Handicrafts are displayed in the exhibition "I Love Lebanon" in Beirut, Lebanon, on Aug. 24, 2022. (Xinhua/Bilal Jawich)
by Dana Halawi
BEIRUT, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Young Lebanese fashion designers participated on Wednesday in a yearly exhibition in Beirut, which was held to encourage local talents to develop their businesses against the economic difficulties in the country.
Dubbed "Bhebbak ya Lebnan," which means "I love you Lebanon," the exhibition gathered more than 30 young designers of clothing, accessories, jewelry, and household products to showcase their handmade items.
Fashion handbags are displayed in the exhibition "I Love Lebanon" in Beirut, Lebanon, on Aug. 24, 2022. (Xinhua/Bilal Jawich)
Sara Goul, a new designer, told Xinhua that she has been designing fashion handbags for only six months, but has already received calls from Jordan, Kuwait, and the United States asking for her handmade products made from Plexi material.
"Clients love my new concept of fashion bags with the Plexi material, the colors, and the quotes that convey messages aimed at empowering women," Goul said.
With the help of social media, her ability to reach clients in Lebanon and even abroad has been significantly expanded.
"We do not have to rent a store or a space. All we have to do is to present our products online, which is a great platform for marketing," she explained.
Fashionable clothes are displayed in the exhibition "I Love You Lebanon" in Beirut, Lebanon, on Aug. 24, 2022. (Xinhua/Bilal Jawich)
Jinane Merhebi, the owner of a clothing workshop and a clothing and accessories store in Tripoli, told Xinhua that young local designers have succeeded in attracting clients from Lebanon and other countries with their beautiful and unique designs over the past years.
"People today prefer the items produced locally due to their uniqueness, unlike the fashionable ones available in popular shops," she said.
The past working experience also helped young Lebanese talents to start new businesses in designing.
"My initial job was Art Director for movies, so I am familiar with working with wood for decoration by cutting and painting it to produce different designs, which helped me a lot with my new business," said Jeanine Ojeil, who started her business of producing handmade wood handbags during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Handicrafts are displayed in the exhibition "I Love You Lebanon" in Beirut, Lebanon, on Aug. 24, 2022. (Xinhua/Bilal Jawich)
Souraya Baba, a producer of handmade Abaya, Kaftans, dresses, and other clothes, said her products have been exported to Saudi Arabia and Qatar over the past years thanks to her "unique designs that combine the Iraqi, Palestinian and Lebanese cultures."
Randa Armanazi, co-founder and managing partner at Beyond Your Limits Events and organizer of the exhibition, told Xinhua that the event gives hope to local talents by showing them that they can succeed despite challenging circumstances.
Lebanon has been facing a deep financial crisis that has plunged over 80 percent of the population into poverty, as well as an exodus of young talents to other countries for better opportunities. ■
