Zuhair Murad: we must prove that we will stay in Lebanon and rebuild the country

The Lebanese designer is determined to keep producing his world-renowned designs in his homeland

Lebanese designer Zuhair Murad helped put his country on the global fashion map. EPA

Celebrities across the world choose designs by Zuhair Murad. Jennifer Lopez is seen filming on location for 'Marry Me', wearing bridalwear by Murad. GC Images

Taylor Swift wears Zuhair Murad resort 2022 on 'The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon'. Photo: Instagram

At the 78th Venice International Film Festival in 2021, Sara Croce wore a hot pink embellished gown by Zuhair Murad. Getty Images

Actress Saba Mubarak in Zuhair Murad at the Red Sea International Film Festival 2021. Getty Images

Natalia Paragoni donned a navy embellished caped gown by Zuhair Murad during the 78th Venice International Film Festival in September 2021. Getty Images

Victoria’s Secret model Jasmine Tookes wed Snapchat’s Juan David Borrero in a Zuhair Murad gown. Photo: Zuhair Murad

Designer Zuhair Murad acknowledges the applause after his womenswear autumn/winter 2009 fashion show during Milan Fashion Week, on March 3, 2009, in Italy. Getty

A model in a Zuhair Murad creation during Milan Fashion Week on March 3, 2009 in Italy. Getty

Zuhair Murad is known for his feminine, form-fitting and embroidered designs. Getty

A model during the Zuhair Murad show as part of Paris Fashion Week, haute couture autumn/winter 2014-2015, on July 10, 2014 in France. Getty

Zuhair Murad waves to the crowd during Paris Fashion Week on July 10, 2014. Getty

Murad produces ready-to-wear, haute couture and bridal collections. Getty

A model during the Zuhair Murad haute couture autumn/winter 2016-2017 show, as part of Paris Fashion Week on July 6, 2016, in France. Getty

Murad's couture remains timeless. Getty

Delicate embroidery and florals play a huge part of his collections. Getty

Embellishments galore. Getty

A model during the Zuhair Murad spring/summer 2017 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on January 25, 2017 in France. Getty

Colour was strong during Zuhair Murad's spring/summer 2017. Getty

The runway was covered in foliage. Getty

A romantic dream. Getty

A model at the Zuhair Murad haute couture autumn/winter 2018/2019 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on July 4, 2018, in France. Getty

Spring/summer 2018 was a regal collection. Getty

Feminine and empowered. Getty

Sara Sampaio on the catwalk during the Zuhair Murad spring/summer 2018 show as part of Paris Fashion Week. Getty

A model during the Zuhair Murad haute couture autumn/winter 2021/2022 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on July 7, 2021, in France. Getty

Zuhair Murad delivers unabashed opulence while returning to the runway after the fashion world's hiatus during the pandemic. Getty

Models wore delicate, crystal-adorned masks, inspired by Venice's carnival history, as they presented the Lebanese designer's imaginings for autumn/winter 2021-2022 in the romantic courtyard of the Lycee Louis-le-Grand in Paris. Getty

It may have been unveiled in Paris, but Zuhair Murad's 2021 couture collection harked back to the lavish days of 16th-century Renaissance Italy. Getty

For autumn/winter 2021, Murad paid tribute to the masquerading traditions of Venice, Italy's famous canal-strewn city. Getty

Bridalwear at the Zuhair Murad haute couture spring/summer 2022 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on January 26, 2022, in France. Getty

Murad’s spring/summer 2022 collection of finely corseted and beaded gowns on glamazon models in pirate hats captured a bit of that bygone couture romance. Getty

His vintage navigation chart prints and constellation embroideries on siren gowns and treasure-chest of jewels dripping over jackets offered escapism from our current reality. Getty

The damaged headquarters of Lebanese fashion designer Zuhair Murad near Beirut's port, on August 10, 2020, after the huge chemical explosion that devastated large parts of the Lebanese capital. AFP

Zuhair Murad’s sparkling creations may have dressed celebrities worldwide, but he has always been adamant that his headquarters remain in his homeland.

Despite the Lebanese designer's offices suffering severe damage in the Beirut port explosion in 2020, he stayed on in the country.

Directly after the blast, Murad raised money for the relief efforts by rallying his international clientele, designing a limited-edition T-shirt and donating the proceeds to the humanitarian non-government organisation Offrejoie.

Last week, the country marked the two-year anniversary since the devastating event. With much of the city still undergoing repairs, Murad has launched the #RedressLebanon campaign to generate another round of aid, creating a couture gown from construction materials.

Lebanese designer Zuhair Murad created a dress from the Beirut port blast debris for a project called Redress Lebanon. Photo: Zuhair Murad

“What inspired the dress is the cloth that covers most of the destroyed buildings of Beirut since the blast,” Murad tells The National. “I tried to turn the pain of that sight into beauty and art, with the aim to redress Lebanon."

Despite the several crises that have plagued Lebanon since 2019, Murad intends to rebuild his atelier and continue to produce his award-winning designs locally.

Murad has said he's been “very moved by the number of celebrities worldwide who supported Lebanon”. Over the years, he's dressed the likes of Taylor Swift, Shakira, Katy Perry, Priyanka Chopra and Blake Lively for prestigious events and red-carpet ceremonies.

Most recently, Jennifer Lopez chose one of his gowns from his ready-to-wear bridal collection for her marriage to Ben Affleck — an off-the-shoulder lace dress with a fishtail train, a corseted bodice and a matching veil.

Jennifer Lopez is seen on the set of 'Marry Me' in a Zuhair Murad gown. GC Images

“Fashion put Lebanon on the international map," he says. "Fashion can transmute a country’s culture and civilisation or help show how forward-thinking and educated a country is.

“By having my fashion dress some of the best of Hollywood and society, and my various clients around the world, it was a message. It was never just ‘Zuhair Murad’, it will always be ‘Lebanese designer Zuhair Murad,’ and I will always be so proud that from such a tiny country in the Middle East, which isn’t very well known, I managed to show the real Lebanon to the world through fashion.”

Covid-19 has affected the fashion industry worldwide, delaying major events and the production of new collections, and Murad says Lebanon's problems are an added layer to these challenges, but not insurmountable.

Electricity cuts and supply chain shortages are only some of the issues Lebanon is facing, which Murad has to contend with, but his main concern is the mass exodus of young people who are seeking better lives abroad. He hopes there will still be designers willing to stay and become the next generation of fashion in Lebanon.

“I was brought up with a mindset of perseverance, of not giving up when faced with a challenge and of always overcoming difficulties,” he says. “We need to move forward because life will always be full of surprises and we never know what the future might hold.

“There is a new generation that is growing and needs to be supported. Lebanon has faced many wars and challenges, and I can only hope this is the last problem the country faces and that we can rise again,” he says. “We must prove that we will stay, we will continue and we will rebuild the country.”

Murad recently showcased his 2022-23 autumn/winter collection at Paris Haute Couture Week, resplendent with tarot imagery and horoscope symbols, in contrasting fabrics such as velvet and silk, and with large sections of detailed beadwork.

A model presents a gold creation during the Zuhair Murad women's haute couture autumn/winter 2023 fashion week in Paris. All photos: AFP

Zuhair Murad decided at the last minute to stage an exclusive presentation, despite Omicron raging through the city, as a bit of a morale booster.

Zuhair Murad on the runway.

His venue was the gilded ballroom of The Westin Paris.

Murad’s collection of finely corseted and beaded gowns on glamazon models captured a bit of that bygone couture romance.

His vintage navigation chart prints and constellation embroideries on siren gowns and treasure-chest of jewels dripping over jackets offered escapism from our current reality.

Opulence reigns supreme.

Bridalwear is showcased.

Pops of colour punctuate the collection.

“This year, we presented the collection inspired by prediction. This theme has always been very intriguing to me as I’m very interested in all the predictive ways to know the future,” he says. “It’s always a rush to be in Paris for Couture Week, but while every minute is memorable and every second is filled with hard work and dedication, from myself and from my entire team, some moments stand out, like the moment when the first model comes up on the runway wearing the first look of the collection.

“It’s the moment where I’ve done everything, and I’m ready for everyone to see it, where everyone’s making their first reaction. There’s nothing quite like it.

“We’ve had two years where most projects were delayed, put on hold or stopped altogether. Today, we are continuing the expansion of our ready-to-wear worldwide, as well as our accessories.”

The spring/summer 2023 collection is already in the works, and while Murad keeps most details under wraps, he shares some of his plans for the bridal collection, which will continue exploring the use of constellations and symbols such as the stars and moon, with a fantastical, fairy-tale twist.

Concoctions of silk tulle, taffeta and lace will be adorned with crystalline beading and sequins, from princess gowns with cinched waists to slinky, pleated pieces with long trains.

All of it, a continuing ode to his first love: Lebanon.