Lebanese Designer Zuhair Murad Releases Morocco-inspired Collection

Rabat – Lebanese Designer Zuhair Murad is the latest designer of many to seek inspiration from Morocco, with his autumn-winter 2019-2020 collection.

The new collection, which he has dubbed “Mirages and Oasis,” was unveiled on Wednesday, July 3, in Paris as part of Haute Couture Fashion Week.

With a mix of ochre, violet, gold, beaded embroidery, glitter and colored sequins, masterful jackets and capes, the collection gives off a strong bohemian chic vibe reminiscent of Marrakech in the 1970s. The dresses, all adorned with elaborate patterns and topped off with thick belts at the waist, draw obvious inspiration from Moroccan kaftans.

Speaking to Vogue backstage at Fashion Week, Murad explained that he was inspired by Morocco after attending a gala in Marrakech. “Marrakech is paradise, I fell in love,” he said. “Such a cosmopolitan city. There’s so much heritage and tradition there, but it also has a modern vibe. It’s like Beirut, but with a different style,” he told the iconic fashion magazine.

Designers across the world have been looking to Morocco for inspiration this year. H&M Home, a Swedish company with stores worldwide, also chose Moroccan style as the focus of its summer collection.

The company cited “the Moroccan landscape and the architecture of Marrakech, with the natural tones of the desert and the colors of the city” as a “great sources of inspiration” for the collection. The Swedish brand’s promotional shots, taken in Morocco’s desert and a typical Moroccan riad, make the Moroccan influence abundantly clear.

American streetwear brand, Kith, has also released a Morocco-inspired summer collection. The collection features Moroccan inspired zellige prints on shorts, shirts, pants, and hats, making it possible to wear the print head-to-toe.