Yasmina Chellali was born and raised in the Bologhine district in the suburbs of Algiers, where she discovered a passion for fashion at an early age. Under the name Yasmina, she founded the first Algerian haute couture house, first established in Algiers and then in Paris. How did this happen?
Many Arab and Eastern fashion designers have passed through Paris, but only a few succeed in the fashion capital, leave a lasting impression, and gain recognition from the media.
Among them is the Algerian designer Yasmine Chellali, who captivated audiences with a stunning fashion show at the Arab World Institute in Paris.
Yasmin’s role in fashion did not diminish the importance of her contributions in wars against the colonizer and her bold stance in preserving her homeland.
Yasmine is her professional name, while her original name is Fatima Zahra. She is regarded as the dean of fashion designers in her home country.
Yasmine never hesitated when it came to fighting for her country’s freedom. She believed it was her duty to resist colonial rule, and she did so in the way she knew best—by secretly delivering messages for the National Liberation Front fighters. But at the same time, she was just like anyone else trying to survive, searching for a job to support herself. Then came the moment every freedom fighter dreads: she was arrested again, this time alongside a fellow comrade.
yassmina in time of algerien war 1960
When the colonial authorities searched her belongings, they didn’t find what they expected. Instead of incriminating documents, they came across addresses of French actresses and fashion models—a discovery that left them baffled. But Yasmine had no time to dwell on their confusion. From a nearby room, she could hear the gut-wrenching sounds of torture, screams that would haunt anyone. Then came the psychological warfare. “Your father is in there,” they told her. And if that wasn’t enough, they paraded her through the streets of Algiers in an open military vehicle, hoping people would mistake her for a traitor. One day, they even dragged her up to the bell tower of Notre Dame d’Afrique and threatened to throw her from the rooftop. But she didn’t break.
And in the end, it was her side that won. The revolution triumphed, and with the signing of the Évian Accords, Algeria was finally free.
What did freedom mean for Yasmine? For many, it was a time to rebuild and heal. For her, it was also a time to create. She staged her first-ever fashion show—something unheard of in a country emerging from the ashes of war. Fashion shows were a French tradition, but Yasmine refused to believe that beauty and elegance belonged to one people alone. She even went a step further, naming some of her designs after revolutionary figures—a bold move that stirred controversy.
yasmina in time of algerien war 1960
As Algeria found its footing, so did she. She married her fellow resistance fighter, Commander Azeddine, a man she had only known by his wartime alias, Rabah Zerari. Together, they built a life. But peace, as she had learned, was never guaranteed.
Soon, the country’s stability crumbled. Death threats followed. Assassination attempts became a terrifying reality. Yasmine knew she had no choice but to leave. She returned to Paris, but she never left Algeria behind—not in her heart, not in her work.
She carried her homeland with her in everything she did. From her new base, she built a thriving fashion business, opening a large tailoring workshop and creating her own brand.
Today, Yasmine is back in Algiers, running a successful design and tailoring atelier that employs 200 people. She has lived through war, exile, and threats on her life, but one thing has never changed: her identity, her resilience, and her unshakable belief that Algeria—and its people—deserve beauty, strength, and pride.
Yasmine’s story is one of resilience, shaped by two powerful forces: the strength of the Algerian revolution and the courage of its fighters, and the vibrant, artistic world she discovered in Paris. She grew up with a deep sense of defiance, but also with an unshakable passion for creativity.
As a child, she learned early on what injustice felt like. While other children dreamed of going to school, she was denied that right. The colonial authorities had decided that Algerian children didn’t need an education—they were meant for manual labor instead. And so, instead of sitting in a classroom, Yasmine found herself in a vocational school where girls were taught how to iron clothes. But she wanted more.
Her family’s role in the resistance was another defining chapter in her life. They weren’t just supporters—they were actively hiding freedom fighters, providing them shelter and safety. But bravery had consequences. One day, Yasmine and her sister were arrested. She was just a child, too young to be imprisoned, so the authorities made another decision: they exiled her.
Paris became her refuge, but it wasn’t always welcoming. As an outsider, she faced racism and discrimination, reminders that she didn’t quite belong. But Yasmine refused to let prejudice define her. She pushed forward, pursued her education, and not only succeeded—she thrived. Each challenge only made her more determined to carve out a space for herself, proving that neither war nor exile nor discrimination could silence her ambition.
from Yasmina Chellali collection
When Yasmine started training at Jacques Esterel’s workshop, she was a timid, petite young woman who preferred to stay out of the spotlight, often blending into the background behind the models. However, her commitment and strong work ethic caught the attention of the workshop’s owner, who recognized her potential and offered her a position. In an unexpected turn, she even stepped into the role of a model herself when the team needed someone to showcase an oriental dancer’s costume at a festival.
This a much simplified version of the Tlemcen Chedda Inscribed in 2012 on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by the UNESCO. On this picture the midel is wearing traditional hearings and necklces called skhab and mkhabel mde of pearls over a ghlila instead of the traditional Algerian caftan and a saroual mdawar instead of the traitional silk dress called mensouj. For more details you can watch the full video on the UNESCO website
http://wa2.www.unesco.org/ archives/multimedia/scripts/sbox_iframedjs.php?
Yassmina in Unisco
Yasmina Chellali is a pioneering Algerian fashion designer who has spent over six decades preserving and celebrating cultural heritage through her work. Her influence extends beyond Algeria to the global fashion stage, earning her international recognition.
In 2020, she was honored at the inaugural Oriental Fashion Awards at UNESCO House in Paris, an event celebrating designers committed to preserving ancestral craftsmanship. This recognition was just one highlight of her illustrious career.
A fierce advocate for Algerian culture, Yasmina seamlessly blends tradition with modern fashion, creating designs that tell a story of heritage, elegance, and innovation. Her impact goes beyond aesthetics—she has redefined Algerian couture on a global scale, proving that fashion is both a reflection of identity and a bridge between history and modernity.
Yasmina and Celabrities
Yasmine returned to her homeland in 1963, shortly after Algeria gained independence, and established the country’s first haute couture house, which she named Yasmina Couture. From the very beginning, she was committed to giving her designs a strong local and traditional identity.
Through 40 years of perseverance and dedication, she earned a prestigious reputation in the fashion industry. Her clientele included the wives of Algerian presidents Houari Boumédiène and Chadli Bendjedid, as well as Queen Rania of Jordan, Suha Arafat, and Ivanka, the wife of former Yugoslav president Tito.
In France, her designs were worn by former First Lady Danielle Mitterrand. Among the artists who embraced her creations were the Algerian singer Warda, the African musician Miriam Makeba, and actresses Michèle Morgan and Claudia Cardinale. One of her proudest moments was when Valentina Tereshkova, the first woman to travel to space, wore an outfit bearing the Yasmina label.
Yasmina Chellali is not just an ordinary designer; she is a strong woman and one of the symbols of the hardworking and determined Algerian woman. She fought to preserve her country’s heritage, develop it, make it known, and showcase it to the world.
