Q&A Yousef Akbar
Due date: September 5 2020
Wordcount: 500 total incl. intro and include suitable images
Language : English UK
TITLE:
Designer Yousef Akbar’s path into the world of fashion was certainly not straightforward. Born in Saudi Arabia and educated in the UK and Australia he gradated with a Masters degree in Logistics Management from the University of Sydney in 2012. Then he swapped spreadsheets for fashion, studied design and launched his first contemporary evening collection in 2017.
• Graduated in a bachelor degree in Logistics Supply chain management from University of South Australia.Graduated 2010.
• a masters degree in Logistics management from The University of Sydney. Graduated 2012.
• Studied Fashion design at the Fashion Design Studio Ultimo TAFE in Sydney, Graduated 2016.
Official Bespoke: How would you describe your latest collection?
Being a small brand, We don’t usually follow seasonal cycles. And we focus highly on creativity and giving our clients and customers what they want. Every garment or collection is usually designed and inspired from a personal experience or something that has got me emotional or thought provoking. I am always telling a story or a message. For example my previous collection was inspired by the experience of heartbreak, and the internal struggle and recovery.
Having lived outside my home country for so many years and experiencing life abroad and getting to understand the way of thinking a and living in a western world. my upcoming collection idea came from feeling nostalgia, which got me thinking about my culture and the middle east and how western people view the middle eastern culture. So The main inspiration of the upcoming collection comes from the cliches, views and ideas of the middle eastern culture / heritage but from a western perspective. This inspiration is developed through some direct references taken from 19th century French impressionist / orientalism Painters especially during napoleons Egyptians expeditions. And from my own emotional drape sketches and interpretations! I cant wait for you all to see it and wear it.
Official Bespoke: You graduated with a degree in Logistics. Why did you decide expand into fashion?
Coming from a Middle Eastern Family (Saudi), most parents dream that their kids have what they call a real degree! Doctor, lawyer, engineer bla bla! And that was the case for me, to be honest I was your typical nightmare stubborn teenager who hated school and didn’t want to study all together! I had tough parents who forced me to study, and even though I hated it I got very good marks. So luckily I had a scholarship awarded to me Study in Australia from the Saudi government. As I mentioned before I didn’t want to study so my father picked my degree for me, which was originally in Financial management, which I failed in every finance subject, but we had one Logistics subject which I passed, so I asked about a logistics degree and I went on to graduate in logistics with great marks! I always knew I would die if I work a typical 9 to 5 office Job, so towards the end of my studies I told my parents thank you for everything. And That I was going to do what I love now and they were happy for me to do what-ever I wanted under the condition I finish my masters and not do anything illegal lol! However, looking back now, I am so blessed to have my parents who were so patient and tough with me!
Official Bespoke: And, why did you decide to stay in Australia after attending fashion school?
As I mentioned before, I received a scholarship to study my bachelor and masters in logistics. However, even though I never saw myself working in Logistics or a regular office job. I also never intended on doing fashion as a career. I just loved clothes, and I was always creating throughout my school and childhood. And during the last semester of my logistics degree I thought to myself it would be a great idea to enroll in fashion school purely to be able to make clothes for myself. Since I loved shopping and I could not find things I liked to wear. But I fell in love with it so much and I couldn’t see myself doing anything else!
Official Bespoke: Which other designer inspires you the most? Did he/she gear you towards fashion?
To be honest I am not inspired or find inspiration in any other designers work. However I have great respect for many designers, their talent and their ability to draw inspiration from things around us and their imagination, and they way they interpret these ideas. I have great respect for John Galliano, Alexander McQueen, Martin Margiela. I do admire how they all pave their own way, their creativity, and how they all stay true to themselves. And I aspire to do the same, and I hope one day I could achieve what they all have achieved in their careers.
Official Bespoke: How did you stay inspired during the lockdown, imposed as COVID -19 infections spiked. [Where were you during the lockdown]
At the start I was in Saudi, But I arrived in Australia as all boarders were shutting down. I am still here in Sydney, and fortunately things are not as bad as other places here. For the first half I was actually preparing for the Fashion Trust Arabia awards, which luckily we won!! And since then we have been very motivated to plan and prepare for the opportunities ahead after restrictions easy up. Being a small company we are lucky to have a lot of flexibility. And of course, I also just love working and creating!
Official Bespoke: This year you were selected out of 170 competitors to participate in Fashion Forward Dubai’s (FFWD) 2020 edition. The event was unfortunately cancelled but what did this nomination mean to you?
It is always such great honor to be recognized and its so humbling to be selected amongst so many talented designers! I hope when this all ends FFWD will return and go ahead it is always great to have a place for talent in the region to show their work and creativity.
Official Bespoke: Who wears Yousef Akbar?
Any confident woman who wants to feel good about what she is wearing, and wants to wear something that reflects her strength and makes her feel beautiful.
Official Bespoke: Tell us about the current changes in your birth country. How do you feel about the transformation?
Over the last few years our country is truly experiencing the best kind of transformation under vision 2030 of King Salman and the crown prince Mohammed Bin Salman. It is the right time now, and an exciting time for my generation and coming generations. It is great seeing our country open up to the world, and promoting openness everywhere, and creating opportunities in every field. Most importantly for myself, is that the government is embracing and encouraging creativity in all fields including fashion. It is so important because culture is like a mirror for any society. I am excited to see more and more progress in the coming years.
Optional : Where do you call home?
Home has been and always will be Saudi Arabia. However I have lived in Australia for a significant portion of my life. And has a special place in my heart! So I call Australia Home too.
