Kamal Jahid

Author, Designer and Entrepreneur

I’ve been featured in a profile on Forbes

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kamal jahid forbes

Something really exciting has happened: I’ve been featured in a profile on Forbes!

I’m so proud and humbled to be on Forbes, telling my story of Meqnes.

This is not only a personal and professional accomplishment; it’s a sign that one of my biggest hopes could come true. I wanted to fight racism and prejudice with Meqnes. I know that in a world that’s increasingly divided, not all people would look favorably on designs inspired by Moroccan culture.

It turns out that Meqnes’ diverse origins, with co-founders from Morocco and the United States, with materials gathered from

Italy, north Africa, and Asia, with a headquarters in Warsaw, may just reflect a larger worldview that I hoped to see. Knowing that we have clients from around the world who are passionate about what we create means so much to me.

And now, knowing that Forbes thinks we’re worth talking about means that message can be magnified, and at the same time, it feels even more justified.

If you’d like to read the profile, you can find it here:

Kamal Jahid in Forbes magazine

I hope you enjoy it, and I’d love your feedback.

Humble beginnings

13 years ago, while preparing for my 6-month trip to Poland for an AIESEC internship, my father gave me exactly 280€ and asked me to “fight” for my dreams. “It’s time to leave the cocoon and become something beautiful,” he said.

I had no idea of what was waiting for me on the other side: It was the very first time I’d travel by myself, the first time I’d board a plane, the first time I’d leave my country… the very first time I’d decide to forge my own path…

What came next is a story of ups and downs, homesickness, freedom, racism, success, depression, glory, loneliness…

… a story of feeling unstoppable, powerful yet vulnerable.

Fast-forward to today. I woke up to a Forbes article featuring my story. And it simply feels unreal.

I couldn’t be prouder.

I’d like to thank everyone who supported me and my brands for all these years. I won’t be tagging anyone, but you know who you are.

There are no words that can express my gratitude for having amazing friends, family and partners. You have been there for me through thick and thin, supporting me even when I had nothing; I truly appreciate that.

Even now, I don’t know how I got here, but I DO know that this is just the beginning. So let’s get to work.

Feel free to let me know what you think about the article or how Meqnes can continue to grow moving forward.

My warmest, deepest thanks to everyone who’s supported me and the Meqnes brand. This exciting news is just the beginning.

Gratefully,
Kamal

The Rebranding of MEQNES

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MEQNES

This article originally appeared on Meqnes.com

Dear Friends, Family and Partners.

From the day we began creating and selling our bags, Meqnes has been about craftsmanship and elegance, about functionality and sleek, unique style.

We’ve been honored by how many people have fallen in love with our vision. The idea that our bags are turning heads in airports and train stations around the world never stops inspiring us.

This is what is at the heart of Meqnes.

But like many people, as time goes on, we find ourselves wanting to focus on the little things.

We’ve made the bags — what about what’s inside of them?

What if we could elevate small, functional objects like wallets, keyrings, belts, and desk pads to sleek, sophisticated accessories that add a notable touch of style to a person’s look?

What if these ordinary things could be an opportunity to get people talking?

Made of snake embossed Italian leather, available in ___ unforgettable colors, able to be personalized with elegant gold embossed lettering, our card holders, keyrings, belts, and desk pads transform mundane gestures like finding your credit card, unlocking your door, getting dressed in the morning, and getting down to business, into stylish moments.

Of course, this elegance goes beyond appearance. We’re in love with fine craftsmanship, the same that goes into creating our bags.

We use only quality 100% leather imported from Italy and lovingly worked in our headquarters in Warsaw, Poland, home to skilled leatherworkers for generations.

With their combination of style and quality, our Meqnes card holders, keyrings, belts, and desk pads add elegance to the ordinary.

Our love of vintage bags and men’s accessories will always be at the heart of Meqnes. Our vintage collection is where we started and will always be a hallmark of our company.

But we’re excited about this new direction and new adventure. We hope you’ll fall in love with these small, finer things in life the same way we have. Let’s go back to basics – with a little style for good measure.

Kindest regards,

Kamal and the Meqnes team

READ MORE:

I got featured on Poland’s most-watched television show!

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Dear Friends,

Good news! The Meqnes story have been featured on one of Poland’s most-watched television shows “Dzień Dobry TVN.”

Click here for the link to the spot and the story.

Kamal Jahid Dzien Dobry TVN

Here’s a translation of the accompanying article:

Kamal Jahid is a Moroccan who has been living in Poland since 2008. After arriving in Poland, he changed his look, and launched a group of high-growth fashion businesses. He spoke with reporters from TVN about his success.

Kamal was born in Morocco. During a university event on global internship programs more than a decade ago, he met some students from Warsaw who told him about “the good life” in Poland, and he stayed in touch with them. One day, they sent him an e-mail saying there was a company looking for someone who spoke Arabic and French, and invited him to come to Poland. It wasn’t an obvious choice–Kamal knew nothing about Poland. But in the end, he decided to come.

His grandfather heard the big news that he’d be moving to Poland and gifted him the one warm thing he had in his closet: a big parka. So he packed his parka in his suitcase and took off.

And then his life changed.

“I met so many wonderful people, had such a good time, and was truly happy. I could be myself. I was just free.”

From the outset, he decided to change up his look. He grew a beard, started working out and took on a more elegant approach to dressing.

“There is power in suits. Every time I put one on I feel like I’m the boss and I can do whatever I want.”

During this metamorphosis, he decided to start his business.

“I became a stylist and life coach. I’ve changed the lives of many, many of my clients.”

Then he expanded. He started making silk and linen pocket squares from Moroccan fabrics, and then leather bags which connect Moroccan designs and Polish and Italian leather and hardware. He started selling in Poland, and then began shipping around the world, to Japan, Brazil and Australia, just to name a few of his biggest markets.

Kamal is very happy in Poland.

Meqnes Leather Bags TVNThe Original article was first published on Meqnes.com

Kamal Jahid Featured in the Cover of Businessman Today magazine

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For its first issue, the magazine Businessman Today—published by Krzysztof Sadecki— decided to feature Kamal Jahid on the cover.

Inside the magazine, there is a full interview (4 pages) with Kamal, talking about his company Glamorous Pochette, and decision to move to Poland and also, Kamal and Krzysztof talked about the future of the fashion industry in Poland and Eastern Europe.

The first issue of Businessman Today will be available for purchase, on the 12th May 2015, at Empik and all the Bookstores in Poland. (80.000 printed copies)

Here is the full cover: [Read more…]

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