Izet Curi, a fashion designer who began his career as a tailor in Skopje, has reached the pinnacle of the industry, working with the most prestigious Parisian fashion houses.
Even as a child, he developed a love for fashion, but neither he nor anyone else could have predicted his rise to global fame. Growing up in a large family of nine children, he was encouraged by his widowed mother to learn a trade to ensure financial independence.
“My mother insisted we go to school and learn a trade to be financially independent,” the 76-year-old designer told Anadolu Agency.
Initially, he resisted the idea of becoming a tailor, as his peers teased him. However, as he began learning from his master, he realized his true calling.
At just 14, he started sewing shirts and pants for popular music bands in Skopje. With the support of his mentor, Tome Malinovski, they opened a shop in Skopje that became one of the most renowned boutiques in the city and beyond.
“We were famous throughout Yugoslavia, even people from Sarajevo were our customers. Goran Bregović and his band even came to us for shirts,” Curi recalled.
A Parisian Adventure
Driven by ambition and a thirst for knowledge, Curi moved to Paris at the age of 23, where he faced the challenges of the global fashion scene head-on.
“I prepared for a year, I had enough information, but when I got there, it was something else. I thought I was someone, but when I saw the shop windows and what they were doing there, I said to myself, ‘I’m nobody,'” Curi recalled.
Initially, he worked in a small atelier, but his talent and perseverance led him to a job at the prestigious fashion house Hermès.
“I sewed a model that the owner handed over, and then a woman from the company that ordered it came and asked who sewed it. I was scared. She said, ‘Here’s a business card, come visit us.’ Hermès was one of my beginnings,” Curi said.
This marked the beginning of his international fame and collaborations with some of the biggest names in the fashion industry. He worked with stars like Sean Connery, his childhood idol, and felt like he was living in a James Bond movie when he met him.
Collaborating with Thierry Mugler and Azzedine Alaïa
Working at Hermès led to an opportunity to meet the avant-garde designer Thierry Mugler. Mugler invited Izet to join his team, and they worked together for 15 years.
“Mugler was one of the two or three greatest avant-garde artists of the 20th century. His influence on fashion is enormous,” Curi said, adding that this period was a time of invaluable experience.
Through his collaboration with Mugler, Izet had the chance to work with another fashion master, Azzedine Alaïa.
“Alaïa was a legend of haute couture. His creations had a unique quality that is rarely found,” Curi described the Tunisian fashion designer.
The Fashion Designer to the Stars
Working with fashion giants, Izet Curi built a reputation in the global fashion industry, and his skills led him to collaborate with the world’s biggest stars.
Among the celebrities he worked for were Madonna, Monica Bellucci, Sean Connery, and many other famous actors and musicians.
Return to Skopje
After a rich and successful career on the world stage, Curi decided to return to Skopje and share his knowledge with future generations.
In Skopje’s Old Bazaar, he founded the International Fashion Institute “Izet Curi,” where he trains future designers and encourages them to develop and create.
“Skopje is a very important place for me. I’m sure this region will be a source of new designers for all of Europe,” Curi believes.
He is also known for his hand-embroidered caps, which are his signature style and a symbol of a great friendship. He received the cap as a gift from a close friend, a photojournalist who tragically died in Chechnya.
“We were very close friends, he came to my house for dinner and gave me his cap, and we took a picture. He died in Chechnya, and I put on the cap during his funeral and haven’t taken it off since,” Curi said.
He advises future generations to always believe in themselves and their passions.
“Always believe in what you love and never have complexes. I’m from Gazi Baba (a municipality in Skopje) and I worked in the most luxurious fashion houses in the world. If you know your profession, there’s no need to have complexes about where you’re from. Believe in your idea and make it happen,” said Curi, whose story proves that talent, ambition, and hard work can take anyone to the top.
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Source: N1 Photo: Izet Curi | PRIZMA | T7/printscreen/Youtube