Another season, another collection by Mira Mikati for Façonnable. What started as a one-time venture has resulted in seasonal capsule collections for “Ç,” the edgier line of the French fashion house. ‘”This collaboration is not about to stop,’’ smiled Mikati, when showing her new Spring 2015 collection to Style.com/Arabia in Paris. ‘’I have a lot of creative freedom and I enjoy developing my ideas within a capsule collection.”
This season, Mikati, who is also the owner of Beirut’s Plum concept store, moved away from Japan (her inspiration for last season) and headed instead to sunny California. ‘’Venice Beach, surf culture, the shiny sun, and a healthy lifestyle are building the guiding thread of this collection,’’ said the Lebanese designer. “I’ve been spending my last summers in California and I’m just thrilled by the easy going, unpretentious attitude that you can experience there.’’
Her new stint for Ç x Façonnable includes 1990s-flavored, surfer-inspired embroideries and appliqués on a range of loose-fitting sundresses, board shorts, denim Bermudas, and light bomber jackets, as well as several beachwear resembling garments with bold hibiscus flower prints. In addition, Mikati has also designed a matching slip-on sneaker for the first time, as well as a range of colorful straw basket bags, which were produced with the ethical accessories label, Sensi.
So far, so good. But what about Mikati’s plans to bring Plum to Dubai? ‘’The Dubai boutique plans have been put on hold at the moment because we’re still trying to find the perfect spot for our new location, which is not an easy task as Dubai’s urban landscape is changing continuously. But I stay confident [that] we will eventually open our boutique.’’
In the meantime, Mikati’s collection for Ç x Façonnable is available at several international luxury retailers, including Le Bon Marché (Paris), Blue Bird and Joseph (London), Plum (Beirut), Al Othman (Kuwait), Level Shoe District (Dubai), and Harvey Nichols (Dubai and Riyadh), as well as online on Net-a-Porter.com and Matchesfashion.com.
© Ç x Mira Mikati. Photographer: Max Farago / Model: Gillian Zinser
—Elisabeta Tudor
