Fashion Show held at the Chrystal Hall, Forum de Beirut on February 18th, 2023
After a three year interruption due to national and international crises, Lebanese designer Louisa Bassil comes back with a stunning Haute couture 2023 collection, a true Ode to Women & Silk!
Just as she insisted on having her models represent different age groups, skin tones and also different body shapes, designer Louisa Bassil tackled the “super textile” in all its colors and variations, ranging from wild silk, to chiffon, lace, silk Taffeta, and many other ways silk continues to adorn the female body with.
She approached this 2023 collection through her sculptor’s self, without any sketches, just letting her hands guide her creative process paired with her mental imagery of the woman who would be cocooned in this or that piece of silk.
Playing with the different canvases she had picked for the collection, just as a “passionate chef” would have done at the freshest market picking favorite produce for the day’s best table, allowed her to reveal the vibrant colours of her eclectic masterpieces while engaging in the endless dialogue that naturally takes place between the Dress & the Woman.
Being very aware that silk is one of the strongest natural fibers, designer Louisa Bassil is clearly expressing her women empowerment statement through her silk collection, incredibly soft with a flattering sheen, giving every gown the high-end and luxurious sensual appeal, yet proudly claiming the strength and durability of this extraordinary material, mirroring the audacious modern woman and her strength and many capacities to embrace Softness and Force simultaneously.
Thinking carefully of the character & body of each and every woman or girl who’d be wearing her creations, she detailed and dissected the features of each and everyone of her imagined real life models from their hair, to their skin & hair tones, the shape and size of their bodies and faces, the way everyone of them walks or moves or simply just “is in the world”.
The evening gowns reveal the curves of the female body in tones ranging from light grey and cyclamen going through several pastels enriched with lace and crystal embroidery to slowly but surely reach darker greys and black to finally culminate with the sensual and passionate red.
Plush and luxurious, satiny and delicate, the bridal collection of the show wasn’t only about the bride, but also cared and looked at every other member of her entourage, from the maids of honor to the mother and friends and other guests, every single woman or girl inspired designer Louisa Bassil for this authentically joyous but also very sensual collection.
The district of Batroun is delighted to thank one of its greatest talents for her contribution to its renaissance and for the importance artists and creators are playing currently in the revival of Lebanon’s economy of culture and luxury.
By Rémi FEGHALI, architect, Lebanon
Rémi is an active Batroun community member, he is co-founder of several initiatives promoting the preservation of the Lebanese culture and heritage.
Instagram: @remi.feghali
Facebook: @remifeghali
