Sustain Stories: Nabil Hussein
Sustain Stories: Nabil Hussein
For Nabil Hussein, everything starts with the material. Working with leftover fabrics, he creates one-of-a-kind pieces where classic tailoring meets personal expression. Through his collaboration with Sustain by Oscar Jacobson, these creations have been worn at Pitti Uomo and have become part of Nabil’s (@nabil_schotch) ongoing story of style, craftsmanship and creative freedom.
How does your design process begin?
Everything starts with the fabric. I look at what’s available and how much there is, and from there decide what the piece should become. Two metres of fabric might turn into a safari jacket or a pair of trousers. It has to feel special, but still wearable, and always one of a kind.
Tell us about your latest one-of-a-kind look.
It was made from smaller pieces of tweed from the British manufacturer Moon. There wasn’t enough fabric for a full coat, so I worked with patchwork instead. The suit was handmade by a Japanese tailor and took a few months to complete.
Why do you go to Pitti Uomo?
I go to show my style and my outfits. In recent years, I’ve worn many of my one-of-a-kind pieces created together with Sustain by Oscar Jacobson. I meet photographers, tailors and other creatives. It’s very inspiring. And of course, it’s nice to be recognised by GQ and Vogue, for example.
Is there a Pitti look that stands out to you?
Yes, in 2018, I wore a brown pinstripe linen suit from Oscar Jacobson, styled with a summery Hawaiian shirt. A playful take on something classic. The image ended up on GQ’s front page among the best-dressed.
Which materials are you most drawn to?
In winter, I like wool and tweed. I love tweed. It ages beautifully. I have a blazer from Oscar Jacobson that I’ve worn for over ten years and still use regularly.
When do you feel most like yourself in what you wear?
In a well-cut suit, made from a beautiful fabric. I often wear green and white. White is underrated. It works with almost everything.
Do you have any favourite pieces in your wardrobe?
I have a checked tweed suit from Oscar Jacobson from around 2017 that still looks great. I also once tried turning a pair of jeans into shorts - that didn’t work, so I reworked the idea into a new piece with a wider fit, combined with suiting fabric.