TenQs

June 14, 2024

Ten Qs for Benchellal

He certainly lives by his mantra, ‘never not sewing’, and being extra.

Oriental elegance meets European couture", by Benchellal. Photographed by Tim Verhallen. Courtesy of Benchellal

THE MULTI-AWARD winning couture designer Mohamed Benchellal founded his namesake fashion maison, Benchellal, in 2015. Within five years of his professional debut, he placed the Vogue Fashion Prize 2020 and Fashion Trust Arabia 2021(eveningwear) awards on his studio mantelpiece. 2022 was a similarly busy and positive year for the Dutch-Moroccan couturier seeing him scoop up awards and accolades at the Emi Gala and African Fashion Awards; naturally, a listing on The BoF 500 was inevitable. It’s taken tenacity and talent to rise up from being the young boy surrounded by fabric and whirring sewing machines at his grandparents’ textile business.

'[My mother] can probably predict in the blink of an eye where I’m headed towards. A mother knows best.'

Look 31/49, Thom Browne Autumn/Winter 2024. Shutterstock

Look 42/49, Thom Browne Autumn/Winter 2024. Shutterstock

Look 4/62, Dior Haute Couture Autumn/Winter 2024. Shutterstock

Look 48/62, Dior Haute Couture Autumn/Winter 2024. Courtesy of Dior Haute Couture

Look 28/31, Schiaparelli Haute Couture Autumn/Winter 2024. Courtesy of Schiaparelli Haute Couture

Look 30/31, Schiaparelli Haute Couture Autumn/Winter 2024. Courtesy of Schiaparelli Haute Couture

Look 33/47, Zuhair Murad Autumn/Winter 2024. Shutterstock

Look 11/33, Jean Paul Gaultier Couture by Courrèges’ Nicolas Di Felice Autumn/Winter 2024. Courtesy of Jean Paul Gaultier Couture

Look 17/33, Jean Paul Gaultier Couture by Courrèges’ Nicolas Di Felice Autumn/Winter 2024. Courtesy of Jean Paul Gaultier Couture

Look 29/33, Jean Paul Gaultier Couture by Courrèges’ Nicolas Di Felice Autumn/Winter 2024. Courtesy of Jean Paul Gaultier Couture

Look 10/29, Ashi Studio Autumn/Winter 2024. Shutterstock

Look 14/29, Ashi Studio Autumn/Winter 2024. Shutterstock

Look 3/32, Stéphane Rolland Autumn/Winter 2024. Shutterstock

Look 22/32, Stéphane Rolland Autumn/Winter 2024. Shutterstock

Look 20/35, Giambattista Valli Autumn/Winter 2024. Shutterstock

Look 32/35, Giambattista Valli Autumn/Winter 2024. Shutterstock

Look 39/46, Chanel Autumn/Winter 2024. Courtesy of Chanel

Look 43/46, Chanel Autumn/Winter 2024. Shutterstock

Look 26/42, Alexis Mabille Autumn/Winter 2024. Shutterstock

Look 46/90, Armani/Privé Haute Couture Autumn/Winter 2024. Shutterstock

Look 69/90, Armani/Privé Haute Couture Autumn/Winter 2024. Shutterstock

Look 89/90, Armani/Privé Haute Couture Autumn/Winter 2024. Shutterstock

Look 22/65, Elie Saab Couture Autumn/Winter 2024. Shutterstock

Look 28/39, Balenciaga Autumn/Winter 2024. Courtesy of Balenciaga

Now, he creates contemporary and striking garments for Her Majesty Queen Rania of Jordan, Her Majesty Queen Maxima of the Netherlands, Her Excellency Sheika Al Mayassa Bint Hamad Al Thani, Helena Christensen, and Priyanka Chopra; the list continues… The D1 editorial team is familiar with Benchellal's genius within his atelier and abundance of charm at soirées, but we asked the designer to Take Ten Qs for good measure:

#1 If you could have any famous writer (past or present) pen your biography, who would you most love to commission?

I believe the best person fit for this assignment would be my mother. She is not a famous writer but more importantly she knows me best; especially where I came from and the entire journey I went through. All the challenges and, eventually, the success. She can probably predict in the blink of an eye where I’m headed towards. A mother knows best.

Portrait of designer Benchellal by Tim Verhallen. Courtesy of Benchellal

#2 There is one song that defines your energy when you enter a room, what is it?

Hard to choose one song but energy-wise it would be Oum Kalthoum. Her songs are dramatic, passionate and hard to miss - each song is at least 40 min. Please hold the door.

#3 You don't collect this item but you could so easily have indulged in building a museum of...?

That’s an easy one; couture dresses (the Art of Couture). My atelier is somewhat of a small museum.

#4 It's 11am on a Sunday morning, what are you most often doing at that time?

The administrative back-office is operating in full effect. Do your Taxes.

#5 You've decided to have a dinner party with friends, and the first thing you organize is...

Handover the organizing role to the best person fit. Choose your host carefully.

Oriental elegance meets European couture", by Benchellal. Photographed by Tim Verhallen. Courtesy of Benchellal | Benchellal and muse Valentine Bouquet photographed by Tim Verhallen. Courtesy of Benchellal

#6 Which motto defines your way of being?

Never not sewing.

#7 Do you play to win at chess or play to enjoy the game?

I have been told to be very competitive - winner takes all.

#8 What would no-one ever expect you to think before you enter an event, but you often do?

To arrive on time! The time is now.

#9 What emotionally moves you more than anything else?

When I design I transport myself to another galaxy, filled with wanted and unwanted emotions, very moving in many ways. Entering planet Benchellal.

#10 Describe yourself in one word.

EXTRA.

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READ Zaid Affas, StyleNotCom, and Sultan AlDarmaki’s Taken Ten Qs responses here