Algeria’s Imane Khelif is the star of Vogue Arabia’s Made in Arabia issue, dedicated to celebrating the essence of the region in a moment of loss. Through special stories that spotlight the region’s creatives, cultural moments and rich traditions, the November issue is all about celebrating all things Arabia. “Now, more than ever, it is important to celebrate and preserve the cultural heritage of the region,” editor-in-chief Manuel Arnaut writes this month. “Unfortunately, we are living through times of devastation, where coexisting with destruction seems, somehow, acceptable. The wreckage knows no bounds, with schools, historical souks, and centuries-old buildings disintegrating in seconds, while ancient Unesco monuments such as those in Baalbek are at risk of demolition. Meanwhile, we watch it all happening almost live, through the screens of our phones.”
Photo: Tarek Mawad
The boxer made history at this year’s Paris Olympics, but her achievement did not come without challenges. After defeating Italian boxer Angela Carini, who withdrew from the match after 46 seconds citing safety concerns, Khelif found herself at the center of a political storm generated around her gender. Within hours of her win, Instagram posts around the world spreading rumors around her gender quickly took over the internet, while conservative politicians seized on the moment with further vitriol. Backing Khelif, the International Olympic Committee’s president Thomas Bach vehemently refuted these claims, stating, “What we see now is that some want to own the definition of who is a woman. I can only invite them to come up with a scientific-based, new definition of who is a woman and how can somebody being born, raised, competed, and having a passport as a woman cannot be considered a woman.” Looking back at the controversy, our cover star shares in this issue, “Despite winning the gold medal, that one event felt like a whole lifetime. The experiences were multiple and varied within one isolated incident. I was able to overcome it all thanks to my faith in God, in myself, and my dream. Without such challenges, I would never have become a champion.”
Photo: Tarek Mawad
This month, Khelif also takes us back to her childhood, and the experiences that have shaped her career. Born in Tiaret in western Algeria, the athlete charted her own path, defying societal norms and prejudices to reach the pinnacle of international boxing. Due to her humble social background, she shares with Vogue details of a life of dedication and poverty. “I sold bread on the roadside, and collected plastic, aluminium, and iron to save money to get myself to the gym and back,” she recalls. “My coach, Mohamed Chaoua, always told me that one day I’d be an Olympic champion. He taught me the importance and value of that. I made sacrifices in many areas – in my personal life, my education. I did everything to reach the top.” And so she did.
Today, Khalif is a global star, and the November 2024 issue of Vogue Arabia marks her very first cover for a major fashion publication. Along with this, she also just attended first fashion show — Bottega Veneta at Milan Fashion Week. The boxer’s exceptional trajectory has made her a national hero in Algeria and an inspiration to girls worldwide. In the ring, she is known for her technique, power, and fighting spirit – but her story is also a masterclass in hope and empowerment. As a Muslim and Algerian woman, Khelif represents a new generation challenging stereotypes and breaking barriers. She is lauded for the way she combines strength and femininity, reflecting a new era of beauty.
Photo: Mous Lamrabat
Jumping from sports to fashion, the November 2024 issue also spotlights the incredible works of this year’s Fashion Trust Arabia winners, who won their prestigious awards mere days ago in a special ceremony hosted in Morocco. As part of its ongoing support for regional fashion designers, Vogue Arabia asked Moroccan-Egyptian supermodel Imaan Hammam to star on this month’s digital cover, lensed by none other than Moroccan photographer Mous Lamrabat in Marrakech. In the editorial, Hammam strikes pose after pose in pieces by Palestine’s Nazzal Studio, Qatar’s Yasmin Mansour, Egypt’s Nadine Mosallam and Reem Hamed, and guest country Spain’s Acromatyx. During the shoot, the model also went on a journey through Marrakech to discover some of its gorgeous crafts and the skilled artisans behind them.
Illustration: Sasha Haddad
As a reminder of the many facets of Arab culture, the Made in Arabia issue also takes a deep dive into the A-Z of everything that makes the region a global gem. In our glossary, you will find the very best of Arabia, illustrated by Lebanese artist Sasha Haddad. Dive in to discover an alphabetical journey featuring iconic figures like Azzedine Alaïa and Kahlil Gibran, historic landmarks including Baalbek and Giza, musicians Etab and Fairuz, and of course, age-old traditions and crafts like Tatreez. Each element on the list beautifully intertwines to form a legacy of creativity and profound influence across the region and beyond.
Photo: Sandra Chidiac
This month, we also spotlight the legacy of Umm Kulthum, the Egyptian singer whose timeless songs like “Enta Omri” and “Alf Leila Wa Leila” continue to resonate today. Nearly half a century after her passing in 1975, stage musical Umm Kulthum & the Golden Era is taking place around the world in honor of her remarkable 50-year career. Conceived and produced by Saudi creative Mona Khashoggi, this ambitious production not only celebrates Umm Kulthum’s — also affectionately known as Egypt’s “fourth pyramid” — unparalleled musical talent, but also explores the cultural and historical context of her rise to fame.
After a successful debut at London’s West End and shows in Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Bahrain, the musical took over Dubai Opera, with plans to culminate in a grand concert at L’Olympia Theatre in Paris. “My passion and mission in life is to promote Arab culture and heritage,” Khashoggi tells Vogue Arabia. “I have been doing it for 20 years, collecting traditional costumes and curating art shows in London, Paris, and New York. Now I want to enlighten the western world with classical Arabic music. I want people to experience the legacy of the Star of the Orient.”
Photo: Amjad Al-Faioumy
Along with the rich history of the region, Vogue Arabia’s latest edition also puts a lens on its present with Palestinian journalist Bisan Atef Owda, who just won an Emmy award for Outstanding Hard News Feature Story: Short Form for her feature It’s Bisan from Gaza and I’m Still Alive. “My message to humanity is that Gaza is at the edge of the end of the world,” says Owda, who shot all the footage on her phone. “My message to humanity is that Gaza is at the edge of the end of the world. If the oppressors, colonizers, and capitalists who see us as slaves for their agendas win this time, it will mark the collapse of all of us. The killer must not triumph with impunity and establish a new era of darkness like we’ve never seen.”
Photo: Alvaro Gracia
Across the region, a flurry of activity signals the onset of several new projects, now also featured in the pages of the November issue. After taking over London and Tokyo, the Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams exhibition lands in Riyadh this month. Taking place at the National Museum of Saudi Arabia during Riyadh Season, the exhibit will showcase 250 dresses from the fashion house’s archives, some of which are worn in this issue by Saudi entrepreneur Yara Alnamlah.
From the revolutionary New Look by Dior himself to the feminist slogans of Grazia Chiuri and her equally daring pairing of ball gowns with sneakers, each mannequin at the National Museum of Saudi Arabia tells a different story – not just that of the House of Dior, but of life itself.
Over in Qatar, Moroccan-Dutch designer Mohamed Benchellal showcases a solo exhibition, Benchellal: Monumental Sculpting Past Tomorrow, dedicated to the country’s landscape. Speaking about the inspiration behind the pieces on display, he shares, “The collection is a fusion of everything I see in Qatar – the people I meet, the beauty that surrounds me. This exhibition is my tribute to the region, a celebration of its forward-looking vision, its culture, and its place in the world of fashion.”
In the fashion realm, we put our lens on a trend that’s as creative as it is controversial: feathers. This season, plumes were a much-celebrated feature on the runways of Loewe, Chanel, Alexander McQueen, and more. However, the glaring question of how animals are being treated in service of the global fashion and entertainment industries cannot be ignored.
In 2017, Brazil’s world-famous carnival came under fire for its large-scale use of feathers in costuming — it is estimated that each parade uses nearly 750 kilos of feathers, most of which are not ethically sourced. More recently, Dior’s SS25 runway was stormed by a member of Peta, the nonprofit dedicated to the ethical treatment of animals, holding an anti-feather sign. Days later, the Hermès show was disrupted by animal-rights activists as well. But with many designers in the region and abroad now working with ethically sourced feathers, it seems evident that feathers can still dazzle – without compromising conscience.
Photo: Sebastian Bottcher
Along with the latest issue, November 2024 also ushers in the latest edition of Vogue Living Arabia, which highlights the latest design and lifestyle trends, and some the most dazzling homes in Arabia. From the UAE and Saudi Arabia, to Morocco and beyond, get ready to explore the homes of some of the region’s favorite faces such as Lebanese singer Dana Hourani and fashion entrepreneur Rumana Nazim, and also walk through stunning spaces like Paris’s gorgeous new hotel, owned by Chopard’s Scheufele family. Issue on stands soon!
