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Moroccan fashion is rapidly changing but remains authentic to the country’s feel, especially as young artists like Karim Chater, who is behind Style Beldi, seek to promote Morocco’s style by incorporating vintage Moroccan fashion with present-day trends.
Morocco, just like other countries, has witnessed a major fashion evolution throughout the years. This encompasses a shift from traditional outfits to an adapted Western style.
Many iconic fashion designers all around the world take Morocco and its clothing style as inspiration for their modern-day collections. One such example is famous French designer Yves Saint Laurent.
The evolution of Moroccan fashion
Before the 1950s, Moroccan clothing consisted of djellaba dress for both men and women. This is a long and loose garment with full sleeves. A hood called “qob” provides shade in the sun and keeps wearers warm in the cold.
Women also wore embroidered caftans with traditional jewelry. Men also wore an outfit called “gandora,” which is similar to the djellaba but has no hood nor full sleeves. Moroccan fashion also included “balgha,” a leather slipper available in many different shapes and colors.
After the years of colonization, Western style influenced obvious changes in Moroccan fashion. Moroccans, mostly the bourgeois, started wearing Western clothing such as suits, blouses, caps, and swimming suits.
Caftans have also developed throughout the years. Now the traditional dress can come in numerous styles, consist of several pieces, and is made with different fabrics in various colors. These tweaks and modifications in Moroccan traditional clothing illustrate the modernization of fashion in Morocco.
However, Moroccans have always remained loyal to their traditional clothing. Most only incorporate new elements to what they already wore to make new styles more fashionable while keeping the chic and elegant elements of traditional dress.
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Vintage Moroccan fashion in the present day
Today’s generation dons the perfect example of traditional Moroccan fashion fused with modern clothing. Moroccans may strongly embrace Western fashion. Nonetheless, they successfully manage to link their vintage Moroccan fashion with the Western world’s trends and style.
If you go down a busy street today, you will see young Moroccans wearing all types of fashion deriving from a mix of Western and traditional clothing. For example, you will see a woman wearing a djellaba with an Yves Saint Laurent bag and Gucci glasses.
These young people are artists in their own way. They use their fashion sense everyday as a statement, a way of expressing their ideas and values to the world.
“An artist is the source of diversity and creativity, in my opinion, his role in our society is to show and promote our culture and lifestyle to the rest of the world in his own unique way,” said Karim Chater in an interview with Morocco World News.
Karim Chater is a passionate and determined 23-year-old Moroccan model and artist from Sidi Moumen, a northeastern suburb of Casablanca. The young artist regularly puts out fashion content on his Instagram page. He also showcases a unique blend of vintage Moroccan fashion in urban areas on his “Style Beldi” YouTube channel.
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Karim Chater’s inspiration and work process
“What inspired me is the environment I live in, it’s traditional, cultural and original, also how my parents used to dress back in the 80s with the help of the unique vintage clothes sold in the thrift shops,” said Karim.
It takes Karim approximately two hours, including shopping and matching clothing pieces together, to curate a look and take professional pictures. The process of filming a video takes him one hour minimum and three hours maximum.
In his videos, Karim prefers not to use words so everyone can fully see his vision and understand the message he wants to convey. He also prefers to work on fashion documentary content that carries a meaningful message.
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Karim finds inspiration in every hardworking, resilient person that has achieved their dreams and goals. He works hard to get where they are, or even further, while simultaneously enjoying the process of creating his art style and turning his creative ideas into reality.
Art plays a significant role in Karim’s life. It helped him discover who he is, who he wants to be, and what he wants to achieve in the future.
“It (art) gave me a purpose to live for and excitement to achieve my goals, every day I cannot stop thinking of my future and where I want to be and how I can get there, and that wasn’t the case before.”
Karim considers himself fortunate for having his friends’ support and parents’ blessing, especially at the beginning of his art career. He believes that without their love and support, it would have been harder for him to continue pursuing his passion.
Drawing on local elements, the support of loved ones, and consistency
The artist often creates and films his content in a “karyane” (shanty town) called Karyane Rhamna. He considers it one the most inspirational places for his work. He is able to observe the culture, traditions, and lifestyle of the people who live there and apply observations to his art.
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“Our current neighborhood is a total blessing in my career, whenever I stand in my roof, look down and watch the lifestyle of its people, the hard work they must do to survive, the motivation and the determination its young have in order to change their humble circumstances and live a better life,” said Karim
“I get touched and it drives my emotions to come out, I translate them into art and hand it to the world. Without Karyane Rhamna, I don’t think I would have started Style Beldi.”
Karim Chater believes in determination and consistency. He wants young or new artists to know that consistency is key. He would like them to keep following their dream, doing what they love, without stopping.
“Even if your content isn’t the best, with consistency it cannot stay still, it will improve [one] day after another,” said Karim. “With it, you will find your own unique style which you will be known for and distinguished by.”
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Read also: Designer Anwar Bougroug on ‘Connection, Community, Craftsmanship’
