CAMÉLIA HAFSA BARBACHI

In this interview, we delve into the world of CAMÉLIA HAFSA BARBACHI, who share her inspirations and unique perspectives.

Camélia Hafsa Barbachi

1. Introduce Yourself to the Casawi Community: What drives you? What's your artistic vision, and what sets you apart from the crowd?

I'm Camélia Hafsa Barbachi, Paris-based French-Tunisian fashion designer and Creative Director of CHEZ NOUS. I launched my brand in October 2021 with a strong motivation to offer an alternative to the existing ready-to-wear offer: more inclusive, more authentic and more ethical. For me, fashion is a way of expressing myself and as a "second generation" kid, I was never able to find a brand that authentically represented the experience of being born in a country and having roots from another. In French "chez nous" means "at home" and with my brand, I want the people who wear my designs to have a piece of home with them, wherever they are.

2. City Inspirations: How has your city influenced your artistic path? Share how its streets, culture, and energy have molded your work.

The essence of my work is fueled by the blend of my day-to-day life in Paris and my Tunisian roots. Each piece I design holds a Tunisian reference and can easily be worn in the West as well. In Paris, I am mostly inspired by the lifestyle: I want the garments to be convenient, comfortable and elegant at the same time. In Tunis and Djerba (both cities my family is from), I love the way people embody their traditions through the clothes they wear, almost like a uniform - which you will be able to find in my work a lot.

3. Creative Process: What fuels your creativity? Whether it's a ritual, a muse, or a moment of clarity, we're keen to learn.

As an emerging independent designer, it can be difficult sometimes to find inspiration when you are overwhelmed with non-inspiring tasks such as accounting or logistics. My getaways are illustrated history books: I love to explore how fashion evolved through time and how we always circle back to the essentials. Also, a couple of times a year, I travel to Tunisia to visit my workshop and/or my family and usually, just looking at people in the street is sufficient to boost my creativity.

4. City Lifestyle and Art: How the places you lived influenced your career and work?

I was born in the North of France but I had the chance to travel a lot with my International Business studies. I did internships in the US, Spain, Brasil then I took a gap year in Portugal and ended up following an MBA program between the Netherlands and the UK. After that, I worked as a Merchandiser for Onitsuka Tiger in Amsterdam and when Covid hit, I decided to come back to France to pursue my own project. I believe having the opportunity not only to travel but to live in different countries gave me a new perspective on life and people. I think my creative process is highly impacted by my multicultural prism and I believe most of the people who wear my brand share this vision.

5. Latest or Upcoming Projects: Give us a glimpse into your current endeavors and what lies ahead on your creative journey.

We are hosting our first London popup on the 23th and 24th of November with the 3EIB collective which I am really excited about. A percentage of the profits will be donated to support the Palestinian cause. Other than that, you can find all of our latest updates on our IG account @cheznousbrand or by subscribing on our website newsletter at www.cheznous-store.com.

Camélia Hafsa Barbachi

Camélia Hafsa Barbachi

Camélia Hafsa Barbachi

Camélia Hafsa Barbachi

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Instagram: @cameliabarbs | @cheznousbrand

Website: cheznous-store.com