A Moroccan Soul Raised in a Global World
I was born in the Netherlands, but my heart was shaped in Morocco. From the age of four to seventeen, I lived surrounded by the rhythm of tradition—the sound of sewing machines, the scent of saffron and cedar, the glow of hand-stitched fabrics hanging under golden light. Morocco wasn’t just where I lived; it was where I learned to see beauty, to feel legacy, and to hear the whispers of my ancestors in every thread.
When I returned to Holland, I carried that world inside me—a duality of cultures that became my compass. I didn’t have to choose between heritage and modernity. I became the bridge between them.
Where Precision Met Passion
I was raised in the glow of my mother’s sewing machine—where every stitch was a story and every fabric held memory. She created with intuition and grace, and though I admired her artistry deeply, my own journey first led me down a different path. I became a systems engineer in the world of electronics—mastering structures, building frameworks, and navigating a world of logic and control. It was a world of precision. But my passion was waiting.
When I became a mother myself, something stirred. The pull of creativity, of culture, of legacy—it all came rushing back. I picked up the phone, called my mother, and simply said: “I’m ready.” I began designing, and she began sewing. Our bond deepened, our dialogue turned into design, and together, we gave birth to what would later become Zahra Haute Couture.
In those first years, I created from my home—transforming sketches into caftans, emotion into embroidery. I found joy not just in the garments, but in the entire journey: preparing the models, planning the shows, seeing the light in people’s eyes as my designs moved across the runway. It wasn’t just about creating dresses. It was about reclaiming space for my identity and giving Moroccan artistry the place it has always deserved—center stage.
The World I’m Building
My journey was never about creating a single brand. It was about creating space—a space where other creatives like me could be seen, be valued, and rise. A space where culture is not explained, but celebrated. Where difference becomes distinction.
I created platforms because I needed them to exist. Not just for me, but for every woman with a vision, every designer with roots, every model with a story the world hadn’t heard yet.
From International Fashion Weeks, where global talent meets the spotlight, to the World Fashion Council, where ethics lead the future of design—this ecosystem is a reflection of everything I believe in.
I didn’t just build runways. I built runways with purpose.
And this world I’m building? It belongs to all of us.
Design as a Language of Legacy
Design, for me, is not bound by fabric. It lives in the way we tell stories, shape brands, and build experiences that move people. Whether I’m sketching a gown, curating a fashion show, developing a visual identity, or architecting a brand from scratch—I approach everything as a storyteller.
I’ve designed couture that walks the runway and concepts that build movements. I’ve created brands that live beyond logos, and digital spaces that feel like homes. To me, it’s all connected. Whether with needle or code, texture or typography—I design to give culture a voice, and vision a shape.
This isn’t just a career. It’s a calling to craft with integrity. To lead with identity. To leave a creative fingerprint on everything I touch.
A Legacy in Motion
My journey has taken many forms—from engineering systems to designing couture, from publishing magazines to leading global fashion platforms. Each title I’ve held is a chapter in a much larger story—one driven by purpose, passion, and the power to reimagine what’s possible.
The Future Is Rooted in Purpose
This is only the beginning. Everything I’ve created so far—every platform, every design, every word—has been built from memory, meaning, and mission. But I believe in more. I believe in deeper storytelling, louder advocacy, and bolder spaces for beauty with substance.
My next chapter is about expanding that vision globally: mentoring young designers, redefining how fashion education is delivered, and challenging the industry to see non-Western couture not as costume, but as culture—deserving of red carpets, runways, and archives alike.
I want to continue building worlds. Worlds where elegance and ethics coexist. Where innovation holds hands with identity. Where every thread is a declaration, and every brand is a bridge between what we’ve inherited and what we imagine.
Fashion, for me, is no longer just about dressing bodies. It’s about shaping how the world sees them.