Lebanese Fashion Houses Affected by the Blast

Several Lebanese designers have been affected following the blast that devastated the capital, leaving their premises in Beirut destroyed.

"Paris of the Middle East" as described, Beirut is the homeland of very known names in haute couture, such as Elie Saab and Zuhair Murad. The Lebanese capital launched its own fashion week in 2017 and 2018, which attracted many designers from the region.

Already weakened by the economic crisis affecting the country, fashion houses saw their premises destroyed by the double explosion which took place on August 4^th at Beirut’s port, resulting in 170 ​​dead at least and more than 6000 injured, according to some local reports. Following the destruction, some designers have expressed their anger and sadness on social media.

Zuhair Murad

The Lebanese designer, who is known for his bridal dresses, has been showing his collection at Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week since 2013. Based in Beirut, the designer occupies premises located in Beirut, less than two kilometers from the hangar where the explosion took place. The headquarters of Zuhair Murad were partially wrecked and devastated by the blast.

Five days after the disaster, the designer shared images and videos on his Instagram account showing the damage.

"My heart is broken. I can’t stop crying. the efforts of years went in a moment. Thank God for everything. " commented Zuhair on his post.

The explosion had destroyed all eleven floors of the building. Even its façade; the letter "A" of "ZUHAIR" was swept away.

The designer, whose team escaped the tragedy, plans to rebuild his headquarter building. “It will be an experience but we have to move forward,” he told British Vogue recently, “we are very resilient people and we will never give up.”

Maison Rabih Kayrouz

Rabih Kayrouz, who owns a boutique on boulevard Raspail, Paris where he has been showing his collections at Fashion Weeks since 2009, collaborated with La Redoute for a capsule collection. However, after Beirut tragedy, the Lebanese designer shared videos of his building’s interior which include his atelier, private haute couture salon and ready-to-wear boutique, and was heavily affected by the blast. Amid the rubble and broken glass, only one mannequin remained still, covered in a white dress, as an employee was trying to save as much designs as he can.

On August 9^th Rabih Kayrouz went on Instagram again, showing this time a head injury.

"I am recovering slowly but surely from a small brain hemorrhage, 2 clots and 22 stitches,” says the designer, who thanked everyonesending him messages of support.

“We will not forget. We will judge. We will rebuild... And we will dance!” Concludes the designer.

Elie Saab

A few meters away from Zuhair Murad's building, Elie Saab's headquarters were also devastated by the explosion. The fashion house regularly dresses celebrities on the red carpet. After the wreckage of the House’s building in Beirut, Elie Saab Junior, global director of the brand, announced to the Business of Fashion that the brand will suspend its activities until August 17 for the reparations.

"It's in our DNA to keep going no matter what," he said, "We have made the choice to stay in the country, to stay close to people and continue our mission of know-how."