Rad Hourani for seniors

  Sitting on a terrace on the Place d'Youville, his hair cut and carved, and wearing a white cotton shirt of his own design that resembles a medical uniform, RAD HOURANI began to relax with a glass or two of rosé.

For five years he traveled throughout the fashion capitals of the world and was an outstanding success as a designer made his own desire of luxury unisex clothing modeled by computer and produced in Montreal and around the world.

Thursday, shortly before his 30th Birthday, Hourani heads to Paris to be an incredible task you expect: he is hoping for the first Canadian and creator of the first unisex designs are invited to join the club as an exclusive fashion in the world of the Parisian haute couture.

"We have seen his work, and there is reason to support him because he has talent," said Didier Grumbach, head of the French Federation of Couture, said in a telephone interview. "It's not on the calendar, but I think it should work for the next season," said Grumbach, who show themselves to be invited as a guest.

There are perhaps a dozen regular members of the Association of Employers Federation of Haute Couture - Chanel, Gaultier, Dior, Givenchy, etc. - and a similar number of people. The term haute couture is like an appellation in France, legally protected, and the membership rules are precise and demanding: the Creator must be original, to produce special in their own studio, which at least 20 technical experts and must be at least 25 days and the evening is the finest materials twice a year in Paris on the official calendar.

On 3 Hourani July show his work to about 50 guests in a room at the Canadian Cultural Centre in the 7th District. It is, of course, quite unlike the typical vision of Haute Couture: There is no lace, embroidery, or net, no ball gowns or panels to be. Instead, about 22 Hourani presenting strictly carved, androgynous pieces.

"My biggest challenge is how to do something that is extremely minimalist, but very complex to do. I do not want a collection that is as big dresses and romantic look. I want to do something very pure, very RAD HOURANI DNA.

"It is not something to grumble but screams," he said.

Hourani said he met Grumbach, who is also chairman of the Association of haute couture, and his colleague Laurence Sudre-Monnier to discuss, is shown in the French ready-to-wear calendar. "They said," Why do not you start showing during couture?

"It was one of the best compliments I ever received," said Hourani.

This first show in July might can be the springboard for an invitation to guest on the couture calendar. After four years, a guest invited to become a full member.

Grumbach said he told Hourani that being on a schedule of sponsorship and needs to be chosen by the board as a guest room to be. Asked if Hourani could represent a new modern look for the seam in the future, Grumbach provided that Martin Margiela and Azzedine Alaia, defied both modernist domination were invited to appear on the couture calendar.

"The know-how is the priority," said Grumbach.

A designer from Montreal, who has worked in the workshops of Chanel and Dior, concurred with this assessment.

The main principle of the sewing craft, said Vincenzo Vaccaro, who at LaSalle College and the School of Union Chamber of Parisian Couture has been formed.

"They are very strict about who they allow in the clique," he said of the house.

The job requires a search through draping, volume and proportion, with a finished product with an excellent performance, you see with your eyes. And it's not just fancy dress ball, he added, noting that Chanel is known to have a dynamic company in the seam, as it does daywear.

"You can have a couture T-shirt," Vaccaro said, "because the fabric, cutting and sewing and crafts." If Hourani is a real fashion show, it's fantastic, he added.

Indeed, Hourani is aiming high. The cost of producing a black jacket can be up to $ 20,000, he said. "This is not for everyone, but I would still like it very comfortable to wear."

Hourani was born in Jordan and moved with his family in Montreal at the age of 16 years. After high school he worked as a model scout and stylist (including several shoots for The Gazette), before launching his own line, despite the lack of donors and no training in fashion. His first exhibition in Spring 2007 Style.com invited to appoint him as a Top 10 contender mode. Holt Renfrew picked it up quickly, like Reborn Montreal, by his friend and muse, Brigitte Chartrand possession. Since then he has shown in New York (where he was a secondary, cheaper line called RAD Rad Hourani is due), Milan, Korea, the Netherlands and Toronto, but never in Montreal. His latest project is a collection of Joyce in Hong Kong, in tones of his signature in black, gray and white with a red mushroom.

In early July, after his show, he opened a gallery in the Marais, photography and multimedia projects, and fashion show.

"Rad Hourani is not just a designer. I am a visual artist," he said, and laughed at his use of his name in the third person.

Hourani attributes its success to date with perseverance, a complete and uncompromising artistic.

"Maybe because what I do, it's my life. I call this living, breathing thing. I am my own judge. I do not do things to please people.

"For me this is just the beginning," he said, adding that if Giorgio Armani attended one of its manifestations (as he did in Milan), "these facts are just fun."

The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand, a novel that celebrates individualism, is his inspiration.

"It's kind of showed me that if you have a vision you can achieve it."