The Brand

About Us - Moni & J - High quality luxury fashion brandMONI & J is a premium fashion and lifestyle brand designed and handcrafted for the modern active woman.

Founded in 2012 by Syrian designer and creative director Manar Laktineh, MONI & J integrates artistry and modernity with thoughtful negotiations between unparalleled craftsmanship, timeless elegance, and enduring functionality.

Manar drew from her Middle Eastern culture, her degree in information science, and her background in leather making to establish a brand that is elegant and true to its unique, refined style no matter what trends come and go. The collections are designed to blend easily with any look and emphasize fashion and transitional accessories that are ideal for woman of all ages.

Fast acceptance and high demand of MONI & J handbags meant that the brand had to evolve its operations. The MONI & J Online Shop was launched in 2015 to cater to women and fashion aficionados worldwide. By continuing to offer an exquisite product, exceptional client service, and on-time delivery, customers became loyal to the MONI & J Brand and it became among the online shopper’s top choice for fashionable and stylish handbags.

MONI&J’s atelier is located in Lebanon and the headquarters are in Kuwait. The brand has over 25 years of collective experience, with craftsmen and employees working day in and day out to design and produce premium quality goods for clients around the world. You can find MONI & J online (link to online shop) and at regional boutiques (enter locations: KSA, UAE, Qatar).

MONI&J’s fast paced expansion illustrates its growth strategy and ongoing fascination with representations of contemporary femininity.

How it all Began.

That distinct, soothing smell of leather… authentic leather.
Every morning, Manar watched her mother tailor make special leather clothing and matching shoes for herself and her close relatives. Manar admired the craftsmanship and refined artistry that was needed to make these exclusive leather pieces. From the zippers, linings and strappings to the most intricate stitching details, Manar was infatuated with it all. She began helping her mother by handling small tasks such as cutting leather pieces, matching colors, and as the tasks got more complicated, it became a real passion and Manar realized that she wanted to make this her lifelong job.

“My mother and her friends were fascinated by the ideas I gave them… I loved women’s fashion and was able to spot what suits each woman, even as young girl”  claims Manar, as she recollects her childhood memories.

Laktineh’s subsequent 10 years were spent dealing with various types of leather, learning different techniques, and getting to grips with the demands and eccentricities of women, who were, quite simply, passionate about handbags.
Manar remains grateful for each day she spent with her mother, saying it braced her for the real world and instilled morals and values into her as she prepared for life in the fashion industry.

Manar Laktineh launched MONI & J in 2012. The brand is a true reflection of herself, her thinking and her values. Moni was her nickname growing up and is a continuous reminder of her humble roots, and “J” represents her daughters, the driving force in her life and story behind her success.

“It is absolutely essential that we preserve our creative expertise and attention to detail to be able to offer our clients exceptional products”

Manar LaktinehFounder & Creative Director.

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Building a Brand / Brand Values.

From the beginning, MONI & J was founded behind a dedication to craft, style and demanding standards of quality. As a customer-focused brand, MONI & J’s mission is to design and produce high-quality stylish handbags for the modern active women worldwide.

As MONI & J grew, it has never forsaken those original dedications to manufacturing handbags of the highest possible quality. Behind every MONI & J handbag, there are a set of values:

Make a Statement

BE UNIQUE AND DO IT WITH STYLE. MONI & J HANDBAGS ARE BOTH A HEAD-TURNER AND A CONVERSATION STARTER.

Concept to Creation

MONI & J HANDBAGS ARE DESIGNED WITH BOTH ORIGINALITY AND THE MODERN WOMAN IN MIND. FROM CONCEPT CREATION TO PRODUCTION, EACH PHASE IS UNDERTAKEN WITH DEVOTION AND COMMITMENT.

Timeless Design

COMBINING MODERN AND CLASSIC THEMES, MONI & J HANDBAGS ARE WORN BY WOMEN OF ALL AGES IN ANY SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT. THEY ARE DESIGNED TO OUTLAST THE EVER-CHANGING FASHION TRENDS.

Behind The Masterpieces

Produced using only the finest material:

Premium Leather. Grade A material is essential for making durable leather handbags with the highest standards.

Handmade Plated Hardware. Metals are designed and handmade from scratch to achieve thoroughness and accuracy in getting the best output of an accessory.

Inner Lining. Bags are fully lined and carefully sewed to provide a clean and neat finish

Produced with paramount attention to detail:

Each handbag is created to be loved for a lifetime.

A great deal of craftsmanship is put into each handbag to ensure functionality and durability.

Each handbag is hand cut and stitched; thus warranting a dedication to excellence in design.

THE EAGLE COLLECTION