Young Egyptian designer Mohanad Kojak talks fashion

Fashion designers are known for their edgy and creative designs and Egyptian fashion designer Mohanad Kojak is no exception.

From his Cairo studio the 22-year old is preparing to unveil his new 90’s inspired spring/summer collection next month.

Kojak describes himself as a self-taught designer who uses his own personal experiences as inspiration for his work.

“I have issues that I have tackled. My brand is completely based on personal experience, for example everything that happens has either happened to me or I have thought about it, so I reflect it through a collection or through a photo shoot or actually through a collection and I go into greater detail in the photo shoot, video and the story behind the collection,’‘ he said.

The Cairo based designer, who is inspired by the work of late British designer Alexander McQueen, was catapulted to the limelight when he was selected to take part in Project Runway Middle East.

He was the youngest participant in the fashion TV show that offers emerging designers a platform to launch their careers.

Among the show judges was Lebanese designer Elie Saab, whose dazzling designs are a favourite among A-list celebrities.

When asked if there was a celebrity that Kojak wanted to dress, he said he designs for people who want to ‘stand out’.

“My target is those who want to stand out, those who want to become trend setters, for example three quarters of the clients that come to me are not my clients. They are not regular clients either, in the sense that they go to other people or to boutiques. But when they come to me they usually want something different, they want to leave their comfort zone. That’s precisely when they come looking for me. Personally, this is very important for me because people know when to come looking for me they know what my piece can do,’‘ Kojak said in his Cairo studio.

In his new ready to wear collection the young designer says he has created garments that reflect failing love stories and relationships.

It isn’t only his bold designs that have caught the attention of others, his own unique style has also made him a target of online abuse.

“Social media has made it much easier for people to insult others just like it has made it much easier for someone like me to get more exposure. Therefore social media has made things much easier, as a result instead of having people thinking before they speak, you just have people insulting you for no reason because I will never meet them and they will never meet me. I was insulted but it doesn’t really matter,’‘ he said.

But despite the negative attention, Kojak is keen to cement his place in the fashion world, hoping to join the likes of Saab showcasing his collections in fashion capitals like Paris and Milan.