Concept Narrative
I chose my narrative from the Greek mythology since I found a case that tells a story of homosexuality between a shepherd and Pan, that dates back to 100 BC:
“In Greek mythology, Daphnis was a Sicilian shepherd who was said to be the inventor of pastoral poetry. According to tradition, he was the son of Hermes and a nymph, despite which Daphnis himself was mortal. [...]He was also sometimes said to be Hermes' favorite or beloved rather than his son. [...]
A naiad was in love with him and promised to be faithful to him. However, he was seduced, with the aid of wine, by the daughter of a king, and, in revenge, this nymph either blinded him or turned him to stone. Pan also fell in love with him and taught him to play the pan pipes”.1 “Pan was a god of the wild, [...] He was depicted as being half human, while having the legs and horns of a goat.”2
1 Wikipedia, Daphnis, 21 Dec 2016. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daphnis>
2 Greek mythology, Pan, 12 Derc 2016. <https://www,greekmythology.com>
Greek mythology, Pan, 12 Derc 2016. <https://www,greekmythology.com>
Need
The need came from an observation of the the situation of different people and friends from my entourage and society. In Lebanon, just like every other country, there are people who are born in a physical gender that does not represent them. The LGBTQ community in Lebanon is in constant search for outfits that fit their personalities, make them comfortable, and express who they really are.
I have seen friends, with a female birth-gender, who would love to wear suits instead of dresses for formal events. They had to buy suits designed for a male body, that of course do not fit their female curves, but that was the best option available. Another example of gay guys who look for specific shoes, specific shirts, leggings... that resemble to feminine designs and at the same time are made for them, for their body.
There are many other examples, but the point is that everyone deserves to be comfortable with their looks and outfits, and the percentage of the people who are not finding what they want has to be taken into consideration.
Response
The answer to this need came with the idea of creating a new brand, that features Lebanese designers, who will work on designs made especially for the LGBTQ community. This brand will design and promote outfits, that will be sold in a boutique in Beirut, the city that gathers and welcomes everyone from all different communities and backgrounds, with an online showroom.
After a research conducted online, I found that many famous designers worked on lines for the LGBTQ community, and there are many similar projects of shops outside Lebanon that design and sell outfits for this community.
The service includes design and execution of gender-fluid outfits , friendly professional staff and an online shop.
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This is an entrepreneurship project by Crystel Samia, LEBANESE UNIVERSITY Institute of Fine arts Branch II, under the supervision of Dr. Halim Choeiry.
The project has a business plan and is waiting for reaching the needed capital for launching it.
If you think this Daphnis and Pan is a concept worth coming to life, we would appreciate any kind of support you can give!
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For my supervisor, Dr. Halim Choeiry for this opportunity, my awesome friend Bshara Atallah for his excitement and great help, Ms. Lama Mousallem for her nice assistance, and all my friends who encouraged me to continue with the project.
