Starch foundation

THE CONCEPT: Founded by Rabih Kayrouz, TalaHajjar and in collaboration with Solidre, STARCH is a non-profit organization that helps launch Lebanese emerging designers. STARCH is an annual program and a rotation of debut collections where emerging designers and an architect are selected each year. The designers are guided through the process of developing their collections, as well as promoting them (communication, marketing, branding and press). These collections are then presented for a period of one year at the STARCH boutique. Throughout their one-year at STARCH, the designers also get the chance to participate in design related workshops, seminars and collaborations. THE BOUTIQUE: the Starch boutique changes annually its interior which is rethought by the selected Starchitect of the year. Starch boutique is located in SaifiVillage, Downtown Beirut, and offered by Solidere. The NAME: Chemically, Starch is a WHITE, odourless, SOLID carbohydrate, typically composed of long chains of glucose molecules. It is the MOST BASIC form of all carbohydrates, a PURE substance, which is INSOLUBLE in water. In the textile industry, it is used in the manufacturing of adhesives, paper, and textiles as a HARDENING or BONDING component. The designers behind STARCH possess the same qualities as the substance for which the space is named. They are the component parts, the building blocks and the creative agents of a burgeoning fashion/design industry in Lebanon.