Gavin Rajah

Gavin Rajah is a South African born fashion and interior designer. He was born in Durban and spent his childhood there. He is the founder of Gavin Rajah Atelier and The Whitelight Movement, an organization that does skills training and work placement with women who are survivors of sexual abuse and/or domestic violence. Rajah is also known for his work in events, particularly those of an educational or philanthropic nature. Quotes I think the work is about showcasing the creative industries of my country, the talents of my studio and is testament to our pursuit for excellence in our craft. Our strengths lie in us telling a story that puts forward a strong aesthetic and tells a story at the same time. What do you see as the strengths of your winning project and what does this award mean to you personally? I think we have possibly gained more visibility around our work and it has increased our following on social media platforms from around the world. I think winning this adds gravitas to one’s brand. What impact has winning this IDA Award had on your career/opportunities? I think planning this was quite interesting it – as it was a collection that I previewed during the Conde Nast Luxury Conference – it was daunting considering the number of fashion luminaries in the audience. Challenges were presenting a collection in Africa without playing into stereotype and or making a collection that pandered to what people expected an African designer to do. What was most important for you when planning the project and what were the biggest challenges you faced? Meticulous attention to detail and refined crafstmanship. What is your guiding design principle? Books, travel and music! Where do you get motivation and inspiration from for your work? I think after going to theatre and seeing costumes at shows – I loved the idea of clothing being escapist. I have not training in fashion – I had started out studying law. Everything I know about fashion I have learnt over the years How/when did you discover that you wanted to work in design? I wish I had designed the Grande Palais in Paris…….it’s just stupendous in scale! Is there something [a building/logo/product that you wished you had designed?] I think being in South Africa and being a person of colour has had a great impact on my work. I think based on the African continent people expect your work to be all our traditional costume, pattern and motifs – yet this is not the case in the Western World. The West looks at Africa in quite a patronising manner – they love a ‘pity porn’ type narrative and for me I am so against this! I am so against entrenching these expectations of others in the fashion world! I think being alienated and also faced with apartheid has made me resilient but also very sensitive to any forms of prejudice. How do you think your own culture and environment has shaped your personal and professional creative vision? I think being asked to show during the couture in Paris in 2006 by the then President of the French Federation of Fashion, Didier Grumbach. Tell us about a project which has been your greatest achievement? I have always liked the work of Ralph Rucci – an American designer and one of the very first to show during the couture as well. He is work is just so beautiful. The construction, quality and sense of restraint is unsurpassed. He has a very loyal following of discerning women. Which fashion designer do you most admire and why? I think we are faced with a new landscape in this pandemic. I think clients are looking at brands – looking at what they stand for and what they contribute to the world. A strong sense of ethics and responsibilty for fellow citizens and the environment is now key. The ostentatious excess will be reigned in! [https://www.idesignawards.com/interviews/gavin-rajah/ How do you feel fashion design has evolved over the past years and how do you see it evolving in the future?[ I think being agile enough to react to consumers needs and being propelled into the 4th Industrial Revolution which is a digital age is challenging. The opportunities lie in tapping into new markets, refining one’s product and innovating. What do you think are the biggest challenges and opportunities in your career/industry now? I always decide if is going to teach me new things and enhance our brand and secondly, is the project financially viable to sustain our business. How do you decide to take on certain projects? To re-look at Chanel as a brand. It seems to be a bit out at sea at the moment. What would be your dream design project? I do not use any software. I am a bit old school and prefer to create things on a dummy and then translate it into flat patterns. What’s your creative process and what creative software do you use? I think what are the end objectives and what do we want achieve in creating this piece of work. Also does the project sit well with our ethos and of crucial importance who are we working for and what do they stand for? What kind of questions do you ask before beginning a design project? What piece of information is of utmost value? I believe in leading from the bottom up – I think empowering your team to make informed decisions is paramount. I think listening and being inclusive in hearing opinions is important. It shows that you value your team members. What kind of culture or structure needs to exist to foster successful team collaboration? I learnt that if you do not have chemistry or a rapport with a client then nothing you do will satisfy them. One must have implicit trust – without this I am not sure you can create productively. I had a client that was also not happy as a person and this translated into her trying to find fault with everything. Tell us about a time when a client disliked your work? I love feedback especially constructive feedback – I am constantly seeking to improve our work ethic. How do you deal with feedback? At the moment I am working on mentoring young designers – fostering creative partnerships for them and giving them the practical experience that tertiary institutions don’t give them. I am extending my collection to homeware which I have been working on and building for the last 5 years! What are you working on, what is in the pipeline for you? External links Category: living people Category:Fashion designers from South Africa