Exhibitions

When haute couture becomes memory, community and creation with Mossi Traoré

Léonore Baulac, Mouvements, 2021, MOSSI © Julien Benhamou.

bonart marsella - 14/06/26

From May 20 to November 16, 2026, the Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilisations (MUCEM) in Marseille presents an exhibition dedicated to Mossi Traoré, one of the most unique and committed voices in contemporary French fashion. Designer, craftsman, and transmitter of knowledge, Traoré understands haute couture not only as an aesthetic exercise, but as a space for experimentation, inclusion, and collective construction.

Exposition "Mossi Traoré, la mode aussi", May 2026, Mucem © Nadine Jestin, Hans Lucas.

Conceived in close collaboration with the designer himself, the exhibition invites visitors to delve into a universe where garments engage in dialogue with popular culture, urban expressions, and traditional crafts. Sculptural silhouettes, textile pieces, archival documents, videos, and sensory experiences comprise a journey that breaks with passive contemplation: the public can touch the materials, hear the stories behind the creations, and participate in the creative process.

With this exhibition, MUCEM reinforces its commitment to connecting heritage with contemporary creation, giving visibility to stories and knowledge that have often remained on the margins. Mossi Traoré's career demonstrates that a garment can be much more than a fashion item: it can become a living archive of stories, gestures, and shared experiences.

Ballon victoire OM, 1993, Mucem © Mucem Yves Inchierman.

Mossi Traoré's work is characterized by an aesthetic of clean lines and architectural volumes, in which the fabric work, precise cutting, and mastery of draping techniques take center stage. Influenced by both the energy of the street and the excellence of the great haute couture ateliers, the designer champions a socially conscious fashion, where artisanal know-how becomes a tool for emancipation and transmission between generations.

Through his eponymous label and the Alix Workshops—a tribute to the legendary Madame Grès—Traoré champions a vision of haute couture that is accessible, sophisticated, and open to new audiences, moving away from the notion of luxury reserved for a select few. His creations combine the elegance of French tradition with a contemporary perspective that incorporates cultural diversity, identity, and memory as essential elements of design.