Egypt teens take to street fashion in search of fame

CAIRO: Egyptian teenager Islam stood in an upscale Cairo neighborhood wondering what to wear, a turquoise shirt or a black sweater, as he prepared for a photo shoot.

“Should I wear a tie as well?” asked Islam, 15, combing back his slick black hair.
This is not a regular fashion shoot or a scene being filmed for an Egyptian film.
Behind the camera is one of Islam’s friends, who plans to capture the teenager at his best.
The idea is to upload Islam’s pictures on social media networks like Facebook and Instagram, and collect as many “likes” as possible.
Over the past four years, many Egyptian teenagers have become part of a growing circle of such “Famous People” groups on social media networks, some ultimately looking to become celebrities.
Hundreds of youngsters like Islam are a common sight in posh Cairo districts these days, carrying expensive cameras and trendy clothes in their backpacks — ready to pose for a photo shoot wherever possible.
Mostly hailing from Cairo’s impoverished neighborhoods, they seek out expensive cars and luxury villas as props.
In the capital’s upscale Maadi district where many foreigners live, Islam and nearly a dozen other teenagers from an industrial suburb hunt for locations.
Sporting skinny jeans and trendy haircuts, they photograph themselves in front of imposing wrought iron and wooden gates to villas, but often get ejected by guards.
Ziad Akl, an expert on political sociology at the Cairo-based Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies, describes the trend as a “generational conflict.”
It is a clash between “youths whose morals and values are evolving and a society that denies change and diversity,” Akl said.
Some youngsters have ended up in police stations, but the success of Sonek Diab, 21, keeps them motivated. A trendsetter since high school days, Diab has turned into a role model for many Egyptian youngsters.
He has already shot two commercials, including one for a fast food chain that contacted him directly on his Facebook page.
With his trademark dreadlocks, Diab gained fame through his photographs taken on Cairo streets.