Tell us your story
Ive always been involved in fashion in so many ways. I started as a Saturday boy at a then world famous boutique called Peliccano and moved on into so many sides of the industry. Buying, production, concepting, selling…..
What was your style like as a teenager? and was there a defining moment in your younger life that shaped the way you dress?
It was always about the Japanese designers. Comme, Yohji, and Issey. I was never interested in jeans and the pedestrian trends.
How has your culture, upbringing, or background influenced the way you see fashion?
First of all in come from a multicultural background and i've been lucky to have lived all over the world and be educated all over the world, so i'm not a man of boundaries, i'm a free spirit of the world and i've managed to merge my middle eastern upbringing and my western side.
What was the first thing you ever designed that felt ‘right’?
Im never happy with anything we make. It’s a torturous way of working
How did you start the brand?
It happened quite organically, i've worked in all sectors of this industry buying, producing, design and at one point id had enough and said I will go into chocolates and bakeries but then I made a beautiful jacket id made out of 17th century hemp linen and id even lined it with recycled fur and everyone in the industry wanted one. So I made a few, for some editors and buyers etc and someone said to me you’ve got to show in Paris and a friend loaned me their apartment, I went with another friend, with only 2 jackets, put them on the back of chairs and I said to him if I sell anything, dinner is on me…and then dinner was on me
Next day, I said if I sell anything today, I’ll upgrade you to business…then I upgraded him
On the 3rd day I said fuck off now I need to do my work!
I came back with an order for 900 jackets and thats how By Walid was born.
Tell us a proud moment in your career?
There are two stories:
I was going to give a talk at Central Saint Martins and two students informed me that they had bought and shared a jacket. One had it on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday and the other the rest of the week. I lost them in the crowd but wanted to gift them another jacket. USE
An artist took out a loan to buy a jacket and wouldn’t wear it until it was paid off
This level of appreciation is so touching
Where does your process begin when you’re developing something new?
with us it all starts with the antique fabric. The level of distress, cleaning, backing
What’s the hardest compromise you’ve had to make for your brand?
When the online big companies pushed us to make prints
How do you want people to feel when they wear By Walid?
Special!
What’s something about the fashion industry that took you years to learn?
It’s unglamorous and all about hard work
What does success look like for your brand in the future? What are your dream projects?
We always have plans in the pipeline. It stimulates me and pushes me to strive more
What change do you wish to see in the fashion industry/the way people shop
The fashion industry is shooting itself in the leg with these mad prices and their ridiculous sales policies
What references influence you outside of fashion?
History and art