We had the pleasure of speaking to Fabrice before about his clothing line GAIAROOTSUNLTD. Now Fabrice switches hats and we get to speak to him about his modeling career.

Jamati: Greetings Fabrice and thanks so much for talking with me today.

It is always a great pleasure to be part in this adventure of yours, creating a website devoted to the African diaspora, we needed that.

Jamati: Some of our readers may remember you from the article we did on your sustainable development design company Gaia Roots Unlimited. However, now we want to know about your modeling career. How are you able to run a company and model?

Above all the great opportunities that bring a modeling career, time is the most precious. Since you are not working on a daily basis, you have plenty of time to do things you are really interested in and to and realize yourself. I also have the good fortune to work with great friends from my childhood. It is a “family affair” and that is a great feeling.

Jamati: I take it that since you live in France you must have a wonderful sense of style. Do you find this to be true? How has modeling influenced the way you see and use fashion?

Style is more of a self expression, if you have a great personality then you have great style. You express on the outside what you are on the inside. Fashion is something else to me, it is more of a social thing. Fashion is something designed by professionals to give direction to society. Style make more sense to me than fashion.

Jamati: France seems to hold the mantle in terms of taste. Why do you think the world looks up to France is terms of fashion and style.

It is not just France but Europe in general (Italy, Great Britain, Belgium) that is more representative of fashion. I think it has something to do with the fact that Europe is an older Continent compared to the U.S. so it has a much longer evolution in arts, history, architecture and fashion.

Jamati: Since you embrace your African and European heritage so effortlessly what would you say to an aspiring model who is also African and European but is having a difficult time finding work because modeling agencies don’t like their particular look?

I would say, ”Try to focus on something else!” (lol). More seriously I think that a modeling career in general is not what it used to be anymore, there is less work and less money than in the 90’s. I’ve noticed a serious recession since 911 in the business.

Jamati: Are there many opportunities for male African/European models in Europe to really have a successful career in fashion?

The African diaspora is much less represented in fashion and in the media than it is in the States. This huge part of the European population is not really considered when it comes to fashion or commercials but things are changing here lately because of the sport industry and the music industry.

If you take France for example, I think it started with soccer world cup 98. The French team became world champion at home and the country realized that their champions were mostly black and that there was a “black France.” It is easier as a male African/European model to make a living in the States because there is a real market there that has been installed for years and black people are represented in every level of society.

Jamati : How do you see your modeling career as being influential in promoting Africa’s fashion industry?It is sad to say but Africa’s fashion industry is much less represented that it should be. The African designers that have access to the high fashion industry are almost non existent beside a few like Xuli bet in Paris or Oswald Boateng in London. It is mostly a matter of money because there is a lot of creativity on the African Continent. I deeply believe that Africa’s time will come.

Jamati: I think its important to always know where you are going in life. What do you see for yourself in the foreseeable future?

I have been lucky to do this job. It is unique; I have been able to go to many places and meet great people. The original idea in creating was to give something back by creating a fair trade company based in Benin and work with my people. There is still a long way to go but we won’t let go. “Hasta la Victoria siempre.” (lol)

Jamati: Merci Beaucoup Fabrice. Bonne Chance!

Merci a vous!