For Co-Creative Directors Georges and Jad Hobeika, the Spring/Summer 2024 collection was a love letter to Middle Eastern women and the designers’ native culture.

The collection paid tribute to Arab culture, referencing the glamour of Middle Eastern women and the craftsmanship and know-how available in the region. Elements of childhood nostalgia meld with the spirit of the 50s, 60s and 70s to echo the joie de vivre of the eras’ parties.

 True to the carefree, glamorous attitude of Beirut in the 1960s, silhouettes were poised and elegant, the models impeccably coiffed. A. sense of fun and happiness was apparent not only in a vibrant colour palette in shades of red, green, pink, purple and blue, but also in light-hearted inspirations from Arabian culture. The quintessential coffee cup, central to Lebanese social occasions, is reinvented as an earring, while the swirls of its grains – used to predict good fortune – are worked as prints and motifs across flawless column dresses.

 Tapestry and rugs were a key feature, whether as dresses or skirts, they ingeniously wrapped the models’ body. Fringed borders and intricate details further reflected the oriental feel on shoes and bags. 

The spirit of the 1001 Nights was present in the shimmering motifs and translucent designs, with a coat as if crafted from glass, and magical tulle and mousseline gowns which appeared to float, as if simply suspended on the body. Details from childhood memories – a treasured garden, a backgammon board – appear in the intricate embroideries alongside highly detailed thread work with a contrasting texture, replicating the tapestry and fringes of a rug.

 Also, evident throughout the collection was the contrast between sensuality and modesty, as dresses twirl in an entrancing choreography inspired by Oriental dance. Curves were at once enhanced and revealed, yet hands remained covered throughout, with the gloves becoming a quintessential element, a dégradé beginning at the fingertips and gently shifting through the spectrum of colours. Ornate bags are worked to match the gloves, continuing the sense of playfulness and attention to detail evident in the whole collection.