Festimode Casablanca Fashion Week 2012, Day 3

The third and last day of FCFW was a full evening again, with three designers showing their collections: Noureddine Amir, Ghitta Laskrouif and Hatice Gökce.

As a child Noureddine Amir dreamed about being a couturier. But he became more than that. Because he doesn’t want to obey to the laws of fashion – by presenting a collection every season plus following the trends – he starts designing theater and film-costumes and mixes his creations with installations. He’d rather be an artist without boundaries. He admires Issey Miyake, and it shows in his collections which are sculptures almost made of raffia, linen or wool.

Ghitta Laskrouif presented her first collection at FCFW in 2007 under the label Mozarabe. This edition she introduces her latest project G. She is fascinated by movement and music and therefor participates regularly with modern dancers and performers. She also likes to play and experiment with different materials, nowadays she focuses on more fabrics with an ecological origin. Her silhouettes are simple and architectural.

Hatice Gökce is originally from Turkey and she designs mens and womenswear. She is known for her experimental design and use of innovative fabrics. She is also the founder and board member of Fashion Designers Association (MTD) in addition to her active roles in all kinds of civil society and social activities. Gökçe has undersigned many achievements on her avant-garde designs and extraordinary activities both in Turkey and abroad.

 

Inside the Medina, Casablanca

Team-member Peter and Jon went inside the Medina in Casablanca and made a small reportage about it.

Festimode Casablanca Fashion Week 2012, Day 2

The second day of FCFW was sreserved for three designers: Siham Sara Chraibi, Paolo Errico and Said Mahrouf. Three different designers with their own signature. Siham Sara Chraibi studied architecture in Rabat and architecture& philosophy in Paris. But since she is also passionate about fashion and couture she deceided to start her won fashionhouse. Her style is sober and pure with contructed and graphic lines but always influenced by decorative arts and historic costumes.

Said Mahrouf lived in Amsterdam for a long time and focused his work on designing costumes for site-specific performances. But eventually his love for fashion made him design ready to wear again. His fashion-collections are an ode to femininity and elegance. The soft, sensual lines of his designs truly come to life on a female body. And his clientele in Casablanca loves it. Said Mahrouf returned  to Casablanca in 2010 definitely. In his atelier he designs and sells ready to wear de luxe.

Paolo Errico is originally from Milan, Italy. He began his career at Calvin Klein, Versace and Roberto Cavalli. Since 2004 he runs his own fashion-house.  Paolo’s inspiration and reference point are architecture and design. His technique involved using primordial geometric shapes and combining them with the human body to produce timeless fashion. The result creates a multi-dimensional effect of innovation, dynamism and sensual elegance.

Please enjoy the pictures of day 2, with a selection of the three collections and backstage.

Festimode Casablanca Fashion Week 2012, Day 1

The seventh edition of Festimode Casablanca Fashion Week (FCFW) 2012 started yesterday with two shows of Fadila el Gadi and Mehdi Khessouane.

Fadila el Gadi has been working as a fashion-designer since 1990, and she is probably one of the few people in the fashion-business who has been working with the legendary Yves St. Laurent. That experience opened some doors for her, but it is of course Gadi’s talent that made her design for Barbara Streisand and Beyoncé. You can find her work in boutiques in Paris, Madrid and Saint-Tropez, in Morocco she has her own boutiques in Tanger and Marrakech.

Mehdi Khessouane was always surrounded by art and design, since his father is a interior-architect and his mother has a passion for art. Besides that Khessouane also had a passion for science. No wonder he studied Biology at the university and Fashion at the l’Ecole superieure des Beaux Arts in Casablanca. He is not only fascinated by designer Amina Agueznay but he also stands up against global warming. In 2009 Khessouane joined the selection of young talented designers at FCFW. This year he returned with an avant-garde collection for men and women.

Please enjoy the pictures of the first day of FCFW, with a selection of back and frontstage and some atmosphere during the event.

 

 

 

Casablanca Fashion Week 2012 Preview: Said Mahrouf

One of the designers who will show his collection at Casablanca Fashion Week is Said Mahrouf (40). He is the one who invited Team Peter Stigter to Casablanca. That’s no coincidence, since Mahrouf lived for more than 30 years in the Netherlands – he came to our country with his parents when he was 9 – and studied Fashion Design at the Gerrit Rietveld Academy in Amsterdam. This year in January he presented his collection for the first time at Amsterdam Fashion Week.

Mahrouf is fascinated by the interaction between human movements and space. He gradually focused his work on designing costumes for site-specific performances. His work has been displayed at the New Museum of Contemporary Art and the Cooper Hewitt National Design Museum, both in New York, the Utrecht Central Museum, the Amsterdam Municipal Museum, Carriage Works Gallery in Sydney and in Casablanca’s Loft Gallery. In 2011 he was appointed artistic director of the 15th edition of Morocco’s main traditional fashion event, Caftan, which was broadcast live from Marrakech. Said Mahrouf presents a ready-to-wear collection at Festimode-Casablanca Fashion Week annually.

His fashion-collections are an ode to femininity and elegance. The soft, sensual lines of his designs truly come to life on a female body. And his clientele in Casablanca loves it. After years of living in Amsterdam and traveling the world, Said Mahrouf returned  to Casablanca in 2010 definitely. In his atelier he designs and sells ready to wear de luxe. And it made him a celebrity in Morocco. Moroccan fashion is often traditional in spirit, what Mahrouf designs is considered avant-garde. And elite wants that.

Team Peter Stigter visited the designer in his atelier in Casablanca for a preview of his new collection, which is inspired by the colors of Marrakech.

More information about Said Mahrouf and Casablanca Fashion Week

 

Meanwhile, in Casablanca

Team Peter Stigter has arrived in Casablanca, Morocco. For the first time the Team is shooting the Fashionweek over there. And of course we will keep you posted on that. But first Peter and Jon want to share some pics they made during their first meeting with this modern city in the North of Africa, which is the biggest city of Morocco with the most important harbor. They visited the old town, the Hassan II mosque and some interesting shops and people. Please enjoy.

Trend Fall/Winter 2012/2013: Divided

There’s only so many options to vary with a menswear wardrobe. Yet this season designers found a surprising way of spicing things up. Usual menswear suspects like the suit, the coat and the winter sweater were all made out of different parts. And though that is always the case with fashion pieces, this time all parts were clearly visible on the runway. Most designers worked pieces of leather into their looks. Like a piece of green leather on a Bottega Veneta suit, some crocodile leather on the top of a Calvin Klein sweater, leather sleeves (John Varvatos) and shoulders (Rick Owens, Yves Saint Laurent). Others mixed different types of wool, color and played with heavy and lighter fabrics. A fun way of mixing things up, especially with these thick winter pieces.

Trend Fall/Winter 2012/2013: Checkmate

Farmers, gentlemen and clowns; they all strutted the international catwalks sporting checks. Not your average black and white though; checks and tweeds came in unexpected colors and shapes. Tartan style at Van Beirendonck, Etro and Vivienne Westwood. Country inspired at Burberry and Zegna. Oversize at Browne and Yamamoto.
Opt for a head turning effect in a complete checked suit and matching hat like Browne, Von Assche and Yamamoto. Or work this trend more subtly in small checks (Burberry), perhaps just a modest touch of the print popping from under a sleeveless vest (Dsquared)? Working some tweed or checks into your wardrobe is never a bad idea. Besides, even a checked handkerchief can make you part of this gentlemen’s club.

The Big Round Up Womenswear SS2013, part 3

Spotting trends, common threads, strong statements and influences was not an easy task this S’2013 catwalk season. What does this tell us about the present status of fashion? Is this the outcome of the current economic turmoil? Making designers opt once more for carefulness, minimalism and restraint? Does this push immaculate tailoring and supreme crafts? Excitement more hidden in cut and materials then in expressive aesthetics?
Reflecting on this we concluded that there was pure concentration on the making of beautiful clothes rather then strong fashion statements. Today, part 3 of our list of 9 inspiring directions ss2013-collections are taking us:

TIE DYE

Graduated coloring adds an exclusive, crafted and lively aspect to fabrics and garments. Here it reflects many moods. Acid and intergalactic at Missoni, bohemian at Versace, dreamlike at Blumarine, 70s at Jonathan Saunders and poppy at Cristopher Kane. These lovely graded coloring and subtle ombres become classics over time.

PRINT POWER

We DO believe in the power of print. This season they are scarce but smashing. Patterns with heritage and pedigree: inspired by hand pained glazed terra cotta at Dolce & Gabbana, to reworked animal skin classics by Stella McCartney as well as Kenzo. Fresh and modern are the vibrantly printed volants of Peter Pilotto and the wild ink outburst on red by MiuMiu.

 

FRESH STRIPES

Stripes are going to make it BIG! This parade of bold striped dresses breath crisp retro reminiscence yet the designers stated their inspiration was found in more obscure places.

From historic couture at Dior, disco at Jonathan Saunders, Sicilian souvenirs at Dolce & Gabbana, to 60s graphism at Sportmax and glam sports at Michael Kors.

Stylespot is a collaboration with Stijlinstituut Amsterdam

 

The Big Round Up Womenswear SS2013, part 2

This is part 2 of our list of inspiring directions the new ss2013 collections are taking us.

SHEER LAYERING

When there isn’t the urge to change shape and silhouette, when restraint and understatement reign, interest in intriguing and manipulative fabrics raises. Here the playfulness is not in the cut yet in the cloth. Translucent layers cover simple shapes. Not so much about sexy sensuality but all the more about moderation and adding a faint touch of magic. Stella McCartney, Dior, Sportmax, Lacoste and Givenchy.

JAPONISM

Yoga suits and kimonos inspire minimalist silhouettes. Layered and gently wrapped; reinventing the dress as well as the suit. Subtle origami folds in soft plains with sophisticated shimmer, polished sheen or simply matte surface looks. Padded aspects, square trims, knotted belts and obi’s. At Prada, Lanvin, Mugler, Gianfranco Ferré and Haider Ackermann.

GORGEOUS COLOR

Gucci, Costume National, Dior, Lanvin and Jil Sander show that intense and passionate colour is just part of the message. The silhouette is the big story. As sharp as its shades, these forms are bold, square and boxy. Form fierce symmetry as well as sensual, bare-shouldered asymmetry. Power dressing is not just reserved for suits.

 

Stylespot is a collaboration with Stijlinstituut Amsterdam

 

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