Bent Kahina began as an unlikely idea scribbled during lockdown, only to grow into an avant-garde label marrying futurism with North African heritage. Co-founders Chaima Mennana and Jora Frantzis met through a mutual friend in Los Angeles back in 2016, instantly bonding over their shared Algerian Amazigh roots. They built a sister-like friendship for years, not knowing it would sow the seeds of a fashion brand. “One day during the 2020 lockdown, I was home bored sketching heels,” Mennana recalls with a laugh, “and Jora walked in and asked what I was doing. I explained I was just sketching some shoe ideas for fun. Jora suggested we take the opportunity of being on lockdown to work on creating a joint brand.” And just like that, Bent Kahina was born—initially imagined as a shoe line, until practical hurdles nudged them toward clothing (they did manage to bring a few of those wild shoe ideas to life in the end.)
It was a bold leap. Neither Mennana nor Frantzis had formal fashion design training or industry roles before launching Bent Kahina. Mennana’s background was in public relations—eight years at a top firm representing A-list talent—and Frantzis was already a renowned photographer and director who’s worked with big-name artists and brands. In other words, they were creative outsiders to fashion. “Short answer is no,” the co-founders state when asked if they had prior fashion roles. But their experiences gave them a unique lens.
Frantzis’ decade behind the camera meant she knew exactly how clothing contributes to an image. “I wanted to start Bent Kahina so that I could dream up pieces I wanted to see on the other side of my lens,” she explains, describing how she’d long imagined outfits that interact with lighting and shape a photo’s mood. Mennana, meanwhile, was that kid who obsessed over outfits from an early age: “The worst part about getting me ready as a child was making sure everything matched—down to the color of my hair ties and nail polish,” she admits, joking that her chronic lateness in adulthood might be blamed on playing dress-up too long. Her PR career honed her storytelling skills and tenacity, which now fuel Bent Kahina’s brand narrative and vision.
Meaning “Daughter of Kahina” in Arabic, Bent Kahina pays homage to a 7th-century North African warrior queen. Kahina was an Amazigh heroine, and her empowered spirit guides the brand’s ethos of breaking the chains of history. Both co-founders descend from indigenous Berber (Amazigh) tribes of Algeria, and that heritage forms the soul of their design approach. “The initial concept of Bent Kahina emerged from a deep appreciation for the rich history, traditions, and contributions of Amazigh North African culture,” they share.
Each collection is a fusion of old and new: futuristic silhouettes with edgy, almost sci-fi details, blended with touches of Amazigh artistry. Think sleek vegan leather bodysuits, liquid-metallic fabrics and sculptural heels, paired with motifs inspired by centuries-old patterns and symbols. This isn’t retro fashion or bland traditional wear—it’s more like cultural futurism. Bent Kahina’s pieces feel at once ahead of their time and deeply rooted in ancestral memory. It’s a delicate balance, but one the duo is intentional about. “Our focus has been futuristic designs, while we aim to profoundly highlight our heritage through our designs,” the design duo explain, emphasizing that modern cuts can still honor traditional roots.
Mennana and Frantzis see fashion as a vehicle for preserving culture and sparking conversation. As Amazigh women, they’re driven to dispel misconceptions about North African identity. One common myth they encounter is the idea that North African cultures are monolithic, or that all Algerians share one homogenous identity. In reality, “Algeria is home to a diverse range of cultures, languages, and traditions, notably the Amazigh identity that has distinct customs, languages, and histories,” they explain. By infusing Amazigh elements into avant-garde fashion, they showcase this diversity in living color. Another stereotype they challenge is the notion that Amazigh culture is solely ancient or static. Bent Kahina bridges traditional and contemporary, proving heritage is not stuck in the past but can propel innovative design.
Even the role of women in Amazigh society is something they illuminate through their work. “Some people may think women in Amazigh culture have limited roles or voices, but in reality Amazigh women have always been key in preserving and promoting cultural heritage—especially through textiles and handicrafts,” Mennana points out. That belief inspires them to collaborate with female artisans and incorporate age-old craftsmanship into modern collections, empowering those women and breaking stereotypes one garment at a time.
Beyond cultural storytelling, Bent Kahina uses fashion to make statements on social justice. A powerful example came in a recent capsule that incorporated the keffiyeh—the iconic checkered Palestinian scarf— into their designs. “Our most meaningful moment thus far has been our collection featuring the keffiyeh, a symbol of our support for our brothers and sisters in Palestine,” the co-founders share proudly. The incorporation was subtle— a patterned detail here, a reimagined textile there– but it carried deep significance. It was their way of standing in solidarity with Palestine, weaving advocacy into fashion. For them, clothing is never apolitical. In fact, the duo has a much bigger vision for Bent Kahina’s impact. “Since the birth of our brand, our goal has been to reach a stage where we can donate a significant portion of our profits to causes we believe in and contribute to the world in a meaningful way,” they reveal. In their eyes, “fashion is not the goal; it is the means to achieve our broader objectives in the fields of philanthropy and human rights.”
It’s a striking mission for a luxury label, but it’s one that resonates strongly with their cult following. After all, this generation craves authenticity and purpose-driven brands. Bent Kahina offers exactly that: edgy couture with a conscience. Of course, breaking into the fashion world with no traditional footing wasn’t easy. The designers faced their share of skeptics and steep learning curves, from navigating manufacturing to carving out a space in a very established industry. Early on, they had to adapt quickly—like scrapping their initial plan of a shoe-only line due to high production costs. Instead of giving up on their outlandish chrome-dipped heels and boots, they pivoted and poured their creativity into apparel first. It’s a theme in their journey: resilience. “We constantly remind ourselves that challenges are not roadblocks but stepping stones toward growth,” Frantzis says, describing how they reframe setbacks as opportunities.
That mindset kept them moving forward when things got tough. It also helped that they moved at their own pace, staying true to their vision rather than comparing themselves to industry peers. “The biggest competition is ourselves,” Mennana notes, reflecting on what she’d tell her younger self. With time, they taught themselves the ropes of design and production, leaned on mentors and friends for advice, and leveraged their own strengths. Frantzis’ eye for visual storytelling became a cornerstone of Bent Kahina’s creative direction, while Mennana’s PR savvy helped build buzz and credibility.
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When the iconic Mary J. Blige donned a custom Bent Kahina look on stage in 2024, it was a pinch-me moment for the duo – a sign that their passion-driven project had broken through. But even as celebrities and style insiders take note, the Bent Kahina designers stay grounded and focused on why they started this in the first place. A big part of what fuels their creativity is what they love outside of fashion. Both founders are avid travelers and nature enthusiasts, finding inspiration in every corner of the globe. “Traveling exposes us to a multitude of cultures and traditions, each with its own aesthetic sensibilities, textiles, patterns, and color palettes,” they say, describing how hopping from city bazaars to mountain villages has opened their minds.
Whether it’s the colorful dyes of a Moroccan souk or the futuristic skyline of Dubai, new environments spark new ideas. They often incorporate little elements from various cultures into their designs resulting in pieces that feel one-of-a-kind and globally inspired. And when they need to recharge, they turn to nature. The serenity of a desert sunset or the dramatic landscape of an alpine lake seeps into their design moodboards. “The beauty of nature in different parts of the world has provided endless inspiration,” they say, noting how organic shapes and patterns find their way into Bent Kahina’s collections. It’s a reminder that even in a tech-driven futuristic aesthetic, the natural world has a place.
After almost three years of building Bent Kahina, the friends have amassed hard-won wisdom they’re eager to pass on. They often reflect on the misconceptions they had starting out and the lessons they learned by doing. One lesson stands out: comfort can be creativity’s worst enemy. “If you’re comfortable, the creative fire is dead– we’re most creative and alive when we’re uncomfortable,” Mennana says, half-joking, half-serious.
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Pushing boundaries, whether cultural or personal, has been central to Bent Kahina’s DNA. Now, they want to help the next generation of designers, especially those from North African or other underrepresented backgrounds, do the same. “We hope to create an environment that champions creative expression while recognizing the cultural expectations that often exist,” Mennana explains, acknowledging that young Middle Eastern designers can face familial or societal pressure when pursuing unconventional careers. By being visible and vocal, Bent Kahina’s founders aim to show younger creatives that they can succeed on their own terms. They encourage emerging designers to embrace their unique perspectives and not shy away from their roots. “The belief that authenticity is a strength can empower them to take creative risks and innovate,” Frantzis adds, emphasizing that what makes you different is exactly what the industry needs. And if there’s one piece of advice they want future trailblazers to remember, it’s about resilience. Rejection will come– from investors, from critics, from audiences– but it isn’t the end. Every setback is “an opportunity for growth,” Mennana says, echoing a principle that carried Bent Kahina from a mere idea to a budding fashion house.
From sketching shoes at a kitchen table to dressing icons like Busta Rhymes, Ciara, and Shay Mitchell, while inspiring a new wave of creatives, Bent Kahina’s journey reads like a modern fashion fairy tale. Its magic comes from how real and relatable the longtime friends have made it: two women of Amazigh heritage turning their passion into a platform for cultural celebration and empowerment. In a region where tradition and futurism are constantly in dialogue, Bent Kahina strikes a chord.
And as the brand grows, the co-founders are determined to keep that conversation going. They often quote the late Muhammad Ali: “Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth.” and Toni Morrison’s wisdom: “If you have some power, then your job is to empower somebody else.” It’s this philosophy that drives their work. Bent Kahina may be turning heads for its striking aesthetic, but at its heart, it’s about giving back—uplifting cultures, voices, and creatives that deserve the spotlight. In the end, Bent Kahina’s greatest design might just be the space it creates for others to dare, dream, and design without limits.
