Lara Khoury has long been a formidable presence in the Lebanese fashion scene. Known for her avant-garde aesthetic and fearless approach to design, Khoury launched her brand, LARAKHOURY (Instagram), in 2008, during a golden era for Beirut’s fashion industry. Her bold and experimental creations quickly earned her a dedicated following across the Arab world. However, the events of recent years—the Lebanese revolution of 2019, the pandemic, and the devastating Beirut Port explosion of 2020—forced her to take a three-year hiatus to reassess her creative vision.
Now, Khoury is back with a renewed perspective, relaunching her brand with an emphasis on individuality and empowerment. “LARAKHOURY is all about freedom, liberation, and self-expression. Our designs are bold, avant-garde, and timeless, combining structured elements with fluidity to reflect the tension between breaking free from societal constraints and embracing individuality,” she explains.
Her latest collection, ‘Embers of Power,’ is a striking tribute to the resilience of Lebanese women. Each piece is designed to encapsulate their unwavering strength and ability to rise above adversity. “Even in moments of restriction—whether personal, societal, or political—there is an infinite capacity for adaptation, creativity, and resilience that becomes a powerful force for transformation,” Khoury notes.
The collection is deeply symbolic, weaving together themes of constraint and freedom. Techniques such as smocking stitches, pleated fabrics, and zigzag textures convey the notion of overcoming limitations. “The smocking technique used throughout the collection, which involves pulling and gathering fabric to create structured designs, reflects this process of adaptation and overcoming constraints,” she says. “Just as fabric is manipulated and reshaped, the collection embodies the idea of bending without breaking under pressure.”
A strong commitment to sustainability also defines Khoury’s new direction. The collection features upcycled materials and eco-friendly fabrics, reinforcing her belief in responsible fashion. By reimagining discarded textiles and utilizing sustainable processes, Khoury ensures that LARAKHOURY is not just a brand of aesthetic rebellion, but also of ethical integrity.
Through Embers of Power, Khoury invites individuals to embrace their identities unapologetically. “This resilience, woven into every stitch and fold, transforms challenges into liberation, allowing one to rise above limitations and embrace a heightened sense of being—where true freedom is found in the unapologetic expression of self,” she says.
With this collection, Lara Khoury cements her return to the fashion world, proving that even in the face of adversity, creativity and resilience remain an unstoppable force.
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