Model and entrepreneur Kenza Fourati discusses her origins, growing up 1990s in Tunisia to becoming a trailblazing figure in the international fashion industry. She reflects on how she initially viewed beauty through a French lens and the subsequent realization of how limiting that perspective was to the beauty of her immediate surroundings. The conversation delves into her brand, Osay (Our Stories Are Yours), which seeks to challenge the traditional fashion hierarchy by making Tunisian artisans the central designers and protagonists of their own craft. Through Osay, Fourati emphasizes the importance of supply chain accountability and human connection, moving away from a model of nameless, faceless hands toward one that celebrates the ingenuity and heritage of the Global South.
0:00 Introduction
2:06 Reclaiming Arab Aesthetics
3:01 Growing Up in Tunisia and Early Notions of Beauty
5:42 Navigating the Modeling Industry
7:52 Lack of Arab Role Models in Global Fashion
9:18 Choosing Creative Freedom
11:04 Finding Power in a Discardable Industry
12:59 Osay: Elevating Tunisian Artisans
14:16 Challenging the Fashion Supply Chain
16:06 Reversing the Design Hierarchy: Artisans as Protagonists
18:05 Modeling as a Blank Canvas vs. Projecting a Story
19:57 A Love Letter to Tunisian Heritage
23:14 Reflections on the Sports Illustrated Milestone
25:52 Amplifying the Tunisian Revolution
27:21 Stereotypes and the Western Gaze
30:23 Finding Your Tribe
35:08 Local Critique and Patriotism
38:06 The Influence of Producer Dora Bouchoucha and Life on Film Sets
42:10 Creative Production in Hollywood and the Middle East
43:24 The Shift Toward Individualism
46:30 Celebrating Tunisian Brands
49:08 Remembering Master Artisan Mansour and the Preservation of Craft
Kenza Fourati is a Tunisian model and entrepreneur whose career is defined by a commitment to bridging global fashion with authentic cultural heritage. After gaining international recognition as the first Arab Muslim woman featured in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition in 2011, she leveraged her platform to advocate for social and labor rights, even sharing personal letters regarding the Tunisian revolution through major media outlets. Fourati co-founded the brand Osay (Our Stories Are Yours), which centers on elevating the visibility of artisans from the global south by making them the primary designers of modern textile and leather goods. Currently based in New York, she continues to challenge traditional industry hierarchies by advocating for transparency, ethical labor practices, and the preservation of ancestral craftsmanship.
Connect with Kenza Fourati 👉 https://instagram.com/kenzafourati
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