My Creative Cup of Tea

April 16, 2026

#MCCOTInterview {53}

Yasmine Azizi, the Moroccan-French Fashion designer and artist who puts Creativity, Art and human relationships first.

Success is a big dream to chase for lots of us. But did you ever wonder what success really means? For instance, as a fashion designer, working for prestigious International Fashion houses can be enough, or is there more to explore and experience out there? For Moroccan-French artist and creative director Yasmine Azizi, it has been a natural and rewarding step before tracing her own path. A golden chapter- she will always be grateful for- close by absolute necessity a few years ago. A bold decision made listening to her gut and inner voice, to prevent a potential burnout and the high risk of losing herself and her cherished life core values under the pressure of a fast-paced and exclusively business-driven Fashion industry. A coveted workplace in which she did not feel comfortable anymore. Meet a generous, sensitive, intuitive and creative woman, faithful to her true essence as a human being and as a woman who went back to her beloved roots and found herself again. A talented storyteller who started fresh as proud founder of AYT Studio, a refined collection of unique limited-edition ready-to-wear and accessories crafted slowly and ethically with dedication. The perfect way for her to nurture her passion for Creativity, Art and Humanity on her own terms: joining forces with other artists and showing the world, as a trailblazer, that Fashion can be more meaningful, sustainable, emotional, artisanal and arty. Yasmine is now dedicating her time to building a community of people like her who make fashion surely more consciously desirable and one-of-a-kind.

By Hélène Battaglia

Who are you?

I am Yasmine Azizi, founder and creative director of AYT Studio, a Paris-based womenswear and accessories house rooted in an ongoing dialogue with contemporary artists.

What kind of childhood did you have?

In Rabat in Morocco, I had a joyful childhood shaped by nature, sunlight, and a sense of slow time. I also carry vivid memories of long drives across Spain to spend summers in Provence with my mother and brother at my grandparents’ place. Those two months were filled with simple, essential pleasure like swimming, garden games, and unforgettable picnics in the Cévennes

How has your French-Moroccan heritage and culture shaped your personality when growing up?

Growing up with a dual nationality means refusing to be confined to a single identity, while accepting that others may sometimes reduce you to just one part of yourself. In Morocco, I was seen as French; in France, as Moroccan. Once you understand that this duality is a richness—an openness and sensitivity—you feel the desire to blur boundaries. To be where you are not expected. To surprise. To feel free.

When did your interest in fashion begin?

Very early on, through a fascination for textiles. Moroccan garments, especially kaftans, captivated me with their textures and embroidery. My maternal grandmother also played a defining role. She had a deep admiration for Saint Laurent and passed on her love for beautiful pieces.

As a child, I had the privilege of inheriting some of her vintage jewellery and ready-to-wear garments. Each piece carries a part of her, which I wear with emotion.

How did you become a fashion designer by trade?

I had the opportunity to train in Fashion houses deeply committed to craftsmanship and excellence, such as Céline and Saint Laurent. Being immersed in this world for many years was an invaluable learning experience.

What did you learn from these past prestigious experiences?

Two things above all: an uncompromising attention to quality and precision in tailoring and fabrics, and a constant willingness to question oneself in order to grow and improve.

When did you know for sure that time has come to trace your own path?

I had long felt an inner call to express my own voice—to articulate a vision of womanhood that is plural, layered, and irreducible.

The real turning point came through a personal incident. One night, after an exhausting Fashion Week day, I fell while trying to kiss my daughter as she slept. That moment led to a forced pause.

It made me reflect deeply—on what drives me, on what I truly want to build, and on the risk of not following my own path. In retrospect, it was a necessary rupture.

In 2024, you embarked on a new exciting personal and professional journey and established Paris-based slow fashion brand AYT studio. Which is your main purpose from day one?

Two impulses: to explore a complex, multifaceted vision of femininity, and to seek meaningful human encounters.

That is why I chose to create prints in collaboration with contemporary artists. It allows me to explore different facets of femininity through immersion in artistic worlds, creating pieces filled with meaning and emotion. I conceive each garment as a work in motion—a story to wear and make one’s own over time.

Is there a meaning behind the name AYT?

AYT means “tribe” in Berber.

It reflects a desire to create a community—bringing together individuals who share a sensitivity to art and fashion, where each piece carries meaning, narrative, and intention.

How would you define your style?
Refined silhouettes elevated by bold, expressive, and art-driven prints.

Is your love for Light and vibrant colours a sincere tribute to your Moroccan roots?
Undoubtedly. The light of Morocco and the omnipresence of colour— in interiors, clothing, and even in the landscape—have deeply influenced me.

Who is the woman you design for?A free-spirited woman, curious and open to discovery.

She has found her own language of style and approaches clothing as something enduring—a pleasure to own, to keep, to collect.

I design my pieces as almost confidential editions, chosen with intention and preserved like artworks.

Who are your female muses?

Women artists. From Louise Bourgeois to Frida Kahlo, and Sonia Delaunay. Women who challenged the norms of their time and fully embraced who they were.

Art is clearly a big source of inspiration of yours and a big part of your daily creative process. When did your passion for art emerge?

I have always been a self-taught enthusiast. My relationship with art is first instinctive—there is the encounter, the emotion. Intellectual understanding comes later.

I enjoy wandering through museums, feeling first, and then learning about the artists’ lives. The psychological depth behind each work fascinates me.

Every single garment of your collections is Art-inspired and the result of a collaboration with leading contemporary artists. How do you pick the talented artists who join your TRIBE and you collaborate with?

Through instinct.

I choose artists through an emotional connection with their work. Beyond its visual impact, their universe resonates with themes that are meaningful to me.

For example, REMED’s monumental “bain de sable” evokes sisterhood and intimacy between women. I felt inspired to translate it into a fluid, luminous dress.

Once the artist has been picked, How does the collaboration process unfold?

There are no fixed rules—this is precisely where the magic lies.

It begins with a deep exchange with the artist, understanding her/his world and practice.

Through this dialogue, my initial ideas and textile intuitions evolve.

I then begin experimenting with patterns and placements. We exchange feedback, bringing different perspectives. It is an iterative process.

After the design phase, we test colors on fabrics and prototypes, depending on how the material falls.

Which artists inspire you the most?

I do not have just one. Among my references are Henri Matisse, René Magritte, Antoni Gaudí, Niki de Saint Phalle and Sonia Delaunay.

I am also deeply moved by contemporary female artists such as Nissrine Seffar, Vivian Greven, GaHee Park, Aurélie Gravas, Christine Safa, Valentina Canseco, and Fabienne Verdier. Their approach to color and movement resonates strongly with me.

Can you tell us more about your upcoming collaboration?

I am currently developing a new collection with a French visual artist. Beyond the collection, I am expanding into more unisex forms and new categories such as bombers and knitwear.

We also aim to create a sculptural installation together, and ideally present our work at an art fair next October. I see these collaborations as immersive experiences, where garments and artworks are presented in dialogue, much like my pop-up stores.

More than being a fashion designer, a proud supporter of craftsmanship and an ambassador of slow couture, you also are a magical storyteller. What do you think you bring to the table in a changing and debated Fashion industry? W

At my scale, I hope to contribute to restoring a slower relationship to clothing. In an industry driven by speed and overproduction, I advocate for buying less, but with more meaning.

I promote a more intimate and lasting connection to garments—objects we choose, keep, and live with over time.

I also strive for responsible fashion: using recycled cotton and denim, natural materials such as silk and viscose, and producing locally to reduce carbon impact.

It is both a committed and sensitive approach, where aesthetics and responsibility move forward together.

Decades ago, you adopted Paris as your home sweet home. What do you love most about the French capital?

Its sense of freedom and its constant access to culture. And the way it keeps evolving.

I have known a more closed, intellectual Paris, and I am delighted to see it becoming increasingly cosmopolitan.

What does a typical Parisian day look like for you?

Whenever I can, I walk through my neighbourhood or in a nearby park.

I enjoy listening to birds—it is something I sometimes miss. Occasionally, I even hear seagulls passing through.

Each day unfolds differently: time in my studio, visits to ateliers, or working on pop-ups. And I always end the day with my children.

What is your current relationship with Morocco today?

I love my country deeply and feel strongly connected to it. The pandemic kept me away for some time, but I now return whenever possible.

I also plan to establish AYT Studio in Morocco, particularly in Marrakech, through pop-up stores conceived as exhibition spaces, as well as through hospitality venues such as boutique hotels and resorts.

A message to the world?

Slow down. Take the time to feel and to choose.

We live in a fast-paced world where everything is consumed and forgotten. I wish to advocate for a more conscious, sensitive, and lasting relationship with things.

Because ultimately, it is the emotions we take the time to experience that endure.