Julia Frakes: What was your childhood in Jordan like?
Rad Hourani: When I was a child, every week my mother would take me to her dressmaker so we could choose the fabrics and designs for her next outfit. From a young age, I started giving my opinions on them. She dressed me in the same mode that she dressed my brother, and I hated it. I didn't want to wear anything that was like what the other children were wearing... I was not an easy child at all, very picky!
JF: How did you teach yourself the technical aspects of clothing design,
video art, and photography without formal training?
RH: I never went to design school – I never went to any school, for that matter – and I am lucky enough to be extremely curious about anything and everything. All that I know about fashion design, videomaking, and photography I learned on my own merely by observation.
JF: Your collections embody the definition of "seasonless dressing" -- how do you develop this hallmark? Is it a means to gain an edge in the global marketplace? Or rather a philosophy "against seasons"?
RH: Circumstances have provoked me to move around from an early point in my life, and I've felt compelled to continue on doing so. My peripatetic life experience has forced me to consider things from a wider perspective without restrictions. I want to convey this notion into my line and design clothes that can be worn anywhere, anytime. Moreover with global warming I really believe that there will be no longer be distinct seasons and everybody will need a closet that embodies the essence of timeless style, which is great since true style has no season. I feel like I'm from nowhere and everywhere.
JF: What are the key differences between showing your first collection in Paris versus your second in New York?
RH: I do want to get my message across as clearly as possible in order to touch the right audience. In that sense presenting in Paris and subsequently in New York was an adept way to acquire visibility and prepare for future developments. But on the other hand I feel it would be an error to saturate the market too quickly and rush to complete orders anywhere that I can. I want to secure a solid manufacturing structure to ensure quality and make certain that my line is only sold in the right places. I desire for my clothes to be both rare and perfect, I guess…
Rad Hourani Collection 1 (Spring/Summer '08)
JF: Does your inspiration change with each collection or is it merely an evolution of the same inspirational rationale? Can you describe your linear design process a bit?
RH: Given the nature of the fashion calendar, I have to present my collections on a bi-yearly basis; however I design them with the idea that they can be worn by anyone, at any time. Therefore I do not start a new season with a specific theme or concept, but rather I try to establish a continuity from one to the next. There is no specific process, I just carry a mental notebook wherein I jot down notes daily. I can become inspired by someone on the street, or by a book, or even by a discussion. Then I put it into a few straight lines...
JF: What do you least admire about the fashion industry?
RH: For me fashion is about clothes transcending simple functionality and gaining a symbolic, evocative power by engaging in a dialogue with their environment and their time. It's a tool for self-expression and self-invention. I'm allergic to trends and their followers... especially to the inevitable editors who will say 'OMG, it was amazing... so conceptual and intellectual!' when they see a high-end collection that they will not even wear even if they are sent it for free, yet they have no choice to make it the 'trend of the season' because the brand has the power of financial backing. I don't think that there is anything scarier than making fashion – or anything else, for that matter – that everybody agrees on.
upon seeing this image, Karl himself wanted to know everything about the mysterious RadJF: Where do you see yourself -- and your label -- this time next year? ... And in five years time?
RH: I essentially do everything myself to ensure that my aesthetic statement and message is clearly conveyed. I try to apply my whole vision in all areas of my work: from clothing to graphic design to video filming and editing. I appreciate the strength of a sharp black line and it can be found in everything that I do. I cannot divide "life" from "work", since my work is my life (and vice versa). This bond allows me to create a coherent image for my brand. My plan is clear: to continue showing collections, integrate a solid business platform, and extend my brand to other enterprises when the time is ripe. No rush, though...
JF: What is your most prized value in others?
RH: Honesty.
JF: What is your most prized value in yourself?
RH: I'm all about gratitude: everything happens for a reason, and I am very thankful.
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