What This Year’s ALBA Fashion Show Said About Young Lebanese Designers

Thursday, June 19th — I found myself walking into AHM at Beirut Waterfront, not fully knowing what to expect.

It was my first time attending an ALBA fashion show, and the moment I stepped in, I was hit by the warm buzz of people: students, friends, family, photographers, guests. The space felt alive, full of movement and nerves and joy.

By the end of the night, I had a lot to think about…and even more to say.

The space felt alive, buzzing with movement, nerves, and joy. Everyone was waiting for the show to begin, but even before it started, the community had already shown up loud, proud, and ready to support.

Among the crowd and behind the scenes were some big names in the Lebanese fashion and creative world, including jury members, mentors, and faculty like Angelo Gioe, Fifi Abou Dib, Jad Hobeika, Karine Tawil, Marta Hraoui, Mohamad Abdouni, Rachid Nassif, Roni Helou, Yassmin Saleh, and Youmna Aswad.

Mark Achkouty: The Powerhouse Behind the Runway-cum-Performance

Let’s talk about Mark Achkouty, because if there’s one thing to celebrate about this show, it’s how ALBA isn’t trying to be a typical fashion school. They’re doing something different. With Mark leading the choreography and performance direction, this wasn’t just a runway. It was storytelling in motion.

He managed to translate each student’s vision into something alive. You didn’t just see the looks, you experienced them. Mark has a way of capturing a moment and making it feel meaningful. Directing models, some likely walking for the first time, is no easy task, but he pulled it off with talent and control.

Lebanon’s fashion scene could use more of that kind of performance.

The Seniors

The four graduating seniors, Marianne Abi Ghanem, Anna Maria Abdo, Nadia Karout, and Joy Wakim, took the final spotlight of the night. There was effort, detail, and structure in their collections. You could tell they had a clear direction and put in the work.

But still, there was this je ne sais quoi element that was missing. It felt like the focus was more on presenting a clean, sellable collection. That doesn’t take away from what they achieved, building a full collection from scratch is already a win. And of course, congratulations to all four on making it to the finish line!

Plot Twist: Second-Year Students Came Hungry

Now here’s the twist: the second-year students ate. Like what are they feeding you at ALBA? Because the twelve second-year designers didn’t just show up. They made their mark.

Their work was bold, weird, unapologetic, and playful, like stepping right out of a fairytale. They weren’t afraid to take risks and that fearless energy came through loud and clear.

Quick shout to the first years too. You’ve got time. Keep learning, keep experimenting. The future’s yours. But this night? It belonged to the second-years.

Our Top Picks (in no particular order):

Charbel Al Najjar, who brought a wild west fantasy to the runway. Who needs a shirt when you have a hot corset?

^{Source: @the.bkk on Instagram}

Sophie Saad, who turned tarot cards into fashion symbols. If mysticism had a wardrobe, this would be it, and I know where I’ll get my next tarot reading.

Emile Maroun, who explored the feeling of faking smiles while quietly falling apart after a long day’s work. Inspired by clowns and Marrikh by Mashrou’ Leila, his looks felt emotional, worn, and beautifully heavy.

^{Source: @the.bkk on Instagram}

Final Thoughts

This show was a reminder of why Scrap started in the first place. To witness and document fashion from the inside, especially when it’s real, honest, and still evolving.

If you took part in this show and want to explore your process, inspirations, or future projects more deeply, Scrap is here for you. Reach out and let’s connect. This year, it’s not just about the show anymore. It’s time for an exhibition (ALBA, take note).

A big congratulations to everyone who made this night possible. That includes the students, models, photographers, stylists, choreographers, the communication team, and the fashion department’s faculty and mentors, Eric Mathieu Ritter, Andrea Chaanine, Ghada Slim, Michel Kabbany, Nadine Bou Arbid, Tarek Moukaddem, and Yara Nacouzi.

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