Lebanon is over a month into its revolution, which started when the government voiced that it would tax WhatsApp users. As a result, people took to the streets, and all of their frustration around the country’s economic state and longstanding political woes came out with them.
The Lebanese are a resilient people and gifted with an eye for fashion, influencing the Middle East with design and couture for decades. Case in point: Myrna Bocti and Rania Karam. Despite the challenges faced by Lebanon, these two fashion designers just opened their MyRan boutique in Beirut. Fully aware that times are trying, their hope in the future of their business parallels their hope for the future of Lebanon.
Fully aware that times are trying, their hope in the future of their business parallels their hope for the future of Lebanon.
“We wanted to open before the revolution, but we had to wait to open, and that’s okay. Fashion in Lebanon is going to be okay, but we are aware that people have small budgets to spend because fashion is not a priority if you have a family and have to consider many things before buying clothes,” says Bocti. “We’re still positive and hoping for the country to become better. Don’t forget, the Lebanese people always see better than what they are facing.”
Their conscientious pricing is intentional. As a ready-to-wear brand that exists for contemporary, urban-inspired woman, affordable pricing is an attractive offer; nothing in their collections exceed much over AED 1,500. In keeping with their decision to open a boutique in the midst of a social revolution, ‘Rebellious’ is the name of their Fall/Winter 2019 collection. “You can mix and match with this collection – leather with velvet, a skirt with a sweater, a T-shirt with a suit. It really is a rebellious collection,” says Bocti.
Looking ahead to the future of the label, Bocti and Karam will be presenting much more in the region and GCC, hoping to do some runways shows. “We have a pop-up coming up in Dubai, then we’re showing in Saudi Arabia in January,” says Karam. “And we’ll be in Amman and Africa,” Bocti chimes in. “And we sell online too,” adds Karam. As the people of Lebanon navigate through challenging times, MyRan is clearly a women-backed label worth supporting.
