My name is Erwan Mehdi Bernard Bel Abbas and I’m a 25 year old French Moroccan. I am a Fashion designer, jewelry designer, photographer and visual artist based in Paris and the founder of the fashion brand Volubilis Habibi.

Since I was little, Art has been a way of communicating with others. In my opinion, “the words” are sometimes too reductive, or at least, I have not mastered the art of speaking well. I liberate my thoughts and my uniqueness through images. In this way, my work is the expression of my freedom. To be honest, I do not think of breaking the rules and being rebellious all the time. But when you feel like an "outsider" in many ways, you have to follow your own purpose, rules, and define your unicity, and that is what I do.

Multidisciplinarity in my art is my greatest strength. They are all linked and simply deliver the message I want to express through the garments. For example, photography and moving images have allowed me to narrate a vision where my clothes live through someone. And I want to welcome people into my universe and them to feel free to interpret it [my art] as they want.

For me, to assume myself as an individual, to assume one's choices in a retrograde society, is a proof of courage. I suffered from a lot of rejection because of who I am. So, I decided to create my own world, with my own rules, surrounded by the people I love.

My dual culture is my heritage, identity and that I am proud of. My oriental Maghrebian culture inspires me, so much. Whether in the art of embroidery, [through] fabrics, know-how, elegance or refinement. I like to mix genres, traditions and play with aesthetic codes in all my works.

To me, our generation is full of hope and creativity. We try to make our voices heard and fight for our convictions. Volubilis Habibi is not simply a fashion brand, but it is my statement [to the world]. I am lucky to be surrounded by incredible people that I love and who understand exactly what my story-telling and my vision are in which, many times, we share.

My work is a way of communicating with one another. When I was younger, it was a way to vent my frustration, to get to "know" myself and to establish my identity as a unique person. Throughout my life, my artistic work has taught me to love myself in a healthy way.

In my brand Volubilis Habibi, my history, my dreams, my frustration, my violence and my love are all mixed together, to create. I created for myself, now I create for everyone. Volubilis Habibi took inspiration from so many things: my culture, my mother and myself. The clothes are made completely from start to finish or upcycled by me, as well as the jewelry. Through clothing, I try to play with the aesthetics and the History of certain pieces, through the centuries. Couture is my weapon.

In 5 years inchAllah, I hope to see my brand successful and it is all thanks to my art and my constant hard work.

Since I was little, I was never raised with ideas of gender norms. For me, gender identity is defined and created by oneself or is simply non-existent. I am surrounded by incredible, courageous and strong people who fight every day for who they are. This love, this strength is what drives me every day to be a better version of myself.

I would love to develop my brand and continue to learn every day, still believe in myself and continue to be brave. I am my own soulmate and no one will give me the love that I give to myself.