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Full Looks – Luís Carvalho
Shoes – Models’ Own
When the invitation to attend Tunis Fashion Week landed on my desk, I must admit my surprise and intrigue. Tunisia had never really been on my radar as a fashion destination, but like most Europeans, my own knowledge of the country was very limited. When a Tunisian man on my flight had asked me how I imagined the country to be, I erroneously blurted out a clichéd assumption based upon the only other North Saharan country I had been to—Morocco. I could tell from his reaction that he vehemently disagreed, but he tried to be polite anyway. When I revisited this encounter some days later, after having experienced some of Tunisia, I felt utterly embarrassed for my own myopic point of view, shrouded in western prejudices. It was a humbling moment.
Counter to my misconceptions of the country, I discovered a forward looking, creative and optimistic place. I met openly queer individuals, saw girls kissing on the dance floor, and encountered brilliant collections that would rival many European counterparts. I couldn’t help but be stunned and enamoured by it all. Tunisia was much more open-minded than I had imagined, more fun than I could have anticipated, and as creative a place as you could find.
During the trip, we had the opportunity to shoot an editorial with local models and mainly local designers against the backdrop of Dar Hi Life—a beautiful boutique design hotel designed by French industrial designer Matali Crasset. Not only did I get to witness the creativity coming out of Tunisia, I got to immerse and interact with it. This was certainly the highlight of the trip.
I left Tunisia after one week with the urge to come back, to dive deeper, and hopefully uncover many more of the worthwhile stories to tell.
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Bra – Luise Zücker
Jacket – Luís Carvalho
Trousers – Cælestis
Shoes – Model’s own
LEFT
Shirt – Cælestis
Trousers – Sartex
Shoes – Model’s own
TOP
Rania
Bra – Drome via Yoox
Jacket – Born in Exile
Zohra
Body – Born in Exile
BOTTOM
Yassin W
Top – Stylist’s own
Yassin N
Shirt – Born in Exile
TOP
Yassin W
Shirt – Anissa Aida
Pants – Born in Exile
Boots – Model’s own
Achwek
Jacket – Anissa Aida
Leggings – Stylist’s own
Belt – Stylist’s own
Yassin N
Leg Warmer as Sleeves – Haroun Ghanmi
Trousers – Anissa Aida
Zohra
Body – Falke
Jacket – Born in Exile
Necklace – Esther Perbandt
Raniia
Jacket & Trousers – Born in Exile
Glasses – Vava
TOP
Top – Stylist’s own
Trousers – Born in Exile
Glasses – Vava
BOTTOM
Coat – Haroun Ghanmi
Glasses – VAVA
Shoes – Model’s own
BOTTOM
Full Look – Lamaa Lajil
Shoes – Model’s own
Jacket – Haroun Ghanmi
Pants – Born in Exile
Shoes – Model’s own
BOTTOM
Zohra
Dress – Luís Carvalho
Achwek
Body – Litichevskaya
Earring – Stylist’s own
LEFT
Shirt & Shoes – Born in Exile
Trousers – Haroun Ghanmi
Bag – Anissa Aida
RIGHT
Zohra
Dress – Luís Carvalho
Achwek
Body – Litichevskaya
Yassin
Jacket – Calestis
Glasses – Litichevskaya
TOP
Coat – Calestis
Headpiece – Luise Zücker
Trousers – Luís Carvalho
Shoes – Model’s own
BOTTOM
Zohra
Dress – Luís Carvalho
Achwek
Body – Litichevskaya
Leggings – Model’s own
Yassin
Jacket & Trousers – Calestis
Glasses – Litichevskaya
BOTTOM
Yassin
T-Shirt – Born in Exile
Trousers – Haroun Ghanmi
Achwek
Jacket – Anissa Aida
Leggings & Belt – Stylist’s own
Zohra
Jacket – Luís Carvalho
Trousers – Haroun Ghanmi
Earring – A Fat Future
Raniaa
T-Shirt – Born in Exile
Trousers – Luís Carvalho
TOP
Dress & Jacket – Born in Exile
BOTTOM
Zohra
Body & Hot Pants – Born in Exile
Rania
Jacket – Born in Exile
Skirt – Haroun Ghanmi
BOTTOM
Coat – Yousra Şen
Shoes – Model’s Own
Credits
Photography & Art Direction
Frederike Wetzels
Styling
Sabine Berlipp
Production
Arne Eberle
Hair & Make-up
Farah Zine El Abidine
Models
Yassin Walhezi, Achwek Arfaoui, Yassin Nabga, Zohra Gharbi, Raniia Hanchii
Special Thanks
Special Thanks to Tunis Fashion Week, Discover Tunisia, Andrea Philippi & Dar Hi Life