Don’t just see beauty, acknowledge it and praise it, it will make peoples lives so much better ✨
Shot by me in Senegal
Some snippets are from my upcoming short film SENEGATHLETES❤️
Voice: @victorianpoetry
#explore
"A girl from the Moroccan diaspora”
Safia, we met last year to discuss our collaboration and see how we can get each other inspired to shoot together, and when she told me her life story, as one can in 2 hours, I did get inspired, and so a few months later we met in Fez and shot her story.
Safia grew up in France with her grandparents, who were originally from Fes and Meknes. Through them, she inherited a deep connection to Morocco, even though she wasn’t raised speaking Darija fluently or visiting often as a child.
They shared vivid stories about their home, an olive grove perched above Fes, a pink house, a family cemetery, and traditions that shaped their lives before immigrating to France.
When they passed away, she felt like she had lost her strongest link to her Moroccan roots. But in returning to Fes years later, she saw the landscapes they had described come to life, giving her a new way to connect with her heritage, not just through memory, but through experience.
This shoot is a tribute to that connection. It captures the textures, colors, and emotions of a heritage passed down through generations, from the intimacy of traditional garments to the landscapes that have become a part of her identity.
Model: @safiachabba
Producer: @nxmor
Location: Fes - Tazouda village.
Stylist: @chocoostouch
Photographer/Art director: Zineb Koutten
@zinalouhaichy in her Meema’s home in Casablanca, Morocco
I love how Zina interprets her Moroccan identity into everything she does. The first time I met her in Casa, she wore her grandma’s vintage blue Jellaba and a beige floral Zif Hayati. It inspired me and made me wonder why we, as young Moroccans, leave traditional clothing to older generations or special occasions, instead of wearing it proudly, every day.
Here, Zina brings two worlds together: one, a vintage caftan from her Meema’s closet, filled with history; the other, 2000s Arab pop star-inspired, the era that shapes everything she creates.
I so unexpectedly started photography, never dreamed of being a photographer before, but here I am, traveling the world and doing what I love. Alhamdoulilah.
I did a lot of collabs and test shoots, for free, because I love meeting new artists and working together, the money didn’t come straight away, it took effort, driven by love not greed.
And so can you, do what you want, learn and never underestimate the power and drive you have within you, you got it.
@pendaksc is a multidisciplinary artist, she directs movies, styles for clients and helps brands grow with her unique vision… I had the pleasure to get to know her last year, and we ended up being so close which I’m really grateful for, the first night we met, I was incredibly inspired by her, her knowledge, and I felt blessed because these are the kinds of people I want to let into my life, love you Penda!! ❤️ #explore
A big percentage of the people from Casablanca have origins from other parts of the country, it could be the grandparents that decided to leave their hometowns in search of a better future, or it could be us, carrying our different identities, wearing our traditional clothing, in public, but mostly in our hearts // @salimaelmahraoui
Styled by @sfiiiiiiya
{DIRECTORS CUT}
Timezones of Style, a campaign project I directed, shot, edited and recorded the voiceover for @lesatelier.official ⭐️
It was a new experience to be the videographer for the official campaign of a brand, to film in my city, and to relate to a story about belonging to one’s home.
Thank you for the amazing team
And to @oumaymaboumeshouli who I collaborated with on the creative direction and who filmed me skating.
Subjects: @chocoolocooo@salimaelmahraoui
Street photography in Istanbul, Turkey 🇹🇷
Some of my favorite shots I took in Istanbul, one of the most cinematic cities I’ve been to, it felt like romanticizing life, meeting strangers and talking with them, sitting alone in cafes, eating alone, going on boat rides and watching the fishermen at sunset across the shore… thank you for letting me witness this god.
By Zineb Koutten
When Amelia contacted me to do an interview about my journey in skateboarding for Vogue Arabia, I was like FINALLY IM GONNA APPEAR IN THE MAGAZINE, since I’ve always been behind the camera whenever I shot for them. Later, the team contacted me to suggest that I photograph this piece, and also do self portraits of myself, I’m not gonna lie, I had already imagined it before they even suggest it to me, the idea felt so exciting, and so we did it.
I speciafically chose to shoot in Marrakech, a city I only skate with guys in and never see girls in the skateboarding scene at, so I wanted to send a message, that there are girls that skate in Morocco, and here’s how you’d look if you took a board and hit the streets. I had the pleasure to photograph @nina.skater and @aya.asq , two girls that did and still do a lot for the female skateboarding scene in Morocco, with Houda as the founder of @tifrkhin_skate and Aya being the first Moroccan to represent us in skateboarding at the last Olympics! I feel honored!
Thank you to the best team!
To my photo assistant, who clicked the self portraits I framed @naymaph
Best producer @21.selah
Best MUA @chocoostouch
To the amazing videographer @rayanehat
And stylist who flew specifically for this @sergipadial
Journalist @ameliadhuga
Thanks @voguearabia and @mrarnaut ⭐️
Even with the shitty weather we made it happen.
