Review of Casablanca Fall 2023 Men’s Fashion Show
For the Peace
By Obi Anyanwu
Casablanca creative director Charaf Tajer, much like every creative director, founder, designer and the like, wants to use his platform to spread an important message and chose his Fall/Winter 2023 runway show to do so.
The Paris-born designer of Moroccan descent opened his show with a speech partially revealed on notes on attendees’ seats. A speech about his friend Maya, who told him a story about young people in Syria who went to party despite the fear of bombardment. To Tajer, partying is ordinary, but for those living in dangerous times, partying is an act of courage.
Inspired by her story, Tajer traveled to Demascus where he saw beauty and devastation coexisting and humanity and generosity showing its resiliency. He proclaimed that refugees should not be seen as numbers but rather as human beings and be regarded for the pasts they carry with them.
The collection possessed a heavy retro influence though modern techniques give away which century the clothes come from.
It’s a shame that using your platform is rare, though the audience applauded after Tajer’s speech, and an even bigger shame that a designer has to take a stand where political officials fail, but there is always time for activism and maybe the best time is to an international assembly.
Though Casablanca presented a cold weather collection, the bright color palette evoked the joys brought on by plentiful sunshine and warm weather. The collection possessed a heavy retro influence though modern techniques give away which century the clothes come from.
Notably, a chainmail pattern cutout dress had a heart pattern on the chest that looked like it radiated a rainbow vibration, a visual expected of the 1960’s and 1970’s. The stage had a white carpet with red, blue, green and yellow squares and an old school fighter jet covered with flowers.
The show began with chic dresses, suits and a mock pilots uniform all of which tickle the imagination of Millennial and Gen Z wondering how jetsetters flew decades before the Patriot Act. The stage carpet appeared in belted coat form with a matching scarf, and a high collar men’s suit. The brand produced printed patterns of their own monogram on a women’s suit and men’s trousers. As the show progressed, looks leaned towards ski resorts, tennis attire, bodycon suits and dresses, and a jewel embellished dress and cape, in addition to their patterned resortwear.
At a time where women in Iran and protesters are reportedly killed daily, this collection feels like an ode to Middle Eastern opulence,
At a time where women in Iran and protesters are reportedly killed daily, this collection feels like an ode to Middle Eastern opulence, a time before global politics ravaged nations, tore apart families and scarred generations. Tajer said fashion could just be clothes, but this collection is far from it.