How many of us own countless clothes and yet have almost nothing to wear? Our mood for the day often dictates the outfit we choose: we want to look pretty and feel comfortable at the same time. Two conditions that, in fashion, often seem to cancel each other out. Myriam Riahi Kaak, fashion designer and founder of the brand Gazelle by M, pays very particular attention to this. She cares about pairing the elegance of an outfit with the nobility of its fabrics, all while looking after our comfort. A portrait.
Myriam Riahi Kaak: portrait of a designer
It takes a great deal of kindness to care about others' ease the way Myriam naturally does. Running a luxury ready-to-wear boutique for 10 years taught her to build relationships with people that respect their well-being more than their appearance. Clothing should not simply reveal a body, but unveil a personality and a singularity.
A luminous encounter
Meeting Myriam Riahi Kaak for the first time feels like fireworks on a festive night: effervescent, beautiful, joyful, luminous and warm. She is driven by a generous energy, carried by an infectious smile. We should all have a Myriam like her in our lives. You may not know her yet, but more and more people are starting to notice her creations.
A brand made in her image
The women's press and fashion press regularly mention her, much to her delight, and understandably so. Gazelle by M is the name Myriam Riahi Kaak eventually chose for her brand. "Gazelle" because that's her well-earned nickname, given her large, doe-like eyes, and M for obvious reasons. Her creations reflect her personal style.
An adventure born of encouragement
It was by giving in to the insistence of her family and friends that Myriam launched her first mini-collection, 3 years ago.
The success of this venture was so swift that she decided to try again, and again: "I'm self-taught," she explains humbly. "I draw inspiration from my surroundings and the environment around me."
The medina of Tunis as muse
The alleyways of the medina of Tunis are her first muse: its colours, its scents and its clamour spark associations of ideas, and step by step a new outfit is born.
Her creations in natural fabrics are clever because they are versatile. Simply accessorising the garment differently is enough to change its purpose and give it another function. Outfits that are not merely practical, since above all they are elegant and feminine. The fluidity of the fabric as it delicately follows the body's curves: the height of sensuality, wouldn't you say? And Myriam, who has mastered her craft, expresses it with confidence.
Between heritage and modernity
Her attachment to her roots draws her toward the colourful, embroidered touch that adorns her clothes. Welcoming us to Dar Djait, the family home, Myriam Riahi Kaak expresses her love for the soul of the place, the spirit of her ancestors and all the history tied to it. She pays tribute to her maternal grandmother with these simple words: "my world, my pillar, my everything," she tells us with emotion. It was there that it all began, even if, at the time, no one knew it yet. Didn't her aunt give her her first embroidery loom as a birthday present when she was nine years old?
A signature style, asserted
Myriam grew up in an environment that nurtured the blossoming of her style. The woman who loved personalising her own outfits, and who began selling her clothes to please friends smitten with her look, now asserts her touch and confirms the line that defines her jebbas and abbeyas today. After taking part in trade fairs and being featured in concept stores, she moved on to the next step. Following the success of her calligraphed, ornamented cushions, she decided to give embroidered fabric a bigger place in her work.
A commitment to quality
And while she regrets the lack of professional rigour among some players in the field, she is all the more determined to promote a well-made, quality product. Myriam draws this drive from her daily challenges. Married and mother of three, she refuses to give up. She has chosen to blaze her own trail, even where none existed. She is made of that tireless kind of stuff, the kind that never gives up. The result can be found at Gazelle by M. Go and see for yourself, you won't regret it.
Gazelle by M at a glance
| Marker | Detail |
|---|---|
| Brand | Gazelle by M |
| Founder | Myriam Riahi Kaak, fashion designer |
| Origin of the name | "Gazelle", her nickname (her large, doe-like eyes); "M" for her first name |
| Path before the brand | 10 years running a luxury ready-to-wear boutique |
| Muse | The medina of Tunis (colours, scents, atmosphere) |
| Materials and pieces | Natural fabrics; embroidered and ornamented jebbas and abbeyas |
| Creative roots | First embroidery loom, given by her aunt when she was nine |
| Family home | Dar Djait, the family residence |
| Personal life | Married, mother of three |
