In honor of the opening of the George Zaharoff store at 110
East Oak Street in Chicago, I would like to reintroduce the eponymous designer
to all. The first of its kind to open in
the United States, the George Zaharoff flagship store will house the “world of
Zaharoff” all under one roof. The
product range and brand extensions will complement and enhance the already
celebrated collections that are available elsewhere. The shop will feature accessories exclusive
to his collection as well as bespoke services as well as products never before
offered anywhere that have been exclusively executed for the eponymous
brand. Look for George starting on
October 27 and say hi from me!
Meeting George Zaharoff
is like running into your long lost friend from times gone by. George is warm
and open, spiritual and very “intimate” when he speaks of his life and his
business. He is a rarefied person who loves what he does and draws you into his
world during that encounter. His notoriety has been achieved via his men’s
tailored clothing collection which offers men fashion without going over the
top; as they say the devil is in the details. The clothing, at lack of a better
word, has nuance, just a little something that makes it very au courant without
looking foolish in any way. His latest venture is on the web with the addition
of a capsule ladies collection which in time will grow to equal that of the
menswear. If you are not into clothes, you might just love the scent…..learn
the name …know the name…get used to it!
1. What trait do you most treasure
in yourself?
2. What’s your bliss?
On an airplane, over an ocean,
40,000 ft. – in first class.
3. Who or what is your inspiration?
The world around me, anything or
anyone can inspire me.
4. Who is your favorite designer?
My mother is my biggest influence,
but in terms of internationally known designers, Gianni Versace & Valentino
are tied.
5. What’s your most treasured
possession?
My little Piccolo, a three-year old
Italian Greyhound, is my little heart.
6. If you couldn’t do your present
job, what would you be?
There’s nothing else I would want to
be.
7. Where is your ideal home?
I’m the multiple residence type. I
could have a place in the Hollywood hills a loft in Manhattan and an apartment
in London.
8. What do you wear to bed?
A pair of light blue-striped Hanro
boxers. I own ten of them.
9. In a word, what do you think
about fashion?
Tough
10. How important is the truth with
regard to your work?
Very important, without truth, who
am I as a person?
11. What’s your advice to an
aspiring designer?
Never give up. Never, ever, ever,
ever (ever) give up.
12. Do you pay attention to other
designers’ work?
Unfortunately I do not.
13. If you could have dinner with
anyone, dead or alive, who would you pick?
Dead - Jesus, to teach me the speed
and power of thought, He knew how to control the physical world. Alive? Oprah.
14. Do you read your own reviews?
You know, I think listening to
reviews is much easier than the weekly retail sales reports.
15. How important is the link
between the music business and fashion?
The music business changed with MTV.
No matter how talented or talentless one is vocally, it’s all about
presentation. It’s all theatre.
16. Do you think the music business
influences fashion?
Yes and no. Once in a generation you
have a Madonna or Lady Gaga that will influence and create a trend. But I would
like to think designers create trends.
17. What is your approach to a new
season?
I meditate about it, put it out into
the Universe and wait for direction. It just happens naturally.
18. What stimulates your creative
process?
The world around me through my travels.
It could be coming out of a local Starbucks or in the Gobi desert looking at
the material of a ger.
19. Do you wish to convey any
message from your designs?
Yes, love and oneness – my wish is
to show the customer how they are inspired in the process.
20. Would you wear your own designs?
I already do. I would not put it out
into the market if I would not wear it.
21. Are your designs purely esthetic
for the ideal or do you take into account different body types and
personalities?
A fashion house cannot cater to
every body type and personality.
You can’t stand for everything and
everyone.
22. Who is the one opinion that you trust?
My team.
23. Does politics hold any influence
over your creative process?
None.
24. If you could collaborate with
any other createur, who would it be?
I love collaborating with people in
general. I love teams. I would love to work on a project with Karl Lagerfeld.
25. If elected president, what is
the first thing you would do?
Bring all our troops home and focus
on the US. Very isolationist in thought for being a worldly gent, but I think
we need to get our house in order first before helping others.
26. Who is your perfect customer?
I have a few of them, someone who
says to me, “I need four suits, four sports jackets, five trousers, shirts and
neckwear” and gives me an unlimited budget. I love working with magnificent
fabrics that end up costing $20,000 when made into a suit
http://zaharoff360.com/