A quick glance at Darin Hachem’s latest collection and you’ll find yourself invested in romantic cuffs and oversized collars in earthy tones of beige, sky blue and pale green.
For the SS20 collection the Lebanese-born and Gabon-raised designer was inspired by the sculptural work of Middle Eastern artist Saloua Raouda Choucair; which is reimagined in upcycled materials and sustainably sourced fabrics that have become synonymous with the brand.
Here, MOJEH talks to Darin Hachem about her multicultural upbringing, her love of blazers and her dedication to the planet.
There is a ‘fil conducteur’ that starts with the observation of our surroundings, of the directions collections are going through. It then becomes a starting point for deeper research in fields or arts, architecture, design, textiles; it is a wide topic. Things speak to us at a specific time, and we use them to move to the design part.
We are forced to realise our impact as human beings on earth, the simple fact of being quarantined helped the ozone layer to recover; which means we are active participants in damaging our eco-systems. The fashion industry needs to be more transparent about the reality of the work done behind the scenes, how people work, in which conditions, with which materials? It needs to seriously slow down, produce less quantities, and be careful about the materials used during the creative process.
I’d say a woman that likes dressing up without compromising on comfort; one that likes atypical pieces that would allow her depending on the occasion to play and compose new outfits.
I really wish to make the brand dig more into arts and collaborate with different kinds of artists to make it more of a complete vision and a way of life.
