Johnny Farah

Established in New York in 1980 by the LebaneseAmerican designer of the same name, Johnny Farah offers a range of high-endleather goods including handbags, belts, shoes and accessories.

Leather and brass hardware iscustom made for every item, and the result is a set of unique pieces belongingto a collection of meticulous craftsmanship and a distinct signature style. Theaccessories are molded from premium quality vegetable-tanned hides; thistanning process preserves the natural beauty of the leather.

The hardware ismade from hand-molded high quality solid brass that ages beautifully, givingmore character to each piece.

Johnny Farah’s early influences came fromCopenhagen. While living there in the 1970s, he developed a particular interestin the simplicity and practicality of Scandinavian architecture and furnituredesign. It was his life-changing encounters with architects like Arne Jacobsenand Hans Wegner that were the catalyst for Johnny’s decision to leavemechanical engineering school and concentrate on his design, which up until thenwas only a means to support his studies.

Johnny has also worked and lived inBeirut, New York and Istanbul. He opened his first IF boutique in Beirut and inthe late 70s and shortly after was among the first to open a boutique in the Sohodistrict in New York. His IF stores stock products from some ofthe world’s most highly acclaimed designers and continue to play a distinctrole in the New York fashion scene. Today, Johnny owns five IF shops in Beirut,New York and Dubai in addition to his Johnny Farah flagship store in Beirut.

Throughoutthe 1990’s Johnny worked as the head accessories designer for a number of high-endlabels including Cole Haan and Donna Karan.

Johnny now lives and works in Beirutwhere he also owns an organic farm and 2 restaurants in which he frequentlycooks and creates dishes.