A Love Letter to Tunisian Artisans | Kenza Fourati

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   Hosted by:&nbsp;Mikey Muhanna 👉 https://www.instagram.com/mikey_mu/?hl=en-gbFOLLOW &amp; RATE THE AFIKRA PODCAST:» Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/lb/podcast/the-afikra-podcast/id1529437743» Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5nafoF1Zs7F48mGZjlhrze» Anghami: https://play.anghami.com/podcast/1014643869THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORK&nbsp;Explore all episodes in this series: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl5xaTkBDrUKLCulvoCE8ubX&amp;feature=sharedABOUT AFIKRAafikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region – past, present and future – through conversations driven by curiosity.📍 Local events in 40+ locations worldwide http://afikra.com/chapters🎧 New podcasts + videos weekly http://afikra.com/podcasts⚡ Become a member: https://www.afikra.com/membership🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afikra_🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afikra.official🔗 Twitter: https://twitter.com/afikra Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See <a href="https://pcm