Salah, is a Tunisian designer who is distinguished by his fusion of ethnic culture and an Arab-African style. The Fusion of Western and Traditional Fashion is about to reach the global fashion arena
There was a time when traditional wear was simply not considered cool enough to compete against the concept of trendy fashions, but today, with climate change and environment problems we start to look at nature and tradition with a different eye.
Salah, you’ve been doing so much lately! Creating menswear, women’s ready wear, organizing events, styling, and art direction, plus a radio show. What inspired you to pursue such an off beat, unconventional and cool career and how do you manage?
In fact, what inspires me in life is actually everyday life history, music, nature. All these values really help me evolve in my life … and also the love towards my work
Tell us about your career progression?
The rhythm of my career is summed up in one word: Perseverance
Tell us about a few of the successful projects that you have done?
Any collection is a successful project for me … I am a cinema costume designer, sometimes I am faced with very difficult situations due to the conditions of my country but thank God I succeeded … There is always a challenge in life
What is a challenge for you, to push the boundaries of creativity?
My creative approach takes its essence through a story where the individual is the starting point. I create clothes that reflect a state of mind, a way of life.
How important is individuality to you while creating garments?
The majority of my clothes are free-spirited, one-of-a-kind collection.
I create for men and women. I am particularly fond of vintage and very often search the markets for that certain fabric, the fact that these are garments have already had a history so that I can reconstruct another
What should be the three must-have items in every woman’s closet?
A suit, a black dress and flesh-colour underwear
What does “sustainable fashion” mean for you?
Ethical fashion in the strict sense, inspired by fair trade. It shows a social awareness of issue since the fashion industry is the second most polluting in the world
Ecological fashion uses low-polluting textiles that consume little water and minimizes transport and the carbon impact of its collection.
Recycled fashion is built from clothes and other materials that have already had a first life, or even a second or third.
Sustainable fashion, finally, merges with what experts call slow fashion. “We make durable and timeless clothes. Thus, on pushes the consumer to buy the best quality so garment manufacturing and a goal to improve the working and living conditions of workers in the textile industry. However, in common parlance, the term “ethical fashion” is evolving into a much broader definition that also encompasses green fashion, recycled fashion and sometimes even sustainable and local fashion. It therefore becomes synonymous with the overall concept of responsible fashion.
Ecological fashion, which cares about its impact on the environment. This is an essential that he consumes less. In common parlance, the term “sustainable fashion” is often used – just like “ethical fashion” – to denote the overall concept of “responsible fashion” local fashion, which relies on very short production circuits.
Is there a difference between the Tunisian market and the rest of the world when it comes to the acceptance of sustainability?
The difference is that in Tunisia we have started to understand the benefits of sustainable fashion … because we are like many other countries in the world are real consumers of fast fashion
As one of the most senior designers in Tunisia, what advice would you share with design students and fashion designers on mindful fashion?
Love what we are doing … and that fashion today is not just a dress to wear, it is rather a message to pass.
Lastly… looking back at your career to date, is there anything that you wish you could have known as you started out in the industry?
When I started, I had this thirst, to do everything, and to know … and until today moreover … but with time, the setbacks … I understood that all things are coming to the right moment.
What piece of advice would you give to to young girls and boys who want to pursue their career in Fashion Designing?
You have to have character, and believe that fashion has its own universe … not to be egoist … and create until the last moment of your life …
Text by Suna Ahmed
https://salahbarka.com
