A Mediterranean from Algeria, born north of Marseille, Yacine Aouadi's master is another Mediterranean from Tunis: Azzedine Alaïa.
Although several generations separate them, both eloquently embrace the color black. A deep, intense, textured black that gives their silhouettes an opulent or modest graphic strength and a recognizable signature.
On July 7, 2015, I attended Yacine Aouadi's first fashion show at the Grand Palais, with a collection named "13015", a tribute to his hometown of Marseille, which immediately won over the international press and in the process the most prominent actresses such as Cate Blanchett and Kirsten Dunst.
Thirteen silhouettes, breathtakingly unique pieces, were described far better than I could have done by Benoit Decron (Curator of the Musée Soulages and Chief Curator of Rodez Heritage) in the following words:
"I like a few splashes of black, and the curves and stiffness of the raw fabrics, particularly the wool cloth, take us back to the volumes of medieval drapers. The art of detail is particularly evident in each of the dresses, with passementerie and zip lace edged with guipure. This puts black in baroque mode. In 1979, Pierre Soulages invented the Outrenoir, and in 2015, Aouadi uses it to dress women. Form and emblem merge, like a heraldry of the body."
Ten years after his move to Paris, La Maison Mode Méditerranée (MMM) is offering this child of the sun the opportunity to inaugurate the OpenMyMed Festival in 2016 with two exhibitions, one at MuCEM and the other at the Château Borély fashion museum.
In 2019, Yacine joins the MMM Board of Directors. He immediately responded to our proposal to entrust him with the artistic direction of the OpenMyMed: Opus event on fashion design in the Mediterranean, in collaboration with Mathieu Pabiot.
This talented duo showcases the creative abundance of 30 young fashion designers, winners of our competition.
A masterful exhibition at the Château Borély - Musée de la Mode also features ensembles by Aouadi, Jacquemus and Koché. This event highlights the Franco-Mediterranean cultural and cooperation objectives defined by the French President, and has been awarded the "Union des deux rives, sommet de la Méditerranée" label.
