From Beirut to royal palaces... a Lebanese designer reinvents high heels

From the looks of Queen Rania Al Abdullah to the choices of the Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton, Jennifer Chamandy’s designs were present at royal occasions, drawing attention with their details that combine geometric innovation and elegance. Over the course of ten years, the Lebanese designer has developed a special identity for her shoes, based on a vision that rethinks the design of high heels, focusing on the balance between beauty and comfort, away from passing seasonal trends.

Chamandi describes the Lebanese capital, Beirut, the city in which she grew up, as a space that combines tradition and modernity, resilience, beauty, history, and innovation. Her stay in Beirut, Paris, and London also contributed to shaping her vision, as she derived from her Lebanese roots her appreciation for the warmth and emotional side of design, while her European experiences strengthened her interest in architectural precision, quiet elegance, and designs that transcend seasons.

In an interview with the Ofoq News website in Arabic, the designer recalls her memories of trying on her mother's shoes, noting that she felt strong when wearing high heels. For her, beautiful shoes were not just an accessory, but a piece capable of influencing the way a woman stands, moves, and self-confidence.

She considers her transition from banking to design to be a leap into the unknown, as she started with no experience in the field of manufacturing, and faced many obstacles and challenges, most notably transforming her ideas into workable shoes, which required an in-depth study of manufacturing techniques, materials, and proportions, in cooperation with Italian craftsmen. How does Chamandi approach designing for queens and princesses?

Chamandi designs appeared in royal looks, as Queen Rania chose the Lore 85 black suede shoe while attending the farewell ceremony of King Harald V of Norway in September 2026. Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales, also wore the Vittorio 105 shoe in ivory, with a black patent leather toe, during the Order of the Garter ceremony at Windsor Castle on June 19, 2023.

Days later, she stepped out in red suede Lorenzo 105 shoes during the fourth day of the Royal Ascot races. Chamandi believes that the presence of her designs in the looks of public figures achieves one of the brand’s goals, but she equally appreciates women choosing her shoes in their daily lives, whether they work in the law, the financial sector, or the media.

When arranging shoes, you start from the woman’s style, her clothes, the nature of the occasion, and the image she wants to express. As for formal occasions, there is a balance between the dress code, the degree of formality, the colors, and the shape of the shoes, without compromising on comfort, especially since these occasions may require standing for hours and moving between different locations. "Eye of the Needle"...

A detail that combines design, engineering and comfort. The “eye of the needle” detail is one of the most prominent elements that distinguishes Chamandi shoes. The idea is based on a precise slit in the high heel through which the belt piece passes, in a detail that combines innovation and precision.

Chamande also took inspiration from the French term for high heels, “talon égout,” which means needle heel, with the aim of turning the heel itself into part of the design’s identity. Developing this detail required months of experimentation and prototyping, to arrive at an ergonomic structure that takes into account weight distribution, foot stability and comfort, while ensuring that the opening does not affect the durability and safety of the heel.

The Lebanese designer does not separate comfort from elegance, and does not treat the former as an addition that comes after the design is complete. According to her view, the shoe does not perform its full function if the woman cannot move in it with confidence and comfort, no matter how beautiful it looks.

Therefore, consideration of comfort begins from the first drawing, by studying the position of the heel, the structure of the mold, the support of the arch, the quality and elasticity of the leather, along with the distribution of weight, while emphasizing the importance of trial and measurement. Art and culture before trends Chamandi does not make seasonal trends a primary starting point in her work, but rather draws inspiration from art, architecture, culture, colours, and changing lifestyles, before reinterpreting them through her own design language.

She believes that the value of a piece lies in its ability to remain in a woman’s wardrobe for years, and to adapt to different styles, which encourages thoughtful consumption and the acquisition of fewer pieces of higher quality. This does not mean abandoning renewal; It continues to experiment with new shapes, materials, and proportions, provided that they are consistent with the brand’s identity and its development.

As the brand enters its tenth year, Chamandi is preparing to open its first flagship store on Clifford Street in the Mayfair district in the British capital, London, in a move that brings together designs of shoes, bags and accessories under one roof. Despite this expansion, the Lebanese designer's main ambition remains to continue developing her brand, celebrating women and encouraging them to pursue their dreams.