photo by @eyesofsauronāā
After coming down from the excitement of his brandās 3rd season launch last week, we got together with the man behind it all; Amir Zargari, the creative designer of the brand Zaraga and Babes and Gents. We discussed his new season, future plans and all things Ottawa.
Amir: This was the third season. Iāve done other shows just like this for season one and two. There wasnāt as many people in the last two seasons, but it just grew. It doesnāt happen over night and we all say the same thing if we can do it here we can do it anywhere, because there isnāt a lot of people in this industry here. I read somewhere that in Toronto there are around 78 thousand people who work in the art/fashion/music industry, so itās easy to pack an event there. If you can do it in Ottawa, then youāre set.
E: If you had a chance to move to Toronto and do your thing there, would you?
A: No. Iāll always live here, but Iām always going to make trips back and forth. As of now, Iām planning to do the fall/ winter launch show in Toronto. I know a lot of artists out there and I get everyone to come out with their friends, it just becomes a crazy event. The idea may change who knows.
E: Well, we just moved back from Toronto after a few years and weāre always trying to keep up with whatās going on here. Itās exciting to see new things happening.
A: Itās definitely getting better now especially with artists pushing the city. So many times in the last ten years people start to get a bit poppinā and they move to Toronto and start to rep Toronto. Artists here are now starting to blow up internationally. The two biggest musicians who rep Ottawa, are Maurice Moore; an R&B singer and Night Lovell who is a rapper. They both have a big fan base. They live in the City, and rep Ottawa in every interview. We all support each other.
E:Ā So many people think that Ottawa is this lame city, but itās only because they come in and they donāt know what to look for, itās a little more tricky to find out whatās happening.
A: Thatās the thing. I have another friend who's doing Small World Ottawa. It should become the next blog T.O of Ottawa. He just started it around October or November. Itās not all he does, but itās going well and weāre all trying to help out. When people who arenāt from town are visiting, all theyāll have to do is check it out.
E: I read that youāve lived in two other cities before?
A: Well, Iām from Iran I moved in grade nine. My home-base has been here in Ottawa. I left the city to go to Waterloo for a semester after high school then, I did co-op for second semester in Toronto. After that I moved back to Ottawa, at that point I was on the wave of wanting to start a brand. But my parents wanted me to try something else. So, I started my Bachelor of Business at Ottawa U and I just couldnāt cope in the curriculum, it was so rigid. The last assignment I did, I was supposed to choose from a list of public companies, which I had no interest in. Ā So, I did it on obey clothing, because at the time I knew I was going to be in clothing. I went above and beyond because no info was online. I presented the project and the prof said āI have to give you a zero on this.ā I was like, āIām out this is just not for me.ā I started Babes and Gents on Jan 1st the following year.
E: And what sparked your interest in starting a brand?
A: I would watch my older sister draw Disney characters perfectly. So, I learned all the techniques from her, in terms of sketching. I started with cartoons and it just grew from there. When I moved here in grade nine I started painting. Then, I did a small project in grade 11 and after that my friend said, āPut your art on shirts and try to sell themā. So I did it that for a while. I learned so much and lost a bunch of money. I was making shirts for like fifty bucks and selling them for twenty. The first year I learned how the business really worked. I wasnāt business minded I only cared about art, so I lost money on everything. All of it was a great learning experience, thereās no way I was going to learn that in school. Spending money thatās not even yours, you learn to never make that mistake again.
E: So are you doing the Babes and Gents website all alone, or do you have people who submit content?
A: Everything is all me. I have friends who help me out; like photographers or friends who model, but Iām the one responding and posting on all Social Media. Ā Itās a one man team.
E: How did you meet some of the photographers and the people that are helping you out?
A: Itās just online and stuff, and the Byward Market helped too. I would be there in the market and I would just meet people. In the summer on Saturdays, I have a booth there and after 4 or 5 itās a really good time.
E: I saw on Instagram that you got Jazz Cartier in some of your clothes. How did you manage that?
A: Iāve been a supporter of his music way back. Itās a long story. I was always talking to Jazz here and there on Instagram before he was poppinā. My friend told me Jazz was in town, so I hit him up. I met him at his hotel. I actually had a booth at the Capital Block Party, but I ended up leaving all my stuff there. It was an awful day; it was raining. I left all my stuff behind, but I took my friend Wassim, who is a photographer, with me. Jazz went on the website and told me what he needed from the collection. I met up with him and one of my bomber jackets and shot him. He wore the bomber that night at the show.
The next time he was back in Ottawa he was actually headlining a show. I was busy and couldnāt even go, but my friends from Small World Ottawa were shooting him and he had the bomber on from the last time. I got pictures and videos, so it worked out for the best.
E: Do you hope to see more boutiques opening in Ottawa, or do you prefer it being a little more exclusive?
A: I donāt like that word at all, it just means that youāre excluding other people and I never exclude anyone. Thatās just not who I am. If people wanna do that, go ahead. But itās all love, all around, all the time.
E: Do you hope to eventually sell your clothes in stores?
A: Eventually, to the right ones. Iām still trying to build the brand, once it has some legs under it, then the interest from the stores will come. I could just ignore the Ottawa and Toronto market and start designing a collection for the buyers. I can do that, but thatās not a thing that could last. Iāve shaken a lot of customerās hands and you canāt buy that.
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