Close Up with Farah Ackipare: Put the Spotlight On
The City of Lights has for centuries been a cultural hub of creativity and artistic expression, an epicenter for innovation and creation – and that’s no different today. As we gear up to open up in Paris, we’ve been spending some time with some local Parisians who are striking out on their own and leaving their mark on the city’s millennia-long tapestry. As of late, we sat down with Farah Ackipare, designer, creative director, and founder of her own design studio, Hoodjab. Brimming with ideas and energy, Farah has already brought her creative vision to several collaborative efforts while charting her own path forward.
LET'S MEET FARAH
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I'm Farah Ackipare, designer and creative director, and I founded Hoodjab in 2019. Hoodjab refers to the hood, the neighborhood, to embrace all the culture and enrichment we get from it, and jab is a type of punch in boxing.
This word defines pretty well the environment in which I evolve, so there's the studio part, which is a multi-disciplinary design office in which I offer my services, including creative direction, design, consulting, all revolving around streetwear. And then there's the Hoodjab Lab, which is a kind of laboratory where I design and carry out a complete artistic process.
As a multi-disciplined creative do you feel like the city inspires you on a daily basis with events like FDLM?
Paris is a very dynamic city, and it's not without reason that it's called the City of Light. We have the opportunity to showcase a wide range of profiles and young creatives and to meet these kinds of people.
So far, you’ve released some awesome upcycled Nike tote bags – are there plans for more upcycling-type products down the line?
Hoodjab Lab, which is an accessories brand, allows me to challenge myself and carry out a complete artistic process for myself. It was during a trip to Tunisia that I created the Hammam Bag. So I took a popular bag that's very common in Africa, which is made of woven, recycled plastic, and I drew Nike Swooshes over it. And I was delighted to see people's reactions because the bag got positive reviews.
In the Hoodjab Lab, I've also developed (...), it's mainly an accessories brand, so I've designed socks, bags, and baseball bats. It's really (...), it allows me to be relatively free and to create things for myself, as opposed to the studio part where I have to respect a budget and a brief.
You’re a passionate boxer, could you tell us how you got into boxing and how that passion shapes your creative output at HOODJAB
I have practiced boxing for almost 10 years, and it's a sport that has taught me to be regular, constant, and, above all, determined.
What’s next for HOODJAB – who’s the dream collaborator or project?
Today, I'm lucky to be working in the streetwear world, which is a field that suits me completely and that I love, so I have the chance to work with Nike on certain projects and also with other brands. I also support some labels with creative direction for events, so I'd say that all of Paris inspires me: music, sport, the environment, the energy you find here, it's really a dynamic city, so I think that it's reflected in my work and in my personality.
And finally, if you were to decide the headline for your interview what would you name it? How would you define yourself?
Welcome; put the spotlight on; we do many things; we make a lot.