‘Style Beldi’ on the Hybrid Identities of Moroccan Style
By Laura Robinson
Morocco has deep roots in the world of fashion. Time-honored greats like French designer Yves Saint Laurent have drawn inspiration from the Ochre city of Marrakech, and current Moroccan artists like Hassan Hajjaj have brought Moroccan art and style to the forefront of the global art scene. Morocco’s influence on fashion is undeniable, and with such an ever-evolving yet timeless identity, it's no surprise that much of Morocco’s street style today is a dynamic mix of all things traditional and contemporary.
Arguably no city encapsulates this hybrid of history and modernity quite like the bustling economic-center of Casablanca. For an inside look into the fluctuating Casablanca style scene and a first-hand take on the power of digital platforms, we chatted with Casablanca-based Moroccan artist, stylist, photographer, model, and videographer, Karim Chater. Chater is the face behind the multimedia lifestyle account Style Beldi and has a wide variety of creative styling work published on his YouTube channel and Instagram account, as well as features in GQ Style, Le 18 Marrakech, Moroccan Urblan, Lacage.ma and more.
Reflecting on his own style evolution, Chater emphasizes the way previous generations that have molded his passion. “I saw my parents’ amazing style back in the 70’s & suddenly became a big fan of ‘old fashion’ and how people used to dress. I fell in love with it and was inspired to bring back that incredible vintage look to the modern styling world.” Before starting Style Beldi, Chater was already looking to bridge audiences through self-expression on social media platforms via travel vlogs, comedy, street workout videos, and acting, but didn’t find his muse until deciding to carve a new niche in fashion content.
“My shift to pursue styling was a means of representing content that speaks for me and my personality, without having to add any filters on my art or cover the reality that is often hidden on the internet.” His styling accounts have now amassed countless partnerships with other Moroccan artists and a collective following of over 140,000; making it safe to say that Chater now effectively showcases his unfiltered approach to style throughout Morocco and beyond.
“When I choose outfits, I usually look for unique vintage pieces that go with the theme of the project I’m working on at that moment. But the one thing that I always keep in mind while styling is to incorporate a unique Moroccan touch. I look for a piece of clothing that carries a memory of my childhood; it could be a pair of shoes that used to be popular when I was a kid, or a vintage T-shirt of the Moroccan football team from thirty years ago.”
When asked about the generational reaction to his approach of combining traditional and contemporary pieces, Chater offered insight on the ever-changing scope of fashion at large.
“Style in Casablanca has seen major change over time, especially when fashion brings new trends every season. It’s nonstop; but a lot of men and women decide to keep the traditions and dress the way their parents used to, such as wearing a Djellaba.”
With all the unifying features of fashion, Chater reminds us that under the large umbrella of ‘Moroccan fashion,’ there exists endless multitudes of geographical subcultures and personal styles, which he describes as ‘hometown’ influence.
“For example, Amazigh people have their own dressing codes, as do Rif people, and those in the Sahara too.” Chater himself draws his inspiration through his own daily environment, culture, and traditions in Casablanca.
“Traditional Moroccan clothing has always amazed a lot of international designers around the world. I’d like to think that our cultural outfits will take the next step and will continue to become known even more internationally than they already are locally.”
As for his personal goals and vision for the future of Style Beldi, Chater hopes his platforms and channels will follow suit with the widespread growth of Moroccan style as a whole. He sees Morocco’s influence continuing to expand in the fashion industry and hopes his consistent hard work and authentic lens into the world of contemporary Moroccan fashion will bring his content to worldwide audiences.
All photographs provided by Karim Chater. Responses have been edited for length and clarity.