EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW with Tresors Sauvages Co-founders Soraya Alali & Amalie Beljafla
Tresors Sauvages was founded in London in 2012 by two Emarati designers, creative director Soraya Alali and artist Amalie beljafla. To unveil the brand, they invited both the press and buyers at the Bulgari Hotel during 2013 London's Fashion week last February. Through artistic craftsmanship, they create unique embroidery, pieces that will sustain the test of time. They draw their inspiration from nature's beauty and exoticism. They also pride themselves on the fact that each piece is hand-crafted and complemented by luxurious textiles. I am currently obsessed with every piece of their Flamingo collection...
I interviewed the fashion duo a couple of months ago... Enjoy...
F:You are the creative director of Tresors Sauvages, and together with your partner and brand’s illustrator Amalie Beljafla, founded a mature fashion line, what was your vision and why did you choose London to launch your brand?
A. My vision for the brand was to create something that would be unique to the European fashion market, as I wished to incorporate our Middle Eastern heritage and roots. The concept of Tresors Sauvages is to capture the beauty and exoticism of the Arab woman, manipulated through a fresh and new innovative look that would complement both the Arab and the European world.
A. My vision for the brand was to create something that would be unique to the European fashion market, as I wished to incorporate our Middle Eastern heritage and roots. The concept of Tresors Sauvages is to capture the beauty and exoticism of the Arab woman, manipulated through a fresh and new innovative look that would complement both the Arab and the European world.
F:How did you 2, yourself and Amalie, meet and how did you start working together?
A. Amalie and I had met through a mutual friend whilst both studying in London.
F:Who's in charge of the business side and who's in charge of the creative side?
A. Amalie and I are both quite hands on in both aspects. I manage a large amount of the business side from management, legal aspects and marketing, whilst Amalie specialises with media management and networking. With regards to the creative side, both of us work together to create each collection as we have the same aesthetic. We both create a theme and join our visions together into one collection. As head illustrator, Amalie specialises in our prints, and as creative director, I focus on inspiring the collection, working on the cuts of the garments, and ensuring that our collection runs as a story, based on our combined aesthetic.
F:From law to fashion, how did you know that you wanted a career in fashion?
A. I have always been involved in fashion, and have since an early age enjoyed playing with textiles. I always wanted to start my own fashion label, and I find that law has been a great help to setting up a successful business.
F:Describe your personal style?
S: My personal style is chic, classic and elegant with a twist. I love using block colours such as black and white, clean cuts, and incorporate a slight rock and roll edge - etiher with some asymmetric lines, or striking jewelery.
A: My personal style... I'd always wear a piece that provokes the eye or draws attention. A lot of my friends call my style a bit Wako!
F:Image is everything, If you don't educate yourself and evolve you'll find yourself out of date or old fashioned, What do you do to keep your style up to date?
S: I always follow my instincts. I wear what I feel represents me and my personality, and something that I feel great in.
A: I don't really do anything to keep my style up to date, I am a true believer that every individual has their own sense of style which reflects them. I am not the type that would purchase something because it was "in" this season.
F:Who are your favorite designers?
S: Yves Saint Laurent, Alexander Wang, Balmain, Celine (Phoebe Philo), Rodarte, and Givenchy.
A: Christian Lacroix, Alexander Mc Queen, Valentino and Jean Paul Gaultier.
F:Who are your fashion icons?
S: Karl Lagerfeld and Coco Chanel.
A: Daphne Guinness , Coco Chanel , H.H. Sheikha Moza Bint Nasser Al Missned, Katharine Hepburn, H.H. Princess Hussa Bint Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Grace Kelly, Audrey Hepburn, Charlotte Casiraghi and Talitha Getty.
F:What are your favorite cities? (list your favorite restaurants and shopping spots in each city)
S: Paris is definitely my favorite city. The best shopping spots would be in le Marais, St Germain and the Bastille markets (if you're looking for some retro vintage). My favourite restaurants are Pershing Hall, La Cantine de Feaubourg, and Happy Days (an all American diner).
London is also a home away from home, the best spots are on the Kings Road, Portobello Market, and Dover Street Market. I love eating at Hakassan, Sketch, and Manicomio.
Barcelona is a city that never sleeps. You can find amazing flea market finds if you wander through la Ramblas and into the side streets. There's a great place by the sea called Sokko which has amazing seafood, and amazing restaurants by the pier with fabulous paella.
Berlin is also a beautiful vibrant city. There is a street filled with local boutiques, and my favourite boutique is called Dont Shoot the Messengers (DSTM). A good place to eat is the Catwalk.
A: One of my favorite cities and my second home would be London my favorite restaurant is The Arts Club, 45 Park Lane Cutt, Sushi Samba, Nova Kov, Coya, La Petite Maison and Cipriani. My favorite shopping spots in London would be Joseph Boutique off Brompton road. Another favorite city of mine which is Paris, my favorite restaurant in Paris is Ferdi, Le Grand Venise and Buddha Bar my favorite shopping spot would be avenue montaigne. Lastly, its been a while since I've been to New York City but its also one of my favorite cities, my favorite resturant would Mr. Chow, Nobu, and my favorite shopping spots in NYC would be Soho and Barneys.
F:What do you do in your spare time?
S: I enjoy ballet, horse riding, travelling, getting lost in galleries, and playing around with arts and crafts.
A: I paint, illustrate, horse ride, hangout with friends or I'd be reading a book by either Echkart tolle, Paulo Coelho, or Dr.David Hawkins.
F:List 3 items that are always present in your bag?
S: my muji notebook, Alexander Wang sunglasses, and Bobbi Brown lipstick.
A: My mini red sketch book, iPod, and my sunglasses.
F:Blogs are very 'in' these days, do you follow any fashion blogs?
S: I love blogs, and I always love discovering new ones... Some of my favorites include the Chicmuse, Frontrowmode, Zanita, Jak and Jil
A: Frontrowmode
F:When will you open a boutique or start selling your pieces online through your website, I know that you are stocked in Dubai, but when will you be available in Riyadh, or Doha?
A. Amalie and I had met through a mutual friend whilst both studying in London.
F:Who's in charge of the business side and who's in charge of the creative side?
A. Amalie and I are both quite hands on in both aspects. I manage a large amount of the business side from management, legal aspects and marketing, whilst Amalie specialises with media management and networking. With regards to the creative side, both of us work together to create each collection as we have the same aesthetic. We both create a theme and join our visions together into one collection. As head illustrator, Amalie specialises in our prints, and as creative director, I focus on inspiring the collection, working on the cuts of the garments, and ensuring that our collection runs as a story, based on our combined aesthetic.
F:From law to fashion, how did you know that you wanted a career in fashion?
A. I have always been involved in fashion, and have since an early age enjoyed playing with textiles. I always wanted to start my own fashion label, and I find that law has been a great help to setting up a successful business.
F:Describe your personal style?
S: My personal style is chic, classic and elegant with a twist. I love using block colours such as black and white, clean cuts, and incorporate a slight rock and roll edge - etiher with some asymmetric lines, or striking jewelery.
A: My personal style... I'd always wear a piece that provokes the eye or draws attention. A lot of my friends call my style a bit Wako!
F:Image is everything, If you don't educate yourself and evolve you'll find yourself out of date or old fashioned, What do you do to keep your style up to date?
S: I always follow my instincts. I wear what I feel represents me and my personality, and something that I feel great in.
A: I don't really do anything to keep my style up to date, I am a true believer that every individual has their own sense of style which reflects them. I am not the type that would purchase something because it was "in" this season.
F:Who are your favorite designers?
S: Yves Saint Laurent, Alexander Wang, Balmain, Celine (Phoebe Philo), Rodarte, and Givenchy.
A: Christian Lacroix, Alexander Mc Queen, Valentino and Jean Paul Gaultier.
F:Who are your fashion icons?
S: Karl Lagerfeld and Coco Chanel.
A: Daphne Guinness , Coco Chanel , H.H. Sheikha Moza Bint Nasser Al Missned, Katharine Hepburn, H.H. Princess Hussa Bint Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Grace Kelly, Audrey Hepburn, Charlotte Casiraghi and Talitha Getty.
F:What are your favorite cities? (list your favorite restaurants and shopping spots in each city)
S: Paris is definitely my favorite city. The best shopping spots would be in le Marais, St Germain and the Bastille markets (if you're looking for some retro vintage). My favourite restaurants are Pershing Hall, La Cantine de Feaubourg, and Happy Days (an all American diner).
London is also a home away from home, the best spots are on the Kings Road, Portobello Market, and Dover Street Market. I love eating at Hakassan, Sketch, and Manicomio.
Barcelona is a city that never sleeps. You can find amazing flea market finds if you wander through la Ramblas and into the side streets. There's a great place by the sea called Sokko which has amazing seafood, and amazing restaurants by the pier with fabulous paella.
Berlin is also a beautiful vibrant city. There is a street filled with local boutiques, and my favourite boutique is called Dont Shoot the Messengers (DSTM). A good place to eat is the Catwalk.
A: One of my favorite cities and my second home would be London my favorite restaurant is The Arts Club, 45 Park Lane Cutt, Sushi Samba, Nova Kov, Coya, La Petite Maison and Cipriani. My favorite shopping spots in London would be Joseph Boutique off Brompton road. Another favorite city of mine which is Paris, my favorite restaurant in Paris is Ferdi, Le Grand Venise and Buddha Bar my favorite shopping spot would be avenue montaigne. Lastly, its been a while since I've been to New York City but its also one of my favorite cities, my favorite resturant would Mr. Chow, Nobu, and my favorite shopping spots in NYC would be Soho and Barneys.
F:What do you do in your spare time?
S: I enjoy ballet, horse riding, travelling, getting lost in galleries, and playing around with arts and crafts.
A: I paint, illustrate, horse ride, hangout with friends or I'd be reading a book by either Echkart tolle, Paulo Coelho, or Dr.David Hawkins.
F:List 3 items that are always present in your bag?
S: my muji notebook, Alexander Wang sunglasses, and Bobbi Brown lipstick.
A: My mini red sketch book, iPod, and my sunglasses.
F:Blogs are very 'in' these days, do you follow any fashion blogs?
S: I love blogs, and I always love discovering new ones... Some of my favorites include the Chicmuse, Frontrowmode, Zanita, Jak and Jil
A: Frontrowmode
F:When will you open a boutique or start selling your pieces online through your website, I know that you are stocked in Dubai, but when will you be available in Riyadh, or Doha?
S:We currently take private orders online and we have clients from all over the gulf, we are hoping to be stocked in Kuwait and London and we would love to be stocked in Riyadh or Doha.
For more information visit: www.tresorssauvages.com
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