Casablanca SS26 Friends & Family

Casablanca is a luxury label. It effortlessly blends sportswear with sophisticated tailoring. Think tennis club chic meets opulent resort wear. Founded in 2018, it quickly garnered a cult following. The brand is known for its vibrant prints. It embraces rich textures and relaxed silhouettes. Casablanca represents a lifestyle. It’s about travel, leisure, and art.

Casablanca, the Brand & The Man Behind Casablanca

That would be Charaf Tajer. He is the visionary creative director. Tajer co-founded the streetwear brand Pigalle. His Moroccan heritage deeply inspires Casablanca. He combines luxury with an everyday coolness. His personal style informs every collection. Tajer is a true tastemaker.

Who is the Casablanca Client?

The Casablanca client is discerning. They appreciate quality craftsmanship. They love unique, eye-catching designs. This person lives an active, jet-setting lifestyle. They value comfort without sacrificing style. They are culturally aware and confident. They wear clothes that reflect their dynamic lives.

Skepta & The Campaign: More Than Just Faces

This SS26 campaign is all about genuine connections. It features a diverse group of talent. Each has supported Casablanca over the years. The casting has a strong music connection. Each individual embodies different facets of the brand. This highlights Casablanca’s incredible versatility.

Skepta: The Grime King’s Enduring Influence

Leading the charge is Skepta. He is a British grime MC and cultural icon. His influence spans music, style, and art. Skepta is a close friend of Charaf Tajer. He has supported Casablanca since day one. He even wore the brand’s first tracksuit sample.

Tajer calls Skepta “more than just someone I work with.” He’s a “closest friend,” a “long time coming.” Skepta’s portraits feature sporty jackets and knit polos. He perfectly represents the brand’s dialogue. It connects with contemporary creative communities. He’s also a recognised house DJ now. This campaign is an homage to house music. It’s about community, “For the Love of House.”

When Did Skepta Turn into a Style King?

Skepta’s style evolution has been seamless. He always had a distinct aesthetic. His influence peaked with his own streetwear lines. Collaborations and endorsements cemented his status. He blends high fashion with street authenticity. This makes him a true style king. His look is always effortless, never forced.

Are Skepta and Central Cee the Voice of British Fashion Today?

Absolutely. Both Skepta and Central Cee are monumental. They define British fashion’s current zeitgeist. They bridge grime and drill with high fashion. Their influence is undeniable. They dictate trends and make luxury accessible. They represent a new generation of style.

Other Key Players: A Diverse Collective

• Omah Lay (@omah_lay): Nigerian singer and producer. He organically discovered Casablanca. He chose a navy tracksuit and a knit polo look.

• Olivier Zahm (@ozpurple): Founder of Purple magazine. A long-time
• inspiration for Charaf Tajer. He wears a classic denim jacket and jeans. His presence adds a rebellious intellectual edge.

• Issa Lish (@issalish): Japanese-Mexican model and long-time collaborator. She chose coordinating mini skirt sets. Her enduring connection is undeniable.

• Ben Cobb (@bengcobb): Editor known for his distinctive 70s aesthetic. He returns wearing a signature silk shirt and flare trousers.

• Naj Harfouch (@najharfouch): Half Lebanese, half Moroccan creative director. She brings a vision aligned with Casablanca’s cultural universe. She sports a knit polo and relaxed jeans.

Key Trends & Pieces from SS26

• Elevated Sportswear: Think sophisticated tracksuits and knit polos.
• Vibrant Prints & Gradients: Casablanca’s signature aesthetic.
• Relaxed Tailoring: Comfort meets chic in every piece.
• 70s Influence: Flare trousers and silk shirts make a comeback.
• Coordinating Sets: Mini skirts and tops for a polished look.

Casablanca – More Than Just Clothes

Casablanca’s SS26 campaign is a masterclass. It merges luxury with real-world connections. It showcases the brand as lived, not staged. Each portrait tells a story. It highlights individuality within a community. This collection is available now. Find it at casablancaparis.com and flagship stores. It’s time to live your Casablanca life.

The Casablanca Spring-Summer 2026 collection is available now at casablancaparis.com, at the brand’s flagships in Los  Angeles (469 North Canon Drive, Beverly Hills) and Paris (rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré), and at leading fashion boutiques across the globe.  

Follow Style Cartel and leave a comment! Who is your favourite from the Casablanca SS26 campaign, and what piece are you eyeing?

CREDITS 

Creative Director – Charaf Tajer 

Art Director – Steve Grimes 

Image Director – Maya Chantout 

Photographer – Mark Lukasavage 

Director – Andree Dubois  

Set designer – Laura O’Rorke 

Stylist – Helena Tejedor 

Hair Stylist – Kim Rance  

Makeup Artist – Karin Westerlund 

Manicurist – Melvyn Renaud  

Casting – Simone Schofer  

Production – Rowe Studio, Mercenary Production 

Photos: Casablanca

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Throughout the 90s, the UK hip hop scene lived in the shadow of the US’. Many UK rappers spent their time trying to imitate the style, beats and flows of those in New York and Cali. Of course this isn’t to downplay the UK underground music scene of the time, with genres such as jungle, hardcore, and garage in the late 90s the UK music scene was continuously revamping and coming into its own, however in terms of hip hop for a long time it remained very much based on the US model. This all changed with the creation of grime of course, which was released from the underground by records such as Dizzee Rascal’s iconic Boy in da Corner. But now with the popularity of grime fading and being replaced by drill, one must wonder whether we are once again returning to the US model, or whether we are taking that and making it our own.

The effect of grime on the UK hip hop scene is something that is recognisable to this day almost 20 years after its creation. A reaction to the flamboyance of garage. The 140bpm beats, harsh, fast MCing and dark lyricism of grime, told a story of a culture that was iconically London. As a counter to the rich and bright colours of garage, grime, and it’s cousin dubstep, showed us a dark underbelly of UK society in the time of ‘Cool Britania’, the real lives of teenagers from deprived areas in East London.

Of course it didn’t come from nowhere, the lead up to grime could be seen in the work of dark garage artists such as Wookie and MC’s like So Solid Crew. However the difference between grime, and, earlier strands of UK hip hop was that grime was fundamentally a UK genre, without influence from forces overseas, grime was London, not the UK’s attempt at being New York. To this day its a genre that most Americans, and indeed most people outside of the UK can’t really understand and often don’t appreciate. And despite the fact that during its second and third waves, grime became increasingly international, it’s stayed rooted in UK underground culture. The electronic kicks and dubsteppy baselines remain, as do the strong references to UK life seen in its lyrical foundations. 

However grime is no more the most prominent representation of the UK hip hop scene. In fact, in many ways comparing grime to UK hip hop is problematic as they are fundamentally different sorts of music and both have their own rich scenes. However while the popularity of grime has faded, UK hip hop has become popular once again with artists such as Cult of the Dammed and Black Josh. And with the rise of drill, once again we can see UK music artists returning to a US sound. 

What is interesting however, is that despite the fact that drill is a US genre of music, UK drill is now just as and sometimes more popular than its US counterpart. Artists such as Digga D and J Hus to name a couple have shown that instead of imitating a US genre, the UK has the power to take it and make it even more iconic than it was before.

Of course, the rise of drill doesn’t necessarily mean the death of grime. Original grime artists such as Skepta and Dizzee Rascal to this day make platinum selling hits. As a UK genre, it is possible that grime will always remain popular as it showed that UK artists don’t have to imitate the US sound to achieve international recognition and acclaim. However what drill has also shown, is that even when we take that US sound, we can put our own spin on it, and even do it better. 

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