ShareBy Faten Omar
Kuwait’s wealthy and growing fashion industry continues to attract new aspirants from inside and outside the country. Kuwait Times spoke with Saudi fashion model Faisal, known as Flame, during his recent visit to Kuwait, to learn more about the industry.
The 33-year-old is a fashion model and a kickboxer with Al-Shoulla, a Saudi Arabian professional boxing club. Faisal visited Kuwait in 2010, where he became interested in the latest fashion displayed in Kuwaiti stores. His frequent visits to Kuwait since then to buy clothes and explore the latest fashion trends helped his passion grow, eventually turning into a career.
“In 2014, I began to develop a deeper interest in global fashion trends and international brands while following updated fashion news, and still do,” he said. Faisal added that Kuwait was the reason behind his love of mixing streetwear, a style of casual clothing that became popular globally in the 1990s, and classic fashion. “Kuwait is dear to my heart. I consider it as family and that is why I often come here. I have high hopes for Kuwait to develop and improve at all levels. It has a lot of potential,” he said.
Faisal revealed that being in the fashion industry is not easy, as models are bullied all the time for their appearance. “The bullying will always be there. The best advice is to be confident of yourself and do the right thing and what you are comfortable with. God will later grant you success,” he pointed out.
The Saudi model revealed to Kuwait Times that his dream is to be involved in streetwear runways. “I love streetwear fashion. I have been representing Farfetch since 2018. Also been a model for New Balance, Tommy Hilfiger, Boss Fragrances, Le Labo Fragrances, and soon with the global brand KENZO, in addition to Saudi and Kuwaiti brands,” Faisal said.
Regarding the biggest sacrifice Faisal made to get to where he is today, he said: “I think the hardest part is having to travel continuously. I hate to be far from my family.” Faisal believes modeling is a long-term job. “The modeling profession is not a short-term career. If you take care of your appearance and body, you can survive in this industry for a long period of time. I also help young people to get into the fashion industry to be as famous and successful as me,” he said.
When asked for advice about how to benefit on a professional level, Faisal quoted Denzel Washington: “To get something you never had, you have to do something you never did.” He advises young models to dream big, because human capabilities have no limits. “You can do anything. If you put something in your head, you will do it and reach your goals and dreams. Work hard on yourself and strive, and it will happen, because this is the rule of life — work more to gain more,” he added.
