DUBAI: Designers from the Middle East are taking Paris by storm as Fashion Forward Dubai (FFWD) — a fashion platform that showcases regional designers — sets up shop on the fringes of Paris Fashion Week.
Running from Sept. 28 to Oct. 2, FFWD is showcasing a curated collection of clothing and accessories by Middle East-based designers at a showroom in the Hotel InterContinental Paris Le Grand.
The exclusive preview includes SS18 ready-to-wear items, accessories and jewelry collections by the region’s favorite up-and-coming designers, including Anaya, Amira Haroon, Amine Bandriouch, Asya Krasnaya, By Sadeem, Cheyma, Geodie Handbags, Hessa Falasi, Kage, Rula Galayani, Soltana, Tania George and UTRUJ.
The Paris pop-up is part of EPIC, FFWD’s Empowerment Program through Industry Collaboration. The program seeks to empower regional fashion talent via a series of initiatives designed to provide business development opportunities to the labels.
The designers showcased their creations in a rigorous application process in which they were judged on their readiness for the global stage by the FFWD team and international buying consultant, Muriel Piaser.
Jeddah-based design house UTRUJ is one of only two Saudi Arabia-based brands to make it to Paris and its collection of women’s outerwear, which is contemporary and conservative, is turning heads.
“The collection, ‘Authentic Structures,’ depicts stories that flirt between everyday life and those that live only in one’s imagination. It is a visual interpretation of our current social construct, from gender roles to the qualities that mirror our inner selves,” Laila Abduljawad, partner and the creative director of UTRUJ, told Arab News.
“We wanted to send a message that the abaya is not a limitation, rather, a liberation that allows women to feel confident and comfortable,” she added in reference to the new collection.
Saudi designer Sadeem Al-Shehail’s pret-a-couture fashion brand Sadeem also made it on to the rails of the high-end event. Her SS18 collection is a paragon of timeless, versatile attire and was inspired by sailor suits, seashell shapes and a yachting lifestyle. An advocate of sustainable design, the brand embraces ethical practices, collaborating with companies that share the same principles.
“Paris Fashion Week is the most important (fashion) week to attend and participate in as it happens to be in the city that birthed haute couture creations and houses the most influential fashion designers in the world,” Al-Shehail told Arab News.
“Paris is also the last stop on the official fashion calendar after New York, London and Milan. International designers, buyers and retailers are guaranteed to be there because when it comes to fashion, the city has always maintained the appeal of having saved the best for last,” she added.
Co-regionalist Hessa Falasi is also making waves in Paris with her edgy, quirky collection. The Emirati designer and couture seamstress is known to have left her mark on the traditional abaya and employs a range of fashionable techniques to make her offerings stand out.
She formally launched her label in 2011 and her UAE-based flagship store in 2016 and is now showcasing her designs in the city of fashion itself.
Meanwhile, designer Amira Haroon, who was was brought up in Saudi Arabia but currently lives in Dubai, is also part of the showcase. Fresh off a well-received show on the sidelines of London Fashion Week, Haroon is a firm believer in the benefits of the EPIC program.
“I’m very excited to be a part of FFWD’s Paris Showroom once again. My brand has showcased with FFWD from the beginning and as a result our exposure to the global fashion industry has grown every season as the international interest in the brands from the Middle East has increased. I look forward to becoming bigger and better with FFWD’s empowerment program EPIC and meeting more international buyers this season,” Haroon said, according to organizers.
She attended the Parsons School of Design and launched “The Amira Haroon RTW label” in 2011. The brand’s signature style fuses modernity with cultural influences and versatility and her latest collection, on show in Paris, draws inspiration from US pop culture and late celebrity icon Whitney Houston.
Another notable label featured in the showcase is Jordanian brand Tania George, with its traditional craftmanship and prints created by underprivileged local women and refugees who inherited their craft of tailoring and embroidery from their mothers and grandmothers. The cartoonish prints and sleek cuts are perfect for the 20-something fashionista who wants to look different without pushing the envelope into unchartered territory.
Since its launch in April 2013, Fashion Forward Dubai has delivered nine events, twice per year, and has gained wide-spread recognition for showcasing the best design talent from across the Middle East.
Mideast designers wow Paris on the fringes of fashion week
Mideast designers wow Paris on the fringes of fashion week
Shanina Shaik takes part in Australian Mother’s Day campaign
DUBAI: Part-Arab model Shanina Shaik took part in her first-ever Mother’s Day campaign with fashion platform Witchery to mark the Australian iteration of the globally celebrated occasion, which lands on May 12.
The Australia-born model — who is of Saudi, Pakistani and Lithuanian descent — shares a son with her partner, Matthew Adesuyan.
Born in September 2022, their toddler Zai Adesuyan Matthew is also part of the campaign video and he can be seen laughing on his mother’s lap in a studio setting.
“Motherhood has changed me in so many ways… it’s definitely created more patience,” Shaik joked in the video campaign that she shared with her 3.4 million followers on Instagram.
“Now that I’m a mother, I would like to say to my mother, ‘I understand.’ I understand the worry, the concern, because you just want to protect your child every day at all costs,” she added.
The 33-year-old model also said: “If I could describe motherhood in one word, it would be ‘powerful,’” before concluding “the purest form of love is the bond between a mother and a child.”
Shaik announced the birth of her first child in September 2022 by sharing a picture of the couple’s bundle of joy on Instagram. “Welcome to the world baby Zai Adesuyan Matthew. @bausmatthew and I are so in love,” she captioned the post.
“I have taken this time to adjust to my baby’s schedule and to understand the role of being a mother. Bringing life into this world is a beautiful challenge. I would be happy to share my experience soon,” she wrote at the time.
Zai was born on Sept. 16 in Los Angeles, according to Shaik’s mother, Kim Shaik.
The grandmother wrote on Facebook: “My gorgeous grandson was born last night at 12:50 on the 16th September 2022.”
The catwalk star announced her pregnancy in May 2022 with a letter to her then-unborn child.
“To the new love of my life, thank you for choosing me to be your mum. I have always wanted you for as long as I can remember, and at times my patience was tested. The timing had to be right, and I can say with confidence that I am ready to be your guide, your protector and your best friend,” the former Victoria’s Secret model wrote.
“As each month goes by during this precious journey of pregnancy, I am learning what the role of being a mother entails. I worry a lot, especially about your wellbeing and development. It’s a feeling that I’ve never experienced before, not even about myself. I would do anything for you, be anything for you and sacrifice anything for you,” she continued.
She then praised her own mother, mentioning that she was raised by an “amazing woman” who taught her a lot about motherhood. “She has set the bar high and I don’t want to disappoint you. I want to raise you as she raised me.”
Gigi Hadid, Imaan Hammam turn heads at the Met Gala
NEW YORK: A-listers at Monday’s Met Gala in New York included US Dutch Palestinian catwalk star Gigi Hadid, Dutch Moroccan Egyptian model Imaan Hammam, Jennifer Lopez, Zendaya and a parade of others dressed in a swirl of flora and fauna looks on a green-tinged carpet lined by live foliage.
Hadid brought the drama in a look by the drama king himself, Thom Browne. Her white gown was adorned with 2.8 million microbeads with yellow flowers and green thorns. She was high glam in a wavy bob and crimson lips.
Hammam donned a two-piece ensemble — her outfit featured a cape, drawing inspiration from Swarovski's Gema collection, and a satin column skirt adorned with gold crystals.
Crafting the cape was an intricate process spanning 14 days. The cape incorporated over 3,000 crystals in six cuts and five vibrant hues while the skirt boasted over 100,000 crystals.
Meanwhile, Lopez went for silver leaves in a second-skin gown by Schiaparelli and Zendaya was all vamp and fantasy in a rare double appearance on the steps of The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Lopez went with Tiffany & Co. diamonds, including a stunning bird motif necklace with a diamond of over 20 carats at its center.
Zendaya put on her fashion face in peacock hues of blue and green, with a head piece to match and leaf accents. The look was Maison Margiela by John Gallliano. She walked again to close the carpet in black Givenchy Haute Couture gown also by Galliano with a head piece stuffed with flowers by Alexander McQueen.
Mindy Kaling is sure to make the best-dressed lists in sand-colored swirls that towered over her head at the back. Her look was by Indian couturier Gaurav Gupta.
Penelope Cruz, meanwhile, went goth in black by Chanel. It had a bustier top and a Sleeping Beauty-like off-shoulder silhouette. There was another Sleeping Beauty-ish guest: Kendall Jenner in a Givenchy look done by Alexander McQueen in 1999.
Kendall’s sister, Kylie Jenner, was in an Oscar de la Renta low-cut strapless look, a white bloom in her clicked-back updo and a train behind. Older sister Kim Kardashian tightly covered up her silver corset look with a leaf motif by Maison Margiela with a gray sweater.
Bella Hadid celebrates fragrance launch in New York
DUBAI: American-Dutch-Palestinian model Bella Hadid celebrated the launch of her new fragrance brand, Orebella, at a party held over the weekend at The Huntress New York.
In typical Hadid fashion, she turned heads in an archival Roberto Cavalli look from the label’s Spring/Summer 2003 collection, consisting of a petite yellow gown, matching lace-up corset, and gold stiletto sandals.
The runway sensation turned to Instagram last week to showcase images of her fragrances, which are named “Salted Muse,” “Blooming Fire” and “Window2Soul.”
Crafted from glass and adorned with gold caps, the bottles are offered in 10, 50 and 100 ml.
Hadid in her caption described the fragrances as “hydrating, alcohol-free and enriched with essential oils.” She urged her followers to “shake to activate the transformative bi-phase formula.”
The “Salted Muse” perfume has “top notes” of sea salt, pink pepper and carbon dioxide extract, “heart notes” of olive tree accord, fig and lavender, and “base notes” of cedarwood, sandalwood and amber, according to reports.
The “Blooming Fire” fragrance has bergamot, cedarwood, clove leaf and cardamom, followed by Tahitian monoi and jasmine, and finishes with patchouli.
The “Window2Soul” scent has a blend of lemon, geranium and mint in its top notes, transitions to jasmine and damask rose, and concludes with a base of tonka bean.
Hadid wrote on her website: “For me, fragrance has always been at the center of my life — helping me feel in charge of who I am and my surroundings,” she said. “From my home to nostalgic memories, to my own energy and connection with others, scent has been an outlet for me. It made me feel safe in my own world.”
“Through my healing journey, I found that I was extremely sensitive to the alcohol in traditional perfumes — both physically and mentally — it became something that was more overwhelming than calming to me,” she added. “That is the main reason I wanted to find an alternative, so essential oils became an artistic and experimental process for me.”
While Hadid’s New York trip has primarily been spent promoting Orebella, she is expected to attend the Met Gala in a few days.
Naomi Campbell sparkles in Nicolas Jebran gown
DUBAI: British supermodel Naomi Campbell wowed fellow guests at the wedding of PrettyLittleThing founder Umar Kamani and model Nada Adelle, which took place at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc in Antibes, France.
Campbell wore a custom couture gown by Lebanese designer Nicolas Jebran, who took to social media to share the supermodel’s ethereal look.
“It is not a catwalk: this is a Naomi-walk with grace & gardens of bliss! The gorgeous beauty queen takes it to the next level! @Naomi, a complete stunner, in a #NicolasJebran custom couture gown as she attended the #kamaniwedding wedding yesterday!” wrote the designer to the stars.
Campbell herself posted three white heart emojis and: “My chosen family! Would not want to be anywhere else than with you on this day, TO WITNESS THIS BEAUTIFUL UNION OF UNCONDITIONAL LOVE MR & MRS KAMANI @nadakamani @umarkamani WE LOVE YOU.”
The wedding was also attended by Saudi Arabia’s Mohammed Al-Turki, the CEO of the Red Sea Film Festival Foundation. Other celebrity guests included former England international footballer Rio Ferdinand, fashion designer Manish Malhotra, singer Christina Milian, and Ronan and Stormy Keating.
Serenading the couple during the wedding ceremony was renowned Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli, who performed his rendition of “The Prayer,” accompanied by a full orchestra, as Adelle walked down the aisle.
Supermodel Campbell enjoys a huge fan base in the Arab world. She has also been romantically involved with individuals from Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Egypt.
Late last year, she was among was among the celebrities spotted on the red carpet at the Middle East and North Africa premiere of “The Absence of Eden,” on the third day of Jeddah’s Red Sea International Film Festival.
“I love what Red Sea has become and that it’s growing and growing and growing. And it’s really amazing and phenomenal what the team and Mo (Al-Turki) and Jomana (Al-Rashid) have created,” said Campbell in a video posted on festival’s Instagram page.
Her charitable organization, Fashion for Relief, also joined forces with Qatar Creates to launch a new global initiative called Emerge. The catwalk star co-hosted a charity gala and fashion show to support creatives and business talents around the world, with a focus on Africa, the diaspora and developing communities.
Simi and Haze Khadra discuss the functional vision of their beauty brand and its Middle East launch
DUBAI: US-Palestinian beauty entrepreneurs Simi and Haze Khadra this week went on tour in the Middle East to launch their brand, SimiHaze Beauty, in the region. Their travels included stops in Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
While in the region, the sister duo — raised by Palestinian parents between Riyadh, London and Dubai — shared insights about their brand with Arab News.
The 31-year-old identical twins, who are also DJs, said that they initially launched the brand out of “pure functionality,” creating products they wanted and needed in their own makeup routines.
Every product they develop undergoes the same rigorous process of ensuring functionality, they said.
“We are constantly thinking of new ideas and ways to make makeup easy and fun to apply,” Simi told Arab News.
The pair launched their US-born cosmetics brand in 2021 with a range of stick-on makeup designs that can be placed on the face for a bold beauty look achievable within seconds.
The sticker book features an array of edgy designs inspired by their favorite DJ looks from the past, such as chrome wings, neon negative space eyeliner and holographic cat-eyes.
SimiHaze Beauty then expanded to include a range of products, such as lipsticks, bronzing powders, and a lifting mascara.
Simi and Haze believe they were “actually late bloomers to the beauty world.”
“We only started becoming interested in it when we were around 18,” Haze said. “We started SHB from just a single product we wanted but couldn’t find in the market, which is our Velvet Blur lipstick.
“We loved a matte lip for every day at the time but couldn’t find one that wasn’t drying, so we created it.”
The twins developed an interest in eye makeup when they began DJ-ing.
“We weren’t the best at applying eyeliner, so again we just created our perfect solution which became the eye stickers,” Haze said.
To the sisters, launching the brand in the Middle East “felt so surreal.”
“The market has been such a huge goal of ours since we started because we grew up here,” Simi said. “We’re so happy that our products are finally accessible to our amazing followers here, because they have been such huge supporters since the beginning.
“Now people are finally able to really see and touch and feel the products, which is so important to us because you will never get the experience and vision of SHB unless you actually hold the product and feel the texture, curves, and ergonomics of it. The online experience doesn’t do it any justice.”
The sisters said that they personally oversee the development of every product. They visit their lab in Italy for a few days at least twice a year to test and create new formulas.
“It takes a while and a lot of back and forth because after we create something it gets tested on our whole family from my grandma to my mom to my little sister and also all my friends with different skin tones,” Simi said.
“My friends are used to me calling them and saying: ‘Hi can I come over and try on some blush colors on you?’ So by the end of it we know what formulas and shades work best on the widest range of people.”
While visiting the Middle East, the sisters observed a prevailing trend in the region: skincare.
“I’ve seen so much good skin here and I can tell people really care about skincare here,” Haze said.
“We’ve also been increasingly obsessed with it. Our products are all infused with skin-loving ingredients, because we’re personally super-paranoid about anything that’s clogging or could cause irritation.”
