My Interview with Saudi fashion designer Razan Alazzouni
Razan Alazzouni is one of the most famous
Saudi fashion designers. Celebrities such Emma Roberts, Kelly Osbourne, Naya
Rivera, Whitney Port and Ashley Tisdale among others wore her designs. If you
want to know more about her, scroll down for the exclusive interview with Razan
Alazzouni herself.
Tell me more about yourself
(educational background, general profession= and non profession interests,
define your personal style)?
I was born and raised in Khobar, Saudi Arabia.
While growing up, I’ve always leaned towards
arts, so when it was time for college I went to the School of the Museum
of Fine Arts in Boston, and during my time there I realized that a lot of my
work was influenced by fashion.
As soon as I graduated, I decided to pursue
fashion design as a career. What many people don’t realize is the endless
amount of work and hours that goes into it, but nothing else brings me more
joy!
I’d describe my personal style -much like my
designs- as a cross between classic and modern. I like my designs to emphasize
the femininity, delicacy and grace of the female form, while maintaining
comfort.
What does fashion mean to you?
And what's your favorite part about being a fashion designer?
Fashion to me was always a way to express
myself. My favorite part of being a fashion designer is experimenting with new
fabrics and learning new techniques. You really have to keep up with the latest
trends and that is the most fun part of the challenge.
When did you realize you wanted
to become a fashion designer?
When I was around 11 years old I wanted to be
a fashion designer. But of course like every kid, by the time I hit 12 I wanted
to be something completely different.
Though I was always into fashion! Ever since I
was three, I would always choose my own clothing. I loved to express myself.
As I grew up, I was constantly designing my
own clothing, since I found it difficult to find the exact thing I would want
to wear while shopping. When I went to art school for university, I realized
how a lot of my work was influenced by fashion, and that’s what essentially
paved my way to fashion Design.
How would you define fashion in
Saudi Arabia? And do you see this industry growing here in the future?
Saudi women are some of the most stylish women
in the world. I admire how they each have
their own style that shows through the clothes they wear and the way they style
their outfits together. As for the fashion industry, I think the presence of
fashion institutes such as raffles will help in guiding and refining more local
talents, they will arm them with the tools needed to get into this industry.
Where do you get your
inspiration?
Everything around me inspires me! Art, light,
and nature are a few things that constantly inspire my choice in
colors, fabrics and cuts. Our latest Autumn/Winter 2014 collection was
influenced by winter blooms, particularly the poppy seed flower. It focused on
depicting the softness of the flower against the harshness of winter. Which is
why such sharp embroidery was mixed with a more organic design.
How long does it usually take
you to construct a piece?
Depends on the piece. Something from our
Threads by Razan Alazzouni line would take about a week to finish, while a
couture gown would take at least two months!
How do you select the materials
you use?
Well, it usually depends on the season. For
our latest Autumn/Winter 2014 collection, the collection was mostly made from
crepe. Though the embroidery is usually the part that makes the season fabrics
unique.
I know now you started designing
jewelry, so how does designing jewelry
differ from designing clothes?
It’s very different. Accessories are such a
wide spectrum. It’s so hard to narrow down what you think best accents the
outfits without over welding the looks.
Do you prefer sketching a design
or actually constructing them?
I prefer constructing my designs over
sketching, but before starting with construction I always need to draw a
primary sketch.
Who are you favorite
local/international designers?
Riccardo Tisci is definitely my
all time favorite designer! His designs are a perfect mix of dramatic, artistic
and conventional, which is a difficult combination to achieve.
What's the biggest highlight of
your career to date?
Meeting Franca Sozzani (Editor
in Chief of Vogue Italia).
I remember she looked at my work and said “Brava. Brava. Brava” She didn’t say
anything else.
What advice do you have for
aspiring fashion designers
Find your style, you need to
find what separates you from other designers. It’s always good to look up to
other designers and learn how to improve yourself and your craft, but never
imitate!
Where can our readers buy your
designs?
We’re currently stocked in Symphony Boutique
in Dubai, Pink Label boutique in New York, The Closet boutique in Qatar,
Moonriver boutique in New Delhi, Bloom boutique in Riyadh, and Cream boutique
in Jeddah.
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