Osama Al Chabbi

Stylist AGE: 23 NATIONALITY: Tunisian/French INSTAGRAM: @osamachabbi

Did you always know you wanted to get into a creative field? Somehow yes, but I knew I wasn’t going to enter the creative field the traditional way. I did not want to study fashion – I actually studied languages and communication – but I have always been a creative person. I used to sketch and draw a lot as a kid and I was quite talented actually. Back in middle school my art teachers used to mention my pencil stroke which encouraged my creativity and was a real confidence booster at the time. I knew I didn’t want to be a designer though, but the creative field was definitely where I was heading and fashion was a clear direction. I knew I would end up there somehow. I have had this urge to constantly be up-to-date and gather as much knowledge as I could on the subject which turned out to be an amazing stimulant for my creative persona. Where do you find creative inspiration in this region? Since I moved to the Middle East my perspective has changed a lot. There isn’t an original street culture here in region and it turned out to be a great challenge as I had to find inspiration somewhere else. Runways and street style shots have always been my starting point when it comes to styling but I have recently trained my eye to be more sensitive to the slightest details I notice around me. I have always been more sensitive to “what do they wear to the show” rather than “what do they see at the show” so in that sense I guess people have always been my main source of inspiration for styling. My circle plays a great role as well. We are the mirror of each other's creativity and interests. Do you feel this region is stereotyped by what the media represents it to be? How are you playing a part in helping to change this? I can't deny that there’s a lot of glamour portrayed in the mainstream media that actually exists in the region but there is a bigger picture. Tradition and culture plays a great role. I come from a North African background and both have always been a part of me. I learnt to work with it rather than around it. Also, the creative scene is constantly growing; there is a bunch of young people here trying to make it. We are a community. I also think we need more Arab men in fashion and that’s how I like to think I play my part. What challenges have you faced since entering the creative industry? I believe it’s important to remain consistent in order to be credible so finding my aesthetic was definitely a great challenge but I believe versatility is the main one. As a stylist, I work with a wide scope of brands which can be very diverse in terms of identity and adaptability is very important. How do you stay original, but relevant? I keep things as genuine as possible and I try to stick to my vision, which means being stubborn at times. Things can get blurry as there is a lot happening and fashion evolves at a very high speed rhythm. I keep myself informed, always keeping an eye on upcoming designers and trends. Reinterpreting old trends to start new ones and taking risks is also a part of my job.