I promised myself when I relaunched this website that it would not only pay homage to brands, I love but authentically delve into topics that matter. Being based in the Middle East its quite rare to find industry insiders that speak their truth. This is even more so in the fashion scene where the threat of black-lists and revoked brand deals often silences it. Thankfully, today isn’t about a dire expose. Today is about joy, more specifically the joy one feels in the presence of a Marzook collection.
As always, I’d come across Marzook a few years ago when skimming through Instagram and while I can’t quite remember the title of the fashion publication that first introduced me to the enigmatic duo behind the label, one thing was clear – these weren’t just bags one wanted, these were the bags one needed. In a region of the world where Birkin’s are as commonplace as cloudless skies and Bentleys line the streets, creating an accessory brand that stands apart from the rest is no ordinary feat. In fact, it’s downright miraculous!
Delving deeper into the Marzook story, I discovered that its founders were siblings; Fahad & Shouq Al-Marzook a brother and sister duo from Kuwait had managed to break the proverbial glass ceiling of this niche market together through an education combined of engineering, corporate business and a fascination with creative design. The duo whose family background was steeped in the traditional career scene veered against the norm and began their steady climb to the top by creating one-off creations for close family and friends which through trial and error lead to the winning formula that is; Marzook. A testament to the innate bond shared between the two and a symbiosis of their combined efforts, Fahad being the Creative Director and Shouq being the CEO & Co-founder.
This recipe for success follows a tradition of collaborative efforts that have birthed some of fashions brightest stars from the Kate & Laura Mulleavy the sister-duo at Rodarté to twinning brothers Dean & Dan Caten at Dsquared2 (to name a few) elsewhere the non-biological familial ties extend to a plethora of successful names such as Tom Ford and business partner Domenico De Sole, Valentino’s Giancarlo Giammetti and the iconic Pierre Bergé for Yves Saint Laurent; partners who shared a combined love of design and knack for business.
In Marzook this symbiosis is evident in the profound understanding of shapes, textures, materials and construction. Glittering Swarovski crystals painstakingly applied by hand, ostrich plumes intricately woven into plush silk, iridescent leather and see-through glass, a flair for the eccentric paired with a deeper understanding of the customer that seeks to be unforgettable. In fact, in an ideal fantasy scenario, I’d fight an A-lister with a Marzook bag (ideally with the Micro-Crystal Orb) probably while gliding out of Nobu. Just the thought of swinging this hand-crusted beauty is elating to my soul.
But, passive high-fashion aggressive tendencies aside, what it really comes down to is that Marzook has championed a world that celebrates our differences and uplifts it. A world where otherworldly accessories with fluorescent plexiglass, chameleonic leathers and exotic crystals are the norm, a kaleidoscopic world where who you are is celebrated without apology. Now, who wouldn’t want to partake in that?
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