This is the latest collection by Algerian designer Xavier Eddine Belmahdi, who imagines clothes from both sides of the Mediterranean. The highlight of this new collection is the Karakou. It used to be a sleeveless waistcoat in the 14th century. Then, the Ottoman Empire as well as the French colonisation brought their touch to the garment which today has become a festive outfit in Algeria.
Xavier Eddine Belmahdi explains that he wanted to bring this piece back into the limelight because it symbolises an ancestral know-how which needs to be preserved, promoted and brought back to new generations.
The young designer strives to make sustainable creations that celebrate women and Algerian society as a whole. This is why his brand bears the symbol of the bee. Its is a symbol of nature preservation; a symbol of the hive, of togetherness and solidarity; it is a symbol of the sovereign woman.
"I was brought up by women and I like femininity very much (...) My creations are inspired by strong women, especially my grandmother Khadija. - Xavier Eddine Belmahdi, during the TV show "Maghreb Orient Express" on TV5 World.
Photo: copyrights Xavier Eddine Belmahdi.