Casablanca Fall 2024 Ready-to-Wear is ready for the Paris summer Olympics after party with Ancient Greeks and Red Carpet races. The creative director Charaf Tajer is moulding Casablanca Paris on a voyage for maturation from luxury streetwear. The house has followed the American playbook on how to build a brand and now is ready to race you to the finish line and see who wins. Could the brand be on its way to the next French heritage brand of other?
Runway Report| CASABLANCA FALL/WINTER 2024
Charaf Tajer had Olympics fever and geared up for Paris in anticipation of the Summer Games, but his fall 2024 women’s Casablanca Paris collection wasn’t just about luxe sportswear anymore. We were wowed along with the packed house, of his mates, Greek Influencers, fashion girlies and boys at the Paris Fashion Week show. What is the designer up to in the huge space Cirque D’Hiver?
Charaf Tajer found inspiration for the collection from the Bjork song Venus as a Boy, which in itself points towards a reimagination of the idea of Venus, where Venus herself was a Roman reimagination of Aphrodite. Venus as a Boy, whilst becoming a significant metaphor for the essence of this collection, also holds a strong relationship to Charaf Tajer. For the founder and creative director, the sound and music were a symphonically unique arrangement of classical strings of an almost Arabic influence, combined with a drum pattern of a distinguished nineties rhythm, and the lyrics, which deeply resonate with Tajer.
Friends and colleagues have often discussed how Bjork’s lyrics in the song reflect his outlook on life, pure curiosity and desire for beauty; “He believes in a beauty, He’s Venus as a boy.” In playing with the ideas of time, re-contextualization, and weaving together history and the contemporary, were present in the Autumn/Winter 2024 collection.
PFW ‘VENUS AS A BOY’ ON PSYCHEDELICS
Charaf Tajer was inspired by a ceremonial practice of the Greek Gods and the ancient Greeks’ use of psychedelics, specifically Plato, Aristotle, Herodotus, Sophocles and Euripides. The Hollywood superstars of their time. Charaf set the scene at the Cirque D’Hiver with a chorus of trippy seated dancers conducted by choreographer Sadeck Berrabah in a symphony of arm movements. It was like we were at the Opera of Casablanca Paris. Just micro-dosing on fashion.
Casablanca Paris draws our primary inspiration from the mysterious and transformative Eleusinian mysteries for our upcoming collection, aiming to seamlessly fuse classical beauty with contemporary allure. Eleusis was an ancient Greek city located in Attica, a short trip away from Athens. It was there that a religious festival was held. Inspired by the ancient Greek pilgrimage and the revelatory rituals at Eleusis, where elites delved into mind-expanding experiences facilitated by psychedelics like LSD and mushrooms, we sought to weave together a collection that reflected a shared philosophy of the birth of microdosing culture.
“Psychedelics are a subject that will only evolve in the future and we should be part of this message. It’s important also to show the past wasn’t so dusty,” said Tajer, an enthusiast himself, who when asked if he’d put the Casablanca name on any kind of mind-altering substance, demurred but said he is working on a big collaboration. It would have been cool if the invites were brand pills or tabs as treats to watch the show.
With new partners and a new chief executive officer in place, Tajer is setting Casablanca on a journey for growth beyond the cheeky preppy streetwear of the past collection presented by the house in the past fashion weeks. It was quite a surprise and with Txampi Diz now the chief marketing officer, we wonder how many Red Carpet moments can he place.
This collection went in the direction of a more toned-down colour palette and broader, more classical offerings that could anchor Casablanca on the red carpet events like Cannes. With fine-looking draped-at-the-waist suiting and tuxedos tailoring to its already existing client base. With soft mohair outerwear, Lurex polo shirts, crystal-embroidered sheer tanks and skirts, and velvety moleskin “denim.” Women’s eveningwear, however — including mini and column dresses, some with under-bust cutouts or detailing — could have used more polish. However, with their connection young starlets could rock it to any of the music awards worldwide.
Staying true to the DNA and where the core audience is there were plenty of sporty elements to keep Casablanca in that tournament. With key pieces like team varsity jackets, made in collaboration with artist Jeff Hamilton. Ideas of what to wear to a mico-dosing party the jackets are embellished with seasonal patches and embroideries of magic mushrooms, Olympic torches and more.
Hellenic symbols, laurels, vases and Olympic rings appeared as graphics and trims on good-looking hooded running shirts, tracksuits, knit sets (thigh-high socks included) and tennis dresses. Hitting on another trend from Paris Fashion Week the tennis aesthetic. There was also a new collaboration with Ancient Greek Sandals on gladiators.
Did the creative director reach his target audience? You tell us? Leave your comments below hit or miss?
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Photo Credit: Casablanca Paris
RUNWAY SHOW CREDITS:
Founder & Creative Director: Charaf Tajer @charaftajer
Art Director: Steve Grimes @steviegrimes
Production by: La Mode En Images @lamodeenimages
Show styled by: Helena Tejedor @helenatejedor
Casting by: Anita Bitton – Establishment
Makeup by: Masaé ITO
Hair by: Karim Belghiran
Choreography by: Sadeck Berrabah
