Rabat – The opening ceremony of the highly anticipated fashion event “La Mode en Capitale” took place on Friday evening in the vibrant and culturally rich city of Rabat.
The event, which aims to celebrate Morocco’s cultural heritage, offered a magical atmosphere of elegance, refinement, ancient traditions, and contemporary fashion.
The event was proposed by renowned Moroccan fashion designer Fadila El Gadi, serving as a “grand finale” of the “Rabat, African Capital of Culture” program. It was brought to life by the Fadila El Gadi Foundation in partnership with the Moroccan Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Communication.
“I have always dreamed of organizing a show like this,” El Fadili told Morocco World News, saying that the event serves as an opportunity for the public to discover her fascinating designs and share her atmosphere of creativity and inspiration.
The opening ceremony, which took place at the CDG art gallery, featured the unequaled skills of “Tarz Rbati” (Rabat embroidery) artisans, as well as the exhibitions of renowned photographers who captured El Gadi’s artistic journey in breathtaking photoshoots.
Among the photographers was Christian Mamoun who expressed his pride to work with El Gadi, describing her as “one of the biggest fashion designers in Morocco.”
“I had the pleasure to work with Fadila on this photoshoot … it was an amazing experience,” Mamoun told MWN.
Speaking about his experience working with the Moroccan designer, Mamoun said that what captivated him the most was El Gadi’s sense of detail and color, which reflects in her mesmerizing designs.
The organizers of the event highlighted El Gadi’s ability to seamlessly blend the “exquisite refinement of Moroccan embroidery with the fluidity of contemporary cuts and the most precious fabrics.”
In addition, they described her as “the guardian of this ancestral art, propelling it into modernity without altering its authenticity.”
The event also showcased and paid tribute to the work of aspiring Moroccan artisans and embroiderers from the Embroidery School of Sale. The move aimed to celebrate and preserve Morocco’s cultural heritage and craftsmanship, especially Tarz Rbati.
The remaining activities of the event will take place at the gardens of Chellah, which El Gadi described as “one of the most outstanding historical sites in Morocco,” among other venues across the city.
The second day of the event will feature the runway debuts of three young talented designers: Amal El Bahdi, Bouchra Salih, and Rajae Errais.
Meanwhile, the grande finale of La Mode en Capitale will feature a fashion show where El Fadili will showcase some dreamlike designs at the Chellah Gardens.
Giving MWN a sneak peek into the fashion show, the artistic director Luis Placido de Abreu said that it will be a “colorful” and “feminine” show that will celebrate Africa. He added that the show will have a “very dramatic end.”
In her designs, El Gadi will infuse her Sahrawi roots with a “natural elegance and subtle modernity, giving her creations a certain timeless and contemporary charm,” added the organizers.
