rattled off a list of places their friends have departed to: Cairo, Dubai, Paris, Qatar, London. “Young people don’t want to stay, because they see no future here,” Merhej says. “The explosion ripped apart the fabric of our creative society.”
It is quite difficult to just go on and continue, but I did. I’m working to cope and maintain a business. I can’t just close the business and turn my back on my team, but I couldn’t be in Lebanon this month [for the anniversary]. It was too much for me. I wanted to get away, but even if I’m far, my heart is there. My family is there., when I was at the hospital after the blast. And I feel like I’m having the same conversation today, using almost the same words.
My work is my way to live. I love my work, and part of my healing was my work. The process that I went through, it wasn’t just the explosion, but everything that happened in the world last year—all of this made me think differently about my work and how I see it. I love clothes, and I’m not interested in these quick trends that [fade] in six months. I’ve always loved clothes, and I love women. So I just wanted to do a wardrobe [for fall 2021 couture] and re-concentrate on what I love.
After the blast, I started a GoFundMe for three other creative businesses, and the support was really incredible. But now, one year on, I think a lot of people are realizing it’s still really difficult to live here, because beyond the fact that the general infrastructure was destroyed, we’re still suffering a horrible financial collapse. There are no basic things—no electricity, no internet, no gas for cars.
My atelier is still in Beirut, where I do all my creative development, and now I’m producing everything in Italy, which has been incredible. It’s been a good end to a horrible year. I feel really lucky to have supportive people around me, my friends and family, my husband—they helped me get through everything. I can finally say, okay: A year later, I feel fresh again.”“We decided to close our office for the 4th of August this year as a sign of respect.
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