Ahead of accepting a Special Recognition Award at The Fashion Awards, Tania Fares talks about her formative internship with Pierre Cardin, being inspired by Lulu Kennedy and how all that led to founding one of fashion’s biggest non-profits. This story is part of ‘My First Job in Fashion’, interviews with fashion insiders on the roles who made them who they are today.
I always wanted to work in fashion, but I didn’t want to be a designer — I wanted to work behind the scenes. My mother was a beautiful woman inside and out. She also was very fortunate to be able to wear couture and had impeccable taste. She frequently attended fashion shows in Paris, and sometimes would take me along. That’s how I became interested in fashion.
My uncle was famed decorator Joseph Achkar. Him and his partner Michel Charrière refurbished Hôtel de la Marine in France. He’s the person who got me into art. We used to go to Fontainebleau together, to Versailles, to the Louvre… He got me an internship with Pierre Cardin, after I finished my university studies in communication.
At Pierre Cardin, I did a bit of everything, like most interns do — folding clothes, making coffee, that kind of thing. Six months later, he hired me to work as part of his communications team. I have been so blessed to work with someone so passionate and so creative. Everyday was something different with Pierre. He taught me the importance of being kind but tough at the same time. He also always spoke about the unisex style — that you can be whoever you are and dress the way you want to dress. The time I spent working for him really opened my eyes when it came to the business side of fashion.
It was through Pierre that I understood, too, the importance for a designer to be close to their clients. He knew how to make the women who shopped from him feel so comfortable in themselves. And it gave him great insight into what his customers wanted, of course.
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