One Last Thing: Sarah Hermez on room service, bad music and hating questionnaires

Sarah Hermez, a Lebanese fashion designer and educator, has spent over a decade proving that fashion can be a force for good. After graduating from Parsons, she returned to Beirut and co-founded Creative Space Beirut in 2011, a tuition-free fashion school that provides access to the industry for talented young people. Despite numerous challenges, including Lebanon's economic collapse, the Covid-19 pandemic, the 2020 Beirut port explosion, and regional conflicts, Hermez has persevered and Creative Space's alumni have achieved significant success.

Now, Hermez herself has been honored with a place on The Business of Fashion’s BoF 500, further solidifying her impact on the global fashion industry. In a recent interview for The Business of Fashion’s One Last Thing questionnaire, Hermez shared her thoughts on various topics.

When asked about her favorite time of day, Hermez simply stated, "When I’m asleep. Because I’m asleep." She also revealed that room service is her favorite type of restaurant. Reflecting on the moment she realized her parents were human, Hermez confessed she still believes they are not. When asked about her aspirations for the future, she simply replied, "Free."

Hermez has a few hidden talents, though she keeps them secret. She mentioned that she is very smart but doesn't let others know. When it comes to books, Hermez surprisingly chose Facebook. As for music, she cannot stand her husband's. What typically puts Hermez in a bad mood is questionnaires. She cannot imagine living without ice cubes, and her dream dinner guests are those who are willing to attend a meal without her having to cook.

She prefers spending time with friends out on the sofa rather than at home. Hermez's childhood is associated with the smell of cigars and the taste of escalope. Despite not being able to play any musical instruments, she married a musician instead. When asked about her biggest pet peeve, Hermez once again reiterated her disdain for questionnaires.

She is open to the possibility of aliens and cites Merci as her favorite Arabic word. Hermez also shared her niche YouTube interests and how she takes her tea. Social algorithms might think she is interested in design, babies, dogs, AI-generated short films, and videos of people falling over. When asked what surprises most people about her, Hermez revealed that she is originally Assyrian, hailing from Iraq and Armenia. Lastly, she shared an interesting anecdote about becoming pregnant for the first time.