A Night in Downtown Beirut: Inside The Creative Mixer
How ALTR EGO brought Lebanon’s diverse artistic talent out of the digital sphere and into real-world collaboration.
It is 6PM in Beirut on a Saturday at the end of summer. “Drinks are cold, vibe is loud,” and we’re at Brew & Butter downtown where the crowd is gathering for ALTR EGO’s “The Creative Mixer” on August 22nd , the first networking event for creatives happening in Lebanon. Created by fashion model MISA, the evening brought together designers, models, filmmakers, stylists, and creatives from all types of industries. In the presence of Faces Casting Agency, connecting brands with the right faces, and Purple Faces Management, which provides training, castings, and brand opportunities, the evening was buzzing with talent and connection, linking the local independent talent to major industry opportunities. Did we mention you could also get a tattoo by Kevin Nasr while attending? It’s safe to say creativity was everywhere.
We asked MISA to tell us how the idea of The Creative Mixer came to be.
MISA: “I asked myself: five years ago, what would have helped me start modelling or get started in the fashion or creative field? The first thing I thought about was putting everyone from these creative fields in one room for a day. One location, one time, with food, drinks, people just enjoying their time, doing a bit of networking, and getting to know the people they’re interested in working with. This event is for anyone, experienced or non-experienced, in the field.”
“Come as yourself, come as your alter ego,” the flyer said. This night was about expression and eventually bridging that expression with inspiration and collaboration. Around music and good coffee, conversations occupied the whole space. Soon enough, our little corner became the loudest thing on an otherwise very quiet street in the city. The coffee shop provided a cool, relaxed backdrop for the night, but it was their outdoor sidewalk that truly became the main hub.
Everyone was talking to everyone, jumping from circle to circle, making friends, reconnecting, or simply complimenting one another. The hosts had set up a way to check out people’s profiles and portfolios by tapping on a code on the wall, which allowed everyone to showcase their work. The highlight of the evening was the effortless blending of different artistic worlds. We heard fashion designers and stylists discussing current aesthetics and insights of the industry in Lebanon today, visual artists and graphic designers huddled over phones, sharing portfolios with local filmmakers, content creators, and photographers, as well as writers discovering new spaces that could welcome their craft. Contact info and social handles were exchanged all around. The space became a refreshing physical hub for connections that usually happen over Instagram DMs nowadays.
We talked to a couple of people and asked them what they make of the Lebanese creative scene today, especially since they all work across diverse disciplines. Firstly, “we need more of these events in Lebanon,” was said by everyone, and that reflected just how important these types of gatherings and conversations are for creatives to find their way today in Lebanon.
A stylist and avid thrifter said: “I love these kinds of events. People inspire me a lot, and so many in this country have a lot of potential to create.”
One attendee talked about the changes the creative scene in Lebanon has been undergoing in the past few years: “The creative scene in Lebanon used to be bigger, especially because now a lot of us are abroad. But, as you can see, there are still a lot of creative people here. I’m so happy about this event. It’s a really good opportunity to meet awesome people. I hope there are many more!” This silver-lining was reinforced by another guest stating that: “The creative scene in Lebanon has definitely changed throughout the years. Today, it’s lovely to see people from all diversities, different looks, different styles who come together in this community to help it grow. I like to see the norm kind of go out and more colorful people come back into it. I feel like we can absolutely change the scene in Lebanon and in the Middle East as a whole.”
Tala Jaffall, fashion designer and co-host added: “The creative industry in Lebanon is very underrated. I love how everyone always gets to know each other, there’s always space for communication, everyone is so friendly. I’ve been getting to know so many people tonight from different industries, and that’s amazing.
The creative scene in Lebanon is alive and well, and most importantly, bursting with talent and diversity. For those who were unable to attend this edition of The Creative Mixer, it was a great evening of professional networking and artistic synergy. Check out ALTR EGO’s Instagram page (@altregoarchive) for upcoming event announcements, and don’t miss out on the next gathering! We at Spiral Corner are already looking forward to more events like this one; we’re excited to connect with more of the community and continue discovering the incredible talent Lebanon has to offer