When a devastating explosion tore through the Lebanese capital last summer, the city’s independent artists and designers, whose jewel-box shops and busy studios fill the neighbourhoods closest to the blast zone, were among those particularly impacted. This was the latest tragedy in a year already marked by the pandemic and a collapsed economy.
“As a community, we felt like we’d all been hit together,” says designer Tatiana Fayad, co-founder of the high-fashion women’s brand Vanina (vanina.me), whose store in the bohemian enclave of Gemmayzeh was heavily damaged. The network of designers, many of whom have been friendly for years, have always tried to bolster one another in the absence of more formal support, says Fayad. “We don’t have organisations that help us or teach us how to sell abroad—so we learn from each other.” That ethos of team spirit has persisted, with homespun recovery efforts that are as inclusive as possible.
Continue reading your story on the app
Continue reading your story in the magazine
GET UP, STAND UP
After a year of crises, Beirut’s creative set is more determined than ever to survive and thrive, finds Betsy Blumenthal
‘P' FOR PUMPKIN
Roshni Bajaj Sanghvi on finding produce, parenting, and persistence through a pandemic.
FRENCH CONNECTIONS
Two sisters from different parts parts of the world reunite on a trip to the South of France and revel in the aesthetic pleasures of its countryside.
BUILT ON WATER, OIL AND ISLANDS, LAGOS IS NIGERIA'S GETRICH LOUD-AND-PROUD CITY, WHERE DRAMA UNFOLDS ON EVERY CORNER AND SIMPLY OBSERVING IS NOT AN OPTION
Switching from the slumber of middle England to the sensory explosion that is Lagos was a transition I had to make during childhood summers.
The Future Is Green
Vegetarian diets are becoming more popular, but it’s not that simple. Smitha Menon gives you more to chew on in your quest for a healthier lifestyle and a better planet
Where Wild Cats Roam
An African safari may not be on the cards, but luckily India has over 40 percent of the world’s wild cat species. From Himalayan snow peaks to Rajasthani deserts, Aarti Sheth Cooper shares her favourite tracking destinations.
A Butcher Walks Into A Meat Lab
Will plant-based protein save the world? I left my home on a farm in upstate New York and travelled to the heart of Silicon Valley to find out.
Jim Corbett National Park and Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary Are Best Explored On Foot
Chandrahas Choudhury explores Jim Corbett National Park and Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary leisurely, by foot, both losing and finding himself in the wide, green expanse.
A Vegetarian's Guide To Goa
There’s more to experimenting with vegetarian fare than butter paneer and chilli potato, as is clear at these 25 hotspots in our sunshine state.
No Lockdown On Love
Even with pandemics and plot twists, you can still have your happily ever after, says Praachi Raniwala
Beirut – After The Blast
Last summer’s explosion in Beirut killed hundreds of people and damaged much of the city. My efforts to repair my apartment reveal a lot about how Lebanon works—and doesn’t.
We must go on,' says Lebanese Designer Elie Saab after blast
'We must go on,' says Lebanese designer Elie Saab after blast
When Worst Gets Worse
The blast in Beirut laid bare the wreckage from decades of sectarian politics
The Great Wall(s)
Cosmo spoke to four female street artists in India who are turning mundane brick-andmortar into revolutionary works of vibrant, meaningful art.
Track & Trace
Identifying which foods allow your body to operate at an optimal level is key to overall wellness
Mountainside magnificence
In the luxury ski resort of Faqra in Lebanon, architect Nabil Dada opens the doors for identity to take a tour of his rustic yet modern holiday home which includes an impressive selection of furniture and artworks
Eclectic ensemble
The Gabrielle et Guillaume collectible design gallery makes its West Coast debut with a model penthouse in San Francisco’s coveted SOM-designed residential building
DESIGN IN CONTEXT
Products where design blurs the lines between art and functionality
Mid-pandemic and medicine shortages sow panic in Beirut
As boxes disappear from shelves, a black market has emerged, offering medicine or medical equipment sometimes counterfeits at many times the normal price
Free Patriotic Movement rules out joining Lebanon cabinet
‘We don’t entrust Hariri alone with reform,’ says Bassil; Future party says the government line-up was ready and waiting to shoulder its duties