyes sparkle? Yes. To be aware of what is in and what is out this year? Yes. To spend money simply to impress others and even look […]

Paris Couture Week starts on July 5, and it’s a platform in which Arab designers have become a fashion force. Slated to present at this summer’s edition are Maison Rabih Kayrouz, Zuhair Murad, Elie Saab and Georges Hobeika. There is no question that this is a region that loves its couture and enjoys high-quality crafted […]

“The purpose of fashion education isn’t to serve the fashion industry; it’s to lead it,” wrote entrepreneur, author and activist Ben Barry. For a long time, designers from the MENA region, Elie Saab or Rami Al Ali for example, didn’t have access to an education in fashion – they had to teach themselves the intricacies […]

The COVID-19 pandemic did not play into the plans Nour Kelani had for her new fashion brand Noukliér. The Saudi Arabia-based designer of Syrian descent had just begun producing her ready-to-wear evening-dress collection in Milan when the world came to a halt. But, not one to be overwhelmed by obstacles, Kelani saw this as an […]

At the start of 2021, US-based digital fashion website Fashionista surveyed 200 schools in its home country to find out how COVID-19 had affected fashion education: 75% of their respondents said they felt their education was suffering due to the outbreak of the pandemic. The respondents to the survey were students who mainly felt that […]

Weddings can no longer be big fat affairs. The pandemic has transformed weddings into small and skinny events, but there is still one thing no bride will compromise on – her gown. It’s just that the dresses they are saying “yes” to have had to adapt to fit the times.  Lebanese fashion label Azzi & Osta […]

Hazem Haddad’s latest collection of footwear reflects the earth-shattering changes that Lebanon has undergone over the past 12 months. Released in May 2021 and simply named Four, the new HH line includes six models – five sandals and one slide – described by the Lebanese designer as “chunkier” that his past work and “all in […]