Interview with designer Anouki Areshidze – www.anouki.com

BIOGRAPHY

ANOUKI is a Georgian, Tbilisi-based brand, established in July 2013, with head designer Anouki Areshidze. ANOUKI presents 4 seasonal collections each year – ready-to-wear clothes, shoes and accessories. Brand’s main idea is to be “very own” for each customer, not to be cliché and understand what’s necessary for ladies in a specific moment. Whole team does its best to prove that it is possible to create something new and exciting in Georgia, where fashion industry is just in the process of development. We try to establish new standard on the local market, in every aspect of brand development.
In 2016, ANOUKI was selected among thousands of International designers, as a participant of VOGUE ITALIA x YOOX “The Next Talents” project. During the showroom, in Milan, ANOUKI Fall 2016 collection was welcomed by Anna Wintour, Franca Sozzani, Sarah Rutson and more major international fashion influencers.
Currently, ANOUKI operates 2 mono-brand stores in Georgia and is sold in 30 International stores (United States, United Kingdom, Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Hong-Kong, Korea, Eastern European countries and more). Our first store started working in December 2013, in Tbilisi. It’s a go-to shopping destination for not only locals, but for foreign ladies as well. Second ANOUKI store opened in Summer 2015, due to high demand from tourists and local citizens of city Batumi, a Georgian sea resort. In 2014, ANOUKI introduced diffusion line MISS ANOUKI. Brand is focused mainly on young generation and offers total look, designed in consideration of major worldwide trends, product range is updated weekly. MISS ANOUKI is exclusively available only for Georgian customers and it has been a most in- demand clothing brand in the market since the launch, soon it will be available for worldwide delivery at ANOUKI.COM.

1 When and how you decided that you wanted to be a designer?

In my mind, I’ve always had an idea of women’s particular look, how I thought women should look, what should be her visual, her clothing, accessories, how she could express herself. While living in Milan, I’ve had a chance to study at Marangoni and Accademia Del Lusso, I’ve studied fashion design, styling and marketing, I wanted to see how all the different areas of the fashion industry related with each other. I feel that actually, studies helped me to learn how to express my views, designs and bring it to the real life. It was 2011, when I first created collection and showed it to the public.

2 It was your dream job?

From today’s perspective, I think that it’s definitely my dream job!

3 Which is the first thing you designed and for who ?

One of the first was designing a huge embroidered dress for Irina Shayk, who has closed my debut fashion show!

4 Who’s the designer you admire the most and why?

I’d say Nicolas Ghesquière & Stefano Pilati!

5 Who’s your muse, your icon, when you create a dress?

I would not say I have a muse, I just have an idea of women’s look for particular moment, I follow the heart and always create collections that I would wear myself with a big pleasure!

6 If you had to design an entire collection using just one Colour, which is the one you’d pick and why?

Light Pink!

8 The fabric you love the most…silk, lace, velvet and why? 

I love Silk, Lace, I love sparkly touch…

9 If your clothes had a soundtrack, which songs you’d choose?

Roisin Murphy – Ancora Tu

10 Do you have any trick to avoid that “blank page” moment when you’re at the beginning of the designing of a new collection? Do you watch a movie, flip an old magazine…

I have moments like this, but it’s always a one moment when I sit and sketch the entire collection in maximum an hour! Of course, it needs editing after some time, but the vibe and main theme of the collection remains untouched!

11 If you weren’t a designer which job in the fashion world you would like to do and why?

I would be a Stylist! It’s a pleasure for me to create different looks, create contrasts and make unexpected pieces work together!