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Correio newspaper | ‘The Afro is inclusion, diversity, it is a model for our country’, says stylist Ismael Soudam

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AFRO FASHION DAY

‘The Afro is inclusion, diversity, it is a model for our country’, says stylist Ismael Soudam

In fashion for 33 years, Ismael recalls his career and his relationship with AFD since 2015

  • Photo by author Luiza Gonçalves

Published on October 29, 2024 at 09:00

'The Afro is inclusion, diversity, it is a model for our country', says stylist Ismael Soudam

‘The Afro is inclusion, diversity, it is a model for our country’, says stylist Ismael Soudam Credit: CORREIO/Gabriel Cerqueira

For Ismael Soudam, making fashion starts with touch. You need to feel the fabric to imagine what the pieces will look like and how they will fit. A habit he has cultivated since his beginnings in fashion, 33 years ago, when he started as a stylist in a fabric store, guiding customers about the possibilities that would fit into a certain size. Self-taught, he always liked drawing and watching his mother, a seamstress, carrying out her work and chose fashion as his lifestyle. “I thought I was going to be an engineer, something like that, but fashion is still engineering”, he jokes.

Ismael decided to pursue his original work, creating more conceptual pieces, linked to the visual arts, with recycled materials and presented in performances. The designer remembers the first shows of his designs, in the best ‘guerrilla’ style. “At the time, we had a group of actors and models who dressed in the pieces, but we didn’t have a release to be able to get to a square or anything similar. Then, we would make an appointment at Pelourinho, an hour before a show started, and parade the pieces”, he recalls.

See the complete mini-doc about Ismael Soudam:

Over the years, and now with suitable locations for his shows, the designer expanded his activities, presenting collections inspired by different decades of fashion, costumes for singers and artists, and bold beachwear pieces under the Soudam brand. It was at Afro Fashion Day in 2015 that Ismael modeled one of his beachwear pieces for the first time. “Beachwear, despite being such a small piece, I think is important, right? Today, having something extra, other than just a bikini. I like working with stones in the application, sequins, sometimes a more technological fabric, a different pattern”, says the designer.

A constant presence at the show since then, Ismael brought bright, handcrafted bikinis with exclusive prints to the Afro catwalk, balancing them with other creations such as dresses and pieces with ties. For the creator, the project represents a milestone in the fashion scene: “Afro is inclusion, diversity, there are several new talents that, sometimes, are without visibility, and Afro brings this entire range of artists and designers. I think he is a model for our country”, he highlights.

The designer also emphasizes the unity among the fashion creators present at the show as a strong point of the production. “In Afro’s 10-year run, one of the things that caught my attention and most excited me was the sense of collectiveness that, until then, in my 33-year career, the shows were always individual. It was the first time at Afro that we worked on a collective parade. You feel the energy of several thinking heads. It is very pleasant to be together, in this language that is Afro.”

Mini docs Afro Fashion Day:

Media and Digital Strategy Editor: Jorge Gauthier

Reporting: Luiza Gonçalves

Media team: Eduardo Bastos, Arthur Leal and Gabriel Cerqueira

Afro Fashion Day is a project by the newspaper Correio with sponsorship from Avon and Bracell, support from CAIXA, Shopping Barra, Salvador Bahia Airport and Wilson Sons and institutional support from Sebrae and Salvador City Hall.

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Michelle Williams

I'm Michelle Williams, an enthusiastic author specializing in captivating entertainment content on Rwcglobally.com. With a passion for storytelling and a keen eye for the latest trends, I aim to engage readers with compelling narratives that reflect the dynamic landscape of the entertainment industry. Join me on Rwcglobally.com to explore the world of film, television, music, and more, as we uncover the stories that define contemporary culture.

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