Not unfamiliar to collaborations with fashion powerhouses, H&M has embarked on its first with a Lebanese designer and her eponymous brand, Sandra Mansour. The collection draws on Beirut’s effortlessly elegant style culture, introducing Middle Eastern influences into mainstream fashion, featuring embroidered tulle, decadent gold jewellery and layered pieces.

“The inspiration for the H&M collaboration was nature and natural elements” says Mansour. Evident in the fluidity of her designs, nature is prominent in the more delicate layered dresses and illustrated in staple t-shirts and hoodies, with the shape of flowers being a concurrent theme throughout. “Especially the sunflower” she confirms (the collection, Fleur du Soleil, is named after the flower), “which represents the cycle of life, and its dependency on sun and light. With the Fleur du Soleil collection, I want to talk to women around the world by sending a message of hope, something we really need right now.”

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For those less accustomed to the works of Sandra Mansour, the Lebanese, Beirut-based designer is known for her romantic and ethereal designs that exemplify quality craftsmanship and manifests the modern woman. Designing with pastel colour palettes, neutral textures and plenty of ruffle, Mansour is a romantic bringing feminine silhouettes into everyday life.

The much-anticipated collection was set to launch on 6 August but with sensitivity to the tragic events in Beirut, will now hit stores worldwide on 27 August.