Timeless, versatile and full of surprises: LalaQueen is a contemporary Middle Eastern handbag label based in Beirut, designed for the travellers, the explorers, and boundary breakers. The love child of Sally Sarieddine, a Lebanese-born, UAE-raised, British-educated fashion designer and businesswoman who is passionate about bringing fashion back to individual authenticity and self-expression. Inspired by the meticulous work of master craftsmen and an exceptional regard for exquisite, ethically sourced local materials, Sarieddine’s vision gave life to the bespoke, retro-chic handbag label in 2009. Launching her online boutique via LaLaQueen.com, she subsequently became one of the first designer-owned online stores in the Middle East.
Sarieddine says her designs target progressive women who are influential in making a difference in today’s changing market, and sees sustainability as a major focus as the company continues to go from strength to strength: “I am a strong advocate of sustainable design and remain mindful about where I source all materials, which is why I create timeless pieces which can be enjoyed forever. I try to minimise waste where possible, LaLaQueen packaging is 100% recycled and the leather we source comes from Lebanese farms where we know the meat is going back to the meat industry. Our handbags are assembled by highly skilled local artisans who operate under healthy working conditions and we are committed to maintaining strong relationships with our suppliers and their employees. It’s important that as a home-grown brand, we ensure we give back to the community to support the local families of Lebanon. As LaLaQueen continues to grow, so will our focus on sustainability.”
Designed with all women in mind LaLaQueen hosts the following collections:The Q Collection, mirroring the fascinating geometry of the ancient architecture of Istanbul;clutches Mermaid, Moon and the notable Curve Collection featuring multi-purpose huggable pouches that can also be worn as both a clutch and a back-pack; the Geometric, newly launched this season; and lastly the iconic Dr. Collection, inspired by the vintages and designed in a variety of sizes and colour combinations to compliment a woman’s unique style.
Best known for the iconic Dr. Bag, Sarieddine’s naturally-dyed leather designs feature colour tones which are mixed together in different proportions to create a feeling of vibrancy and fun. Inspired by an authentic vintage Dr.Bag found on a treasure hunt in Florence, Sarieddine says The Dr. Bag collection was created with a vision to bring a sense of healing back into fashion, designed to complement progressive women with “rich souls and magical hearts.” In further promoting the spirituality in design, LaLaQueen also actively collaborates with other artists to create unique moments, share design inspiration and drive the cross-pollination of artists genres.
A contemporary fashion label that specialises in handcrafted leather handbags, LaLaQueen ultimately aims to provide a trend setting and sustainable brand that compliments the global demand on maintaining and protecting natural resources by targeting progressive women who are influential in making a difference in today’s changing market.
About Sally Sarieddine:
Sally graduated with a BA in Communications Arts (radio TV, Film) from the Lebanese American University, and during her years of study she focused much of her energy in theatre leading to a job as Assistant Director in a local Lebanese TV station before a move to Dubai.
In Dubai Sally landed a job in the satellite broadcasting industry. Eleven months later, another prospect was presented to work as a PR Executive in an investment company that led her to the fashion capital London where she completed her Masters in Marketing. Once graduated, Sally moved back to Dubai and secured a job in advertising and went on to undertake fashion design courses at the renowned Central Saint Martins in London.
Nurturing her creativity for design, Sally set out to create pieces of art, notably the Dr. Bag that embodies an expression of her personal message to the world through her brand creation LaLaQueen.
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