The Amazigh designer showing the sartorial side of Algeria
Precious Trust
“I want to show youth, nature, family, been like a journal, and most of the love stories and everything all references are moments that only I around,” says Wathek Allah, a young would understand. I don’t want to just man on a mission. “I love the North create random clothing, it’s really all African tacky and romantic stuff.” Fed for me.” up with the negative stereotypes that Making use of traditional Amazigh come attached to being Algerian, colours and fabrics, such as plush he uses the medium of fashion to green and rich burgundy wools, Allal spread the word of an underrated constructs modern, sporty pieces and misrepresented country that’s that are built with movement in mind. brimming with culture, tradition, and The look is minimalist and created crucially, romance. without any sense of irony. “I’m inBorn in Syria to Algerian parents, would say ‘Algerian’ in a bad way; the word spired by Algerian costume but it doesn’t at the advent of war, when he was 15 had negative stereotypes attached to it have to be traditional clothing, it could years old, Allal’s family fled to Dubai. about how Algerians are angry all the time. be how Algerian youths wear tracksuits It’s there that his label, Precious Trust, It just became this thing where I was like, and side-bags,” he explains. “And my began. “I liked florals and preppy stuff ‘Okay, cool, I’m not Algerian then’. But then designs are inspired by skateboarding like suit pants, but I could never find it I started finding out about all of the things too — I’ve been skating for about eight here, or it was really expensive. So I made that are happening there.” Reconnecting years — so have made things more myself a floral-covered tracksuit with a with the country, he was especially taken comfortable with convenient pocket really clean silhouette.” A few months with the way that young Algerians express placement.” Also a self-taught illustrator, later he was dropping out of studying to emotion. “People write on walls and have Allal uses imagery to show another side be a pilot and was instead hosting his first these tattoos about each other. It’s over of Africa’s largest country. His previous pop-up store. He sold out of everything the top because they are very, very caring. collections have featured a graphic of and now, two years down the line, and with They act like they’re tough but on the inside a crossword that revealed facts about fans in the UK and Japan, he is releasing they’re really sweet.” Algeria, and illustrations of local pastries. his third full collection, called Late Night A personal project, this label is an “There are so many amazing things to talk Beach. His most recent offering reflects expression of a young man falling in love about, but no-one does.” on the importance of having somewhere with his homeland. Indeed the name of his inspirational to go that is capable of evoki- brand derives from his first name, Wathek, ng emotion, memory and peace of mind. which translates as ‘trust’ and Precious NICOLE SUMANASEKERA, ASMA AL-ALOOSI, Growing up, Allal would hide his is the nickname he gives to those close Models PARVANE BARRET, WIDAD HASSAN, GONCA AKKEL, heritage. “When I was living in Syria, people to him. “From the beginning my work has ZARA NELSON, LINA SABRY.
UPFRONT
Words MIRIAM BOUTEBA
Photography & Styling WATHEK ALLAL
33
