Sleem Mzannar: Beirut’s Muse, Taylor Swift’s Discovery
From his Beirut workshop, where precision meets artistry, Lebanese jewelry designer Sleem Mzannar crafts designs that have reached global stars. Mzannar has carved a unique style, combining high craftsmanship with a clear humanitarian message, making his name one of the brightest in the design world. Beirut, his city, remains his constant source of inspiration, connecting with it intellectually and spiritually, leaving its unique mark on each of his works.
Beirut: The Eternal Inspiration
In a special interview with Annahar, Mzannar spoke about his continuous inspiration from Beirut in the world of design, saying: “I know Beirut in all its details and angles, as it resembles a port in my mind; its sea, its neighborhoods, and its people give me great energy in life. Ideas are multiple, and I am connected to Beirut spiritually.” The primary inspiration in his collection about it is derived from its old houses, the arched houses that have almost disappeared today, so he tried to direct a wink through them to those houses that were destroyed for various reasons.
Mzannar added, “Life is a source of inspiration for me, because it represents hope, and hope does not live without fear. When a person feels fear, they hold onto hope more, and from here, ideas are born. I can come up with thousands of different ideas, but the idea that brings them all together is non-violence.”
From Design Idea to Global Stars
Regarding how the design of any new piece starts, Mzannar explains: “The idea begins with several shapes and directions, but the basis is achieving a balance between the work and the body that will wear the piece, so that it does not transgress the eye or the mind, and that it rivals time. Time is a fundamental idea for me, and I love the pieces we create to be eternal, transcending the passage of time.”
He continued: “The idea of the design may come from a dream, or from a scene I saw on a trip, or from a moment of contemplation, as the path of life narrates my ideas.”
Regarding the wearing of his jewelry by a number of international stars, such as Taylor Swift, Bella Hadid, Rihanna, Miley Cyrus, and Oprah Winfrey, Mzannar says: “I am happy that a number of stars have chosen from my designs, but my greatest joy is when these initiatives come naturally and spontaneously, without promotion or planning, because true creativity is not imposed, but discovered. Taylor Swift, for example, discovered my designs herself and loved them without any attempt from us to get closer to her.”
The Evolution of Artistic Taste
Regarding the evolution of the taste of the Lebanese and Arab public in acquiring jewelry, Mzannar believes that jewelry is not a basic human need, but rather a luxury, but its craftsmanship and artistic value cannot be overlooked, and this is the result of cultural development. The craft is an essential element in transforming the idea into a meticulous work; even the most beautiful idea loses its value if precision in execution is absent.
He continued: “I am not the center of the universe, there are many creators in the world of jewelry, but the most important thing for me is that the relationship between the designer and the one who wears the piece is based on a mutual culture, a relationship that does not disturb the mind and is not based on challenge or exaggeration in material value, but on harmony between art and spirit.”
We Design Beirut
Mzannar described his deep connection to this city, through his latest artworks displayed within the We Design Beirut event at Villa Audi, entitled Nour Beirut, saying: “The work I presented is primarily based on a message of peace and a call for non-violence, as our region is mixed with unnatural forms of violence.”
He added: “The Nour Beirut sculpture is a mixture of solid Corten steel and transparent enamel made in several layers, combining very hard materials with others that are very sensitive, meaning between fragility and strength.”
About the Author
