Kuwaiti label and FTA Prize 2019 finalist Marzook is best-loved for its bags, with Amal Clooney, Kylie Jenner and Lupita Nyong’o all having been spotted carrying a Marzook bag. A brand that draws its inspiration from surrealism, Marzook was founded by brother and sister duo Shouq and Fahad Al-Marzook. We chatted with Shouq about recent developments for the Marzook label.
Q Tell us how you started your label.
A Fahad started his eponymous personal label designing shoes at a young age, while he was still in college in 2011. I helped him behind the scenes, focusing on the business side. The label later evolved to a mature version of our combined vision, with Marzook embodying the both of us as a brother-sister duo.
Q You seem to enjoy statements – your pieces really make an impact. Tell us more about this.
A It’s all about the statement piece. A woman needs to feel special and beautiful in her own skin. She can dress up or dress down, but the accessories always make the outfit. When we design pieces, we think of wearable art. The Marzook girl aspires to catch the eye of everyone around her.
Q What are the label’s plans for 2021? New shapes perhaps?
A The year 2020 has been challenging for everyone. But it gave us a chance to stop, reflect and think about where we see our brand headed. We have a few collaborations coming up, one especially with Lebanese designer Nada Debs. Inspired by the cosmic world, this collection draws inspiration from the characteristics of three planets: Saturn, Venus and Mars. We are also relaunching a classic shape we designed when we first started but with fresh materials.
Q Which is your signature bag and why?
A We have several signature pieces. The first is the Circular Orb piece, which we launched in 2012. At the time of our launch, such a shape was not considered a trend, but soon after we began to see a domino effect with other brands. We felt there was a lack of circular shaped bags in the market and we went for it. The transparent and crystal orbs have been our bestsellers for the past couple of years. Our second signature piece is the Pill Bag. With its unique shape and style, this bag became an instant hit among buyers and stylists. Some retailers even custom ordered different colors in crystals or other materials to offer something unique to their clients.
Q As a niche brand, how did the pandemic affect you?
A The pandemic has humbled us all into understanding how fragile we are and how life is unpredictable. Moving forward we are adamant and proactive to reduce waste in our company, reduce stock and not fall into the same strategies we had prior to the pandemic. The sophisticated Marzook girl does not need to be bombarded with newness, she has learned from this pandemic to appreciate a unique piece and treasure it.
