PHOTO: © CARL HALAL/AÏSHTI FOUNDATION
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PHOTO: © GUILLAUME ZICCARELLI/AÏSHTI FOUNDATION
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or the best luxury fashion in Lebanon, look no further than Aïshti, a market leader in the Middle Eastern fashion world. Founded in 1989, the label has become a powerhouse in the industry, with two major multibrand stores in Beirut and Jal el Dib, as well as over 100 standalone stores and monobrand boutiques. Aïshti covers all aspects of luxury living. While fashion is one of its key foundations, it also boasts a furniture and home accessories collection. The three Aïshti restaurants are among the most popular in Lebanon. Aïshti People, a favourite lunch spot with locals and visitors alike, can be found in downtown Beirut; tables are coveted year-round in the exclusive Aïshti People branch in the mountain resort of Faqra; the Art People restaurant in the recently opened Aïshti by the Sea is similarly stylish. Aïshti by the Sea is a lifestyle destination for fashion, wellness, food and art which houses the Urban Retreat day spa. The brand even publishes its own glossy magazine. What began as a single high-end clothing store has grown into an undisputed market leader for fashion and much more in Lebanon.
You could be forgiven for thinking that, given the success of the brand, chief executive officer Tony Salamé would rarely have time for anything other than work. Salamé, however, enjoys reading, skiing, cycling and collecting art – influenced by an early introduction to Arte Povera, an Italian art movement that started in the late 1960s and used unconventional materials to produce artworks. ‘I’ve always loved collecting,’ he explains. ‘As a teenager, I collected stamps, then I turned to carpets and paintings of the 18th and 19th centuries. It was my friend Dino Facchini who introduced me to Arte Povera and Arte Povera led me to contemporary art. I am attached to all the works that I have acquired but especially to a canvas by Manzoni that is always in my line of vision, in my office.’ From this office, Salamé oversees the day-to-day management of the Aïshti group, as well as developing and improving current and new business ventures. The brand was created from his vision of a lifestyle brand for the new millennium, and combines his love of travel and fashion with his knowledge of the country around him.
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Previous page and above (left): Aïshti Foundation Above (right): Urban Retreat at Aïshti by the Sea