Latest news with #CynthiaMerhej
CairoScene
04-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CairoScene
Cynthia Merhej is the Lebanese Designer Giving Rise to a Renaissance
This is not the story of romanticism but how romanticism enables fashion to thrive under art's helm. From her great grandmother Laurice Srouji's atelier in Yafa, Palestine, to her mother's Beirut-based atelier, Lebanese designer Cynthia Merhej has given her life to one purpose; to bridge between the past and the present, the classic and the contemporary, which is to say, for Cynthia Merhej, the mission is quite simple; to give rise to a renaissance, twice over. Embracing dualities as alluded to in the brand's naming, Merhej seeks to pay tribute to both the similarities and differences between generations and eras. Growing up entrenched within the realm of fabrics, Merhej knew from her earliest days where life would lead her. Studying visual communications at London's Central Saint Martins and the Royal College of Art, Merhej returned to Beirut, rolled up her sleeves, and made sure the craft kept running in her family. Founded in 2016, Renaissance Renaissance is a real-life embodiment of dollhouse-chic, crafting garments with one foot in eras long gone, and another in a future hitherto uncharted. Growing up in your mother's atelier in Beirut must have been a unique experience. Can you share a specific memory or moment from your childhood that significantly influenced your decision to pursue a career in fashion and design? One memory that really lives within me is the time when my mother would receive all her fabric swatches. It was truly exciting to go through them all and start imagining what they would end up becoming. How did your education in London shape your approach to fashion, and in what ways did it influence the identity of Renaissance Renaissance? For many Lebanese creatives, studying art at school was considered quite the privilege. My mother was self-taught, and so I had no idea that a school specialised in art even existed. For a kid like me, one that was obsessed with the arts from a young age - to be in an environment where every single day what I was doing was creating, being challenged to create, and doing what I loved, was a dream come true. Being in London gave me unparalleled access to magazines, books, music and so on, that I would only dream about in Lebanon. It allowed me to really bloom in many ways and to learn very important skills in creative and critical thinking that influenced me as a creative practitioner, and of course that went into how I approach my brand until this very day. Your Middle Eastern heritage serves as inspiration for your designs. Can you pinpoint a specific element or aspect of your heritage that consistently finds its way into your collections? My heritage influences me very strongly in many ways, even beyond the aesthetic, I think that people in this region, especially women, have very likely had to live through very challenging circumstances, especially in Lebanon which has generally been a very uncertain environment for as long as I could remember. And yet, even in the worst of times, they dress up, they live, and they have a sense of style that we rarely see these days anymore, and it's incredibly inspiring. Your designs are described as a conversation between past and present, traditional couture and contemporary perspectives. How do you navigate this delicate balance in your creative process, and what challenges or joys does it bring to your work? I think it's a very delicate process. My eyes were trained to identify what makes a 'perfect' garment, and then there is the side of me that obviously wants to rebel against that. As I got older I realised that actually trying to find the harmony between both, is what makes it unique and challenging for me. I think that's a bit difficult for people to understand sometimes, because my designs tend to evoke a young spirit utilising old techniques. Where do you find inspiration, and how do you translate that into the unique pieces seen in each Renaissance Renaissance collection? I draw inspiration from everywhere, but it really starts with maybe a feeling and a certain intuition. Sometimes there is a narrative element to the story, sometimes not, but I do feel it does often come back to the narrative. There is always a lot of sketching and absorbing imagery, but I think it only really starts when I start making things. I'd love to hear all about the inspiration behind your FW23 collection. Do you perhaps have any favourite pieces from the collection? I envisioned a more classical woman for that collection, aiming for a touch of old-school elegance. My favourite aspect was sourcing a second-hand fur coat, deconstructing it, and integrating its textures into the garments, creating a unique interplay with other fabrics. It was a challenging period in my life when I worked on that collection. Creating those pieces provided a welcome respite, allowing me to embrace playfulness and experimentation, reminding myself of the love I have for my craft. My dear friend, Zeid Hijazi, played a crucial role during that time by discovering those beautiful coats, which served as a lifeline in the midst of a particularly dark period. Looking back since the founding of Renaissance Renaissance, are there specific moments that hold a special place in your heart? I think every day with Renaissance Renaissance feels special and has its own accomplishments, no matter how small. Frankly, trying to develop a brand in Lebanon with all the events that have happened in the last few years is quite difficult - every day you're still standing feels like a miracle. Your great grandmother, Laurice Srouji's atelier in Palestine, must hold a special place in your family's history. Can you share a personal anecdote or story passed down through generations that resonates with the spirit of that atelier and continues to influence your creative journey? There are many, but one of them was how women from all over Palestine would not get married until they could ensure that Laurice would be able to make their bekjeh or trousseau. They would even base their wedding dates on that!
CairoScene
19-02-2025
- Business
- CairoScene
Meet the Middle Eastern Designers Shortlisted for the 2025 LVMH Prize
The designers will showcase their collections in Paris, vying for a EUR 400,000 grant for the LVMH Prize winner. The LVMH Prize for Young Fashion Designers has long been a launchpad for emerging talent, highlighting designers who are shaping the future of fashion. Now in its 12th year, the 2025 edition continues this legacy with a highly competitive field—2,300 designers from across the globe applied, each vying for a place on one of the industry's most prestigious platforms. From thousands of applicants, 20 semi-finalists from 15 countries remain. Among them, three designers from the Arab world - Cynthia Merhej (Lebanon), Yasmin Mansour (Egypt & Qatar), Ahmed and Razan Hassan (Saudi Arabia) - are gaining attention. On March 5th and 6th, these designers will present their collections in Paris, competing before the public and a panel of industry leaders. The LVMH Prize winner receives a EUR 400,000 grant and a year of mentorship. The Karl Lagerfeld Prize runner-up is awarded EUR 200,000 and mentorship, while the Savoir-Faire Prize grants EUR 200,000 and mentorship to a designer specializing in craftsmanship. Renaissance Renaissance | Lebanon Founded by third-generation couturier Cynthia Merhej, Renaissance Renaissance merges her family's rich sartorial heritage with a modern, distinctive creative vision. Since launching the label in 2016, Merhej has remained deeply connected to her roots, working alongside local artisans and family-run workshops to craft heirloom-quality pieces that celebrate craftsmanship and heritage. Yasmin Mansour | Egypt & Qatar Since founding her namesake label in 2014, Yasmin Mansour has built a reputation for sculptural silhouettes and intricate craftsmanship that honors artisanal traditions. From her Qatar-based studio, she explores texture, pleating, and bold contrasts, shaping a design language that balances elegance with innovation. KML | Saudi Arabia Founded in 2022 by siblings Ahmed and Razan Hassan, KML bridges the past and present through concept-driven designs rooted in historical research. With a deep appreciation for the evolution of human dress, the label reinterprets heritage through a minimalist, modern lens, creating thoughtful pieces that connect tradition with contemporary relevance.
Arab News
14-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Arab News
Saudi fashion label KML joins LVMH Prize shortlist
DUBAI: Launched in 2013, The LVMH Prize has unveiled its semi-finalists for 2025, with creatives from Saudi Arabia, Lebanon and Egypt making the cut. For the latest updates, follow us on Instagram @ Saudi menswear brand KML, by designer Ahmed Hassan, was named in the shortlist. The brand is known for its sharp tailoring and minimalist designs. Renaissance Renaissance, led by Beirut-based Cynthia Merhej, is a returning contender from 2021. Egyptian designer Yasmin Mansour's eponymous brand earned her a spot on the semi-finalist list, as well as a 2024 Fashion Trust Arabia Prize. The full list of semi-finalists includes Alainpaul by Alain Paul (France), All-in by Benjamin Barron (US), Bror August Vestbø (Norway), Boyedoe by David Boye-Doe Kusi (Ghana), Francesco Murano (Italy), Josh Tafoya (US), Meruert Tolegen by Meruert Planul-Tolegen (US), MFPEN by Sigurd Bank (Denmark), Nicklas Skovgaard (Denmark), Penultimate by Xiang Gao (China), Pillings by Ryota Murakami (Japan), Sinéad O'Dwyer (Ireland), Steve O Smith (United Kingdom), Tolu Coker (UK), Torisheju by Torishéju Dumi (UK), Young N Sang by Sang Lim Lee and Youngshin Hong (South Korea), and Zomer by Danial Aitouganov (The Netherlands) and Soshiotsuki by Soshi Otsuki (Japan). The designers will present their latest collections on March 5 and 6 during Paris Fashion Week. The LVMH Prize is open to international designers, aged 18 to 40, who have created at least two collections. The winner of the LVMH Prize for Young Fashion Designers receives a $314,000 endowment and a mentorship by LVMH. Meanwhile, the winner of the Karl Lagerfeld Prize receives a $157,000 prize and a one-year LVMH mentorship. The jury includes designer Phoebe Philo and Louis Vuitton menswear creative director Pharrell Williams, Loewe designer Jonathan Anderson, Dior creative director Maria Grazia Chiuri, Louis Vuitton womenswear creative director Nicolas Ghesquière, designer Marc Jacobs and Dior CEO Delphine Arnault, among others.
