Last week, the model Kenza Fourati, who is known to speak her mind, launched her new women’s clothing line By Kenz, when she revealed a range of printed t-shirts, long, sheer dresses, and oversized, long-sleeved tops. Some t-shirts are adorned with a Fatima-hand print with a ‘Handmade’ mention underneath, while others feature a stop sign print and Arabic calligraphy, inspired by Tunisian graffiti artist, Meen One.
“I wanted it to be very independent and personal; something I wanted to express at a certain moment,” Fourati explained in a conversation with Style.com/Arabia. “I draw everything in New York, where I live, with a pattern maker, but the actual production takes place in Tunis. My colleague, Joanna Ben Souissi, and Style.com/Arabia’s Moez Achour inspire me as well. The clothes are simple, sober, chic, and timeless. But we draw a lot of attention to details: variations of neck forms, zippers, and transparencies…” Fourati continued.
“I like to think that By Kenz is a clothing line that has a universal message. For the first part of the collection, I was inspired by the leitmotiv ‘Art Is Sacred’, which reflects the current events that we have to live through in my home country, Tunisia,”, Fourati added. “With By Kenz, we want to build bridges between the polarized cultures we live in. We refuse exclusion and try to be as affordable as possible, without compromising quality,” she added.
Thus far, Kenza Fourati’s new clothing line is sold exclusively at the Tunisian concept store, High Street Fashion, Les Berges du Lac, Tunis.
Pictures © Sabri Ben Mlouka