THE DESIGNER
Meriem Belkhayat, the Moroccan designer whose name shines like a gem in the world of caftan design, is renowned for her designs filled with femininity, elegance, and crafted from the finest fabrics and crystals. Meriem seamlessly blends her creative youth with traditional Moroccan influences in her caftan designs. Today, she stands as one of the celebrities in the caftan world.
With an impressive portfolio boasting countless A-list celebrities and even Royalty from Morocco and beyond, Meriem’s exclusive beaded Caftans, which combines modernity, Moroccan charm, and bohemian chic, have captured hearts worldwide.
Born in Casablanca in an environment that encourages creativity and a passion for the arts, Meriem’s father is the renowned Moroccan singer Abdelhadi Belkhayat, and her mother has been a designer of Moroccan caftans for over 30 years. The workshop in Meriem’s family home, where her mother worked, became the place where she discovered her early passion for creativity, finding herself drawn to everything related to fashion – needles, scissors and colors were her tools of choice as she honed her skills by designing caftans for dolls. Meriem studied Communication Arts and Business Management at Alkhawayn University in Morocco. After completing her studies, she joined her mother, and together they worked on developing the workshop into a prestigious brand for caftans.
OUR STORY
Meriem’s primary and most important motivation in her career as a designer is to showcase traditional Moroccan craftsmanship at its best and contribute to bringing Moroccan caftans to the most prestigious fashion weeks, festivals, and international events. What sets Meriem apart is the unwavering dedication in her pursuit of perfection. Since 2007, she has meticulously cared for details like no other.
Meriem discovered her passion for creativity at a young age. she found herself drawn to all things related to fashion – needles, scissors and colors were her tools of choice as she honed her skills by designing caftans for dolls.
After completing her Bachelor’s degree in Visual Communication from Al Alkhawayn University in Ifrane; Meriem joined forces with her mother where they worked together on developing the family brand into something truly special. With determination and hard work fueling every step along the way- this dynamic duo has created designs that have left audiences awestruck!
Meriem Belkhayat effortlessly combines her creative youth with traditional Moroccan influences in her caftan designs. Her unique style, which encompasses a mix of urban attitude, Moroccan glamour, and boho chic, has garnered international recognition.
THE BRAND
Meriem Belkhayat has left her mark on the fashion world through her participation in numerous fashion weeks, both in Morocco and on the international stage. A significant milestone was her participation in the Caftan Week in Marrakech in 2011, marking the beginning of her distinguished career. For nine consecutive years, she has been a consistent designer at this prestigious event, until its last edition in 2019.
Meriem ‘s fashion journey is filled with unforgettable moments, including her participation in the closing ceremony of the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in Doha, Qatar, in 2016. In 2017, she presented a show at the Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum during New York Fashion Week, where she introduced her “Lady Liberty” collection and launched her ready-to-wear line.
In the same year, she participated in the “Stories from Morocco” event during London Fashion Week and was featured on BBC’s screen as a guest with the event organizer. The collection was met with great excitement and received significant praise, even catching the attention of British Vogue. Being featured in such a prominent fashion magazine made Meriem Belkhayat one of the first Moroccan designers to be recognized in this influential publication.
Her collaboration with the Moroccan Embassy in Prague, Czech Republic, and her participation in the opening of the Moroccan Embassy in Zagreb, Croatia, indicate the expansion of Meriem Belkhayat’s influence in the Caftan World beyond the borders of Morocco. In 2018, she presented her designs in Cairo, Egypt, thereby strengthening her influence in the Arab fashion scene.
In 2019, she was invited to participate in Madrid Fashion Week through the “Spanish Arab Fashion” event and participated in THE LUXURY NETWORK SUMMIT in Istanbul, Turkey.
It is important to note that Maison Belk, Meriem Belkhayat’s fashion house, did not succumb to the pandemic. It continued to operate remotely, maintaining the whole team and artisans, which she considers her second family. This approach motivated them to exert maximum effort in giving life to Meriem Belkhayat’s caftan creations.
After the challenging period imposed by the pandemic, Meriem returned to the spotlight at the Doha Fashion Festival, Then presenting her “Argania” collection in the Moroccan pavilion during Expo 2020 in Dubai, UAE, in 2022. She also participated in Sevilla Fashion Week in Spain the same year, showcasing the Bella Vida collection.
Meriem received numerous awards and honors, including the Best Fashion Designer in Morocco award from Cael at The Luxury Network International Awards in Beirut, Lebanon in 2018. And In 2022, she was honored with the Best Contribution to the Fashion World award by The Luxury Network Morocco in Tangier.
In 2023, her impact expanded further with her participation in the fashion week in New Delhi, India, GICW. This experience concluded with an exceptional photoshoot for her “Anjum – Stars” collection in the historic city of Jaipur, near the iconic Amer Fort. In October 2023, she was invited to present her collections in the Moroccan pavilion during the WTM exhibition in London.
Meriem Belkhayat enriches her profile by including her commitment to volunteer work, holding the position of General Secretary of the National Association of Moroccan Fashion Designers (ANCMM – Association Nationale des Créateurs Marocains de Mode ). Meriem contributes her expertise and dedication to support the shared vision of elevating Moroccan fashion to new heights.
Meriem Belkhayat is undoubtedly a shining star in the world of Caftan design. Her passion for showcasing traditional Moroccan craftsmanship has earned her much appreciation and acclaim. Throughout her career, Meriem has received continuous invitations to participate in numerous radio and television programs, both in Morocco and internationally. Her designs for the caftan have adorned the pages of several Moroccan magazines, and she regularly appears on social media platforms, further enhancing her fame and influence in the world of fashion.
Each event represents a new challenge for Meriem Belkhayat, motivating her to achieve new accomplishments and explore new opportunities.
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