Tuareg, a book where its hero doesn’t get a happy ending (but YOU might)

„Never, not in the darkest moments, at the end of Tikdabra, when death was his one, sole companion, he couldn’t have imagined such a turn of events. For him, as a noble warrior, that sort of death was the only definite defeat. But now, out of nowhere, he was starting to realize that death was nothing compared to the cruel reality: his most loved and cherished people had become the victims of his own war and that this was the true and most horrible defeat” – Tuareg, by Alberto Vazquez Figueroa

 

I didn’t know what to expect when I first opened the book. I was sure I would enter a mysterious and exotic universe, where people lived by completely different rules. I hope I would get a sense of that and challenge my own views of the world as I was reading it. I wasn’t wrong but I did gain much more than I bargained for.

I am saying “gain” because, in fact, I have left the book with a sense of respect, deep admiration and, unfortunately, bitter taste about the harsh reality.

1. Sometimes a hero doesn’t get his happy ending.

The road to hell is indeed paved with good intentions and more honorable men fall in its trap than we can count. A noble warrior loses everything at the end of a long journey through the desert, all alone, to have justice not for him, but for a stranger who happens to stumble by its home becoming a guest.

2. Hospitality is one capital law for Tuareg people.

Nothing is more cherished and protected than the fragile life of a stranger who seeks shelter. Tuareg warriors will start battles and blood baths to ensure the safety of an ordinary man, in the detriment of their own family. It’s an honorable thing to do but when the shame of being offended interferes, well, things change for the worst.

3. Women are free to love whomever they want

Unlike other arabs, the men born Tuareg respect the choice of their women. They let them loose, to bare their face and parts of their body and they expect to be chosen at late night “parties”. The women “carve love signs in their palms, letting them know they are the lucky ones”.

4. In return, Tuareg men cover their faces, letting only their eyes see the light of day

This way, their emotions cannot be so easily read. Their voice never betrays anything, so why should their facial expression?

5. Fear and hatred are not welcomed in the desert

In the desert, one mistake can cost you your life. That’s why they have to remain highly analytical, always friends of reason and foes of feelings. Hatred, fear, love, anxiety in their purest forms are not welcomed.

6. Admiration, success and ego mean nothing without your dear ones

The most hurtful lesson the main character learns, Gacel Sayah, is that no matter what you achieve, if you have no one to share it with, it means nothing. Conquering the wildest part of the dessert, escaping time and time again from authorities, humiliating the one that have wronged you and attaining wealth got scattered in the wind the moment he realised he might not recover his dear ones – ever

7. If everything goes wrong, have the power to accept your mistakes, instead of pursuing a path that leads you nowhere

Gacel has the opportunity to go back and forget about his obligations a couple dozen times. Instead, he wants to make a statement – that he is superior to all men. He puts his life in danger daily, believing in his superhuman will. If he accepted his mission was keeping him away from the important people in things in his life, if he turned around, his life would have been different.

A wonderful book, that inspired a great product: Tuareg, the water, made from condensed vapors of water, in the Saharan region, and minerals from a tuareg recipe. More on this topic, HERE.

 

The Last Emperor and his loyal adviser: Valentino & Giancarlo

The thing with powerful women behind successful men is that it applies to the other sex too (although we love to think that the world spins around us). There are strong, brilliant men behind male icons. Take for example – Valentino.

On one side, The Emperor; on the other side, his loyal Adviser, Giancarlo. A man who wasn’t just his right-hand, but also the one who put the fashion house in motion.

Much like Atlas, the titan who hold the world on his shoulders, Giancarlo Giammetti carried the entire economical and strategic burden of an empire. More than a manager, he was the brother of an artist.

Giancarlo and Valentino have known each other for 45 years (!). In half a century, they spent less than a week apart – it’s no wonder Giancarlo came to know every habit of the peculiar, stubborn and pretentious designer.

Undoubtedly, you have to be extremely well-intentioned and patient to work along such a person day after day, for so many years.

Giancarlo Giammetti is a special person, I’ll tell you that. I’ve found he believed so much in Valentino, from the very first moment, that he abandoned his architecture studies and helped him build one of the first fashion houses named after its designer, one of the few houses led for decades by its founder; a couturier nonetheless (!).

While Valentino made the hearts of thousands of women beat faster with each dress, Giancarlo found places of display for his collections, spoke to investors, fought for media attention, sponsors and made contacts. Pragmatic yet creative, he combined the best of two worlds: beautiful scripts and places and necessary bugets to make them a reality.

Valentino was, like every artist, a dreamer, an idealist, a creator. All that mattered to him was to create works of art, better and different designs and to transform all women into beautiful sculptures, filled with grace:

An evening gown that doesn’t cover the ankles is the most disgusting thing I’ve ever seen

While Valentino gave interviews, held receptions, received public acclaim, after hours and hours spent in the workshop, Giancarlo hid behind the curtains. He was the invisible man, for ordinary customers, that gave strength, courage and patience to Valentino.

He was the man who arranged every setting for a fashion show, who tried to keep the peace between the owners of the company and the designer, the one who “kept [the problems] from him”.

Smart, creative and dependable, he had won Valentino’s respect and friendship from day one – that’s why, even in his worst moments, Garavani knew he had someone by his side. That’s why he never missed the chance to thank Giancarlo publicly, if the opportunity arised.

Ultimately, that’s why he announced he was retiring, looking at Giancarlo with teary eyes. He barely finished his sentence of gratitude to his life-long friend… one last hug and Valentino & Giancarlo said goodbye to the fashion world.

*source: The Last Emperor

The Real Anna Wintour wears herself

Decisiveness – Anna Wintour’s secret weapon made not so secret in “The September Issue”. This documentary follows the way in which the fall number is put together, the moment in which fashion reinvents itself.

Just after watching it I realized the Devil mad about Prada wasn’t such a devil after all. The woman interpreted by Meryl Streep and inspired by Anna Wintour seemed to eat innocent children at lunch and walk over dead bodies to get what she wanted.

The real Anna Wintour isn’t a monster. She isn’t Hitler’s female counterpart, only better dressed and better-looking, she is fashion’s Napoleon Bonaparte.

A leader, a talent scout, an organizer, a diplomat, a spokesperson, a critic, the most powerful woman in fashion, Anna Wintour can walk up to Oscar de la Renta and tell him what (creations) should go on his catwalk or not. She’s the woman Thakoon ows his fame to, the woman that makes Stefano Pilati (YSL’s Head Designer) nervous.

Vogue is Anna. Anna is Vogue. She knows what the readers want, how to sell, how to impress and to how to keep Vogue the most knowledgeable, glamorous fashion magazine around.

“They think fashion is a joke, they mock it, find it amusing” – this is what other people, including Anna’s family, feel about her work.

How lonely is the life of the Ice Woman?

Pretty lonely. Her daughter tries to stay away from her mother’s work, which can be pretty hard, considering Wintour is a classic workaholic. Demanding, intimidatingly decisive, perfectionist, always marching forward, Anna Wintour seems to have no regrets. Nor the time to reminisce.

Fashion is always looking forward

For Anna, there is always the next BIG THING. She was the first editor to bring celebrities on the cover of a magazine and the first woman at Vogue to promote outfits made from designer clothes and retail items.

“Nuclear Wintour” always has the final word. But the first ones come from Grace Coddington, Creative Director, the former model turned into amazing stylist, the one who visualizes the themes and puts together the looks. Anna’s right hand is “a genius. The one able to see where fashion is going. Her work is remarkable”. Coming from her, the words must be true. Nonetheless, “The September Issue” shows Grace and Anna having differences and the way they overcome them.

It may seem that Wintour is The Manager and Coddington, The Artist. Since Wintour has revolutionised the fashion world with such photo shoots and stories, I’d say there are still blurred lines…

Watching Anna Wintour at work made me realize you have to believe in your vision, in your take on things, to the point where you defend them disregarding friendships and feelings. It all comes to bringing the right arguments (Grace) or just simply stating your beliefs (Anna).

Indeed, to make a decision on the spot is challenging and it requires a whole deal of experience, knowledge, reputation, assertiveness.. If you don’t have it you still have to fight for it, for your voice.

But…it’s worse speaking without trusting your instincts, bowing in front of someone not because they are right but because they can’t be wrong. These are two whole different things.