Marie Louis Bishara

Fashion designer, Partner, Vice Chairman, and CEO of Bishara Group, a group with an invested capital of $32 million; employing more than 800 workers and 150 salesmen in the Fashion, Textiles, and ready to wear industrial groups. Furthermore, Marie Louis designed and manufactured seven in-house brands under BTM and Marie Louis.

Early Life & History

Born in 1966, Marie Louis Bishara was born and raised in the Egyptian textile family of Bishara. She was the eldest daughter to Mr. Louis Bishara the founder of Bishara Group, a cornerstone in the textile industry in Egypt. She started out her fashion and apparel journey studying fine arts & graphics at the fine arts college of Helwan University in Cairo; followed by her fashion studies in France where she obtained her certificate in Fashion Design and Textiles from the French school Esmod Guerre a Vigne, during which she received her training in several French Couture houses such as Cacharel and Dana cote D'azure working for Balmain and Mugler fashion lines. Then, she started building her industrial know-how, through training in several German companies such as Pfaff and Union Special. In 1989, Marie Louis designed and launched her first formal exclusive ladies wear line in her first showroom in Cairo, and went on to develop 7 lines existing under the Marie Louis brand:

Founded Marie Louis Clothing Brand.
Created an Haute couture brand and made a bridal gown line.
Started a Golf wear ladies line specially designed for golf players to meet their demand of quality, comfort, and sophistication on the course.
Activewear line, a lady’s line for Casual/Weekend wear, mostly in knits for relaxing and leisure time.
XXL “Beautyfull” line, a men’s and ladies’ line for fuller-figured people who seek style and tasteful designs; this line is displayed completely in its very own branches.
Corporate Fashion line, a made-to-order work uniform collections service tailored and designed based on our clients’ needs. A line of service so perfect, that it is now the official uniform and workwear supplier for the Presidential Airlines, major Hospitality companies such as JW Mariott, Kempinski, Hilton, Airlines such as Egypt Air, CIB & HSBC Banks, etc… Also, it is currently an international line existing in the Middle East & Egypt.

Business Career & Leadership

(1989 - 2006) Presented Prêt a Porter and Haute Couture fashion shows reaching thirty-six shows in ancient and historical Egyptian palaces and sites, aired on national and international TV broadcasts. Invited by the federation de mode et couture for her collection at the fashion week in.
In 2002, awarded by the Biennale of the Mediterranean held in Bibliotheca Alexandrina as best artist joining Art in Fashion.
(2007 - Present) presenting her collection in Paris Fashion Week shows.
Invited by the Joburg Fashion Week, South Africa as a Guest of Honor.
Invited to present the collection in Cartage Fashion Week, Tunisia as a Guest of Honor.
In 2007, She was awarded by the First Lady of Egypt HE Mrs.Suzane Mubarak for cooperating in enriching the project of the Egyptian child museum, and The Egyptian Opera House.
Founded “I The Egyptian - أنا المصري” foundation in 2008, with the objective of securing life and education for children at risk. Providing and implementing an integrated approach and system to empowering economically by mid-finance and marginalized families in slums and marginalized districts, participating in the new millennium goals, seeking to improve lives, aligned with the state’s policy in the development of slums.
Founded the Asmarat Production Training Center, the first public-private center.

A project which is a key factor for the success of Egyptian manufacturing in the future, as the Asmarat Training center was the start of the collaboration between the Private sector and the educational institution to expand the technical education in Egypt for garments, textile, and handcrafts.

In 2018, she founded the EFDC (the Egyptian Fashion & Design Council) and was the president of the council from 2018 to 2020
As of June 2020, she is the first female president of The Egyptian Apparel & Export Council.

Awards & Recognition

The Design Excellence Award, from the International Association of Designers (IAD), for pioneering & advancing good design practices and principles in Fashion Design in Egypt.
The Top 50 Most Influential Women Award.
The Corporation & Development Association for Egyptian and European Youth (CDAEEY) Award.
Certificate from The Egyptian Society For Textile Science and Technology & The National Campaign for Textile Development in Egypt
Rotaract Annual District Award.
Certificate of appreciation from The National Council For Women.

Giving Back to the Community

Activating the family foundation founded by Marie Louis’ mother, late Mrs. Amal Bishara, Vice President of the group in supporting three main causes:

Activating workshops in Upper Egypt, at her native village by supplying the Know-how, in-house training, and fabric supplies for garment manufacturing.
Offering annually 20 scholarships for university graduates preparing master’s degrees for a two years diploma, training, and developing their skills in textiles, designing, and garments manufacturing.
Company housing project for every worker encouraging through the company facilities to own his house to settle down in the new industrial cities leaving the valley for the agriculture.
Collaborating in the development of the cottage and village Program by creating 120 in-home embroidery jobs in Ezzbat al Nakhl, Khousous, and Sandawil island using the Designing skills to re-actualize Egyptian traditions and folk into the modern, ready to wear, and couture lines, in association with the Egyptian society for folk traditions, aiming to double the working number before end 2006.