Une Vie D'oiseau: The Young & Talented Ian Zaqueu
The talented Ian Zaqueu, came to the attention of Lapetitenewyorkaine first through word of mouth but more so through pure inspirational creativity and story behind the upcoming brand. Read on to know more about the Mozambican designer.
LPNY: As a young designer, what inspires you most? The old or the new? or a mixture?
IZ: As a young designer, I would say that the mixture of the old and the new inspires me. There is so much to learn from the old. So much quality, so much love. the old is pure art created by passionate designers.
LPNY: Tell us about your collection, the inspiration behind it.
IZ: Vie D'Oiseau was a collection which " started " last year, in August. I designed outfits that I would want to wear and that were not available because they didn't exist at all. Vie D'Oiseau " The Capsule Collection ", was elaborated at the beginning of the year, in January. The name "Vie D'Oiseau" means "Bird Life" in french. I named it “ Vie D’Oiseau " because of me, because of my life. The same way that birds always migrate, I also do. Born in Brazil 1999. Flew to Mozambique some months later and since then I started flying more often. In 2003, I moved to Belgium with my mother and sister. I grew up and lived there for 9 years. I then came back to Mozambique. I've been living in Mozambique for 3 years now. I've been to so many places and I've learned about so many cultures. That's why my collection was called Vie D'Oiseau. Because just like a bird, I'm always moving, I'm living the life of a bird.
LPNY: Where does the name of your brand come from? What does it mean?
IZ: Well the name of my ' brand ' is simply "Ian Zaqueu". I want to innovate fashion. I want to bring a whole new world to fashion, which is my world. I then thought that my name would be the most simple route to choose. But even though it is mainstream, I still find it a genuine way of showing love to society, by being yourself. It is also the way that I want to leave a legacy just like all the great and legendary designers have done.
LPNY: As an African, what does your art and creativity represent to you?
IZ: Well I picture myself more as a global citizen. Proudly African but I express more global views into my art. Africa in general, inspires me a lot. It feeds my creativity with its richness. I’m not talking about its wealth but more about what it has to offer. The Love, The Warmth, The People, The Culture, Its Beauty. There is so much poverty as well as so much personal wealth. But under all of that, Africa still has so much beauty which inspires me. Africa still has so much love to give out.
A well traveled and inspirational young designer, Ian tells Lapetitenewyorkaine a bit more on what feeds his creativity.
IZ: But I may not say that because I’m African, my main source of inspiration is Africa. I’ve had and still have the exceptional chance to live in amazing places and to visit so many wonderful and intriguing places. That is what feeds my creativity. Known locations as well as the unknown ones. So much beauty and purity which I then translate into my art. So, as an African or even as a citizen of the world, my art and creativity represent so much to me.
LPNY: What are your future plans for your brand? Or collection?
IZ: Right now, I am preparing my collection which I am going to present at the end of this year at the, Vodacom Mozambican Fashion Week 2014. I am going to participate as a Young Designer [this year] I may say that I’m proud of myself. Right now, I am really working on a collection which will be presented here in Maputo on the 9th of December 2014. After the Fashion Show, I’ll start working towards making “ Ian Zaqueu “ a registered brand. That will allow me to start selling a “ bit of [my] dream " with a touch of reality. But I still have time to elaborate all of that and make sure that everything goes well. But for now, the fashion week is my only objective.
LPNY: What makes your creations different (culturally, technique wise, vision, market demographics, and materials) from the ones you see on large runways today?
IZ: To be honest, I don’t really compare myself to many designers. My brother Celso, advised me not to. I mean, I feel like it is a easier way to share my vision with the world, through my designs. I visualize all the pieces that I create and produce with the help of my tailor.
I really cannot tell you what makes me different from the rest of the designers who might be more passionate than I, who may work harder and longer than I do, or even who have been doing this for several years [decades]. I really cannot talk to you about them because I do not know them. I do not know what experiences they have had and what motivates them.
LPNY: In your opinion what does Africa have to offer most in this industry? (Or in general)
IZ: Africa is a continent made out of so much genuine beauty. So much natural and unspoiled beauty. The majority of the african population is made out of youngsters. As we all know, Africa is a developing continent. Many people have a low standard of life in Africa. Many people are uneducated and that is not a deliberate decision. Many people suffer from hunger and malnutrition. I can keep on adding many realistic and drastic points which make Africa, but I prefer telling the world what they don’t know about Africans. Africa in general is a exceptional continent. The people glow and release rays of happiness and warmth. A humble continent, because they know how to value the small things that they have.
Africa a lot to offer. Such a talented and creative youth. Humble, Passionate, Modest. A population which values what it has. People who know how to create incredible things even with a limited amount of material. A proud population with a great culture. Africa has so much more to offer to the world of fashion.
LPNY: How do you plan on staying "true" to your initial goals as your progress in this industry?
IZ: Staying truthful to your initial goals is a hard accomplishment. I am thankful for all the life experiences that i’ve had. I grew up with three women. With my dad being in England and my mom always travelling due to her work, I grew up as the “ Man of the house “. The advantage is that I matured, I matured due to the type of lifestyle that we were living. Being the son of a diplomat brings you advantages and disadvantages. One of the advantages is that, I gained a lot of general knowledge comparing to other youngsters. So, I’m proud of myself. Now, I spend more time with my mother. But even with the limited time that my mother had between her late nights at work and her trips, she managed to raise me. Impose values, impose restrictions, motivate me and educate me.
I’ll do my best to keep on being truthful to my initial goals. I know that I will always have 3 women in my life whom will always want to see me success in anything I do. My Mother and my two sisters. They will always make sure that, I have the freedom that I need, the excessive love that I need, the motivation, the inspiration and many other elements that I need. But most important of all, they will always make sure that I do not derail.
Ian sais he isn't ready just yet to fully include his culture into his collections, but one thing is clear his inpiration and creativity is drawn upon from the many cultures, countries and experiences in his life. IZ: I just feel like introducing my world which is a bit more international to Mozambique. I will then share Mozambique with the rest of the world. I just feel the key is to introduce a culture which hasn’t been introduced. That is what I’m doing. Sharing the cultures which inspire me with the rest of Mozambique, hoping that it will inspire them as well.
LPNY: For aspiring designers, what is your piece of advice to them?
IZ: My piece of advice? I’ll start off by saying what other artists I’ve said and will always say, “ Do your thing “. Do not limit yourself. Do not underestimate yourself. I still do it, I still underestimate myself and I know that if I keep on doing it, it will destroy me as well as my art. Make sure that your dreams include reality, confidence and most of all passion. As I say, “ Reality is a murderer “. You can dream about so many things but once you are done dreaming, you’ll have to face reality. So, do your thing. Go for it, be confident and specially be passionate.
Lapetitenewyorkaine can only expect bigger, better and more inspirational ventures from Ian Zaqueu! Find more of the Capsule Collection on the Gallery D'inspiration.