Morocco Tastemakers

Travel Exploration Morocco has teamed up for Special Sections Interviews with Morocco's Leading Tastemakers published on Morocco Travel Blog. Moroccan Tastemakers are trendsetters in the Field of Art, Design and Cuisine who exclusively live in Morocco or are Moroccan who influence the landscape of all things quintessentially Moroccan. Moroccan Tastemakers have significant influence over what is considered stylish, trendy and culturally significant in Morocco. Moroccan Tastemakers have created new ideas, styles and products and have spotted emerging trends in country.

Listen to who they are! 

Born in Lille, France and of Algerian origin, Norya Nemiche is a Marrakech fashion designer and owner of the trendy brand Norya Ayron. Her chic Pop Up Shop is well appointed in the Marrakech medina, just above the restaurant “Le Jardin’s” emerlad zellij tiled couryard. Aryon’s boutique features her line of gandouras, cafdans, abays, coats, trendy bags and other stylistically Moroccan clothing with a twist. Her style is bold and fun, a unique creation of wild prints with vibrant colors using fabrics she sourcs on her own.

Hassan Hajjaj is a Contemporary Artist, Designer and Filmmaker, originally from Larache, Morocco. A Tastemaker of contemporary Moroccan Pop culture, Hajjaj lives between London and Morocco. He is a memory maker, who has captured snapshots of streetart images from his childhood in Morocco that he has styled into multimedia portraits. The vibrant portrails Hajjaj creates are evoctive snapshots of contemproary Marrakech. All of the subjects in Hajjaj’s work are presetned like rockstars: Henna Girl, the Bad Boy, Gnaoua singer Hassan Hakmoun, Moroccan hipsters and Women on motorbikes. His works can be found at Matisse Gallery and at Riad Yima, a Moroccan Riad in Mararkech that serves as the gallery and tearoom of Hajjaj.

LRNCE is a Marrakesh-based lifestyle brand founded in 2013 by Belgian Laurence Leenaert. Her brand has a focus on handmade ceramics, textiles, ready to wear, and more. After she ventured on holiday to the Moroccan Sahara Desert she made the spontaneous decision to move to the “red hamra” city of Marrakech. With her sewing machine and a small amount of savings she uprooted herself and landed in the historic Marrakech medina. Starting out she worked from a historic riad inside the old city, forming valuable connections with local artisans. Her inspiration comes from Morocco’s landscape, its culture and people. Leenaert revise materials’ purpose and spontaneously combines elements to create uniquely designed pieces. She creates a one-of-a-kind art objects that use local materials and stay close to the essence of Moroccan craftsmanship, while empowering the community and creating strong bonds with the artisans and culture. 

Steven di Renza is the former Creative Director Retail Jardin Majorelle in Marrakech and former Owner of Riad n°9 and Restaurant n°7 in Fes, now NUR resteaurant.He is an American who was born in Philadelphia and has lived in Lyon, New York, Paris, Hanoi, London and in Fes and Marrakech in Morocco. Di Renza has always worked in the visual arts coordinating photo production, developing products, as a fashion, then accessories and finally as creative director in the luxury sector.

Meriem Nour, self-taught Moroccan designer, has been at the head of the brand, Hanout Boutique, since its creation. She is based in Marrakech along with their workshops and boutiques located in the historic center of this city. Marrakech is an integral part of the brand’s DNA, in addition to a natural affinity for the Seventies and Rock culture.

The latest collections have also seen touches and details with a Victorian influence that refer to the years spent in England by the designer. They create two collections per year, as well as several capsule collections. Their collections are sold in their shops in the Marrakech Medina and online.  

Behind Chabi Chic, there is Vanessa Di Mino and Nadia Noël.

Both originally from Paris, they moved to Morocco more than a decade  ago for their respective projects. Through a meeting in a café in Guéliz, a friendship was formed and quickly, the desire to write together a new page of Moroccan craftsmanship was born. In 2013, driven by the same desire, they combine their worlds to create a brand in their image: authentic, chic and trendy. Vanessa, an architect by training, is the artistic director. She defines the brand's concept and designs the products in the form of collections. What she loves above all is mix and match, twisting color combinations and patterns to create unique and magical atmospheres! Nadia, who comes from the world of international trade, manages the development of the brand worldwide. She also manages the 3 boutiques in Marrakech and the 200 points of sale around the world. She is also proud to see beautiful hotels and restaurants equip their establishments with her ceramic collections...To make it trendy, modern and chic by relying on the values of an exclusively handmade craft.

The story began with the creation of a line of tableware with traditional designs, and has since evolved into a global art of living which, because of its richness, touches several universes. Ceramics and tableware remain the must-haves of the house, complemented today by scented candles, scents for interiors and rattan furniture. Revisiting Moroccan craftsmanship while relying on our founding values is a challenge that we like to take up every day.

Amanda Ponzio-Mouttaki is a Mararkech based Freelance food and travel writer, blogger and entrepreneur. She is a curious world-traveling mother of two busy boys, a foodie, social media geek and lover of all things Moroccan. Amanda is Editor of the Maroc Mama blog, a fearless guide to food and travel.