Maison Rabih Kayrouz to drop prices to make ready-to-wear collections more accessible

Called MRK, the Lebanese designer's new collections will be up to 30 per cent cheaper

A waisted poplin dress from the Maison Rabih Kayrouz spring / summer 2021 ready-to-wear collection. Courtesy Maison Rabih Kayrouz

Maison Rabih Kayrouz, the beloved Beirut-born fashion house, has seemingly, like everyone, used the pandemic to refocus priorities.

As well as crafting elegantly pared-down haute couture, where every piece feels light and easy despite a wealth of intricate workmanship, it has earned a reputation for making ready-to-wear that carries the same languid style and comfort.

Lebanese designer Rabih Kayrouz, who was injured during the Beirut explosion in August 2020. Instagram / maisonrabihkayrouz

Now, the designer behind the eponymous brand is keen to make that same aesthetic accessible to a wider audience, by expanding his range to incorporate an everyday wardrobe.

Released under the house initials of MRK, the collection will consist of everyday must-haves such as dresses, skirts, trousers, shirts and even coats. The prices, too, will shift, dropping by an estimated 20 to 30 per cent across the board, to widen its appeal.

At present, a cotton poplin long dress is priced at €1,055 (Dh4,685) on the website, while a silk crepe short dress costs €950 (Dh4,219).

Speaking with WWD, the designer explained: “I don’t love fashion — I love clothing. There are women that I love and I want to dress them.

“This is what I’d like to affirm, more and more in my work."

A belted trenchcoat from the Maison Rabih Kayrouz spring / summer 2021 ready to wear collection. Courtesy Maison Rabih Kayrouz

Despite being badly injured in Beirut's August 2020 blast, and having his atelier partially destroyed, Kayrouz is keen to focus on creating classic, seasonless pieces that can be worn and loved for years.

“I don’t want to cast aside an item of clothing at the end of a season because it’s supposedly no longer fashionable. I take time, I respect the time it takes to work, and to develop things, so I’d like to respect time for the clothing to live,” Kayrouz told WWD.

The new ready-to-wear collection will show twice a year, as part of Paris Fashion Weeks, in January and July. The resulting collections will arrive in store via three drops per season.

For the first taste of what the new offering will hold, Maison Rabih Kayrouz will show on Saturday, at Paris Fashion Week.

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