lemarais 101 OUR STORY
WHAT IS LE MARAIS 101?
LE MARAIS 101 is more of a concept rather than a simple brand, conceived in 2019 to complement, revisit and recycle each and every piece that remains within our wardrobe.
Zina Khair, the Founder & Creative Director of LE MARAIS 101, and Co-Founder and Designer Angelique Tournoud are driven by a common wish to revisit the principles of fashion conceptions, in order to soften the daily expectations of the modern world with fashion.
“The idea is not to always buy the latest from a brand, but how to make each piece that you own, different and effortlessly distinctive” – LE MARAIS 101 is so much more than just an accessory line; it’s a house of collections.” – says Zina Khair
WHY “LE MARAIS”?
The inspiration of our brand is drawn from the Marais, a renown Parisian neighborhood, a true hotspot in the city of lights, acclaimed for it’s unique mix of cultures, and immersive history.
We are enamored by the community’s distinct worlds, its authenticity, and non-conventional spirit.
In the bustling district, reigns a feeling of absolute freedom – a concept redefined by our line of products.
We offer a new identity to timeless bags, and add a twist to elegant emblems.
Through our collection pieces we represent the Marais’ society – innovative, artistic, with an innate “joie de vivre”.
We create accessories that awaken one’s sense of style, evoke a smile, and bring joy.
Akin to the Marais’ offbeat energy, eccentricity & individualism, LE MARAIS 101 enables us to shine and set ourselves apart through one-of-a-kind accessory pieces.
WHY 101 ?
The numerical code 101 is the introduction to a new concept. LE MARAIS 101 is exactly that, we’re inspired, we’re creative, and we have a message to share.
WHY HANDBAG ACCESSORIES ?
We chose to start with personalising the one item with which we form an exceptional relationship, our most prized material possession: our handbags.
It is an accessory item that contains our entire universe, upgrades our outfits, and is furthermore a portrayal of our persona.
Originally a practical piece, fundamentally created to contain our essential items, a handbag can also be a private safe space, where one can find our to-do lists, the little treasures we collect, secret love notes, kept photos, and possibly hidden good-luck charms.
Our choice of handbag, and how we wear it, is truly telling who we are , our mood of the moment, and may offer insight into our world.
Handbag options are infinite – yet as individuals, we are all unique, and it is in fact ourselves that give the accessory all its value in the ways we wear it.
However, handbags may become lackluster overtime and only a few accessories may help adorn and dress a bag, such as a silk scarf.
We wished to offer a new dimension to handbag accessories, along with an important message to share on the importance of individuality and sustainability.
As craftsmanship enthusiasts, we studied the various forms of symbolism used to embellish diverse accessories. We have reinterpreted these cultural characters to deliver a sentiment, all while combining artistry & memorandum. Through our creations, we aim to set aside the dictates of conventional fashion. Our unique pieces are instantaneously recognizable, showcase our distinctive tastes & highlight our personalities.
FOUNDED BY
Born in Damascus, Zina Khair was raised in a Syrian home of art aficionados and collectors.
Enthralled by the entertainment industry, Zina started her professional career alongside her father in the TV production business, before taking on the responsibilities of the Adonia Awards for Syrian Drama.
A philanthropist at heart, and a longstanding activist in the humanitarian field, Zina pursed her passion project in 2005, and officially co-founded an NGO to aid the blind and visually impaired in Syria.
Following civil war clashes in her home country, Zina and her family moved to Dubai in 2012, where she was fascinated by the cosmopolitan community in the city, and stunned by the diversity of women from various backgrounds.
Intrigued by the scene’s obsession with fashion, she felt the need to create a trend-worthy accessory that would embrace & celebrate everyone’s uniqueness – a fashionable product that would want to complement everyone’s personal style.
Set on her new creative vision, Zina asked her longtime friend Angélique Tournoud, recognized for her exceptional eye for detail, to join her on her new design adventure.
Angélique Tournoud, is quintessentially French in all her ways, with an inherited elegance, and an eye for detail.
Inspired by her graceful mother, who introduced her to beautiful fabrics and the art of traditional savoir-faire, Angélique developed an appreciation for beautiful things from a young age.
She left France twenty-five years ago, to follow her husband around the Gulf states, where she fell in love with the local community’s sense of hospitality, as well as their vitality, and all- around positivity.
She grew particularly fond of Dubai, a city she loves and describes as a land amazing, where everything is possible.
Whilst based in the UAE, Angélique was able to keep close ties with her home country by locally curating a magazine distributed in the South of France.
An idealist and a perfectionist, yet always creative, she was completely captivated by Zina’s idea to amplify & personalize women’s handbags. Following lengthy research, countless illustrations, design trials, and endless hours of deliberation over the selection of symbols – dream turned into reality, with the completion of a collection real-size bag accessories.
