Top Trends by Designer Elissar El-Hammoud You Must See

Born in Tyre, Lebanon, Elissar El-Hammoud grew up navigating the complexities of Palestinian and Lebanese heritage. Her designs reflect a deep connection to her homeland, drawing from cultural nostalgia and a longing known as Heimweh. Moving between Bonn and Berlin, she found herself shaped by both German influences and the collective memory of the Arab diaspora.

In 2018, she introduced her fashion label, Elissarrr, merging storytelling, craft, and personal heritage. Her collections serve as a bold declaration, reclaiming identity through fabric, colors, and prints. The LIRAAA Dress, inspired by the 1,000 lira note, is a tribute to Lebanon’s inflation crisis and the country’s shifting currency. Through design, she transforms economic struggle into wearable self-expression.

Her Zeitoun Dress, a two-piece set with a daring slit and cut-out, blends lycra with traditional prints to challenge ideas of validation and preservation. She stitches together elements of the past, incorporating photographs and pasting techniques as a reflection of a shared community experience. Every piece feels like a valuable artifact, carrying the weight of history and hope.

The 2020 pandemic, the 17 October Revolution, and the Beirut explosion deeply influenced her work, pushing her to embrace a cultural catharsis. Her 2022 collection channels the spirit of Elissa, also known as Dido, the legendary princess who fled Pygmalion, King of Tyre, and founded Carthage using a bull’s hide. Like the ancient Phoenicians, Elissar carves her own path, waiting to reclaim a fitting place in the future of fashion.