The Tunisian Collar T-shirt: Voyageuses Reimagines the Fadhila of Brigitte Bardot

Félicie
Jul 23
2 min read

A love story behind a cult garment

It all begins in 1930s Tunis. A Tunisian Jewish craftsman lovingly knits a cotton top for his beloved: Fadhila Khetmi, oud player and pioneer of Tunisian theatre, known throughout the city for her elegance and femininity. The knit eventually took her name. The Maryoul (meaning knit or t-shirt) Fadhila was born.

Since then, this simple and instantly recognisable garment has become Tunisia's equivalent of the French Breton marinière: a cultural staple, worn by generations of Tunisian women and men as an everyday essential.

La chanteuse Fadhila Khetmi
Fahila Kethmi
le Maryoul Fadhila porté de manière traditionnelle

What makes it unique: the buttoned collar

The Maryoul Fadhila is immediately recognisable by its round collar closed by a vertical button placket — three or four buttons — running down to the mid-chest. It is precisely this detail that gave its name to the Tunisian collar, a term that has spread well beyond the Mediterranean and can now be found in collections by Hermès, Armani and Zadig & Voltaire.

The 1970s: when the stars made it their own

In the 1970s, the Maryoul Fadhila crossed the sea. Brigitte Bardot was rarely seen without it on the set of Le Mépris, Catherine Deneuve, Jane Fonda and Claudia Cardinale adopted it too. Men followed: Mick Jagger, Joe Cocker and Yannick Noah among them. Worn with jeans or smarter trousers, this Tunisian collar t-shirt embodies a relaxed, sun-drenched elegance that has never gone out of style.

Brigitte Bardot sur le tournage du Mépris portant un Fadhila
Brigitte Bardot sur le rournage du Mépris portant un Fadhila
Joe Cocker portant un Fadhila
stars portant un Maryoul Fadhila
Brigitte Bardot sur le rournage du Mépris portant un Fadhila

The Fadhila by Voyageuses: in collaboration with the original maker

It is this story — this blend of Tunisian tradition, authentic craftsmanship and timeless elegance — that inspired me to create the Voyageuses version. And to stay true to the original, the Tunisian T-shirt by Voyageuses was designed in direct collaboration with the official maker of this iconic garment in Tunisia.

Same cut, same original buttoned collar, same stripes, in cotton and viscose — embroidered with a tiger on the left chest and "Voyageuses" on the left wrist. Available in several colours, it works with jeans, shorts or tailored trousers. Like Bardot. Like Deneuve. But your way.