Rafik Zaki is the new kid on the fashion block. His designs are colorful, elegant, practical and figure-hugging, a rarely-achieved combo. As he continues his ascent, Al-Masry Al-Youm was able to meet with him to shed light on his blossoming talent.
"Puzzles and the idea of putting pieces together inspired my fall 2011/2012 collection," he says. He believes most artists are inspired by everything around them and the smallest detail can trigger a big idea.
Zaki uses crepe, Lycra, satin and silk, all figure-hugging fabrics that flatter the body but fail to camouflage faults.
“All fabrics are imported,” Zaki says.
“I target the modern woman who appreciates challenge and strives for uniqueness,” he adds. The designs are daring, yet simple. Some of them mix elegance with funk. If you're a fan of Herve Ledger dresses, you would enjoy Zaki’s designs.
Rafik recommends pure silk. “It is feminine and sexy,” he says. Stretch satin is also a strong choice, he adds, as it contours a woman's body and flatters curves.
Zaki believes that a fear of bold prints is one of the worst fashion faux pas.
He discovered his artistic inclination at a very young age: “My creations are my only creative outlet.”
The young designer began his education at College de la Sainte Famille, then moved onto the Modern Sciences and Arts University (MSA), both in Cairo. After completing a bachelor's degree in marketing and international business, he flew to Milan for a one-year intensive course in pattern-making to pursue his dream of becoming a fashion designer.
Amid current fashion trends concerned with empowering women, Zaki dares to push his own style. “My aim is to make women comfortable and happy when wearing one of my designs."
Zaki plans to add a menswear line to his coming spring/summer 2012 collection. He feels the market is calling for it. Like many of his counterparts, he hopes to one day go international.
The fashion industry in Egypt needs a lot of help, he says. Designers lack high-quality fabrics and a wide array of accessories.
Zaki displays his designs in his atelier in Heliopolis. You can check them out here.
