A lovely meeting! Abbas the Barber.

What was your journey to becoming a barber?

Abbas started cutting hair at the age of 12 in his father’s salon in Baghdad. He spent a lot of time observing his father and listening to the conversations around him. One day, his father handed him the scissors and left him alone with a young boy for a haircut. Abbas did his best, but he didn’t know that you shouldn’t use a razor for children's haircuts. While trying to finish the neck area, he accidentally cut the boy and caused some bleeding. The boy started crying, and Abbas, overwhelmed with fear, joined him in tears. When his father returned, he had to quickly fix the situation, but the boy and his mother never came back!

Since that day, Abbas has cut many famous heads around the world, in New York, Cairo, Paris, and more. Despite his skills, he always focuses on the person in the chair, aiming to make them feel better. A good haircut, for him, can change someone’s life.

How did you develop your artistic side at the same time?

Abbas has always juggled multiple careers, blending his passion for cutting hair with his work as a model and actor. For him, there's no boundary between these professions—everything is part of one bigger picture. He believes that loving people is the key to doing your job well, and his travels have allowed him to meet many different people, adding richness to his creative approach.

What other fields are you passionate about?

Abbas also loves cooking for others, as he believes it contributes to making people happy. He says he could have become a chef, but the process takes him so long because he pours so much effort and heart into each dish!

What does the Espigas brand inspire in you?

Abbas is drawn to Espigas because of its colors, design, and origins. He feels the brand shares a lot of the same values as him, especially when it comes to caring for people. Espigas is a colorful, comfortable, and supportive brand, which resonates with his own approach to making people happy by any means. For Abbas, Espigas is about walking through life with style and solidarity.

What would your ideal day look like?

Abbas says his "madeleine de Proust" would be to return to Baghdad and sleep next to his mother, just like he did as a child. It would represent a return to his roots and a simpler time in his life.

What’s the best 20€ you’ve spent?

Abbas remembers spending around 20€ on a Patagonia bag at a flea market in New York. He carried it with him everywhere for years, and it became a faithful companion on his travels.

Can you tell us more about your upcoming projects?

Abbas has been nurturing a humanitarian project for nearly 10 years, focused on helping people living on the streets. He would love for Espigas to be part of this project as their values align with his own. He is currently looking for an executive producer to help bring this idea to life. The project revolves around dignity and helping those in need, and he hopes to share more details once it's more concrete.

Follow Abbas for more updates on his upcoming projects and adventures!