VANDART
What’s your name and where are you based?
Tania Hawilo. Based between Dubai & Beirut
Can you describe your practice in a few words?
Designing clothing and the visual world that surrounds it
When did you start to think creatively, and how did fashion find its way into your practice?
We didn’t get Fashion TV growing up in Sharjah, my dad unlocked it for my mum and I ended up watched it more than cartoons . The shows felt so captivating back then and really got me dreaming about what I could become.
What does the name of your brand, vandart, mean?
It really means the first thing that comes to mind. I didn’t want to give the brand a name that would create any boundaries, so I thought of a word that simply hinted at something artful and creative.
vandart’s roots are between Dubai and Beirut. How do those two cities inspire its world?
Beirut gave vandart its feminine appeal, while Dubai gave it something more grounded and familiar. Art No.001, for example, was inspired by the way a Khaleeji sheila is adorned, but reinterpreted in a contemporary way.
Before starting your own brand, you worked across a remarkable range, an early designer at The Giving Movement, time with Elie Saab and Marques ‘Almeida, and contributions to projects for Ye. What did you learn during those experiences?
I learnt that there’s a real appetite for creative pieces that are still wearable and well-priced. A lot of brands try to find that balance, but you usually have to compromise somewhere, and often it’s the branding. Each place I worked taught me something different ,TGM taught me commerciality, while Elie Saab taught me to keep dreaming.
What’s been the hardest part of launching independently, and how have you navigated it?
Not listening to the voice that says you can’t do it, or giving in to the pressure. I changed my perspective and started seeing the brand as a passion I always want to keep alive, and found a way to make it financially possible to do that. It’s a slower start, but the journey feels much more true to the process. I’m also a new mum so .. enough said.
How would you describe your design process, where does a piece or collection usually begin for you?
It’s very intuitive and drawn from my surroundings. I really pay attention to what feels missing, whether it’s a certain piece, feeling or way of dressing, and build from there.
Who is the vandart woman, and what do you want her to feel when she wears your pieces?
She’s a woman who values everything, from her interesting little card holder to the handwritten notes she keeps. I want her to feel completely comfortable in what she wears, but still cool, considered and elegant throughout her day.
What’s inspiring you right now, in or outside of fashion?
Just daily instances. I like to leave some room to wonder, what could be worn here, certain colour palettes, textures and little details I notice around me.
Where can people find you?
People can shop the collection on www.vandart.com or see my latest campaigns on @studio.vandart
