DUBAI: In light of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Lebanese designer Zuhair Murad has opted to pull out from the Paris Haute Couture Week schedule, which kicked off on Jan. 25. He was scheduled to present his collection just two days from now on Jan. 27.
The Ras Baalbek-born designer cited “the devastation caused by the pandemic and the drastic restrictions taken worldwide” as reasons for deciding not to present a Spring 2021 Haute Couture collection this season.
In an official statement, the couturier beloved by the stars said: “The safety of our community and especially the well-being of our employees, who have participated in spreading beauty through various collections, remains our top priority.
“Therefore, Zuhair Murad has taken the decision to postpone the January 27th showcase of its Spring 2021 Couture collection.”
The designer also revealed that he “looks forward to scheduling the show in a near and peaceful future.”
Murad follows in the footsteps of fellow Lebanese couturiers Elie Saab and Georges Hobeika, who also announced that they will not present their latest Haute Couture collections.
Hobeika’s decision, just like Saab’s, was made due to the rising number of COVID-19 cases around the world.
“As the pandemic remains strong, health restrictions are being put in place around the world: they are needed to help healthcare workers and researchers that save precious lives,” read the label’s statement.
The designer was initially scheduled to present his Spring-Summer 2021 collection on Jan. 25, but he has decided to postpone the show to “more serene and happier times.”