Astarté by Christel Abboud: Where Art Meets Emotion
From the heart of Beirut emerges a designer whose voice is both delicate and defiant — Christel Abboud, a woman who has turned her own experiences of chaos and beauty into art. Her brand, Astarté, is not just a label but a philosophy: fashion as emotion, as storytelling, as a mirror to the soul.
Born and raised in Beirut, Christel’s connection to fashion began at just seventeen, when she stepped into the industry as a model. But even then, she sensed that her creative journey was destined to go deeper. She pursued her studies at Istituto Marangoni in Florence, followed by a master’s degree in styling and creative direction, shaping her understanding of both the artistic and intellectual sides of fashion.
Now, after more than a decade spent exploring modeling, styling, casting, and education, Christel stands as one of Lebanon’s most evocative creative voices — a designer whose work bridges art, resilience, and the female experience.
Christel’s journey to launching Astarté began with an unmet need. “I wanted to wear pieces that felt poetic and carried meaning,” she explains. “Since I couldn’t find them, I started making them myself.”
That desire evolved into Astarté — a brand that channels her belief that fashion should touch the soul. Her pieces are not mere garments; they are visual poems — crafted with sensitivity, emotion, and symbolism. The name Astarté, inspired by the Phoenician goddess of fertility, love, and war, perfectly encapsulates Christel’s view of femininity: powerful, multidimensional, and ever-evolving.When designing, she draws from nature and fashion history, blending organic shapes and historical references with a modern twist. “Nature teaches me form,” she says. “I love fabric manipulation because it allows me to recreate shapes found in the natural world — the folds of a petal, the flow of water, the texture of stone.”
Each creation reflects that delicate balance between chaos and calm, fragility and force — a recurring theme throughout her work.Perhaps no collection captures Christel’s essence more than her “Rebirth” collection — designed during the war in Lebanon. “It was my only form of escape from reality,” she recalls. “It was my way to stay alive through beauty.”
In Rebirth, fabric becomes armor, yet also a healing ritual.
Through layered silhouettes and sculpted drapery, Christel translates pain into resilience, turning destruction into creation. It’s a testament to her homeland’s spirit — wounded yet unbreakable.Her Lebanese roots, marked by instability and uncertainty, have deeply shaped her creativity. “Dealing with chaos taught me to see beauty in imperfection,” she says. “It gave my work emotion and honesty. I design from feeling, not from trend.”
Christel’s current work draws from the bohemian spirit — inspired by wanderers, dreamers, and those who live beyond convention. “I’m working on a collection inspired by bohemians — the feeling of wandering, of living freely, ignoring the norms of society,” she explains.Her approach is deeply emotional: “It always starts with my feelings. I translate how I feel into shapes and forms.”
Her approach is deeply emotional: “It always starts with my feelings. I translate how I feel into shapes and forms.”If Christel’s creations could whisper, they’d say: “You are unique. No one is you — and that is your power.”Her designs are for the dreamers, the artists, the women who move through the world with quiet fire. Every piece tells a story of individuality, encouraging its wearer to celebrate her distinct identity.
Looking ahead, Christel hopes to continue blending art and fashion — creating pieces that transcend the runway and live as wearable art. Her dream is to make beauty tangible, emotional, and everlasting.
And when asked if she’s open to collaborations? Her answer comes with a soft smile: “Always. Creativity thrives when shared.”Through Astarté, Christel Abboud is not just designing clothing. She’s shaping a new definition of modern womanhood — one that’s poetic, powerful, and profoundly human.