Omar Kashoura AW 09 / Interview

I had a chat with London based designer Omar Kashoura of Arabic descent whose work i featured earlier on my blog. It was interesting to know more about the designer and his namesake label.

What impact did winning the Gen Art Menswear award in 2005 have on your career?

The biggest impact other than establishing my brand of course was the change in my bank balance, I got a lump sum of money which was fantastic. Consequently I was also approached by an agent, allowing me to start up the label .

After the Gen Art Award you enjoyed some measure of success by working for Preen, doing some consulting and finally launching your own line but you decided to go back for a masters, what was the main motive?

Creating collections as a young designer comes with many constraints, going back to school lifted these and allowed for me to be as creative as I possibly could. It’s a lonely world at times too so being around like minded people again was also good for my thoughts and self development.

What influence does your cultural roots have on your designs?

The quality and the richness. I suppose you have to feel it for yourself to know!

What were the inspirations for the SS09 & A/W 09 collections?

Each season is a journey for me, an experiment almost to which I seek to find answers. For every season I like to write, as I find words and my imagination more inspiring than a visual image. Therefore for every season I like to write a Narrative. SS09 was about the Man Boy. Analyzing the male form and how the fashion of the body and character have changed over time. With this I played on a character to develop into my brand image. He’s called the ‘Man Boy’ and will remain a part of Omar Kashoura for some time. AW09 was about high society, nouveau riche meets the sloane ranger. Etiquette within the man, and a gentle persuasion to society in these hard times to wear our best every day.

What is the standout feature of any Omar Kashoura Collection?

I suppose at glance it is my use of color. I struggle myself to wear black and find that I design in this way also. Looking closely I guess you could say some of the details I have been developing and carry through from season to season.