This season Casablanca introduced a dynamic interplay of dualities on the runway—modernity and tradition, urban grit and natural serenity, and subculture and corporate order. For Fall/Winter 2025, Charaf Tajer draws from two decades of immersive experience in Japan, crafting a collection that reveres the nation’s cultural intersections and its ability to simultaneously reflect inward and outward.
This is Casablanca’s second collection inspired by Japan, and it channels the nation’s rich paradoxes into a vivid sartorial expression. The rebellious edge of Bōsōzoku biker culture collides with the saccharine aesthetics of Harajuku Kawaii, while the structured uniformity of corporate attire finds itself in conversation with the flamboyance of rave fashion. The high-octane glow of Tokyo’s skyline is set against the serene vastness of its countryside. This contrast fuels a collection that seamlessly blends opposing worlds, achieving a distinctive equilibrium.
Guided by the philosophy of 'Kaizen'—a commitment to continuous refinement—Casablanca reimagines industrial and subcultural uniforms, twisting and embellishing them into something entirely new. Tailoring, for both men and women, remains a central pillar, its relaxed layers nodding to traditional Japanese dress while embracing contemporary fluidity.
Neon-infused ravewear materialises through intricate Casablanca Icon jacquard nylons and textured merino-cotton knits, while Bōsōzoku influences translate into streamlined leather jackets with debossed detailing. The rich visual lexicon of biker gangs—their jumpsuits scrawled with calligraphy and iconography—is repurposed as bold silk prints and techno-knit embroideries, fused with tattoo motifs and vintage film poster aesthetics lifted from Tokyo’s electric streets. The chromatic airbrush art of motorcycle chassis, flames licking across their surfaces, emerges as a striking graphic motif, interwoven with delicate orchid blossoms. A whisper of Americana underscores the collection, a nod to Japan’s long-standing fascination with Western subcultures and its continual dialogue with global influences.
A softer edge emerges through Kawaii aesthetics, infusing the collection with playful femininity. Candy-hued pastels, delicate bow embellishments, and floral motifs contrast against the collection’s sharper elements. Plushie mascots—Casablanca’s signature tennis ball and a sweet orange, symbolic of prosperity—dangle from handbags and punctuate prints. Cherry blossoms, Japan’s national flower, bloom across eveningwear in wool-satin, embroidered onto brushed alpaca knitwear, and incorporated into jewellery rendered in plastic and precious enamel. The collection reclaims plastic as a luxurious material—handcrafted, intricately dyed, and elevated beyond its disposable nature.
The natural beauty of Japan also inspires a dedicated skiwear capsule. Crisp, snow-laden landscapes are reflected in iced knits, padded nylons, and snowdrift monograms. A collaboration with Swiss freeski brand Faction results in bespoke Casablanca skis, while the brand’s silk shirts depict ethereal vistas of the Japanese Alps. The new ‘Montagne’ sneaker mirrors the undulating silhouette of Mount Fuji, further entwining fashion with landscape.
Acknowledging Casablanca’s role as an observer, a key colour story—mint green and black—draws from the corridors of Tokyo’s iconic Park Hyatt hotel. Travel is omnipresent: oversized duffels and micro Jeanne bags signify constant motion, while the evolution of the Jeanne sees its flap closure morph into an undulating wave—a motif echoed across accessories and footwear, from stitched details to the bold sculptural soles of platform mules and heels.
Ultimately, Casablanca AW25 is a love letter to Japan—its youth, its countercultures, its contradictions. Through this collection, Tajer captures the spirit of a country that thrives in contrast, where history and modernity coexist in exhilarating harmony.
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Words by Jheanelle Feanny
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