PRESS QUESTIONS ------------------------------ 1. How did you get involved with fashion? When I was growing up in Morocco, I went to school for fashion. I realized it was my calling and from there I decided to pursue it as a life passion. 2. How are you as a designer influencing Africa, your personal contribution to the continent? Morocco is one of the biggest fashion industries in Africa. However, it is also a developing country with minimal opportunities for women to make their own money to help their families surivive. I hire these ladies to hand sew my designs and I bring them back here to America to be sold. Siuations like this allow women to earn their money and develop financial skills that helps them get out of poverty. 3. What challenges/triumphs have you faced as an African designer? A triumph for me is that I am still able to stay true to my Moroccan roots despite living in America for a long time. My designs are trendy, but they are still very much Moroccan and I have not allowed that to change. It was a challenge, but despite a few moderations the Moroccan caftans I set out to design are still Moroccan. 4. What does African fashion mean to you? African fashion means the strenght to continue working in America and exposing as many people as I can to my designs. It means hardwork, elegance, sophistication, and just plain fun. 5. What do feel is your place in the industry? I am still trying to make a place in the industry. I do think I am unique and in that aspect the industry does not have many examples of exotic Moroccan clothes. 6. In what ways is African fashion changing? The fashion has always been beautiful from the traditional to the modern. However, there is more of an awareness in African Fashion. Five or ten years ago, I would never have expected African Fashion to be a movement that it is right now. 7. What makes it different from mainstream fashion? African fashion is high on color and details. Our fashion pays attention to the feel of the fabric, the criss cross of the lines, and the shape of the woman or man wearing our clothes. It brings out the fierceness in everyone. 8. Why is fashion from Africa getting so much attention now? What has changed? I think there is an awareness about peoples roots. Everyone wants to go back to there orginial roots and for Africans it is not far away. We dont want to forget where we came from and we realize that where we came from is actually very beautfiul and we shouldnt have to set it aside because we live here. In this country, we are given the opportunity to explore all traditions and cutlures and fashion is one of the best ways to do that. Also, initiatives like Africa Fashion Week make it an effort to expose everyone and bring Africa Fashion together. It is a hard job, but they believe in the fashion and the prosperity that comes along with it. 9. Whats your outlook the future of African fashion? I think African Fashion will make a move into the mainstream once people realize that Africa fashion is beautiful and its different, inspiring. Americas and Europeans will want to get the Moroccan touch or African touch in their everyday life. 10. Is there anything that I forgot to ask or should mention? Anything you would like to elaborate on?
Posted on: Mon, 02 Dec 2013 02:31:19 +0000
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