NOSE PERFUMER
Born in 1973, Marie Duchene wanted to be a perfumer as long as she can remember. After spending her childhood in the Champagne region, Marie studied chemistry and graduated from ISIPCA, Institut Supérieur International du Parfum, de la Cosmétique et des Arômes Alimentaires in Versailles in 1994, where she learned about raw materials, combinations but also the history of perfume and fragrance chemistry. An internship took her to the Grasse region where she later settled and began her apprenticeship in various fragrance businesses. After a few years and inspired by the people she met, she decided to set up her own structure, MD Fragrances. Since 2002 she brings together her expertise and the quality raw materials that she sources to deliver great fragrances for her clients. She is supported by skilled and dedicated staff who are committed to help her make each creation exceptional. Read more on mdfragrances.fr
PHOTOGRAPHER
Michèle Aoun is a Lebanese photographer and art director whose distinct
aesthetic has been shaped by the ever- changing city of Beirut: a place that continues to foster her sensibility for striking characters and her pursuit of the unusual in her artistic subject. Her ties with her city date back to the late 2000s emerging club-scene through her work at Beirut’s infamous SkyBar, being the venue’s physiognomist for 3 years: a job she credits for her highly skilled eye. Working across portraiture, fashion and documentary projects, the Lebanese image-maker sees her work as an opportunity to step into others’ worlds with empathy and sensitivity. Michèle approaches both commissioned and personal work with a heightened attention to detail. Even when working with the un-staged and impromptu, Michèle’s picture often appear flawlessly composed. Read more on micheleaoun.com
GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATOR
Zeina Bassil alias Zenobie is an illustrator, stationery designer and comic artist living and working in Beirut. Her stationery line Zenobie sees the light in 2015 as a series of fine made paper collections, in tribute to modern day correspondance. In 2011, she launched the social critic fanzine La furie des glandeurs, exploring controversial themes such as the architecture and reconstruction of Beirut, migrant workers issues, Lebanese immigration and diaspora. She collaborated on numerous projects, such as the children’s book Princesse comme je veux questioning the notion of gender and equality, published at Samir editeur. One of her short stories is part of the first edition of Le Courage, a literary anthology, at Edition Grasset et Fasquelle. In 2018 she designed Gregory’s Buchakjian’s artist book based on the exhibition Abandoned Dwellings that took place in Sursock Museum. Read more on zenobie.me
CREATIVE WRITER
Wordsmith and editor Sarah Huneidi graduated with a Master’s degree in Comparative Literature from University College Dublin, and quickly gained experience in the world of words by working as a publishing assistant at independent publishing houses in New York and London. Sarah then moved to Beirut, freelancing as a copywriter and editor for a variety of clients – from businesses to NGOS, to designers, artists and writers. She also co-founded the writing collective Barakunan, where she acts as managing editor and content creator. Read more on barakunan.com
PERFUME MANUFACTURER
Sylvie worked in the marketing and management development of the perfume industry for more than 15 years in Grasse. Her passion for perfumes pushed her to dedicate herself in the production of perfume creations for cosmetic industries in France in collaboration with Marie Duchêne, a perfumer based in Mougins in the South of France for the past 6 years. Her company S.F.C Fragrance Créations based in Mougins manages private labeling and marketing.
GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Melanie Dagher is a Beirut-based designer and creative director. After completing a Master degree in Fashion Media Production at the London College of Fashion and working for international publications such as Wallpaper Magazine,Tank Magazine, I-D or Dazed and collaborating with artists such as Juergen Teller, Oliver Hadlee Pearch, Maurizio Cattelan to name a few, she has been appointed the creative director of Aishti Magazine known as A magazine, L'Officiel Levant and the Aishti Foundation for over 5 years- which explores the fashion and art world, working across different disciplines and mediums. She now lives in Paris and works with several luxury brands and publications as a creative consultant.
ACCESSORY CRAFTSMEN
Creative Space Beirut is a social enterprise (CSB-SE) that provides structures and resources for the development of progressive design practices in the region. Through its school of design, fashion label, and online retail platform, the enterprise intertwines technical and creative education with various businesses and socio-cultural initiatives. CSB-SE is committed to conscious, critical growth. It works to galvanize its revenue-generating branches in order to develop a fully independent ‘circular’ financial model, which safeguards the enterprise's commitment to inclusivity and progress. This model also allows the enterprise to diversify and empower educational branches by expanding programs and enhancing curriculums while generating healthy livelihoods, equal opportunity, and ethical practices in the creative industry. Read more on creativespacebeirut.com
SOAP ARTISANS
With a long trail of experience in the cosmetics and beauty care manufacturing industry since 1480, KAS has come to create thoughtful products while preserving the environment. The environmental village of Khan Al Saboun was established in order for traditional, environmental-friendly production to evolve. The drive of being in harmony with nature is what made Khan Al Saboun prosper and achieve recognition around the world. All their products are made with 100% natural and organic ingredients, from their garden to the end user. With every piece, they create a Mediterranean Lebanese story in the heart of Tripoli. Their story has so far reached to the Gulf, USA, Europe, Canada, Australia & China as they spread the joy of a luxurious and comforting experience from toddlers to elderlies all year round. For every season, has its own magic, a magic they aim to keep alive all year round. Read more on khanalsaboun.net
