After moving to Calgary in '91 then moving to Toronto and moving back, Haithem Elkadiki has a lot to show for himself.
Designing his menswear line, KaaDiki, since 2004, Elkadiki uses music as his biggest inspiration.
While talking about his latest collection, he mentions he received most of his influence from a Pet Shop Boys soundtrack that was made for the Russian silent film Battleship Potemkin.
You can see it in his F/W 2010 line, it's military-esque with that old school boyish charm.
Elkadiki says he can get his inspiration from anywhere though including museums, travelling, and restaurants but "music is the big thing for sure".
When he talks about the men he designs for, he mentions himself.
"I start with me and what I want to wear and how things feel," he says.
He prefers his clothing to be a little closer to the body, saying that his clothes are designed for men who are more body conscious and who take care of themselves, because these clothes are going to fit tighter.
His lines change like him, they are a constant evolution that change based on what he likes and what he wants, because his tastes also change as he gets older, so his style should too.
"Have more people wear my clothes, have it on more bodies," says Elkadiki when asked about what his goals are, keeping it very straight forward and simple.
Talking about the fashion scene in Calgary, he has the same reaction most designers in the city do, it's still young and a lot more needs to be done.
"Buyers and stores need to do more research and look after the community better."
He thinks consumers in Calgary need to appreciate it more, and have more respect for fashion.
Elkadiki doesn't plan on going anywhere soon though.
"Sure it would help if you lived somewhere like Toronto or Montreal where everything is more accessible," he says.
In the meantime though he's quite content to keep designing in Calgary.
more info @ http://www.kaadiki.com/
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