Manar Shehab
Manar Shehab: Upcycled Fashion and Empowerment with The Earth Weavers
Manar Shehab, a proud and visionary upcycler from Lebanon, is the founder of The Earth Weavers, a social enterprise co-founded with Rami Saad. Starting her journey as a fashion designer, Manar identified gaps in the Middle East and the broader MENA region, developing a strong interest in eco-fashion to help make it more widespread. Recognizing the lack of artisans and the need for women's empowerment, she took on the role of a purpose-driven entrepreneur, driven by a bold mission to uplift unemployed women, revive traditional crafts, and increase the sustainable space for upcycled fashion.
The Birth of a Visionary Brand
The Earth Weavers was born out of Manar’s commitment to creating a life “beyond the landfill.” By turning fabric and curtain waste into apparel, she has built a brand that showcases creativity and most importantly, the brand that addresses critical social and environmental challenges.
The planet cannot be saved without empowering the hands that create beauty from its waste. Since its inception, the brand has focused on employing and training artisans, particularly women from remote areas in Lebanon, where opportunities are scarce. By providing essential skills in tailoring, upcycling, and entrepreneurship through their programs, which are threads of transformation. The Earth Weavers equips women to build sustainable livelihoods while holding on to the cultural heritage.
Tackling Challenges with Purpose
The Earth Weavers addresses three key challenges:
1. Environmental Impact: The brand reduces waste and promotes sustainable practices by reusing damaged fabrics and upcycling existing materials.
2. Unemployment in the MENA Region: With unemployment rates soaring, especially among women, the enterprise creates jobs and supports their independence.
3. Preservation of Traditional Crafts: Manar’s vision is rooted in preventing the loss of Lebanon’s artisanal heritage, ensuring that traditional crafts survive.
Empowering Artisans and Communities
Operating from Beirut, Lebanon, The Earth Weavers currently empowers 31 trained artisans. Through their innovative programs, 30% of proceeds are reinvested in training and development initiatives, with the long-term goal of uplifting 1,000 women artisans across the MENA region in the next few years and expanding that impact by training more artisans. This initiative expresses Manar’s belief that “empowered women empower communities.”
Since founding Kimono by Manar in 2018, her unique creations have garnered popular acclaim, earning recognition for both their designs and their impact. Manar takes immense pride in having trained over 25 rural artisans in sustainable design, creating a ripple effect of positive change that extends far beyond the garments themselves.
A Heart for Sustainability and Compassion
Manar’s passion for making a difference extends beyond fashion. She actively volunteers in social and environmental programs and is a compassionate advocate for animal welfare, caring with an approach to sustainability she believes that true change requires addressing all facets of life.
The Brand: A Platform for Change
The Earth Weavers stops being just a brand at some point, on a movement—a 360-degree impact initiative that empowers, uplifts, and transforms. Their motto is “Fashion can be beautiful, impactful, and kind to the planet,” by respecting the planet's resources and celebrating artisanal craftsmanship with purpose.
Manar Shehab continues her passion for creating a community that supports sustainable fashion, uplift women artisans, and makes a meaningful difference in the world.
