Triple Zero

Following Tunis Fashion Week, we met designer Haroun Ghanmi at his atelier to discuss Tunisian youth culture and his brand Anomalies’ debut collection

Arriving at the Souk in Tunis to meet Haroun Ghanmi, an aroma of floral fragrances, spices, and leather engulfs us. The buzz of bartering hums in the background as the designer leads the way through a labyrinth of shops adorned with Mergoum rugs and brass lanterns, a deliciously overwhelming route to his atelie

Still weaving through the crowds, Ghanmi looks back at us from beneath his brown curls and beams: “I got into fashion when I was a kid. I loved drawing, and the first thing I ever drew was an evening dress. I would steal my mum’s Vogue issues and dive into the pages. I also used to cut up small pieces of fabric and make mini clothes for dolls.”

At just 18 years old, Ghanmi was the youngest designer at the 13th edition of Tunis Fashion Week, hosted seven hours from the capital at Chott El-Jérid, the largest salt lake in the Maghreb. For his brand Anomalies‘ debut appearance, he presented his first full collection, Triple Zero, inspired by Tunisia’s underground techno scene.

When asked about the concept of his brand, Ghanmi explained: “Anomalies encapsulates everything I was told not to do or to be. In French, the word anomalie signifies the countering of nature, a glitch, or an awakened individual among washed-away identical individuals. It reflects my relationship with the Tunisian society that I grew up in, in which I have always been somewhat of an anomaly.”

Impressed with how much the young designer has already achieved, we gladly accepted the invitation to meet him at his atelier in Tunis to find out more.

It’s not every day that we meet 18-year-old designers who’ve already established their own brand. How did Anomalies come to fruition so quickly? 

Honestly, I never thought I’d have launched a brand by now, but everything just fell into place. I was working on my art school application project, mainly focused on transforming leather from 2D form into 3D shapes. I had sketches and research files full of references drawn from history and art.

One day, my friend introduced me to Anis Montacer, the organiser of Tunis Fashion Week, who took an interest in me. He liked my sketches and the ideas behind the collection, and he was particularly fascinated when I told him my age. I think that was the push I needed to start Anomalies.




Where do you draw inspiration from most?

I like going to Tunis downtown and observing people. I get inspired by raw life scenes. I see the beauty in ugly things. There is always a story behind every horrific event or struggle. The Tunisian youth will forever be my biggest inspiration. These kids are fighting to create from nothing – no financial help or guidance. They want to push the limits and revolt against a rotting narrow-minded society.

What are the core values and goals you have decided to centre Anomalies on?

My brand reflects my experiences as an 18-year-old living in a North African country. It’s inspired by the rich historical and cultural aspects, but also by the harsh political realities faced by young people in Tunisia. My mission is to bring attention to the youth, and shock elders so they can really understand the struggles and repression we encounter.

I hope to have more means to create, so I can shake up Tunisia and the fashion industry. And, of course, I want to inspire young people, and influence how they dress and think. My ultimate goal is that the echoes from my shows reach the whole world.




What would a ‘shake up’ of the Tunisian fashion industry look like to you?

Unfortunately, Tunisia doesn’t have an established fashion scene just yet; we are still a bit behind. But that doesn’t discourage me from making a change, and fighting for it! If you cannot find your inspiration, you have to become your inspiration.

Designers should be more personal with their shows. Presenting ten designers in the same venue kills the individual touch, and doesn’t reflect the vision of each designer properly. Big corporations should invest more in the fashion industry, especially in supporting young artists and designers.

Congratulations on your Tunis Fashion Week debut! Could you tell us more about your first full collection, Triple Zero?

It was quite an experimental project! I was inspired by the Tunisian techno scene, where I found a small community that welcomed me and helped me grow. The collection provides an insight into the evolution of techno style, an imagined reality of what people in the scene might be wearing 100 years from now.

I envisioned a change in silhouettes, and made the materials compatible with upcoming weather and atmospheric conditions. I wanted to experiment with unusual materials as well. Soft and breathable fabrics were cut from raw and rough upcycled materials to reduce the environmental damage that the textile industry has caused over the centuries.




Given your collection pays homage to the techno scene, the nighttime backdrop worked so well with your show. Was this planned?

No, it was not! (Ghanmi laughs.) There’s actually funny story behind this… My show was initially scheduled for the last sight of sunset, moving into the beginning of the night. I couldn’t make it to Tozeur the night before to prepare because I didn’t have enough money for a bus ticket, so I worked the night before to pay for it.

I had no choice but to arrive only 30 minutes before my show started. As other designers were dressing their models, I was running to the salt lake with my suitcase, gripping my garments, and trying not to lose any pieces… (Ghanmi laughs.) All the pre-show stress aside, it was honestly the most exciting moment of my life!

That’s a fantastic story (laughs), they do say the world works in mysterious ways… Despite the difficulties you faced making it to the show, were you happy with the overall result?

I was happy with how the show went, but throughout, I had this little voice in my head telling me, ‘You could’ve done better, you could’ve been more organised!’ But even with that little voice, it was such a beautiful experience for my first show. I felt proud of myself. I felt that people finally saw me. I’m not that boy hiding in the atelier anymore (Ghanmi laughs.)

Being catapulted into the industry at such a young age must have come with its own challenges. How are you coping with your newfound fame?

I feel blessed and seen, but I’ve also been feeling pretty overwhelmed with the amount of exposure I’ve received. When I started making clothes, all I was thinking was, ‘Create, create, create.’ I never thought my creations would see the light. I had this vision in my head of imaginary characters, and I wanted to see them come to life; I wanted to see the clothes on people. If you create with that vision in mind, nothing can go wrong.

As all the excitement settles down, what’s next in store for you?

The next step is to finish high school, and begin studying fashion at the Antwerp Academy of Fine Arts. I’m keen to learn more, to refine my skills and technique, and I think Antwerp will be a really great fit! I’m also currently researching, and gathering inspiration for my next collection.




We usually wrap things up by asking where you see yourself in five years’ time, but since you still have your whole life ahead of you, what about the next ten instead? (Laughs.)

In the next ten years, I will have hopefully (Ghanmi laughs) graduated from fashion school and become an internationally established designer. I’d like to keep creating and improving, exploring new techniques, materials, and sources of inspiration while maintaining the same energy and drive I have now. Ideally, I will have found a niche style and defined my overarching philosophy.