The World of Tareet
We caught up with Etienne Diop, who divulged his hopes for the future of the fashion industry. He shared his thoughts on the harmonious blend of African and European influences on his latest collection, and discussed the promising possibilities of working with upcycling and involving his family in future projects.
Etienne Diop: I then started a two-year technical degree in Marseille specializing in pattern making and cast to really learn the technique before starting to create. After that, I went to L’Ecole de la Chambre Syndicale before it merged with L’Institut Français de la Mode. I did a formation year that teaches you the entire three-year bachelor’s program in just one, which was intense. Then, I went on to apply for the master’s at IFM.
Sarah Discours: Since then, you work between Paris and Marseille? Etienne: Exactly. In Paris, I have my work. There is a lot of choice for textiles and other materials there, and I also have my atelier. In Marseille, it’s my family’s atelier. My aunt is a weaver and my uncle a painter. I often go there to work with them or to simply discuss with this other generation—it gives me a lot. In general, Marseille is the city where I get my inspiration and where I recharge my batteries. Can you tell us the story behind your brand Tareet?
When doing the technical two-year studies, we had to realize a project in economics where we had to create a company. At this time, I already had the idea to create my brand. So, I was looking for Senegalese words and in Wolof—one of Senegal’s national languages — Tareet is the name for the sound the textile makes when you rip it off. But that also means Ça déchire, which translates to “it rocks” or “it’s cool.” When I found this word, I directly understood the match with my aesthetic.
What inspires you for each collection?
My family, my friends, walking in Marseille, and urban architecture. For example, in Créteil, Paris, there’s a banlieue called Les Choux (The Cabbages) that architect Gérard Grandval designed. The balconies are shaped like cabbage, so the entire ghetto resembles a big cabbage. My African culture also inspires me a lot. In my work, I like to mix my African and European cultures. My last collection is a hybrid between an African wardrobe and a European one. I try to make them coexist together. The idea is to make this collection bigger and to have a showroom in Paris in September 2023.
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