MATÉRIEL BY TIKO PAKSASHVILI

When did you decide to become a fashion designer? Tiko Paksashvili: “It’s something I’ve always wanted, so when I was 17 I enrolled in the Tbilisi State Academy of Arts.” What is your brand’s

DNA? “Minimalism.” What are the signature features of your designs? “Details and a focus on fabrics and textures, which I design myself.”

Sources of inspiration? “Everything from music to cinema, books and people.” Where do you produce? “In Tbilisi, where we have our own factory. It means everything is close by, but we also want to create jobs locally.” Where is your

brand distributed? “Via our e-commerce site, More is Love and Not Just A Label, at Eizenstein in London, but mostly in China, Australia and Russia, then Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Armenia, Qatar, South Korea and Switzerland.” Whom do

you design for? “Dreamers.” What was the turning point in your career? “When I won the main prize at the Be Next contest in 2013.” What are the challenges for emerging designers in Tbilisi? “Mainly financial problems, plus a lack of knowledge on how to run the business. Young Georgian designers need to gain experience, but it’s not easy.” Any advice for other young designers? “Work hard. Don’t be lazy.”

SHOPS: Lomonosova 22 (Saint Petersburg - Russia), Per Lei Couture (Doha - Qatar), Avart (Lugano - Switzerland)