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Fashion, Algeria
Kasbah Kosmic: a cosmic journey through Algerian pride
Text Assia Sabi
“The Casbah means a bit of home to me,” Kenza shares, reflecting on the name behind her brand. “But my Casbah is cosmic. It’s about understanding that we’re all part of something much bigger.” This philosophy threads through every stitch, every bold print, and every upcycled piece. “Cosmic also means infinity,” she adds. “It’s about cycles, like how I upcycle garments and give them a new life.” Whether reimagined vintage Air Algérie tees or jellabas styled for the rave floor, Kasbah Kosmic is a universe of contrasts: heritage and futurism, pride and irreverence, East and West.
Kenza’s designs are a love letter to Algerian culture, featuring heroes of resistance and icons of pride. Ali La Pointe’s revolutionary spirit, immortalised in The Battle of Algiers, and Olympic champion Imane Khelif both appear in her collections. “Even if I’m half Algerian, we’re just f***ing proud,” Kenza laughs. “There’s this joke that Algerians always carry a flag, and it’s true. That pride is in everything I create.”
Raï music—once deemed problematic for its unflinching lyrics and defiant energy—also pulses through the brand. “Growing up, I was surrounded by raï. Artists like Cheb Mami and Khaled shaped my youth,” she says. “I want my clothes to echo that energy, that celebration of life and resistance.” Algerian culture isn’t just a reference point—it’s the core of her work. Prayer rugs become the foundation for garments infused with spirituality. “Everyone who’s flown Air Algérie has a story, and usually it’s a bad one,” Kenza jokes, pointing to her retro Air Algérie T-shirts. “But it’s something that connects us all. The logo has this fun, vintage Arabic look, and I love using that ironically.”
Beyond Algeria, Kenza draws inspiration from across North Africa. Casablanca’s glittery, kitsch aesthetic has crept into her recent designs, while Egypt’s trance-inducing zar rituals inform the raw, rhythmic freedom she channels into her collections. Her pieces don’t just reference these cultures—they blend them seamlessly with European rave aesthetics.
Growing up in Belgium, Kenza absorbed the underground rave scene and the aesthetics of New Beat, the electronic genre that defined Belgium’s late ’80s. “I used to hang out with older friends who lived through that era. They introduced me to the music and the style—baggy clothes, tracksuits, bold colours,” she recalls. Raving, for Kenza, is almost sacred. “The dressing moment is part of the ritual of going to a rave, like a shaman who needs to wear their costume to enter another state of consciousness,” she says. Her own rave-ready looks—jellabas over black velvet catsuits—have become emblematic of her brand’s dual identity.
At its heart, Kasbah Kosmic is a quiet revolution. “I don’t claim to be a decolonial brand,” Kenza says, “but I think it starts by embodying that I’m a North African brand owner and making that visible.” Through its upcycled, ethically produced garments, the label challenges fast fashion’s exploitative systems, offering a sustainable alternative that’s rich in storytelling and intent.
“It’s not just about avoiding cheap production—it’s about decolonising the entire mindset around fashion,” she explains. Kasbah Kosmic’s designs are loaded with humour and pride, creating space for those navigating layered identities. “People text me saying they got stopped on the street because of my Ali La Pointe or Imane Khelif shirts. That’s what fashion should do—connect people and spark dialogue.”
The brand is only getting started. Kenza is preparing for a seven-month residency at Horst Music Festival, where she’ll explore the symbolism of flags. “We’re going to dive into what flags mean—identity, belonging, and everything in between,” she teases. The residency will culminate in a May installation that blends her bold visuals with cultural commentary.
She’s also working on expanding Kasbah Kosmic’s offerings. “I want the brand to be more accessible while staying true to its values,” Kenza says. But don’t expect mass production—each piece will always have the soul of the cosmic Casbah.
Kasbah Kosmic isn’t just a brand; it’s a movement, a cultural bridge, and a call to unapologetic pride. For Kenza, it’s about creating a space where tradition and rebellion collide. In her words, Kasbah Kosmic is all about “empowerment”—making the invisible visible and giving voice to those living in the in-between.