DUBAI: Lebanese design duo Azzi & Osta announced the launch of their online shop this week. For the latest updates, follow us on Instagram @arabnews.lifestyle This year has been tough on the Lebanese population and its creatives — an economic crisis, protests, a pandemic and Aug. 4’s devastating explosion took their toll. However, many designers, like George Azzi and Assaad Osta, have forged ahead despite, and sometimes because of, the difficult situation. The founders said they are mindful of the changing times and the importance of accessibility, which is why they opted to launch their e-commerce site on Dec. 14. “With all the uncertainty that 2020 brought along, we wanted to create an online space for the brand to be accessible globally, especially having witnessed the remarkable growth of our ready-to-wear collections,” the pair said in a released statement. “The website aesthetic is a reflection of the brand’s codes, a digital space to navigate and escape.” According to the brand, this approach not only helps minimize waste, but it also “creates some much-needed equilibrium between supply and demand” in the fashion industry. The Beirut-based label’s ready-to-wear Autumn/Winter 2021 and Spring/Summer 2020 collections — which are available online — feature a selection of captivating gowns, slim-line cocktail dresses and sleek separates. Azzi & Osta’s signature designs are comprised of sculptured silhouettes with asymmetrical volume and intricate embroidery dripping from beneath collars and across cloud-like tulle. Exaggerated pleats demand attention with their razor-sharp precision, while the classic trench coat is reimagined with a lace-paneled back in another offering available online. According to the brand, customers can expect to receive pieces within two to four weeks of placing an order. The fashion house, which launched in 2010, is a bona fide celebrity go-to for important red carpet events. Who can forget when Beyonce rocked up to the annual Clive Davis Pre-Grammy party in New York in 2018 wearing a black fishtail gown by Azzi & Osta that took 300 hours to create? The most recent star to champion the brand’s creations is US actress Megan Fox. She wore an emerald green asymmetrical top and matching A-line skirt to the 48th annual American Music Awards in November.