Profile: Vibrant Lebanese designer Ziad Ghanem

Ziad Ghanem is another young designer mashing up the high fashion and eco worlds into one perfectly precise blend of recycled materials and cutting-edge style cake.

The first thing you notice about Ziad Ghanem’s collection is the vivid imagination and playful response to structure and cut that informs his striking designs. One thing you wouldn’t call his work is ‘classic’. No, we’re more into the ‘crazy’ section of the dictionary now. But crazy in the most glamorous, chic and Brit-punk way of course.

His style is powerful, cheeky and unique, which is something to admire and swoon over ten-fold when you notice his clever use of recycled fabrics. Not only are his textiles sourced from charity shops, but his printing is done in the most environmentally friendly way and all manufacture is done in ethical working conditions.

Ziad says: ‘In just one of my dresses you can find Versus, M&S, Laura Ashley, Junior Gaultier, Gap and a vintage Sex Pistols T-shirt.’ Sounds like an eco bargain to us.

He has also recently joined forces with Robert Boon, a graphic designer, under the name ‘Maiden Britain’ to ’support revolutionary concepts of art, fashion and contemporary cultures and end creative laws limitations’, and most of all to create beautiful re-made pieces, such as their collection of hand-printed, limited edition, 100% recycled cotton T-shirts.

Maiden Britain will be showing at London Fashion Week next month, so watch out for his striking silhouettes strutting down a catwalk near you soon. PS: We’ll make sure we have it covered.

Ziad Ghanem