A Cinderella story with Pailiani, on the streets of Beirut City.

It all started when I dragged my cousin along to see a side of Bourj Hammoud we had never seen before. An artistic one. This place has many stories to tell, and alot of history for me. Afterall it is where my mother grew up, where she and her family sought shelter from shelling and where they saw color tv for the first time...to name only a few. But to see it from an artistic, and inspirational perspective, is really something else. You walk through the buzzing streets and you can hear the sounds from each atelier; the ticking of a sowing machine's needle, the jewelery maker's hammer banging consistently on his wooden work desk. Just across my grandma's house, is my cousin's shoe making workshop. I used to peak in during the summer to see what they were working on..the fabrics, sketches and prototypes. Of course their style is different since they cater to a local Lebanese market, but I loved watching them hard at work. A couple of doors down, but on the same street, is where Vartan's been making purses for the past 24 years that I've been passing by his window...These are but a few of the artisans who have turned Bourj Hammoud into the vibrant market that it is today. During my last trip to Lebanon, I attended the Varbed createur event that showcased the younger generation of Lebanese-Armenian craftsman. Missak Haji-Avedikian is one of the designers I had the pleasure to meet and keep in touch with.

Another designer was Hrag Pailian, a shoe designer carrying on his father's legacy. A former Guiseppe Zanotti intern and graduate from Italy in shoe design, he came back to Lebanon and started his own line, under the name of Pailiani Design. I fell in love with his designs and suggested he work with me for a spring-summer lookbook. A couple of days later, we planned a quick photoshoot in Gemmayzeh and took some beautiful pictures. I also paid a visit to his atelier, where we listened to the music that inspires his designs. And he told me the story behind this guitar....


and how he got Steve Vai to sign it. He told me about all his adventures in Italy and the concerts he attended. Roger Waters, Pink Floyd, Skid Row, Scorpions, Deep Purple...to name only a few. He even missed his train once after a Santana concert, and decided to sleep outside. The concert tickets he held on to, (seen above) are part of the memories that inspire him...I asked if he regretted leaving Italy and if he'd want to go back there. Yes, was an obvious answer. But he was in Lebanon to continue what his grandfather started decades ago. This week he gets to add another ticket to his collection, BB King, the legendary blues singer who has a concert in Beirut.
He plays the guitar, obviously, and wears a pick around his neck. He listens to live concert sets while sketching in the early a.m., when everybody else is sleeping. The Atelier is his stage, his pencil is the guitar, the lines on the paper are his melody....and I'm his groupie :)

Moving on to the collection. Now I don't have the most beautiful feet or legs, but somehow all the shoes were a perfect fit!
Here are my picks and favorites from the collection, and the pictures I chose for my blog. You can check out the rest of the gorgeous collection on the Pailiani facebook group.

Detailed to perfection...

Photos taken by: Nareg D.B.

These photos haven't been edited, they are just the ones I kept for my blog.  You can find the ones that are being used for the lookbook on the Pailiani Design facebook group.
The designer also works on custom orders for private clients and is currently looking to expand his business to other countries in the Middle East, so if you're a buyer or you know one, do get in touch!

Hope you like the photos! :) 

MyStyle: From Byblos, with Love...

"Vers les docks, où le poids et l'ennui me courbent le dos.
Ils arrivent, le ventre alourdi de fruits,
Les bateaux...

Emmenez-moi au bout de la terre

Emmenez-moi au pays des merveilles

Il me semble que la misère

Serait moins pénible au soleil..." (Charles Aznavour - live at the Jounieh Festival this summer!)



Photos Via CaféBeirut

Taken by Nareg D.B.

In this Mélange:

Jumpsuit: Miss Selfridge (More ethnic prints in previous post)

Shoes: Pailiani Design

Head piece: A foulard from a random store in Kensington Market (Toronto)

Necklace: A Bazarre in Morouj (Lebanon mountains)

Belt: H&M

Some musical inspiration...

"Emmenez-moi by Charles Aznavour"

Trash, treasure or Trashy Treasure?

On my last night in Lebanon...I decided to hang out near the beach Lebanese style with two bags full of "bazella" and "foul," I never knew these were considered snacks before...but I found myself addicted to them! We sat by the water, taking in the sound of waves crashing into the rocks. The surface was covered with dots of light coming from the fishermen's boats...and a small breeze would pass by every couple of minutes to remind us of how beautiful spring is in Beirut...Far into the distance, another marvelous sight stands tall...A dark, prominent feature of Beirut's skyline overlooks the sea...Mount GARBAGE. Yes, a mountain of Garbage. Now I myself don't know much about this issue in Lebanon, but I do know that recycling does not exist. Anywhere in the Middle East, for that matter. Everytime, I throw away things that could easily be recycled, I get a sick feeling inside. Although Lebanon is not exactly environmentally friendly, I know many organizations are making an effort to clean out the beaches and the streets. But they're a large minority. Which brings me to a small space in Mar Mikhael, called L'Atelier where an art exhibit called "Trashy Treasures" is taking place....

A chair made out of a barrel...

My tour guide tells me many of the small garages in Mar Mikhael are being turned into ateliers and workshops. Love Live Art! That's just what Lebanon needs, more art, less cars!!!! I first heard about this event through a fashion designer whom I interviewed and who is also a part of the participants. Designers including architects, interior designers, and artists (for a full list, check out their facebook page) had turned unexpected things into masterpieces! I enjoy coming out to these events and being surrounded with inovative people who appreciate the beauty of art. I myself recently enjoyed renovating an old table which I named a Plastik Table. Check out some of my favorite pieces below!

This is a chest (coffre) ... Do I need to say anything else? ;)

A Ghandour biscuit table (left) Bon Jus and Coca Cola (right)

you will never guess what the stools on the left are made of!...the thing that turns in a washing machine!! (left) The display on the window by Lara Khoury (whom I interviewed last week) Old wine boxes with staples of Lebanese heritage inside them...(right)

 It's good to see this concept of recycling being reflected through Art in Beirut...They always said one person's trash is another person's treasure. I though maybe they should've made something with car wheels, the infamous "Douleb" could be used for more than cars, swings, keeping away mosquitoes or ....in the case of Lebanon...blocking roads. At least instead of causing more unnecessary pollution, we can be doing something good for the ever-suffering environment of Lebanon. Nevertheless, this makes me want to look around my house for old things I can renovate and make beautiful!

To see the full list of designers, dates and the location, check out the Trashy Treasures event page... but there's alot more to see than the photos above! Make sure to check it out in person, and have yourself a delicious cocktail courtesy of Dictateur's bartender :)

a belated HAPPY NEW YEAR

....FROM THE MOUNTAINS OF LEBANON...

I've chosen this photo above to represent my new year for many many reasons...

Although I am not a pessimist and have a very spiritual outlook on life...from time to time,even the most hopeful and faithful amongst us feel as somber and helpless as this lonesome tree...

We all have to face life's inevitable and unexpected turns, and the worst one I can think of is one that involves the loss of a loved one... but the question is:

How do we get back on track? 

Do we, or should we,  prepare ourselves mentally and emotionally for these situations? 

How do we go to work and attempt to function like any other day?

How do we as emotional beings, gather up the might, to conceal a weeping heart?

How do we keep ourselves from getting demoralized from life itself, and from devaluing our hopes & dreams?

How do we prevent ourselves from living in a state of paranoia when experiencing the worst of the worst? 

Is it by convincing ourselves that it could'v been worse?or by stating the obvious: "This is fate."

Do we just have to believe that this is the cycle of life, like this tree does?

---------------

For this New year, I ask from that Higher power that watches upon us all (or whatever power you believe in) to have Mercy on us all. To give us the patience and strength that we need to be able to deal with life's twists & turns...and to surround us with Love, because as cliche as that sounds, I believe the answer to the questions above are plain and simple: 

LOVE and COMPASSION... And that's the only wish I have for everyone this year... 

From expat, to local - My 1st job in Beirut

So I’ve officially starting working in Lebanon, a country that was a holiday destination for me. I used to spend my days here lounging, partying, visiting family members, then taking off on a plane at the end of the summer; now the dynamics have completely changed! I’m a local! I get stuck in Lebanese traffic, (a 7 min ride stretches out to an hour) and I endure the nerve wrecking electricity crisis. On the flipside, I get to live the good life. Which I’ll be elaborating on in future posts. But right now, I’ll focus on my new job…

In the past couple of years, I’ve taken on this new spiritual moto in life that’s proved to be extremely successful. I’ve acquired this strong belief in the universe and the laws of attraction with the mere practice of consciousness. I have this habit of spending about 10 minutes before I sleep fantasizing. Imagining things I want to do/ accomplish, a lifestyle I’d like to live, a situation I’d like to be in, a place I’d like to visit…etc They would start off as visions in my head, driven by so much passion that eventually they would take form in real life. Sometimes I’m even scared of the things I imagine, in case they come true.

During my 2^nd year of university I began volunteering at the Toronto Fashion Week. I was overwhelmed by the glamorous lifestyle of the fashion industry, as I watched the shows from behind the curtains, when I should’ve been working. I tried to imagine what it would be like to be some hot shot designer, or to work for a hot shot designer, or anything hot shot for that matter. Just out of mere curiosity, as I am curious about many things. And so this is it. The vision has come to life. It's meant to be there, so I will live it with all my heart...

As the new managing director of a very talented designer here in Lebanon. After a long job hunt, and months upon months of interviews…finally something spoke to my heart. The atelier is a nostalgic trip down the roads of a country filled with so much sorrow, that it lives off the memories and stories of a long lost peoples…Armenia…Beautiful Armenia. You come alive through the eyes of your people, through the strong voice of your descendants who hold your name high above their heads and speak of you with such great honor. The antique chandeliers, a grandmother’s sowing machine, a framed photo of Echmiadzin, pomegranade ornaments and framed black & white photographs of an Armenian Grandmother. A vintage atelier situated in the center of one of Lebanon’s most historical sectors.

From the balcony, I’m facing two old buildings, with brick lined rooftops and burgundy shutters. They look minuscule in contrast to the structures around them…I instantly compare them to two old men, sitting on their stools and playing Tawle (checkers) surrounded by young hunks sipping on whiskey and smoking cigars while talking and laughing loudly. Their weakening façade, is engulfed in those plants that stretche across buildings…And one of those days, they will have covered the whole surface and formed a sort of cocoon, sheltering an important piece of history. One that’s been drowning in a sea of zmamir, overshadowed by towering dollar signs. In my pocket sized map book, called Zawarib, I could see that the whole area is dominated by banks and pharmacies. "Maybe if there were more public parks, we wouldn’t need as many pharmacies" words of wisdom courtesy of Zawarib… 

I’m having constant deja-vus, I’ve seen this all before in my head….
Maybe soon it will be time for my “dancing in a musical” vision! Can’t wait for that one! 

Take me to the mountains...

Breathe in…breathe out…
Breathe in silence, breathe out noise

Breathe in fresh air, breathe out pollution

Breathe in solitude, breathe out crowding

Breathe in Laqlouq, breathe out Beirut…

And so this is the day I experienced the Lebanese Mountain Getaway. And I must say it was one hell of an experience, I wish I could repeat every single weekend. It begins with a nerve wrecking shopping trip with 10 adults and 2 toddlers, of course I’m in charge of the toddlers. Meats, check. Veggies, check. Snacks, check. Drinks, check. Chestnuts, check. Delis, check. Fresh bread, check. Babies, check. Amid the chaos, it is possible to lose one of the two. We hit the road and have a pleasant trip up having NRJ Fridays to be thankful for serenading us with the best oldschool hip-hop and mashup ever. In a car filled with kids from the 90s’, you know that turned into an hour-long, sing-along. 

We get through the neverending, snakelike mountain roads and spot our destination. A 3-story house, standing there, high up on a hill, in solitude….waiting for us. The anticipation. As we step out of the car and take in the freezing cold mountain air,I look up and realize I’ve never seen such a star filled sky in my life. There’s not an empty dot of space up there. If I had a telescope it would be like putting on 3D glasses, that’s how close the stars seemed to be.

After settling in, all 12 of us, we take to the common room, which had a panoramic view of the mountains and villages in the distance. The women are in the kitchen putting away the food and preparing for tomorrow’s barbecue, someone’s baby proofing the place, another is setting up the drinks. Some of the guys are watching TV, another is entertaining himself with a deck of cards. As everyone finishes with their individual activities, we gather around a chimney and spend the night talking, laughing, singing,drinking, laughing and more drinking and even more laughing. Which eventually leads to a building blocks competition; hey it does say 2+ on the box!

The next morning as some of the men had gone hunting, and the women were looking after the kids. I sneak out through the back door, to get some fresh air; and settle on the ledge overlooking the heavenly scenery. ..

Breathe in, Breathe out…

Not a sound in the air…(except for this poor shivering kitten that’s rubbing on my leg.)

           We spend another night filled with Roasted Chestnuts, wine, grilled pineapple, whiskey, and a shisha on every corner…We end the weekend with a Lebanese mashawi session. Obviously. There’s no such weekend as a kebab-less weekend.

And so, I bid a sad farewell to this wonderful weekend, which reminded me of the importance of human relationships. The fulfillment that we get from spending quality time enjoying others’ presence.  Most of our days are dedicated to mundane, duties and obligations that prevent us from making time for others, and time for nature.

We as human beings, strive on human connections, especially positive ones. So make it a point, to put aside as much time as you can for people who make you smile, laugh and feel good about yourself.

Aren't mountain getaways the best way to spend a cozy winter weekend?? :)