Chanel donates $700,000 to Lebanese charities following Beirut blast

Chanel is the first major fashion house to offer financial aid to Lebanon. File/AFP
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Updated 15 August 2020
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Chanel donates $700,000 to Lebanese charities following Beirut blast

DUBAI: Following the deadly explosion in Lebanon’s capital on Aug. 4 that killed over 150 and wounded thousands, luxury fashion house Chanel has donated $700,000 to local Lebanese charities in a show of solidarity with the Arab nation. 

In a statement, the Parisian maison announced that it allocated the funds to support four local organizations on the ground in Beirut. “The catastrophic explosion in Beirut sent Lebanon, a country already impacted by political unrest, economic instability and the current Covid-19 crisis, into further distress and suffering,” said the statement.

“Chanel has a local presence and valued long-standing partners in Lebanon, some of whom are deeply impacted,” it continued. 

The fashion house split a total of $700,000 between The Lebanese Red Cross, Amel Association, ACTED and UNICEF.

The Lebanese Red Cross, ACTED and UNICEF will receive $200,000 each, while Amel Association, a non-profit organization that supports the most underprivileged populations in Lebanon, will receive $100,000. 

Chanel is the first major fashion house to offer financial aid to Lebanon. Meanwhile, a number of notable figures in fashion and entertainment stepped up and donated funds for Lebanon, including George and Amal Clooney who donated $100,000 Lebanese charities and Canadian singer The Weeknd who donated $300,000 to victims of the Beirut blast.


Gigi Hadid introduces sun-washed knitwear in new Guest in Residence drop

Updated 14 February 2026
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Gigi Hadid introduces sun-washed knitwear in new Guest in Residence drop

DUBAI: US Dutch Palestinian model Gigi Hadid this week released the first drop of her brand Guest in Residence’s spring/summer collection.

The pictures she shared with her 79.5 million followers on Instagram showed that the new offerings lean into relaxed, sun-washed dressing, blending the brand’s signature knitwear with a more playful, resort-ready mood.

The collection features lightweight cardigans, cropped knits and long-sleeve tops paired with knit shorts, relaxed trousers and soft lounge pieces designed for warm weather.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Gigi Hadid (@gigihadid)

A palette of coastal blues, butter yellow, soft red, cream and pastel tones runs throughout, complemented by subtle stripes and textured finishes.

Across the images, knits are layered over swimwear or styled as coordinated sets, aligning with the collection’s casual, seasonal direction.

Hadid wrote on Instagram that the newly launched products are now available in stores and retailers worldwide.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Gigi Hadid (@gigihadid)

The model and entrepreneur’s latest drop was a collaboration with Moon Boot, the Italian snow boot brand. Released in November, Hadid and the brand dropped 16 designs for winter.

A week before that, she launched her winter collection that expanded Guest in Residence’s knitwear offering with cold-weather staples designed for layering.

The range included chunky scarves with fringe finishes, ribbed beanies, knitted socks, striped sweaters, zip-neck tops and relaxed knit polos, alongside straight-leg trousers and casual separates.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Gigi Hadid (@gigihadid)

A muted winter palette of red, cream, brown, forest green and blue ran throughout, with stripes and textured knits adding visual contrast.

Hadid launched her clothing label, which features soft, colorful knitwear, in September 2022.

“Over the last handful of years, I didn’t want to be backed into starting my own line just because there was an offer on the table or a deal to be made,” she wrote to her followers on Instagram at the time.

“The earliest days of Guest in Residence came about when I started to question the cashmere market, and those answers gave me a path,” she added.

“I believe that because of its sustainable qualities — natural and made to cherish and to pass down — cashmere is a luxury that should be more accessible.”

Celebrities including Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds, Taylor Swift and Bradley Cooper have been spotted wearing the label’s designs.