Who was your last love letter to? Thierry Tek shares his own, dedicated to fashion, through his premium brand Beautifully Said and his quality items inspired by martial arts: Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu or Kickboxing! The whole thing, against a background of romance, and centering on strong ideas of “self-love” and “inner beauty”.
I took advantage of the launch of Collection One to speak with Thierry to learn more about his affinity for fashion and martial arts, the origins of the project, his creative process and his vision for the brand.
Thierry Tek, Owner and Creative Director of Beautifully Said – Photo credit @sentrosifilm on Instagram
Herbby: What is your first memory of martial arts?
Thierry Tek: My first contact with martial arts was through cinema. When I was very young, I only watched martial arts movies. In 2018, I discovered Muay Thai during a stay in Thailand and since then, I’ve been addicted to this art, this discipline. I won my first amateur fight in 2021 and since 2019, I’ve been learning Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
Collection One by Beautifully Said presented under the artistic direction of Thierry Tek – Photo credit @sentrosifilm on Instagram
Q: How did your affinity for fashion come about?
TT: It goes back to school… I always wanted to be well-dressed. Every time the new school term started, I wanted to have the best pair of sneakers anyone had! Growing up, my academic and professional background made me turn to a career in finance. In the end, opportunities presented themselves to me and I found myself working in fashion through the marketing agency I set up in 2016, Visionarism.
Collection One by Beautifully Said presented under the artistic direction of Thierry Tek – Photo credit @sentrosifilm on Instagram
H: You recently launched your Beautifully Said clothing brand which conveys two strong messages: “self-love” and “inner beauty” through designs inspired by different forms of martial arts. Tell us a little about the origins of this project: the concept, the brand name, the inspirations…
TT: Beautifully Said is a premium streetwear label that blends revisited classic sportswear items with martial arts inspirations. “Beautifully Said” means it’s my own language and codes, translated through this clothing brand. The concept is a kind of love letter to fashion and martial arts.
In the world we live in, because of the pressure of social networks, we see that the people around us find it increasingly difficult to appreciate each other without the approval of others. So, I decided to create clothes that feel good and convey a message of love for the people who wear them. When it comes to designs, I wanted to be inspired by my passion for martial arts, as a tribute to the combat sports community that is too often perceived as a community of bullies, when it is only a façade.
The most important message behind Beautifully Said is: “It’s what’s inside that counts.” I also collaborated with 4 pro Muay Thai fighters as models to present my first collection. Being French and Parisian, I have always appreciated romance and love. So, it was very important for me to highlight this aspect in the visuals I created for the launch of the label.
Collection One by Beautifully Said presented under the artistic direction of Thierry Tek – Photo credit @sentrosifilm on Instagram
H: The items from the first Spring/Summer ’23 collection combine sobriety, elegance, comfort and a good dose of romance! Tell us about your creative process.
TT: For this first collection, I was inspired by elements of different forms of martial arts including Muay Thai, Kickboxing and Brazilian Jiu Jistu. I incorporated these elements into classic streetwear and sportswear looks, which are worn in everyday life. I want Beautifully Said to be accessible to everyone, not just combat sports fans.
On each item, you’ll find the brand logo – a rose – in which the initials “BS” are hidden. In addition to the symbolic aspect of the rose, which is very often related to love, I wanted to use this symbol to give a nod to my parents, who used to be florists. They always told me that they would support me in any career, except floristry! (laughs)
Another important element in this Spring-Summer ’23 collection is the “Beautiful Inside” graphic on the hoodies and t-shirts, which emphasizes the importance of “inner beauty.” Quality and comfort are essential to my items, and the entire collection – apart from the t-shirts – is made in Portugal.
Collection One by Beautifully Said presented under the artistic direction of Thierry Tek – Photo credit @sentrosifilm on Instagram
H: Is there a new collection in the works? If so, can you tell us a little about it?
TT: Yes, I’m currently working on the Autumn–Winter ’23 collection. The concept remains the same in terms of message, with more niche and extensive items, and more delicate materials, compared to the first collection. The label’s identity will be emphasized. I won’t say any more. I’ll let you find out in the coming months…
Collection One by Beautifully Said presented by Amro Ghanem, Federico Loi, Georges-Rémy Salomon and Carlton Lieu, under the artistic direction of Thierry Tek – Photo credit @sentrosifilm on Instagram
H: What is your vision for the brand?
TT: The goal is longevity. My son was born a little while ago and my outlook has really changed. Everything I do or create is for him. I hope one day he’ll be proud of what I’ve built. My goal is for the message of Beautifully Said to spread around the world and for the label to have a positive impact on fashion and the world we live in.
Thierry Tek, Owner and Creative Director of Beautifully Said – Photo credit @sentrosifilm on Instagram
