Léa Daaboul, the Lebanese-American founder of Léa the Label, moved to Dubai ten years ago. A decision she says that was a “mix of business and love’’. She relocated to be with her now husband while also to sow the seeds for her eponymous brand which was launched in 2018. As a yoga instructor Léa would often travel to Bali from Dubai. She began to research manufacturers of swimwear as she was touring the island. There she stumbled upon one that was very much focused on sustainability, which felt like the perfect match. She began to make samples and bring them back to Dubai. She was put in touch with the best swimwear suppliers and this led to her collaboration with ECONYL®, the top-tier eco-friendly Italian manufacturer. As she was making her early prototypes, she felt there was a gap in the market. The eco-friendly brands were too bland and she wanted to create products that were both sustainable but also fashion forward. “I really wanted to bring the mix of both, to have pieces that are fun, bold and edgy, but also with a good carbon footprint,” she explains.
Léa worked diligently on the fit to create styles that were not in the market. It took a lot of trial and error but the effort paid off. The brand became known for stylish asymmetric styles, which became her best sellers. “I fast forward many years later and I see so many other brands doing it,” she muses. “And then China and Shein and, and all of them. Zara, copied the same, exact, same set. And I'm like, well, this is a compliment!” Clearly, she doesn’t need to worry about fast fashion copycats as Léa the Label is all about quality and being purpose driven.
The swimwear is resistant to chlorine and sun-tan oils. It is UV protective and feels ultra smooth and buttery soft, ensuring the best-fit and long lasting wear. Then there is the green aspect – something very close to Léa’s heart. The brand works with CleanHub in Bali; for every Léa the Label product sold, 1lb of plastic is collected (equivalent to 50 plastic bottles). Furthermore, the ECONYL® Italian fabric that they use is made from 100% recycled yarn, derived from post and pre-consumer nylon waste, namely discarded fishing nets, industrial plastic waste, fabric scraps and old carpets. Through a closed-loop process, these salvaged materials are transformed into a premium fabric.
Léa the Label’s two piece swimsuits can also be easily mixed and matched. Every new season the brand will launch new styles in the same colours so customers can add a new bottom to an existing top or the other way around to inject a bit of freshness to their favourite bikini. The resort wear is also made to complement the swimwear or can be worn on its own. The Silk Collection is made from the softest 100% GOTS certified organic silk with premium stretch making each piece so supple and comfortable. It features tops, bottoms and gorgeous backless dresses that can be worn on the beach or as evening wear. The Linen Collection is beautifully tailored elegant jackets and trousers that can also be worn over the swimwear or on its own. A nod to menswear tailoring, they are made from sustainably grown flax linen and the lining of the garments is pure silk, soft and luxurious to the touch.
Today, in addition to the label’s e-commerce store, Léa the Label is sold in Selfridges in London and Bloomingdale’s in Dubai Mall. It is also available at Twiggy in Dubai and additional UAE retailers will be stocking them in the fall. The brand also recently participated in Cabana 2025 Miami, one of the biggest trade shows for resort and travel lifestyle brands. While in no rush to expand Léa is excited about the chance to scale the business with new channels. She has also been approached by big companies ready to support them financially for exclusivity in return but Léa says she has politely turned them down. “I’m going to hold off until the right thing comes along. We all want to make money but you have to balance, between profitability and what resonates with the brand.”
Léa’s formative years were spent in her native Lebanon with frequent family holidays to nearby Cyprus. She recalls the playful summers at the beach and the permanent sea view from her family home which left an indelible impression on her. “I could see the sunset every single day over the ocean. It’s like, you have a full ocean view. I think this stuck with me forever, especially moving from there to the US, where it's like completely different”, Léa reminisces. At the age of nine she immigrated to the US with her parents. By17, she decided to leave for Europe. Her first stop was Italy, spending time in Florence and Rome, studying art history, photography and film. She then transferred to ESMOD in Paris and completed a fashion degree specializing in Lingerie. Not quite ready to start her own fashion business and wanting to gain some work experience she went to New York. There she worked in the luxury retail industry, learning the ropes through different roles. It so happens that Léa comes from a household of entrepreneurs; her family are in the distribution of luxury jewelry and Swiss watches, based in Boston. Today, when she needs some work advice, her father is just a convenient phone call away.
Travel plays a pivotal role in both Léa’s private life and her business. In addition to frequent business trips to Bali, every year Léa and her husband love to explore a new Greek island. “We just choose it on a map and test it out,” she says. Recently they discovered the island of Folegandros in the Southern part of the Cyclades which has become one of their favourite destinations. She also highly recommends Sumba, the “still unspoiled Indonesian island paradise”. You can find these and other pristine beach destinations personally reviewed by Léa on the brand’s website, along with stunning images. Not surprisingly each swimwear collection is photographed in dreamy seaside destinations, such as Santorini and Bali and beautifully curated.
Today Léa the Label continues to be made in Bali, using premium materials sourced from Italy. Dubai serves purely as the operational hub where they have their warehouses. Lea has no plans to change this production set up that has been in effect since day one. “This is how we do things from the beginning. Sustainability is at the core of our brand and for me the brand is also a lifestyle,” she stresses. “It has also been so rewarding to create something from scratch and building a community along the way.” Today, the challenge she faces is competing with the big brands in the high end swimwear sector. Being a sustainable brand following ‘slow fashion’ and being profitable may seem like an oxymoron. But Léa the Label is living proof that they can indeed go hand in hand.
