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Amina Agueznay - jewelry designer
Formerly an architect in the United States, Amina Agueznay is now a jewelry designer in Morocco. Her art combines tradition, imagination and whimsy to create true princess's jewels that no one can resist. Nosing out the most unexpected materials (djellaba buttons, small pieces of wood from the Benslimane forest...), her works have the power of true architecture.
After studying architecture in Washington then New York, Amina Agueznay worked as an architect in the US for seven years before returning to Morocco to dedicate herself entirely to her new passion, jewellery design. She started by taking her inspiration from Berber tradition, working on antique jewellery, deviating their elements from their initial function, re-assembling them with coral and semi-precious stones. The art of Amina Agueznay does not reject tradition, while leaving free rein to the imagination and fantasy. She assembles, harmonises and transforms the most unexpected materials into jewellery fit for a princess. She
finds her raw materials in the souks of Marrakech. In her small exercise books, she sketches her drawings which will become unique pieces. Crystal, white quartz, turquoise, Murano glass, cornaline, chalcedony, labradorite, amethyst... are stored in boxes. Amina fills these boxes with items found during her travels. For one of her latest collections, she mainly used multicoloured jellabah buttons, together with semi-precious stones. For designer Nourredine Amir, she created pieces made from small pieces of wood gathered in the Benslimane forest. But whatever materials are used, her works all have a point in common: they are meticulously structured. This is surely the heritage of her years spent as an architect.
Contact :
aagueznay@gmail.com
Faïrouze Jalal - designer and interior architect
A trained biologist, Fairouze Jalal conducts research on the phyto-cosmetic potential of the seaweed native to the Moroccan coast. It has led him to create a line of natural, authentic cosmetic products “En d’Autres Thermes”, designed to respond to the demands of the spa market, which is always in search of innovative products that respect the environment.
Faïrouze Jalal, a PhD in physiology from Montreal University, is the founder of “En d’Autres Thermes”, a range of natural and ecological cosmetics. After thirteen years spent working in Canada, this specialist in tissue and cell engineering decided to return to Morocco. Unable to continue her biomedical research, Faïrouze Jalal, started to study plants.
This reconversion led her to research the phyto-cosmetic potential of Moroccan seaweed. These in-depth studies resulted in an exfoliating product range, composed of wraps and masks for the face and body. They are a response to this enthusiasm for a new way of life dedicating more time to the body, balance and well-being and where the spa becomes a high growth market. The “En d’Autres Thermes” showroom covering 150m² will soon be opening at the Guéliz in Marrakech.
Contact :
sealeads@menara.ma
Hicham Lahlou - designer and interior architect
Famous for creating the renowned “Koubba” teapot, this designer and interior architect, committed to winning recognition for Design in Morocco, has many irons in the fire - creating furniture pieces, tableware, lighting - and has developed a complete line of urban furniture as part of an overarching “pure line” project.
An interior designer trained at Académie Charpentier Paris in 1995, after several years spent in France and the USA, Hicham Lahlou created the first multidisciplinary design agency in Morocco, specialising in brand identity, commercial interior design, hotels, urban furniture, etc. His various encounters, the fruit of his work and commitment to promoting design in Morocco have made him one of the most famous Franco- Moroccan designers.
With the “Koubba” teapot, presented at scènes d’intérieur, he presents one of the first world famous “Made in Morocco” design objects. But Hicham Lahlou also designs furniture, tableware, lighting and, more recently, a complete urban furniture line for the city of Agadir.
This project allows Hicham Lahlou to work with industrialists, experiment with processes and supervise the production of his designs (benches, kiosks, lighting, guardrails, bus shelters, cycle park, tree grids, dustbins, signage, etc.).
His future “Lalou.h” label will federate all his activities. For the time being, his designs are part of the Darenart collection, the first international brand grouping together Moroccan designers, www.darenart.com, and founded by Karim Hamdi in Paris in 2006.
Contact :
lahlouart@yahoo.com
Karim Tassi - stylist
This stylist, a native of Casablanca, revisits the traditional Moroccan basics (djellabas, caftans, burnous, sarouals, designs inspired by henna...) in light of urban and European trends. So in his collections, linen, wool and silk rub shoulders with technical and treated fabrics, play with imprints and contemporary details.
Born in Casablanca, Karim Tassi graduated from the Institut International de Stylisme et de Modélisme de Casablanca. In 1989, he came to Paris to complete his training at the Ecole de la Chambre Syndicale de la Couture and, in parallel, was assigned to a freelance design mission for ready-to-wear manufacturers.
For the year of Morocco in France in 1999, he presented his first collection in Paris at the Institut du Monde Arabe. Karim Tassi's style, between urban vitality and Moroccan inspiration, offers a gateway between east and west. Focusing on mixes and rich contrasts, cultural cross-breeding is at the heart of Karim Tassi's fashion. Traditional Moroccan basics (jellabahs, kaftans, burnous, sarouals, henna inspired patterns, etc.) are revisited through an urban and European perspective. In his collections,
linen, wool and silk are used with technical fabrics, enductions, press button effects and contemporary details.
Contact :
tassi.karim@neuf.fr
Soumiya Jalal - textile creator
Passionate about weaving, Soumiya Jalal creates exceptional pieces using subverted artisanal fabrics. Beyond a purely artistic approach which makes her a respected personality, Soumiya Jalal does not hesitate to innovate by working with light or transparency.
Passion leads to everything! Soumiya Jalal, a trained architect, cannot deny it.
For today, her dream has come true: that of creating very beautiful textiles, composed from recycled materials. They are in fact crafted fabrics made with materials deviated from their usual use. These materials can be horsehair, banana or palm fibre, raffia, tow or shoe laces. An art lover, many years after having gained her architecture diploma in Paris, she learnt to weave and make fabric in a Montreal school, discovered on the internet!
This atypical and exceptional career where north meets south, reflects her designs. A specific style and original textures make Soumiya Jala a respected personality in her sector. She now works as a recognised International technical expert worldwide. Soumiya's work also covers an R&D aspect, with the aim of creating specific fabrics for specific uses. She is currently working on light, creating fabrics (on panels/lighting) in copper wire which have a very strong reflection capacity.
She has just completed work on transparency by creating a fabric which allows the wearer to see without being seen!
Contact :
soumy20022000@yahoo.fr
Yahya Rouach - Dinandier, sculptor
Having discovered the art of brassware during his first trips to Morocco, this London native opened his first workshop in 2004, then a store in the center of Gueliz in 2005. There, he displays objects made from copper, nickel silver and wood that are cut, sculpted and engraved with extreme finesse and purity, reflecting a felicitous marriage of tradition and modernity.
Born in London in 1972 with a Jewish father, converted to Islam, Yahya discovered the art of brasswork in his first trips to Morocco. Captivated by his art, Yahya rapidly made a name for himself in Marrakech. He started up his business in 2004, in his workshop in Lamhamid, then he opened his store in the town centre at Guéliz in 2005. That is where his designs are exhibited: chiselled, sculpted and engraved copper, nickel silver and wood objects. Extremely delicate and pure, upscale objects and lights, reflecting a successful balance between tradition and modernity. Each design has its own share of mystery and magic.
Contact :
yahyacreation@menara.ma
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