Sarah Beydoun, Founder & Creative Director of Sarah’s Bag

What inspired you to start Sarah’s Bag, and how has the mission evolved over time?

Over the last 25 years, we’ve grown into a community of over 200 artisans across Lebanon. Many of these women came to us with no experience; today, they are skilled professionals supporting their families and passing on their craft. Our mission has remained constant — to use fashion as a vehicle for social change — but it has evolved in scale and scope. We now focus equally on preserving Levantine heritage, creating timeless luxury, and building global awareness for socially responsible design​​.

What are the biggest challenges of maintaining a socially impactful brand in the fashion industry?

One of the greatest challenges is balancing beauty and purpose in a way that feels authentic and commercially viable. Social impact cannot be a marketing add-on — it must be embedded in every layer of the brand. That means making difficult decisions, like producing slowly and resisting trends to ensure that our pieces are crafted with intention and integrity.

In the Middle East, the lack of structural support for sustainable enterprises adds an extra layer of complexity. We face high costs for ethical materials, limited infrastructure, and unpredictable economic conditions. But these challenges have also become our strengths. They’ve forced us to innovate, stay resilient, and prove that a luxury brand can thrive while prioritizing people and the planet​.

How did the collaboration with Nespresso come about, and what was the creative process like?

When Nespresso approached us, we were intrigued by the creative challenge: could we transform their used coffee capsules into something truly luxurious? We immediately saw the potential for meaningful impact. Both our brands value care — for the environment, for women, for design — so the collaboration felt natural from the outset.

The process was incredibly hands-on. We experimented with melting, cutting, and reshaping the capsules until we discovered how to turn them into metallic sequins. Each bag takes 15 hours to complete, involving 400 hand-cut sequins from 80 capsules, and 8 hours of intricate floral embroidery. It’s meticulous work, but the result — a stunning clutch made of upcycled aluminum and woven straw — proves that sustainability and elegance can coexist beautifully​​​.

This collaboration challenges the outdated notion that luxury must be about excess. True luxury, to us, is about care — the time it takes to hand-embroider a flower, the skill it requires to repurpose waste, and the story each piece tells.

By transforming discarded capsules into a high-end accessory, we’re not just making a fashion statement; we’re redefining what it means to be luxurious. It’s a blend of art, ethics, and innovation — and it shows that sustainable practices can enhance, rather than dilute, the essence of luxury. This is the kind of design that resonates with a new generation of conscious consumers.

https://sarahsbag.com/pages/sarahs-bag-x-nespresso

What advice would you give to young designers building socially conscious brands?

Start with a mission that’s personal to you. That authenticity will guide you when challenges arise. Don’t wait for the perfect conditions — I started in the basement of my parents’ building with no background in design. What mattered was my purpose.

Social enterprise is not the easy path, but it is the meaningful one. Learn your craft, respect the people you work with, and stay committed to quality. When your brand tells a real story and uplifts others, it becomes something people believe in — not just something they buy​​.

We’re excited to keep expanding both creatively and ethically. We’re extending our hand embroidery to new categories — from kaftans and loafers to loungewear — giving our artisans more ways to showcase their craft.

Sustainability will remain at the core. We’ll continue sourcing deadstock materials and experimenting with upcycling in bold, beautiful ways. And we’re always seeking meaningful collaborations — ones that elevate our mission and bring our unique blend of artistry and purpose to the world.

Above all, we want to remain a brand that celebrates women — their resilience, their creativity, and their stories. That’s the heart of Sarah’s Bag, and always will be​.