I’m writing this editor’s letter from Paris Fashion Week, but my mind and heart are in Lebanon. On a personal level, doing my job and sitting at shows while the horrific situation in the country unfolds feels frustrating and exhausting. My mind can’t stop going around in circles, thinking of what my role could be in making the situation slightly better. Unfortunately, I am still not able to find an answer.
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Experiencing all of this through my phone screen, from the comfort of a hotel room, is already extremely disorienting. I cannot imagine how traumatic it is for people who are actually in Lebanon, or the Lebanese who are abroad, away from their families. Our Vogue Arabia office counts among its staff, regretfully, many people in this situation. Sons away from their parents, mothers away from their children…
Lebanon is a country of unmatchable beauty that offers the most spectacular and diverse landscapes, ones that can be enjoyed in every season. My memories take me back to glorious beach days in the summer, to the whimsical snow of winter. Many of these locations have been the backdrop for some of the most unforgettable Vogue Arabia shoots.
However, the beauty of the country also comes from its people, always warm, welcoming, and resilient – even when life throws so many difficulties at the Lebanese. I read in a comment on social media the other day: “We are tired of being resilient.” I thought these words were so powerful, and perfectly illustrate the sense of despair people have been feeling over the past decades.
For centuries, Lebanon has been a center of Arabia’s creativity, with some of the most talented designers, photographers, and luminaries coming in general from Lebanon. And of course, let’s not forget the music and the great divas such as Sabah, Majida El Roumi, Najwa Karam, and the icon Fairuz. As I said before, I really don’t know what the solution is for addressing what’s happening at the moment, so I’ll try to focus on those images of happiness, beauty, and creativity out of the country we all love and cherish. With these memories, I also send wishes of hope and light to Lebanon and its people.
