30 April 2010
Rad Hourani’s androgynous aesthetic combines hard lines, geometric shapes and soft layers in a pallet that ranges from black to blacker. Last year, our Parisian correspondent Phillip Pourhashemi caught up with the Jordan-born, Canadian, Paris-based designer, and described Hourani’s creations as “the perfect uniform for sleek cyborgs taking over the earth: direct, elegant, provocative and somewhat industrial. His creatures have survived the apocalypse and what did not kill them only made them stronger.” The designer’s diffusion line Rad by Rad Hourani is in its second season, and as testament to Pourhashemi’s insight (or clairvoyance), Hourani's designs are stronger than ever.
Tell us about Collection #2?
Unisex. Timeless. Black. Classic styles, including one size unisex top/dresses with suspender straps, bold prints or panelling, zip strap pants/jeans and drapey cardigans embodied in long, layered silhouettes. Razor-sharp tailoring, and simple and geometric yet intricately detailed pieces.
In terms of design and designing, what’s changed since we last spoke to you?
I try to design from a virgin point of view, eluding classical, ready-to-wear rules that make us believe that women and men deserve different approaches. My pieces are timeless and free from any gender differentiations. With that said, for Collection #2 we added elements of transformation and colour – subtle as always.
Tell us what your favourite piece is?
In a way I am my own muse and considering that, every piece means something to me – so all the pieces are my favourite – but if I had to pick one piece that really summarises the collection, I’d say the transformable black leather jacket with black zippers (#JK009).
When did your infatuation with androgyny begin?
It never made sense to me why a woman will wear a dress or high heels and not a man. When I design today I reflect on the ideas I have always had in my mind, even as a kid, that we can live completely genderless and without any limits.
Who are some of your style icons, and how have they influenced your designs?
I believe that using what I would like to wear as a starting point to the design process is the most truthful and straightforward approach. It allows me to stay focused on my aesthetic statements and allows me to assess my commitment to wearability, functionality, and comfort.
Is science fiction a source of inspiration for you?
There is no specific process I think. I just carry a mental notebook where I make notes at any time of the day. I can get inspired by someone on the street, or by a book, or a discussion. Then I put it into a few straight lines…
What do you hope we’ll be wearing in ten years time?
The same pieces I wear today. One of my main goals is to design timeless pieces. I am more attached to the notion of purity by choosing black, simple, stark lines. I strive to blur gender boundaries; apparent simplicity but refinement in details.
If you could dress one person or character in your clothes, who would it be?
Someone who similarly appreciates the geometry of clothing and who understands there’s a sensuality to the clothing itself without relying on the human form. And of course, someone who’s not trying to follow a trend. People who do not define themselves as men or women – who go beyond the classic demographical criteria.
What should we expect from Rad Hourani in the future?
There’s nothing scarier than making fashion – or anything else, for that matter – that everybody agrees on. I do want to get my message across as clearly as possible, to touch the right audience. My plan is clear: keep showing collections, integrate a solid business and extend to other activities when the time is ripe.
