Inji, you are a fashion trendsetter in the region. Starting with the first Chanel boutique opened in Kuwait, today you are introducing your own brand, Ingie Paris. Do you think your fame will push the women of the Middle East to purchase things from your new collections?
First of all, I want to push every woman to come to the store and get acquainted with my collections and fall in love with them. Because my collections are really very fashionable and beautiful, and at the same time, the views of Middle Eastern women on the European style are clearly visible in their design. My collections are glamor, bright colors, femininity and sensuality - all in one.
There is no need to deny that European fashion is knowledge, experience, know-how. At the same time, fashion in the East is an interpretation of all the creations of European designers and haute couture collections. The rhythm in which eastern women live has a certain imprint on their style. I am talking about our cocktail parties, and about glamorous private celebrations, and about oriental weddings at which women appear in all their glory.
In each of your collections you can see a bright personality, even character. Is this a reflection of your own self?
Yes, of course. All that I do is a continuation of me. In my opinion, not a single person in the world can create something worthwhile unless it is his own manifestation. Working on my dresses, I understand that this is a reflection of the woman who lives inside of me. However, as a designer, I must think of many other women. For example, my friends tell me: "Everything that you do is beautiful. But you have to take care of us too, because not everyone has a slim physique." And I want to please each of them. After all, we are friends, communicate, spend time together.
Honestly, my first collection was completely dedicated to my friends. I did not want to upset anyone from my surroundings. This was a real gift for everyone, because they believed in me all these years, supported all my endeavors. Now it's my turn to thank them.
When did you feel that you want to become a clothing designer and create your own brand? Do you feel like an artist?
For quite some time I felt in myself the strength to create my own brand. My many years of experience in expanding the presence of other brands of fashionable clothes in the markets of the Middle East countries allowed me to understand the specifics of the fashion industry, but I never had time to sit down and do something of my own. I was so busy that there was barely enough time for daily affairs. But the desire to create has always lived within me. I often gave advice to many designers with whom I am friends about what is best for our Middle Eastern women, even offered them some of my decisions, my vision of their collections, and many of my words were taken into account and had a positive impact. Over time, many creative directors of leading fashion houses got used to me and began to seek advice and listen more to my opinion. That is, in fact, I was for them a consultant on the tastes and preferences of Middle Eastern clients on the one hand, and advised clients on the choice of one or another fashionable clothing on the other. It seems to me that now my knowledge about how wealthy Arab women prefer to dress when they go to a dinner party, reception, wedding or other celebration helps me most. I had the experience of having dinner parties in Monaco and Rome, where the whole world of Arab society gathered. After we had a reception in Rome, we were told that "Rome has not seen such a thing."
Perhaps I agree that many Arab women dress very skillfully and tastefully, moreover, they know exactly which part of the body should be unveiled and what should be left under a “veil of secrecy”. European women, by the way, in matters of evening wear are much more conservative in their tastes ...
It's true. European women often prefer not the brightest and more modest outfits. But I would compare Arab women with Russians. Oh, Russian women! They just love to shine in public. Therefore, when I create collections for Middle Eastern ladies, I always think about Russian fashionistas. In my opinion, Russian and Eastern women have much in common in their characters, tastes, preferences. Just look at how and in what they appear in public, what hairstyles, jewelry, makeup they have.
Your brand is called “Ingie Paris”, but was first introduced in Dubai and not in Paris. Why?
In fact, the brand was originally called Inji. This is my name. But then Paris was added to it, because the name of my favorite city and it immediately tells everyone about high fashion. Paris is the capital of world fashion. It is in this city that the leading fashion houses are located, the most famous designers work. I must say that all my collections are made in the same workshops and atelier where clothes for Lanvin, Dior, Chanel are made. For me it is very important in terms of recognition and recognition of the highest level of skill.
But, as I said earlier, my first desire was to pay tribute to all my friends and people who know me. This is natural for me. Therefore, I want my collections to be adequately represented in Dubai and in the Middle East region. I’m not saying that my brand will become one of the leading ones, no, “Ingie Paris” is a niche brand. My clothes are not distributed worldwide and are not sold on the Internet. All my stuff is released in limited editions.
I believe that it is better to move gradually in order to make sure step by step that everything is going as it should before striving to expand or enter other markets. For example, Paris is a big city, and it already has big names known in the fashion world. And I am well known in the Middle East and, especially, in Dubai, thanks to what I have already managed to achieve over the years. Therefore, it is quite natural that I decided to submit my brand to the court of the Middle East public. And it is in Dubai. By the way, the very first Ingie Paris collection showed an increased interest in my clothes among buyers in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia. And what will be the next step after the brand has already become well-known? Time will tell. But first, Dubai. Here, interest in my collection is high, it is easier to track and, if necessary, correct it.
But we have already seen the dress from your collection on the famous French singer and actress Ariel Domballe ...
Yes it was. And I was flattered that Ariel chose two dresses from the Ingie Paris collection. She performed in a pink dress on the Parisian stage during one of the ceremonial music ceremonies, and in gold - was present at the gala dinner. For me it was a very high appreciation and recognition of my work. Therefore, the third dress appeared, which I invented especially for her, a long emerald green, simply luxurious. But I, unfortunately, do not yet have his pictures to show you.
Creating your collections, which season do you prefer - spring-summer or autumn-winter?
For me, each new season is a continuation of the previous one. My first collection was autumn winter, and I am very proud of it. After all, it’s like the first-born in the family. She might not have been so bold and bold, but she was the very first. It was followed by a second - spring collection, and now my summer cruise collection will appear in the boutique.
You can see the update of the color palette; more sequins and decorative details appeared on the dresses. The inspiration for creating this collection for me was the old films with Marilyn Monroe - all these glamorous luxurious dresses embroidered with sequins, all this Hollywood chic from the famous musical "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes". The most remarkable, in my opinion, in this film was a long evening bright scarlet dress by Marilyn Monroe - so brilliant, so elegant that it just takes your breath away. This film prompted me to think about why not return again to the world of such beautiful and feminine evening dresses? To the world when people changed clothes several times a day, and evening outings suggested gorgeous, floor-length dresses, high heels and amazing hairstyles.
Your collections are distinguished by a variety of colors, they are playful and cheerful. How would you describe your own style?
Each of my dresses makes women try on different roles - a Hollywood star, a fatal woman or a young princess. If we talk about style, then this is certainly Haute Couture, because work on each element of the collection is done manually. At the same time, this is modern designer clothing. And yet, importantly, this is the sensuality and femininity of my dresses. They feel a certain interweaving of different moods and emotions. Each dress should show the figure of its owner. And it’s very delicate, not defiant. And the main component of my style is color. I really like bright colors and believe in them. I believe that women should be bright and attractive, they should wear red, because it is amazing, sexy, beautiful. Moreover, even a small accent of red in your outfit, whether it be a handbag, shoes or lipstick, will make your day or evening better and brighter. I'm sure. Red or any other color is your message to others, your attitude to the world and to yourself.
Tell me, Inji, as a fashion designer, you can probably immediately determine who is standing in front of you - a well-dressed or tasteless woman? What factors or criteria allow you to determine this?
Firstly, and this is the most important thing - the clothes should be elegant with a few interesting accents. Secondly, as I said, it is important that the clothes are modern. Because you can look elegant, but at the same time old-fashioned, or on the contrary, elegant and modern. Sometimes, looking at someone, I understand that a woman, although she is dressed well, is precisely this outfit that does not fit the situation in which she finds herself. Therefore, the third factor is relevance. No need to dress up sumptuously for morning coffee, but at the same time, do not dress blatantly modestly for an evening reception or dinner. It is very important to follow your own style, and not blindly copy everything that is shown on the catwalks. It’s worth a closer look, but in no case copy.
It turns out, if you compare the design of clothes with painting, are your dresses just a canvas that requires individual refinement in each case?
Of course! And every time a woman needs to ask, "Is everything the way it should? Isn't it too? Is it really very simple?" Since sometimes it is too simple, which also does not paint a woman, like too violent outfits.
What is most important for you when creating a new collection?
The most important thing is to make sure that everything that I created turned out the way I thought it would. I always ask myself: "Is it a couture? How modern is it? How feminine? Is it too open?" I have already said, but, perhaps, I repeat, I strive for sensuality, but not for frank sexuality, which annoys me a little. I am more impressed by the elegant sensuality revealed with the help of a well-chosen modern wardrobe.
By the way, in the matter of choosing clothes, I am uncompromising to myself, I ask myself a lot of questions before choosing this or that dress and accessories to it.
As for the collections, the most important thing is that the things I create with pleasure be worn by those who buy them. And by the way, I do not care who bought the dress from my collection, and for what reason. I even ask my sellers in Etoile La Boutique, where the Ingie Paris collections are presented today, if I can find out who purchased this or that item. I would really like to see how my dresses sit on real women, not on the fashion models with whom I work, creating a new collection.
Why is it important? Because, while working on my first collection, I realized that the models were too thin and tall, and their figures did not quite correspond to the proportions of my potential customers. In my second collection, I already applied other sizes that are more consistent with reality, the types that prevail in the Middle if a tall and slender girl sits on a dress with a woman who has a slightly wider dress, “floats” and makes the figure shapeless or even more wide. If so, then it is unlikely that a woman whom the dress does not paint will buy it. And I have to think about it, make changes so that the cut line could return the dress to the intended style or volume. For example, I have a dress that will soon appear in the new summer collection, with a zebra pattern embroidered with sequins. So, if a woman has wide hips, then such a print will certainly fill her. What I've done? I just cut a little “zebra” and launched a light beige satin to the knee, everything fell into place. The dress acquired a new sound without losing its originality. Therefore, it depends on the designer whether the people in his clothes will look and feel better or not.
Inji, how long does it usually take you to put all the ideas together and reproduce the image of the future collection? How many people help you with your work?
Usually for me the most difficult moment is the period between the collections, since I need to calculate the time required for the production of prototypes. For example, I do not like to work with ordinary fabrics, creating a model. I need to feel exactly the material from which this or that dress will ultimately be sewn. Of course, this is much more expensive, but then I can see any inaccuracies that may not be visible on ordinary fabric. I create sketches, then select the fabrics, because it is necessary that the fabric matches the proposed design. It should lie where it is supposed to lie and flow where it needs to flow.
Every year I visit specialized textile exhibitions in Paris, where leading world couturiers come to pick up fabrics for my new collections. There I can choose the fabric and acquire exclusive rights to it, or make an order for my own fabric for the new collection. And then you can do creative work, because even the characteristics of the fabric - its density or plasticity can inspire me to one or another silhouette.
A not-so-large team works with me, but for example, I have one embroiderer who produces flowers and other details, which are then sewn onto dresses. So she makes about 20 flowers a day. This is a very laborious job. Of course, there are cutters and seamstresses.
Do you have favorite types of fabrics that you enjoy working with?
In my first collection I used a lot of satin. In the next collection I have more lace, tulle, chiffon, organza. I like working with lace, it has a striking effect, remember how Christian Lacroix had it? In the summer collection, I combine satin, lace and bright prints with beading and sequins.Modern women love sequins that add shine to them. In addition, I like fabrics with special patterns, which are then slightly supplemented by hand embroidery, which allows the ornaments to look more voluminous.
Are there any of your dresses that you can already be proud of?
I am a perfectionist, therefore I am never 100% satisfied with myself. If I am satisfied with myself, then this will not allow me to go forward, to look for something new in my work. Therefore, when the finished collection arrives at the store, I already look at it with different eyes and at first I think that it would be necessary to add or remove, and then I understand that I am already wondering what the new collection will be, taking into account changes and new ideas. I am never satisfied with what I have done. Such a nature.
Inji, you personally know many art directors and gurus in the modern world of fashion. Tell me, what was their reaction to the appearance of the Ingie Paris brand?
Oh, the first thing they said: "Inji, this is exactly what you once asked us to do for your boutique!". It was a revelation for them, but I am happy because it is true, because I kept telling them: "I want to see this! Do me that!" I always needed from them something special for Middle Eastern fashionistas, something fabulous, glamorous, luxurious. In the end, I could not stand it and created my own brand.
It turns out, sometimes it’s easier to do it yourself than to explain to someone what you want and why?
In my case, yes, it did.
What do you think is the woman of Ingie Paris? What are her age, social status, habits?
Oh good question! I try to focus on evening and cocktail dresses. This is my chance to attract women's attention to splendor and glamor, to elegant dresses, to my own femininity. For me, a woman who chooses Ingie Paris clothes is timeless. This is a woman who has no age. She is always young, beautiful and surrounded by fans. A lot of fans. For example, I am a woman without age, because I do not tell anyone about him. As for social status, this is a woman who constantly attends social events, loves evening outs for presentations and dinners. This is a wealthy woman who travels a lot between London, Monaco, Los Angeles, New York and Dubai. She is smart and beautiful. She always knows where, when and how. In the morning she is a business woman, drinks tea with her friends during the day, and in the evening she is the only and unique woman in the arms of a loved one. In short, the woman Ingie Paris is perfection itself.
Once your collections are well recognized in Dubai, which city will be next? Paris, London, New York, and maybe Moscow?
Why not? I already have orders for my products from major department stores in Paris, there are orders from Monaco, but I am not ready to enter these markets yet. On the one hand, I would like to appear in front of the Parisian public, on the other, I understand that from the point of view of promoting the business, London or Moscow would be better. I would really like Moscow to be the next city after Dubai. This is a very interesting idea, and I will work on it.
What are you afraid of in the future?
I am not a carefree person, I stand on the ground. Being a married woman with two children, I always worry about something, worry. But usually I prefer to think about what is happening here and now, rather than what may or may not happen tomorrow. If you constantly think about problems, you can not only lose your mind, but also program yourself to these problems or troubles. No, I'm not afraid of the future. I am an optimist and look forward with a smile.
Would you like to wish something to our readers?
Of course, with great pleasure. Dear readers of the magazine Russian Emirates, having secured your support, I will definitely open the Ingie Paris boutique in Moscow over time. I often heard from the owners of many international brands that if a designer brand is presented in Moscow, Russian shoppers feel more confident when buying things from this brand abroad. I really hope that Ingie Paris will someday be in Moscow. I already have several Russian clients, and I will be very glad if there are more. Come to my boutiques, believe in yourself and trust your taste. Even if the brand is not promoted, but you like it and it suits you, then this is your brand! Feel free to buy what you like! And see you later.
Thanks, Inji, and good luck!
