A NORMAL LIFE IN

H
e’s perfectly
mastered
the details,
making them
the trademark to the
acquainted RK brand.
He dreams big and
achieves big, with a list
of celebs like the queen
of stage, Nicole Saba
and Haifa Wehbe, in his
portfolio, he is throned
as one of the top
designers in the Middle
East. Becoming known
as the ‘King of Couture’
Rami Kadi.
By Rania Ihab
THE WOMAN
I DESIGN FOR IS LIVING
A NORMAL LIFE IN
TODAY’S WORLD, BUT STANDS OUT WITH
HER ELEGANCE
AND GRACE
RAMIKADI
(IN)SIGHT INTERVIEWS
FIRST WE NEED TO KNOW
WHAT ATTRACTED YOU TO
THE FASHION WORLD?
I have been interested in fashion for
as long as I remember. Since my
early childhood, I used to alter my
mom’s clothes and help her pick her
outfits. By the time I graduated from
high school I had already decided
that my vocation was to pursue a
career in the fashion field. I enrolled
in fashion design school, ESMOD
Beirut in 2005, from which I graduated with honors and distinctions in
2008.
HOW CAN YOU EVALUATE THE
INDUSTRY IN THE MIDDLE
EAST TODAY?
We can definitely say that the
Emirates and the Middle East are a
fashion hub for the Arab countries.
Arab women are conservative but
extremely stylish for that I have to
give a lot of credit.
WHAT IS YOUR SOURCE OF
INSPIRATION AS A DESIGNER?
In terms of creativity and inspiration,
the world around me has always
been a rich source of inspiration; it
provides me with flashes of creativity all day long, from the moment I
wake until I go to bed, and sometimes even in my dreams. For me,
anything can be inspiring, the music
I listen to, my interaction with people, the magazines I read, watching
other designers’ fashion shows, etc.
Traveling, visiting new countries and
getting acquainted with new cultures
and fashion salons is also a major
source of inspiration for me.
I believe inspiration is not limited to
my day-to-day activities; sometimes
it strikes me in my dreams. When I
dream about a new dress or design,
I wake up in the middle of the night
to draw it and then I go back to
sleep.
A LOT OF DIVAS WERE SPOTTED SHINING IN RAMI KADI
COUTURE, WHO IS YOUR
FAVORITE TO DRESS AND
WHY?
No one in particular, any woman
that portrays Rami Kadi values and
image.
THE DETAILS IN YOUR
DESIGNS ADD A FEMININE,
CLASSY AND MODERN
TOUCH TO YOUR CREATIONS, HOW DO YOU CONSTRUCT SUCH A HARD
EQUATION?
To always follow their own creativity. Of course they have to be
aware of the actual trend but their
designs should reflect them and
their personalities and not the
trend.
The woman I design for is living
a normal life in today’s world, but
stands out with her elegance and
grace. I try to reflect that woman on
each of my designs and give a lot
of attention to details.
IF YOU GET TO CHOOSE
ONE ICON TO BE THE FACE
OF YOUR NEW COLLECTION, WHO WOULD YOU
CHOOSE AND WHY?
BEING ONE OF THE TOP
DESIGNERS IN THE MIDDLE
EAST, WHAT ARE THE DAILY
BATTLES THAT YOU FACE TO
STAY ON TOP?
I do not face any daily battles to
stay on top. The key to success is
to be very passionate about what
you are doing. You can succeed in
anything if you really love what you
do.
HOW DO YOU PREPARE FOR
A NEW COLLECTION? AND
WHAT’S THE HARDEST PART
OF THE PROCESS?
My preparation for a new collection starts with a large selection of
different fabric/material that I like. It
helps my inspiration and leads me
to a theme for my new collection.
My favorite part of conceptualizing
a design is working on the details
of it. Every cut, every single detail
is to be taken into account.
WHAT IS YOUR ADVICE FOR
THE UPCOMING DESIGNERS WHO WISH TO FOLLOW
YOUR PATH?
I do not have a specific icon for
my new collection, but if I have
to choose a muse I would go for
The queen of Burlesque, Dita
Von Teese, an artist who masters the art of seduction and
whose fashion sense and attitude
captivated me long ago. There’s
something about Dita that glows
with elegance and captivates
everyone around her. She is the
kind of women who turns heads
wherever she goes.
WHAT’S NEW FOR RAMI
KADI?
While my dreams for the RK
Brand are big, I am currently
working on reaching new markets, mainly in the Middle East
and Europe, where I’m putting
increased efforts on spreading
the renown of my creations. At a
later stage, I hope to be able to
develop derivative products and
departments, such as a baby
clothing line for example, who
knows, the sky is the limit to my
imagination.
INSIGHT’SQS
FAVORITE FALL TREND IS… Mixing embroideries with new materials.
IF I AM NOT WORKING… I take care of my health, mostly at the gym.
THE ONE FABRIC I CAN’T WORK WITH… None, I always like to try new
fabric and have never been unable to work with any till now.
MY FASHION MOTTO IS… To always be your-
self.
46 insight