Lebanese have been receiving worldwide support in the wake of the devastating explosion of August 4th. The compassion was clear in Italy during the recent fashion week.
In what it called “a gesture of solidarity,” the Italian city of Milan, the global capital of fashion, gave special attention to Lebanese designers affected by the Beirut Port explosion, on the last day of the spring/summer 2021 Milan Fashion Week.
Via a special digital platform reserved for Lebanese designers, 6 Lebanese labels were showcased alongside some of the fashion industry’s biggest names, such as Versace and Giorgio Armani.
On August 4th, the showrooms of several fashion houses in Beirut were destroyed by the port explosion, including those of Azzi & Osta, Boyfriend the Brand, and Roni Helou, all of which had their labels displayed in Milan.
The 3 other Lebanese labels showcased during Milan Fashion Week are Emergency Room, Hussein Bazaza, and L’atelier Nawbar.
Each of the featured designers was asked to create a short film to highlight their new collections — the ones that made it out in one piece after the explosion, that is.
“Lebanese designers are important this year, and we needed to give them space because they are in a very tough time, and we believe fashion should be there to help them,” said Chairman of the National Chamber of Italian Fashion Carlo Capasa.
In a similar gesture of support, Paris’s PIASA auction house will be featuring around 70 Lebanese artists and designers in a special exhibition dedicated to showcasing the works of established and up-and-coming Lebanese talents.