Fez — The Oudayas National Museum of Adornment is hosting a new exhibition titled “Dalí Diali – The Fabric of the Dream,” presented by Moroccan designer Zhor Raïs, beginning today. 

The exhibition brings together Moroccan haute couture and modern art through an encounter with the world of Salvador Dalí, one of the most influential artists of the 20th century.

Staged in the heart of Rabat’s historic Kasbah of the Oudayas, the exhibition offers a rare artistic dialogue between the Moroccan caftan and surrealist expression. It is conceived as both a retrospective and a forward-looking project, celebrating forty years of Zhor Raïs’ creative career while exploring new artistic ground.

A dialogue between caftan and surrealism

Drawing inspiration from sculptures belonging to the Dalí Universe collection, the designer presents a series of twelve original caftans, each created in resonance with one of twelve Dalí sculptures. The pieces explore recurring Dalinian themes such as elastic time, metamorphosis, dreams, memory, movement, and lightness.

Through this approach, fabrics become a narrative medium and materials function as a language, with each silhouette suspended between reality and the dreamlike. The exhibition positions the caftan not only as a garment, but as a work of art in its own right.

40 years of creation

Zhor Raïs is widely regarded as a leading figure in Moroccan caftan design and has played a central role in promoting the garment internationally. This exhibition, which comes from four decades of hard work, was conceived as a personal and artistic milestone, reflecting an intimate yet visionary approach to fashion and cultural heritage.

The project also pays tribute to Moroccan master artisans, whose craftsmanship and techniques have been transmitted from generation to generation. Their work underpins each piece on display, highlighting the collective dimension of Moroccan fashion heritage.

A timely cultural moment

The exhibition takes place at a particularly significant moment for Moroccan fashion. The Moroccan caftan has recently been officially inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This recognition underscores Morocco’s long-standing efforts to preserve and promote its cultural heritage under the leadership of King Mohammed VI.

Organizers note that the exhibition aligns with broader national efforts to affirm Moroccan cultural identity while opening it to international artistic dialogue.

Museums and cultural outreach

The exhibition is supported by the National Foundation of Museums, which continues to organize cultural and artistic events aimed at safeguarding and promoting Morocco’s heritage. Through initiatives such as “Dalí Diali – The Fabric of the Dream,” the foundation seeks to elevate the richness and diversity of the country’s collective memory.

By bringing together Moroccan couture and surrealist art, the exhibition positions Rabat as a space for cross-cultural exchange, where tradition and modernity meet through artistic experimentation.