#26 Hatem Al Akeel - Fashion, Authenticity and Creative Entrepreneurship

The Sara Shabana Show

Today I am happy to bring you a new interview with a very creative talent that I hope will spark your creations and inspire you for the new year to come

I am happy to bring you a new interview with a very creative talent that I hope will spark your creations and inspire you for the new year to come. My guest for today is a creative enthusiast and an award-winning fashion designer

He chose to leave his safe corporate job to follow his passion. He had to smash his own limiting belief in the process and learn from the challenges he faced along the way. His philosophy is there are no shortcuts to success, and if you are going to face the ups and downs that come with it, then you better be enjoying what you do.

He elevated the landscape of the thobe market (the traditional formal men wear in GCC) by creating his very own fashion label “Toby” by Hatem Alakeel, and he was among the first Saudi designers to place the thobe in luxury retail outlets such as Harvey Nichols, Saks Fifth Avenue & others. He Designed for global icons and his designs have been featured in internationally recognized songs.

Living by the values of Authenticity, self-expression and passion, he launched a consulting agency called Authenticite; dedicated to showcasing and supporting the Saudi creative talent to the world and bridging the cultural gap

In this episode from The Sara Shabana Show we discussed:

• His entrepreneurship journey from corporate banking to fashion design.
• Self-expression and Individuality in the Arab culture.
• The different hats of a creative entrepreneur in the Middle East and how is this different from the European ecosystem.
• The value of authenticity in creative expression and design.
• The new progressive Saudi generation and how to bridge the cultural gap with the world.

Connect with Hatem:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authenticite_by_hatem_alakeel/

Website: https://authenticite.me/

And don’t forget to connect with me and say “Hi” on Instagram (@SaraShabana.me), I always love to hear from you.