Late For Work Designer Youssef Drissi Honored at Fashion Trust Arabia 2025

Moroccan designer Youssef Drissi has been named the winner of the Fashion Trust Arabia 2025 Award in the Ready-to-Wear category, becoming the first Moroccan to receive this distinction. The achievement marks an important step for Morocco’s growing presence in contemporary fashion.

A Creative Vision Born in Casablanca

Youssef Drissi’s artistic journey took shape at the Academy de Mode Casablanca, where he explored ideas of deconstruction, fluid identity, and the interplay between structure and freedom. What began as an academic project soon evolved into Late For Work, a brand conceived as a visual manifesto blending cultural reflection, personal storytelling, and experimental design.

After completing his studies, Drissi returned to the Academy as an instructor in 2023. His role extends beyond teaching technique, offering students a contemporary perspective and nurturing a new generation of Moroccan designers committed to a bold and modern Made in Morocco identity.

Late For Work: A Raw and Poetic Aesthetic

Founded in Casablanca, Late For Work embraces an aesthetic rooted in deconstruction and reinterpretation. The brand challenges the dualities of modern life, from urgency versus slowness to discipline versus spontaneity. Its unisex approach, heavy tailoring, and signature weighted trousers are part of a deliberate creative language that transforms imperfection into artistic expression.

The label combines raw textures with poetic nuance, offering a wardrobe where the garment becomes a medium of individuality rather than a simple functional object.

A Recognition with International Reach

The Fashion Trust Arabia Award provides its recipient with financial support, strategic mentorship, and global visibility. For Drissi, this recognition not only amplifies his brand internationally but also highlights the growing creative ambition within Morocco. It stands as a testament to the talent emerging from national institutions and the country’s increasing presence in conversations around contemporary design.

Academy de Mode Casablanca

The Academy de Mode Casablanca is a professional institution dedicated to training and supporting future leaders of the Moroccan fashion industry. Through diploma programs, continuing education, technical assistance, and cultural initiatives, it plays a central role in fostering creativity and promoting Moroccan design on a wider scale.

About Fashion Trust Arabia

Fashion Trust Arabia is a nonprofit initiative supporting emerging designers across the Middle East and North Africa. Its annual awards honor creative excellence in various categories including ready-to-wear, eveningwear, accessories, jewelry, and innovation-focused fields. The Ready-to-Wear category recognizes designers whose work demonstrates strong identity and relevance to contemporary everyday fashion.