Festimode Casablanca confirms its position as the leading event for contemporary creation in Morocco.
For the sixth edition, six established designers and five up-and-coming talents took to the catwalk, set up in the former Sacré-Coeur church and packed around 300 happy few every evening from May 11 to 14.
SAID MAHROUF
Au bonheur des dames Saïd Mahrouf rhymes with class and elegance.
The Amsterdam resident is a regular at Festimode, where he has occupied the podiums three years in a row, and this year was artistic director as well as participant.
At the sight of her creations, the ladies' eyes light up and the comments fly:
I dream of wearing one of her dresses!
we hear here and there.
Mahrouf deploys a range of perfect evening wear: simple dresses, sometimes revealing a bare shoulder or back, whose magic lies in the skilful play of pleats and bows, but whose fall is always impeccable.
At the sight of a dress that seems alive, so much the supple fabric shines and moves, the audience applauds wildly. Mahrouf is a sure bet.
SALIMA ABDEL WAHAB
Originality as universality.
The pieces designed by Tangier-born Salima Abdel Wahab divided the room in two: the pro and the anti, proving the designer's audacity.
The show opened with singer Noor wearing an outfit inspired by traditional Moroccan clothing.
Next came a kimono and its several-meter-long train, a trapper's jacket, burnous, shrivelled leather top hats, cori necklaces and belts, wooden sandals, dresses sewn with chains, large pockets, squares of ochre and mustard fabric...
Ethnic, colorful, decadent, alternative... there's no shortage of adjectives to describe Salima's eclectic and original universe.
FADILA EL GADI
Star of the week Thursday evening, Fadila El Gadi plays to a packed house:
Her show is the highlight of Fashion Week, eagerly awaited by all aficionados.
The lady of fashion presented no fewer than 54 outfits, each more elegant than the last.
Red coat, shiny leggings, dangling tie over half-open jacket, toques, calots, slit dress and sheer tank top... inspired by traditional outfits, El Gadi is nonetheless resolutely modern and masters her art to perfection.
The final piece, and the highlight of the show, was a magnificent white, streamlined Empire-style dress, embroidered on the back, worn by her daughter.
The applause meter explodes when Fadila El Gadi comes to greet the audience. A successful bet for the grande dame of contemporary creation.