Photo: Mous Lamrabat/Courtesy of Okhtein
Fashion and music. A relationship that has spawned an abundance of mutual creativity continues to be nurtured by designers, whose memories, experiences, and ever-changing personal playlists inevitably intertwine and end up within the rails of their new season offerings. Far from background noise, a show’s soundtrack is integral to the delivery of a collection’s story and emotional resonance – if it wasn’t, Burberry wouldn’t have gone to the effort of establishing an entire platform (Burberry Acoustic) dedicated to spotlighting and nurturing young musical talent. For FW21, the significance of sound manifested in dance, with Hermès, Dior, and Kenzo all putting on performances whether through film or via models simply letting loose on the runway. And yes! What better time to crank up the volume and shake off the past 22 months of Covid-19 fatigue than with a joyful, soul-enriching score.
Photo: Mous Lamrabat/Courtesy of Okhtein
For Okhtein’s Egyptian designer duo, sisters Aya and Mounaz Abdelraouf, it is music, in fact, that informs their new collection: a capsule of top handle bags and clutches in leather and satin, trimmed with their signature brasswork. Aptly named Euphoric Reverie, this latest offering is their most vibrant to date, orchestrated in a pantone of lime green, electric blue, lilac and plum with riffs on American artist Wes Wilson’s swirling psychedelic rock show posters – works that have become a 1960s pop culture phenomenon.
Photo: Mous Lamrabat/Courtesy of Okhtein
Lensed by Moroccan photographer Mous Lamrabat, Okhtein’s accompanying campaign imagery shows model Ansar Elyacoubi traverse the foliage of Marrakech’s Anima Garden dressed in an eclectic wardrobe of silks, feathers and authentic headpieces. It’s the visual equivalent of music for the senses: a beautifully dizzying combination with nods to a myriad of cultures, coming together to heal, uplift and inspire.
Photo: Mous Lamrabat/Courtesy of Okhtein
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Photography & AD: Mous Lamrabat
Style: Lisa Lapauw
Hair and makeup: Karima Maruan
Production: Marie Juncker at Artsphere
Model: Ansar Elyacoubi
Shot on location at Anima Garden Marrakech
