Moroccan fashion takes the runway
The Joe Crowley Student Union ballroom was transformed into a fashion show complete with a catwalk, black curtains and high fashion Monday night.
The Northern Nevada International Center, a department of the University of Nevada, Reno, sponsored The Moroccan Fashion Show.
Siham El Farchi, an Arabic professor in the department and native of Morocco, brought original Arabic clothing for the 15 models.
Model Samayya Beekun, 16, said she loves the Moroccan fashion.
“I feel like Moroccan royalty,”Beekun said of her traditional Arabic Jallaba. “I feel more confident with the heels and this outfit is very elegant.”
The Jillaba, traditional day wear and the special occasion Kaftan, are modest on both men and women, covering the collarbone to the ankle. Albeit modest, the colors and embroidery are far from simple.
For men and women, the Jillabas can be worn with matching pants or a jean. Every outfit is hand sewn and made in a variety of colors such as hot pink or a turquoise and gold combination.
El Farchi said she wanted to educate the audience members and models more about the clothing styles of Morocco.
“Morocco is a great friend of the U.S.,”said El Farchi. “But most people don’t know much about the culture and I want to teach them.”
Moroccan clothing differs from American fashion because of the consistent, long dress like Jillaba and the sewing and special embroidery.
Traditional Moroccan music played during the show as El Farchi described each model’s clothes and where it would most commonly be seen.
During her walk, Katrina Homer turned red in the face as El Farchi described her outfit as the conventional bride’s wear.
“I didn’t know I was wearing the bride’s clothing,”said Homer, a 31 year old in El Farchi’s Arabic class. “But this is much more comfortable than a corset and the colors are more appealing.”
Audience member, Naz Mojumder, a 20 year old chemical engineering major, said he came to the event because he wanted to be more prepared of the style before he studies in Morocco next year.
“Their clothes are much different than in America,”Mojumder said. “I know they put a lot of time into them and because it’s tradition I’m willing to wear them.”
Backstage, models were more impressed with their clothing than the experience of walking a runway. Shouts of how comfortable the Jallaba’s were and laughter over the pain of high heels or the flat Arabic shoe were heard.
Peter Hart, a 45 year old student in El Farchi’s Arabic course, said he enjoyed the catwalk learning experience but doesn’t plan on buying the traditional Arabic shoe.
“These things are smoking hot,”Hart said. “There’s also no arch support and my feet are crammed.”
The Moroccan Fashion Show is El Farchi’s third event of a six-part Moroccan Day Series.
Upcoming events include a panel on “Women in Islam”during International Women’s Day in March and an evening with the Moroccan Ambassador to the United States, the Honorable Aziz Mekouar in April.
Marysa Falk can be reached at news@nevadasagebrush.com.
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