bazaar August 2024 by bazaar magazine

IKEA

IKEA The Warehouse (Sabahiya) When

Hello August, how we missed you (not!). I mean listen, we’re all used to the heat in Kuwait, especially in July and August, but not this new reality of the temperature hitting 55C to 60C and higher on bad days, and anyone who doubts or questions global warming now, today, in this day and age, is an idiot or is in denial. But hey, we’re always optimists here at bazaar, and at least here in Kuwait, there is a strong AC anywhere you go, on at full blast any time of day, unlike in most of Europe where there are no AC’s in most places, and since they’ve been hit by global warming just as badly, its pretty safe to say that vacationing in Europe in July and August has become a miserable experience.

Since we prefer to focus on forward-thinking solutions and creative explorations that enhance our everyday lives we think that one of the smartest moves we can make for ourselves and the planet is switching to all-electric or hybrid vehicles. This issue showcases the new Porsche Macan, an exceptionally efficient model featuring a new off-road design package and an updated Porsche Driver Experience. Eco-friendliness has never felt more enticing!

When the summer heat hits, it’s tempting to stay inside in air-conditioned comfort. But that doesn’t mean you have to be bored at home. We’ve scouted the city to find ways to stay cool and stimulated with sporty, creative, and entertaining activities. Check out our Summer in the 965 for our guide to fun things to do.

When two substations near our Salmiya office were adorned with vibrant designs, we were curious. We did some diffing and found out it was part of the NCCAL’s Al Fenn Al Thalith project, which has been transforming electrical substations around Kuwait with beautiful murals. So we reached out to the artist Clark Stoeckley and project founder Abdullah Saleh Yaseen Ali to learn more, which you can read in this issue.

In a world that often glorifies perfection, Zaynab Alsalus stands out with her celebration of imperfection. From a Design Management student at The American University of Sharjah to a celebrated graphic designer, Zaynab’s journey is a testament to her unique vision and dedication to maximalist design.

This month you can step into the vibrant world of Naktub, a unique program for children aged 8-12 initiated by the Promenade Culture Centre (PCC). Naktub is more than just learning Arabic; it’s about falling in love with the language through performing arts, storytelling, and calligraphy.

There’s so much creativity in Kuwait, and one place we’ve always seen it is mastara. We’ve always admired the Studio by Mastara in Shuwaikh Industrial, a creative haven for designers and interior enthusiasts. This space offers the tools and inspiration needed to create perfect window coverings and soft furnishings, making it a playground for creativity.

From creativity to tech, Xcite’s curated selection of must-have products ensures you stay ahead of trends. From new smartphones to cutting-edge health tech, our top picks are creating a buzz this season.

And just in case you forgot, August marks back-to-school shopping season. For those who love minimalist design and functionality, MUJI is a brand that stands out. Known for simplicity and utility, MUJI’s acrylic storage solutions and stationery are the perfect companions to a new school year.

If you prefer being more expressive about your personality and what you love, Pottery Barn Kids has elevated the game with their latest collection of backpacks and bento boxes, combining functionality, durability, and style to make the school year exciting and efficient.

Happy reading!

Ahmed El-Adly

The bazaar team...

Boss

Ahmed El-Adly

Editor

Alia Al Duaij

Operations Manager

Ihab Youssef

Content Manager

Yasmine El Charif

Mixed Media Solutions

Jennifer Cádiz

Design

Shadi Mofeed

Staff Writer/Online Media

Yasmin Gamal

Israa Odeh

Communications

Hala Y. Sharara

Syndicates & Sources

Fast Company

LA Times

MCT International

Newsweek

Printing

British Industries

for Printing and Packaging

members

www.bpaww.com

Jumeirah Summer Escapes

Experience the ultimate Kuwait retreat at Jumeirah Messilah Beach with exclusive privileges including daily breakfast, complimentary access to an exclusive private beach, and Talise spa facilities

jumeirah.com

INDEX AUGUST 2024

STOECKING THE ODDS IN SOCIETY’S FAVOR

We kept noticing beautiful, fresh murals appearing on electrical substations. When the appearance of two electrical substations close to our Salmiya office in June changed to intensely bright, colorful designs, we dug a little deeper and met up with the artist behind these designs Clark Stoeckley, and project founder Abdullah Saleh Yaseen Ali.

CELEBRATING IMPERFECTION: THE VIBRANT WORLD OF ZAYNAB ALSALUS

In a world that often glorifies perfection, Zaynab Alsalus stands out as a beacon of creativity, embracing the beauty of imperfection in every aspect of her work. A designer with a passion for all things colorful and maximalist, Zaynab’s journey from a Design Management student at The American University of Sharjah to a celebrated graphic designer is a testament to her unique vision and unyielding dedication.

NAKTUB: CULTIVATING A LOVE FOR LANGUAGE THROUGH CREATIVITY

When you step into the vibrant world of Naktub, you’re immediately enveloped by an atmosphere of creativity and cultural pride. This unique program for children aged 8-12, initiated by the Promenade Culture Centre (PCC), is a testament to the power of a holistic approach. Naktub is not just about learning Arabic; it’s about falling in love with the language through diverse artistic expressions like performing arts, storytelling, and calligraphy.

MORE MACANS

The new Porsche Macan with rear-wheel drive is available immediately as the new point of entry to the all-electric SUV model series. It is exceptionally efficient, offering a combined WLTP range of up to 641 kilometers. The new Macan 4S features up to 380 kW (516 PS) and is positioned at the higher-powered end of the model program. A new off-road design package is also available for all Macan models. Additionally, the Porsche Driver Experience has been comprehensively updated. 40

THE NEW ‘DIWANIYA STUDIO’ BY MASTARA

We’ve always been fans of the Studio by mastara located in trendy Shuwaikh Industrial. It’s a creative space for professional and aspiring designers as well as lovers of beautiful interiors. Providing the necessary tools to create the perfect window covering and soft furnishing designs that you will love, the studio was borne with the intention to be a creative playground. Designers can visit with their clients and explore the extensive Mastara catalog of fabrics, window covering solutions and upholstery. Guests can sit back and get their creative juices flowing by creating mood boards, making decisions, and finding inspiration in a hands-on environment. 46

VERSATILE MINIMALISM

If you’ve ever strayed while scrolling and found yourself in the world of StationeryTok or #organizeYourLife, you will have noticed that MUJI has a cult following in both groups. Known for simplicity and utility, MUJI offers a wide range of products that cater to all sorts of needs without the unnecessary frills. Among its extensive product lineup, MUJI’s acrylic storage solutions and stationery stand out as quintessential examples of the brand’s philosophy and things that can make your return to school this year so much better. 90

DISCOVER THE TRENDIEST PRODUCTS FROM XCITE

It’s always the right time to refresh your gadgets and elevate your lifestyle with the latest innovations. Xcite is here to help you stay ahead of the trend with a selection of must-have products. From the newest smartphones to cutting-edge health tech, our curated list will ensure you’re always in vogue. Let’s explore the top picks that are creating a buzz this season.

What: @ease.projects

Info: Design and print service

Editor’s Note: Taking personalization to a whole new level.

What: @lailas_bakery55080728

Info: Filipino bakery

Editor’s Note: Break makes everything better.

What: @vacation_bag

Info: Travel essentials

Editor’s Note: Making your trips much easier.

What: @beadivakw

Info: Handmade Jewelry

Editor’s Note: Nothing says summer like fun arm candy.

What: @pionero.kw

Info: Where glamour meets the shore

Editor’s Note: It’s giving lazy yacht days.

SUMMER INSIDE THE 965

Stay entertained indoors and not at home!

By bazaar Staff

It is easy to stay indoors in air-conditioned comfort when temperatures outside are soaring. But that doesn’t have to mean just staying at home doing your best sloth impression. Plus, what if your electricity gets cut off, and there’s no AC? Where can you go? bazaar went exploring to see how to ensure that while you’re inside keeping cool, you’re also stimulated doing something sporty, creative, or extremely entertaining. These are some of our faves.

ASCEND

Back in 2022 bazaar went rock climbing with Ascend when it was just a wall face on the side of Ali Abdulkarim’s house with a thick mattress on the floor. Now, Ascend is fully indoors, with several towering walls, and hundreds of differently challenging ways to reach new heights. The space is ideal whether you’re a total beginner or a masterful climber, and the safety-conscious expert instructors with Ascend will ensure that you experience the perfect rope-climbing course to suit your level. @ascend.kw

CRYOTHERAPY

It’s a myth that only athletes benefit from cryotherapy as a Kuwait summer can make anyone need to jump into a -140 freezer to recover! If you want to keep super cool and help your body with muscle recovery, pain relief, improved skin conditions, and overall well-being, cryotherapy is for you. Big plus - if you have FOMO from not traveling cryo can elevate your mood from anxiety and depression by triggering the release of endorphins! @cryokuwait

ESCAPE ROOMS

Get your synapses firing on all cylinders, test your communication skills, and find out who your friends really are all in the cool comfort of an escape room. House of Evil opens soon in Al Fanar Mall but in the meantime, there are several others including: Dream Factory, Trapped Inn, Escape Land, and Mind Maze. There are often different rooms to accommodate varying group sizes and the rooms can boast different themes with interior design choices which support the narrative. Search Google Maps “escape room center” and find the closest one to you.

KARAOKE

Nothing releases endorphins, serotonin, and dopamine more quickly than a singing session and bazaar took a turn at Mele Mele for an hour. Because there are soundproofed, private rooms, you don’t feel like a hundred eyes are judging you in a room full of dining strangers, instead, only your besties will be giving you the side-eye. With discounted prices during the week, try some hump day harmonizing to keep you happy. @melemelekaraoke

KUWAIT NATIONAL LIBRARY

The Kuwait National Library boasts an impressive entrance ceiling height, stunning light fixtures, cool, and spacious interiors with nearly half a million books to peruse with an English language section too. Open on weekdays from 8 am – 1 pm, and Tuesday evenings 4 pm-9 pm. You must present a Civil ID to access the library. There are some beautifully bound books and the cartography section is fascinating. Free entry. @nlk.kwt

KUWAIT NATIONAL MUSEUM & PLANETARIUM

Recently re-opened after an eight-year-long period of abeyance the planetarium has been newly refurbished and now features one of the world’s top projection systems. There is no access on Fridays or Saturdays, and the last show on a weekday is at 6.30 pm. Nestled within the Kuwait National Museum grounds, you can also visit the main museum or venture to walk around the dhow sailing boat…but that boat is outdoors… Free entry. @kuwaitnationalmuseum

MALL WALKING ROUTES

Malls like Promenade and Assima have specifically marked out mall routes, typically on the upper floors, upon which you can walk a measured distance. However, to add distance, bazaar likes to explore the quieter areas of The Avenues, making sure to go down all the side alleys which can add thousands of steps to your count. You may even find some independent retailers you didn’t know existed. Pro tip: Prestige always has fewer people in it if you want to avoid crowds. For wide open space, Al Kout – newer section, and the Warehouse malls are recommended. Free entry.

SKY DIVING

Is jumping out of a plane a little too intimidating for you? Rather stay closer to the earth while still gaining the skills to navigate the skies protected only by a jumpsuit? Learn to fly with Kuwait’s only indoor wind tunnel! O3 Ozone Indoor Skydiving in Sabeh Al Salem is focused on safety and you get a fifteen-minute ground briefing plus they supply you with goggles, a helmet, and a flight suit. There are group offers for experienced skydivers and personal training sessions for skydivers who want to improve their technique with one-on-one coaching. @o3_kw

The eponymously monikered grandson of the founder of the Tareq Rajab Museum has painstakingly overseen, and personally had his hand in, the meticulous refurbishment of the beloved and eclectic museum which is the Tareq Rajab Museum. Just around the corner, also in Jabriya, stands the calligraphy museum. The items in the exhibition will astound you; the skills required of the master calligraphists who penned these precious objects are tremendous. @trmkuwait

YADAWI CRAFTS

An impressive array of creative skills are taught at Yadawi based in the lower ground basement of Argan Bedaya in Sabeh Al Salem. Students can learn printmaking, flameworking and glass blowing, bead making, macrame and fiber arts, jewelry making, sewing and pattern making, calligraphy, and upcycling. From single students joining set classes to large groups hosting their own class, Yadawi can accommodate all creative types! @yadawiarabia

by Brendan Church on Unsplash

TAREK RAJAB MUSEUM & TAREQ RAJAB MUSEUM OF ISLAMIC CALLIGRAPHY

Photo

STOECKING THE ODDS IN SOCIETY’S FAVOR

Increasing Public Art Activations across Kuwait with the NCCAL

By bazaar Staff

When bazaar first heard about the NCCAL’s Al Fenn Al Thalith project it was a revelation, until looking around the streets of Kuwait evidence of this project kept popping up. Beautiful, fresh murals on the electrical substations were appearing. When the appearance of two electrical substations close to our Salmiya office in June changed to intensely bright, colorful designs, we had to investigate further, messaging the artist behind these designs Clark Stoeckley, and project founder Abdullah Saleh Yaseen Ali.

Clark Stoeckley is a multi-disciplinary artist; equally accomplished in media so diverse, as to seem completely unrelated. Clark exhibits ingenious yet accessible ways to communicate to his audience; be those ways through his particular selection of subjects to photograph, perhaps where he decides to place his paintings within the built environment, or simply by being out on the streets in a van with a “click-bait” message stenciled on the sides to draw the viewer in. When personally interacting with his audience, his art is less “performance” - a genre that often arouses accusations of pretentiousness around it - and is more of an experiential installation simply because those who take part in the experience walk away with a clear well-understood message.

Clark does not shy away from the controversial, nor iconic, in his work. The visual artist states, “I certainly believe that courage is contagious,” when discussing his courtroom sketch artist coverage of Private Chelsea Manning’s 2013 court martial. Clark, who, “...saw Manning as a hero,” eventually curated all his daily sketches chronologically as a graphic novel, appropriate for a hero, and then as a traveling exhibition. “For me, art is not the end product. It is merely a tool for achieving social justice,” Clark writes.

His series - which could be considered a campaign - “LOVE to VOTE” is an homage to Robert Indiana’s pop art piece LOVE, and therefore instantly recognizable; the viewer takes in the sight of it already with a positive foundation from the subconscious typography recognition alone, as well as the feelings we imbue around the word ‘love’. Clark is a brilliant strategist without ego, insightfully knowing that his non-partisan message could be better spread nationwide he inspired hundreds of volunteers to stencil “VOTE” in his place – by proxy if you will. The placement of these pieces is impactful, thought-provoking, and profound.

This cat-crazy bazaarite first discovered Clark’s work through his textile artist wife, Susanna Johns, who encouraged me to flip through his photographs of Kuwait’s feral cats. “Feral Felines” is an ongoing project through which he hopes to, “…encourage people to reconsider their relationship with these elusive creatures who share our spaces yet exist on the periphery of human society.”

Particularly ingenious is “CHESS DRAW” where Clark set up a board and invited people to play chess with him while he sketched them. “My concept was to draw my opponent on both the chessboard and on paper. Taking a pacifist approach to this game of war, I never attacked my opponent. The amount of time spent drawing them depended on their play. Incentivized by a more completed portrait, many adopted my pacifist strategy and drew out the game as long as possible.” A lesson in understanding, and

cooperation for mutually beneficial, peaceful, coexistence if ever there was one. One wonders, if Clark were to try something similar here - perhaps a “DAMA DRAW” set up in a mall with qhawah and dates on offer - would the outcome be the same?

A geometric and oxymoronically ordered confusion of color is an unmistakable style of Stoeckley’s that you can see in his murals in several locations across the United States including Colorado, Missouri, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada

– notably at Burning Man, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, and Wisconsin, and also in his ink and colored pencil drawings which can be bought online and at galleries. “Distraught by violence and vitriol on the news and social media, I desired an escape from political arguments and superficial platitudes - particularly those following mass shootings,” writes the artist on his body of work “Thoughts and Prayers” adding how “[It] represents many things combined and nothing

at all. I visualize music, mutations of a spreading virus, or the jolting culture shock of being at Burning Man one week and Kuwait the next.” It seems like the electrical substations are more than fitting as Clark’s canvas. He also describes his abstract works thus, “These synesthesiastimulated drawings depict the kaleidoscopic phantasmagoria of my semi-lucid subconscious and divine introspective explorations. Or, simply put, they originate from doodles I make when I’m in a meeting.” Clark obviously has a sense of humor, too. He continues, “JACC and Kuwait towers definitely influenced my [electrical substation] design choices. But so do all of the Islamic designs I encounter.” Clark lists psychedelic art, street art, modern art, fabric markets, stained glass, and more as inspo. However, he also shares a studio with his wife Susanna, and her textile artworkquilting for example, can be seen as influential on Clark’s pieces. “I started this abstract work about the same time that I married Susanna who is a quilter and fiber artist. We share a studio together and mutually inspire each other’s design ideas.” Don’t let the wholesome inspiration and the clean execution fool you, social messaging is integral to Stoeckley’s work.

When he discovered the open call for design submissions for the National Council for Culture Arts and Letters (NCCAL) Public Art Project “Al Fenn Al Thalit” Clark knew he wanted to submit his designs. “I have been painting murals for 20 years, so I figured this was my chance to start painting in Kuwait.” The Salmiya locations are accessible to Stoeckley because the AUK professor lives and works in Salmiya, and seeing celebrated public art that successfully navigated national bureaucracy to arrive on familiar street walls is inspirational. Although Clark states simply, “I want my students and colleagues to enjoy the murals when they come to campus.”

The NCCAL project is managed and expertly curated by Abdullah Saleh Yaseen Ali. “Al Fenn Al Thalith” aims to make the process easier for implementing and installing public art, with the NCCAL as a guide for artists as they navigate the entire process. Abdullah mentions, “I remember a few coworkers (one of whom is my current supervisor on this project) calling me up during the pandemic lockdowns discussing…unifying public art in Kuwait under one governing and organizing umbrella”. Now they are.

As an artist himself Abdullah was already part of the growing alternative art scene in Kuwait during the late 2010’s. There was a surge in the popularity of murals and graffiti art then, with artists like Sfhir being independently flown from Spain to apply his talent to a business’ community space, and local artists like Monstariam and GraffitiFreak making names for themselves commercially. However, Abdullah had already noticed how, “...the public

sector in Kuwait never truly catered to not only street artists and muralists, but any contemporary form of art that didn’t follow the “traditional” norms in style, sensibility, and approach.” Going on to note that, “If you wanted to create a mural on a public wall, such as…electrical substations… which are…screaming out to be a canvas, the [number] of hoops and hurdles you have to go through, with no defined system or rules…there was absolutely no structure to the whole thing. On top of that, you…have [expat] artists like Clark Stoeckley, who…would have no way of knowing where and to whom to reach out,” making the NCCAL project immediately impactful. Abdullah continues to explain, “[We needed] to show the artists that the opportunities exist, the public sector is changing and cares, and to show them we are trying to foster community and cultivate a booming art scene.”

With electrical substations across Kuwait in myriad locations within different urban typologies, it’s credit-worthy that Abdullah recognized that not any piece of art can go just anywhere. Colors, subjects, and topics are considered carefully when deciding which art pieces are installed in which particular areas. Says Abdullah, “We have a team currently composed of designers, architects, and artists to follow an approach I took in curating our first few successful murals where we study and analyze areas all over Kuwait, from the micro to the macro, creating a sort of ‘zoning ordinance’ in how to approach implementing public art pieces.”

It’s all well and good getting creatives on board, the community always finds and supports itself, somehow, eventually. But, getting NCCAL and other ministries on board, how does that work? Abdullah answers, “In terms of internally within the NCCAL…it’s all thanks to the trust I got from my leadership and supervision that took notice of all my work and passion (shout out to Abdulaziz Al Mazeedi). We struggled and it took a few years of convincing and putting myself in front of the right people to take notice, with a few strokes of luck, but finally, things got off the ground earlier this year.”

Apply for Al Fenn Al Thalith at nccal.gov.kw and follow progress through @kw_nccal and @theabood on Instagram where you can discover Abdullah’s art on @inkuarium. Clark Stoeckley is an Associate Professor of Art & Graphic Design at the American University of Kuwait, Salmiya. For more on Clark’s work go to clarkstoeckley.com, follow him on Instagram @clark_stoekley and @feral_feline_photography. Find Clark’s work on souqbawa.com. Read The United States vs. Private Chelsea Manning: A Graphic Account Inside the Courtroom. Follow @susanna_makes on Instagram.

WHERE GOOD IDEAS COME FROM

How to get better at having a good imagination

By Stephanie Vozza

When you think of someone having an active imagination, you probably picture a child. Make-believe is among the building blocks of childhood that give kids an innate ability to unleash big ideas.

But what if you recaptured that power?

Imagination is as important in adulthood as it is when you’re young, and it’s in your control, says Albert Read, author of The Imagination Muscle: Where Good Ideas Come From (And How to Have More of Them).

“We tend to think of our imagination as something that’s bestowed upon [us] from above,” says Read, former managing director of Condé Nast U.K. “It’s the classical tradition of inspiration, which in Latin means ‘to be breathed upon by the gods.’ I’m saying imagination is in your control, and you have the ability to make it stronger just in the way you work at your health and your emotional well-being.”

Unfortunately, evidence suggests that we are having fewer ideas than we used to and we’ve lost the imagination muscle, Read says, explaining, “We educate ourselves out of the free-flowing, childlike wonder that we have as children. And then we pretty much stay that way all through our lives.”

Creativity is important for positive growth in society. While it takes effort, it’s possible to build your imagination muscle. Here are three things you can do right now.

Adopt a Beginner’s Mindset

Many of the great geniuses in art, science, and business had some of their best ideas in their twenties and early thirties. Read says it’s because they had a beginner’s mindset, which is the ability to see things anew.

“What happens after that is that habits, thought, and worldviews start to set,” he says. “We can combat that by remaining a beginner and trying something new.”

Many Nobel Prize-winning scientists who continued their discoveries later in life were also artists. For example, Alexander Fleming, who discovered penicillin, was a member of the Chelsea Arts Club in London and experimented with microbial art, painting with bacteria. American particle physicist Richard Feynman published a collection of drawings. And Albert Einstein played the violin.

“They were not very good artists, but that didn’t matter,” Read says. “They had the beginner’s mindset when it came to art and that kept synaptic pathways open to remain able to see the world afresh.”

Be Willing to Fail

Another way to build your imagination is to take the advice from Eleanor Roosevelt, who said “Do something that scares you every day.”

“I’d say, do something that scares your imagination,” Read says. “Don’t worry about it being good, and don’t attach the notion of success immediately to the thing that you’re embarking on. The point is to open your mind and make it see things in a different way.”

Imagination requires you to take risks.

“Steve Jobs, David Bowie, William Wordsworth, Virginia Woolf—all these people had unbelievable successes,” Read says. “Between these successes, they had terrible failures. The idea that you have to be consistently successful if you are to bother at all is a misguided notion.”

Failure is a by-product of success, and it’s an important part of being an imaginative person.

Find Your Prime Time

Finally, enhance your imagination by paying attention to the moments in your day when your imagination is most alive and you have the most ideas. Read says he’s the most creative first thing in the morning.

“I make a conscious effort not to check my emails, not to check the news, and not to allow any incoming data to distort that,” he says. “There’s a purity between unconscious sleep and the consciousness of being awake, where you have this wonderful fertile territory to allow your mind to

wander and formulate new ideas that it couldn’t do when it’s in the rush of the day.”

Read also advocates for making space for boredom in your life. “Those in-between moments, when you’re standing in a queue or waiting for a bus, rather than taking out your phone and checking Instagram, allow your mind to wander, because that’s when good ideas happen,” he says. “Be attentive to yourself and double down on those precious moments that you don’t necessarily acknowledge or realize are happening.”

Everyone can and should build their imagination because it has the ability to make you happier, Read says, noting, “If you engage with your creative faculties, you are a more alive person.”

What’s more, society needs people to use their imaginations. Whether they’re big or small, societies move forward and civilizations progress through the generation of ideas.

“We can’t let our idea-generation energy subside,” Read says. “We need to create a world that is conducive to the imagination, not one that leaves it to chance or indifference. Imagination is our superpower. . . . It unlocks so many important parts of what it is to be human.”

Photo by Marija Zaric on Unsplash.

CELEBRATING IMPERFECTION: THE VIBRANT WORLD OF ZAYNAB ALSALUS

Embracing Imperfection and Vibrant Designs in Everyday Fashion

By bazaar Staff

Zaynab’s love for imperfection is not just a personal quirk but a foundational element of her design philosophy. “I love how everything in life is not perfect. I think perfection is so boring, and I hate how glamorized it is. I am the opposite of obsessive compulsive. I love randomness and feel that that makes life more interesting,” she shares. This perspective is woven into every piece she creates, bringing a refreshing authenticity to her designs.

Her educational background in Design Management provided the perfect blend of business acumen and creative exploration, setting the stage for her career. But it was her childhood fascination with cartoons and animation that truly ignited her passion for graphic design. This love for visual storytelling eventually led her to create designs for t-shirts, totes, and sweatshirts, especially following the events of October 2023. Wanting to wear a t-shirt that resonated with her support for the cause and not finding anything she liked, Zaynab decided to design her own. What started as a personal project quickly gained traction when a friend asked for a custom print, sparking a new chapter in her creative journey.

We love that Zaynab’s design style is unmistakably vibrant and maximalist. She revels in the challenge of presenting clients with options ranging from the crazy and colorful to the safe and subdued. “Sometimes they surprise me and go for the crazy colorful option,” she laughs. Recently, she has been exploring ways to modernize traditional patterns like sadu and tatreez, breaking conventional rules to create pieces that feel both

rooted in heritage and suitable for everyday wear. Her creative process is as unique as her designs. Zaynab finds clarity in solitude, often giving herself space away from social media and other distractions to let her thoughts flow freely. This quiet introspection is where her best ideas take shape, proving that sometimes, boredom can be a fertile ground for creativity.

Among her many creations, one design stands out: “Palestine Fruits.” This stamp design featuring fruits grown in Palestine is a tribute to the land’s rich soil and historical significance. “The design represents the richness of the soil of that land. The holiness of that small piece of geography which once could produce oranges amazing enough that they could be traded for a car,” Zaynab explains.

Incorporating themes of social justice into her work, particularly the situation in Palestine, is a deliberate choice for Zaynab. She feels a deep responsibility to use her design skills to raise awareness and keep important issues in the public eye. “I believe that every time anyone wears anything that is related to Palestine, whether it’s a t-shirt or a small pin, that serves as a reminder to themselves before other people to keep speaking out, to keep boycotting and to not get used to what is happening,” she asserts.

Balancing serious themes with style and artistry is a skill Zaynab has honed over time. She aims to create designs that people will wear

not just at protests but as part of their everyday wardrobe, challenging the dominance of western fashion brands. “Our culture is so incredibly rich in art and beautiful symbols and icons, why are we all wearing t-shirts that say ‘New York’ on them?” she questions. Her mission is to make Arabic designs not just a statement but a staple in fashion.

Zaynab’s inspiration often comes from trends that resonate personally, such as mental health awareness or the retro illustration revival in streetwear. She blends these influences with her distinctive, colorful style, creating pieces that are both trendy and deeply personal.

Outside of her work, fashion remains a means of self-expression for Zaynab. While she doesn’t consider herself a fashionista, she loves how her outfits reflect her personality. Her vibrant, eclectic style often prompts compliments and curious remarks, further fueling her creative spirit.

Staying motivated is never an issue for Zaynab, who finds joy and fulfillment in her work despite the demands of motherhood. When creative blocks arise, she seeks fresh perspectives by asking for feedback from those around her, valuing the insights of fresh eyes on her projects.

For aspiring graphic designers looking to make their mark in the lifestyle and fashion industry, Zaynab’s advice is simple: “Do it! There is space for everyone to bring their own unique touch.” She believes in the infinite possibilities of creative expression and encourages others to pursue their passions boldly.

As Zaynab Alsalus continues to break boundaries and celebrate the beauty of imperfection through her vibrant designs, her work serves as a reminder of the power of creativity and culture. Follow her journey and explore her latest creations on Instagram at @zaynab.thedesigner.

A VERY SHORT BREAK

In defense of the day trip

By Lacey Pfalz

As the days get longer and the sun gets hotter, we’re often encouraged to leave our local areas for places farther afield, or we sit tight and wait and plan for travel during the changing seasons ahead.

Yet what about that charming town just an hour’s north, or that gorgeous nature preserve even closer to home, which you haven’t yet visited even though you’ve heard amazing things about it?

This summer, let’s rediscover the joy of visiting new places closer to home. Let’s look at the familiar world around us through the enthusiastic eyes of a traveler. Who knows? Perhaps you’ll find more to appreciate than you expected.

Day trips are short, often day-long or half-daylong trips that a traveler can complete in a single day. They might take a few hours’ drive or only a half hour, but either way, they encourage locals to experience places, parks, towns and attractions that are new to the traveler.

Since coming back from my first trip to Europe, I began viewing my local world with new eyes. I’ve become more curious about visiting places near me that I’ve never visited before, such as Port Washington, a small Wisconsin port town off Lake Michigan that is home to the first artificial harbor in the Great Lakes and is absolutely charming in the summer.

After spending an afternoon wandering around the waterfront area, visiting historic landmarks, practicing my photography and drinking coffee in the town’s adorable cafes, I asked myself only one question: Why hadn’t I visited this place sooner?

It’s something like traveler’s blindness. We become so focused as travelers on heading farther and farther away from our homes, convinced that the further we travel, the more miles we roam, the more we will learn, the more we will enjoy it, and the more we will return refreshed, renewed, and yes, even more respected by our traveling peers.

Surely you understand me. How many of you have heard someone humbly bragging about their trip to an exotic locale, as if it makes them a better human being for having traveled all the way to Vietnam or Greece or Argentina?

The sad truth of the matter is that this desire to visit the places that are most different to our own hometowns blinds us to the joy of discovery while we’re here, at home.

Yet I’m convinced that we can look at the world around us through the same eyes as the ones we use when we explore some of the world’s most beloved destinations.

A few weeks ago, Orange Cone Season (the Wisconsin slang term for summer) forced me to take an unexpected detour on my way to a nearby town that I’ve begun visiting to work remotely for a few hours. For a long while, I had no idea where I was headed, but without that detour, I never would’ve

discovered the last covered bridge that still stands in Wisconsin, tucked away in a charming rural park.

When was the last time you got in your car and hopped onto your local freeway, but took it east instead of west, purely out of curiosity to discover where it might lead you? When was the last time you left your county for the promise of a nearby summer festival you’ve always heard about, but never thought to attend? When was the last time you chose to go somewhere wholly new — without ever leaving your home state or spending a night in a hotel?

This summer, make it a goal to take at least one day trip, either spontaneously or planned. I guarantee you will not regret the experience.

Reasons why you should take a day trip

It’s good for you. While I don’t have the psychological stats to back it up, I do know that when we visit new places, no matter how near or far, it boosts our curiosity and makes us happier, more fulfilled human beings. It also creates memories, especially when we do it with other people. So what are you waiting for? If you have a car, then there’s no stopping you!

It’s good for your local economy. If you live in a place that isn’t well-known for its tourism economy, then chances are, domestic (in-state) tourism is the main tourism driver for many of the places you’ll visit. Even when you take a day trip, you’re supporting your local parks, business owners and restaurateurs with every purchase, meal and experience you have, and that contributes to the overall health of the communities you visit, which is pretty great.

It’s short — on time. Even if you don’t have a flexible work schedule, it’s still possible to enjoy day trips in your free time. With summer’s longer daytime hours, you can get off work in the afternoon and enjoy several hours of daylight in a nearby locale before heading back home, and why not enjoy a nice meal in that new place while you’re at it? Or, if you want to save money, you can plan a visit to a free park and pack your own lunch or dinner to have while exploring.

So, what do you say? Do you want to take a day trip?

Photo by Elena Popova on Unsplash.

NAKTUB: CULTIVATING A LOVE FOR LANGUAGE THROUGH CREATIVITY

A holistic Arabic creative writing program by the Promenade Culture Centre for children that blends arts, storytelling, and more to inspire and educate

By bazaar Staff

Ksenia Graovac, the visionary PCC manager, is the driving force behind children’s education programs. She shares the inspiration behind Naktub: “When we embarked on this new journey at PCC nearly five years ago, our goal was clear—to foster a culture of increased artistic and cultural engagement in Kuwait. We knew that to achieve this, we had to start with the youngest minds. By exposing children to cultural and artistic content early on, we aim to nurture responsible, engaged adults who appreciate the richness of their heritage.”

We love how the PCC envisioned a program that understands the necessity of enhancing children’s reading and writing skills in Arabic, a program that

goes beyond conventional grammar lessons. “Naktub isn’t a language course; it’s a creative writing journey,” Ksenia explains. “We wanted children to explore Arabic as a form of expression, to find their inner storytellers, and to see language as a bridge to understanding the world around them.”

In today’s day and age, we the bazaar team agree that cultural expression is even more important and are so excited to see this program making such leaps. At the heart of Naktub are its dedicated instructors, Lolwa Al Kandari and Deema Al Ghunaim, who bring their multidisciplinary backgrounds to the classroom. Lolwa, who has a keen interest in psychology and law, reflects on the

partnership with the PCC: “The genuine interest the Promenade Culture Centre shows in building a creative community rooted in our Arabic culture was the main reason for my excitement. Their support has made teaching a joyful and rewarding experience.”

Deema Al Ghunaim, who was drawn to the program through a referral and her deep love for the Arabic language, adds, “Working with children allows me to explore language in its most dynamic and raw state. Ksenia’s poetic approach and the long-term nature of the project made it irresistible.”

The program’s success lies in its innovative teaching methods. Lolwa and Deema avoid rigid right-and-wrong paradigms, instead encouraging

children to reflect on their spelling and the nuances of meaning. “Our approach is intuitive, aligning with the children’s energy and thinking processes,” Deema notes. This method allows each child’s story to breathe and flourish, fostering a love for the language that extends beyond the classroom.

One of the program’s highlights is the production of a zine at the end of each cycle. This collaborative project allows children to see their work published, instilling a sense of pride and accomplishment. “The zine is a tangible reminder of their time with us,” says Lolwa. “It tells our students that their voices matter and that their stories are valuable.”

Guest instructors from various artistic disciplines further enrich the program. These creatives bring unique perspectives and help children explore the Arabic language through different lenses. From playwriting and music composition to architecture and graphic design, these sessions demonstrate the vast possibilities within creative writing.

Naktub’s impact on the children is profound. “We’ve seen remarkable growth in their confidence and creativity,” Lolwa shares. “By giving children our full attention, they surprise us with their development.” Deema echoes this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of the sensory and performative aspects of learning, which connect language to the material world and cultural traditions.

The ultimate goal of Naktub is to foster a deep, enduring love for the Arabic language and cultural identity. Ksenia concludes, “We want children to understand that language is a powerful, positive force. It connects us, celebrates our differences, and allows us to find ourselves within our stories.”

We are so inspired by the Naktub program and cannot wait to see the outcome of the next zine. To learn more about Naktub and see the incredible work being done, follow Promenade Culture Centre on Instagram: @pcckuwait.

PERSONAL BRANDING IS HARD

But you need to do it anyway

By Cat O’Shaughnessy Coffrin

Does the phrase personal branding fill you with dread? If so, you’re in good company. I’ve been helping corporate leaders define their personal brands for years, and I have seen how often just the idea itself can elicit strong and negative reactions. Despite its long history and roots with management maven Tom Peters, or even when a compelling case for personal branding is made, many executives still view the concept with derision, discomfort, and doubt.

It’s not hard to see why. Culturally, we have a long legacy of discouraging individuality in the workplace. Our corporate norms dictate that we should blend in and keep our heads down, that humility at work is a virtue, and that our identities belong to our jobs and employers.

For working professionals who grew up in this paradigm, defining who we are and describing our value out loud can trigger cognitive dissonance. It feels selfish and egotistical to talk about ourselves like it’s something for the Tik Tok generation—not serious executives.

“I definitely came in carrying some “ick factor” with me,” says Anna Silverstein, a senior communications leader from a global consulting firm who came to me for help with her personal brand. “The phrase “personal brand” seems to exemplify everything there is to hate about the post-social media era. It sounds so transactional, commercial, shallow.”

Understandable though it is, this perspective has become outdated and problematic. Discouraging personal identities and suppressing diverse voices in the workplace has contributed to many of the systemic problems we face in corporate culture today, from burnout and depression to homogeneous C-suites and boardrooms across industries.

It’s time to reframe the conversation. To help, here are four of the top myths about personal branding, debunked.

Myth 1: Personal branding is selfish.

No, it’s actually an obligation. Especially as we build our careers and grow as leaders, it is up to all of us to take responsibility for knowing who we are and what matters to us, and finding the words to describe it.

“Now that I’ve done the work, I see it as a process of self-discovery and growth,” says Anna. “A brand is basically a well-designed shortcut for telling people exactly who you are and what you care about.”

If we don’t do this work, we pass the onus (and opportunity) to define what we want or need onto everyone else. That doesn’t help anyone –especially those from historically disenfranchised communities or with marginalized voices that need and deserve to be heard.

Myth 2: People with personal brands are loud and obnoxious.

Wrong. Personal branding is actually an inherently quiet and internally focused exercise. When it’s done well, defining your personal brand means taking the time to explore and define who you are, what you stand for, and what others need to know to support, benefit from, and work well with you. It should feel quiet, thoughtful, and authentic.

Ultimately, how you implement your brand is up to you. Some people choose to build a thought leadership platform or become an influencer, but for most, it is simply about becoming more deliberate interacting with others as you build your career.

Myth 3: Personal branding is fake and disingenuous.

Not when it’s done well. Defining your brand is about looking at who you’ve always been and how it has manifested throughout your entire journey, your experiences, your value, and the unique way you move through the world.

When I work with executives, one of the best tactics to unlock this insight is to look at early interests and aspirations and track how they evolved. One woman, a crisis communications advisor based in Canada, remembered her childhood dream of becoming Leonardo Da Vinci. She recalled how she loved the blend of art and science in Da Vinci’s work.

Though she never made it into a science field, and she ultimately dropped out of art school, what she started to see was how the blend of art and science continues to characterize the way she approaches the world. Her clients value the way these two perspectives come together in her work, and she has discovered a creative and authentic way to describe how she operates and why.

Myth 4: Branding is only for senior leaders and C-suite executives.

Definitely not. Personal branding can benefit everyone at all stages in their career journey by keeping us connected to what really drives us, where we offer the most value, and where we are trying to go. Having this knowledge will make it easier for others to help support you, throughout your career path.

“You need that clarity for any number of things, whether that’s to take the next big leap in your career, to supercharge a learning journey, or to make choices that will give your life more meaning,” says Anna.

Regardless of their role, industry, or experience level, people with a strong personal brand tend to be centered, intentional, and real. More importantly, encouraging their people to spend the time to understand their individual strengths, style, and value, can help cultivate authentic leadership and greater space for diverse perspectives and personalities to thrive.

Photo by Arnel Hasanovic on Unsplash.

shop your favorite Alo ﬁts in this season's color palette for a fresh wardrobe update!

MORE MACANS

Porsche doubles the size of the model range for the all-electric Macan

By bazaar Staff

Porsche has doubled the size of the model range for its first all-electric SUV. While the focus for the rear-wheel-drive Macan was primarily on high efficiency and range, the new Macan 4S will fill the gap between the Macan 4 and the Macan Turbo. Like the models introduced at the start of 2024, the 4S is equipped with the electronically controlled Porsche Traction Management (ePTM) system, which distributes the drive power between the front and rear axles around five times faster than a conventional allwheel-drive system.

Macan: 100 kWh battery and highly efficient power electronics

The new Macan entry model to the all-electric SUV world of Porsche also gets its energy from a highvoltage battery with a gross energy content of 100 kWh. Propulsion is provided exclusively by the rear-axle motor that is used in the Macan 4, with a diameter of 210 millimeters, an active length of 200 mm and output of 250 kW (340 PS). The electric motor has a 480-amp pulse inverter (PWR) in which the highly efficient semiconductor material silicon

carbide (SiC) is used to provide higher efficiency. It significantly reduces switching losses in the PWR and enables higher switching frequencies. In combination with Launch Control, the Macan produces up to 265 kW (360 PS) of overboost power, and the maximum torque is 563 Nm. From a standing start, the car reaches the 100 km/h mark in 5.7 seconds and has a top speed of 220 km/h. By forgoing all-wheel drive, the Macan is 110 kilograms lighter than the Macan 4 and therefore requires less electricity for propulsion. This results in a combined WLTP range of up to 641 km.

Macan 4S: powerful electric motors and PASM as standard

The Macan 4S has a new rear-axle motor and a powerful 600-amp SiC pulse inverter. The electric motor has a diameter of 230 millimeters and an active length of 150 millimeters. Together with the front-axle motor also used in the Macan 4 and the Turbo, this results in a system output of 330 kW (448 PS) with a short power overboost to up to 380 kW (516 PS). With Launch Control, the maximum torque is 820 Nm. The performance figures are correspondingly impressive: with Launch Control, the Macan 4S makes the standard sprint from 0 – 100 km/h in 4.1 seconds and has a top speed of 240 km/h. It has a combined WLTP range of up to 606 km.

The Macan 4S is equipped with Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) electronic damping control as standard. The adaptive air suspension with levelling system and height adjustment, the Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus (PTV Plus) and the rear-axle steering allow the chassis to be further optimized for increased performance and comfort.

The two new models have all the qualities of the second generation of the Macan, including the progressive, timeless design with range-optimized aerodynamics (cw = 0.25). The 800-volt architecture of the Premium Platform Electric (PPE) enables a DC charging capacity of up to 270 kW. The high-voltage battery can be charged from 10 to 80 per cent within around 21 minutes at a suitable fast-charging station.

New color, new wheels, new off-road design package

A new exterior color, Slate Grey Neo, is now available for all Macan models. A 20-inch Macan S wheel has been added to the wheel portfolio. A new off-road design package is also optionally available for all models, further improving the everyday usability of the Macan. Rough dirt roads and particularly steep climbs and descents can be mastered even more easily than before. The altered geometry of the front bumper has increased the approach angle to up to 17.4 degrees, depending on the model (with the air suspension at a specifically raised level). In combination with the adaptive air suspension, the off-road design package also increases the ground clearance by 10 mm to 195 mm at the normal setting. Porsche offers the package in two colors: in Vesuvius Grey and in the exterior color. The front bumper, side skirts, diffuser panels and roof railings are then painted accordingly. Matching 21-inch off-road design wheels in Vesuvius Grey are also offered. For customers who pick the off-road design package variant in the car’s exterior color, the side blades are also painted in the same color. The roof railings can be ordered in Black, Silver or Turbonite (Turbo only). For the Macan, Macan 4 and Macan 4S, the offroad front bumper with an inlay in Vesuvius Grey is also available separately. The approach angle increases as with the off-road design package.

Porsche Driver Experience with new design and new function

With the electrification of the Macan, Porsche has introduced a completely new display and control system into its successful SUV model. The Porsche Driver Experience offers a mix of digital and analogue elements. These include an instrument cluster with a 12.6-inch curved display, a 10.9-inch passenger display, a head-up display with augmented reality technology, and ambient lighting with a communication light. Porsche has once again completely upgraded the design of the screens for all Macan models. It now comprises an emotional welcoming animation, an

AGAINST ALL ODDS

How Olympians succeeded

By Mark Eaves

As an athlete, what are the odds of making it to the Olympics? The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) calculates that less than 2% of its half million athletes will make it to professional status, and that’s not even Olympic level.

“The odds are always bad,” said multitime USA Olympian hurdler Lolo Jones in a recent interview. In June, Jones attempted to qualify for her fourth Olympic Games, in Paris (note, just before publication the team was announced. She did not make the team). “Even in my prime, the odds to be an Olympic athlete, even in your healthy peak, it’s 1%. If you don’t know how to overcome odds, you are not destined to be an Olympian.”

Against all odds

If you want to represent your nation as an Olympian, going against the odds is table stakes.

But what if your country is struck by war, famine, or natural disaster, or gripped by political turmoil?

Imagine this: you’re an aspiring teenage Syrian athlete—a swimmer—whose house is destroyed in the civil war. Along with your sister, you flee through North Africa into Turkey and find yourself smuggled into Greece by boat. The boat falters, takes on water, and you, your sister, and others have to swim for 3 hours just to reach land. Following that you travel by foot through Europe to finally find refuge in Germany.

What are your odds of realizing your Olympic dreams now?

At the Rio Games 2016, the International Olympic Committee established the Refugee Olympic Team—a scholarship program allowing selected displaced athletes the opportunity to compete under the Olympic flag.

It was here that the actual Syrian swimmer you just imagined, Yusra Mardini, successfully competed as one of 11,237 athletes, representing a global community of 62.5 million displaced people. Her remarkable story inspired the world, while her memoir, Butterfly, inspired Hollywood’s adaptation, The Swimmers, an award-winning Netflix movie dramatizing her journey.

Fast forward to 2024 and, as the refugee crisis grows, the global community of displaced people is spiraling upwards. When the Paris Games begin this summer, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reports that there will be over 100 million displaced people globally. That is more than the entire population of Germany.

The Refugee Olympic Team

It is against this backdrop that we worked in partnership with the International Olympic Committee to ensure that at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, we shine a light on this global crisis, while celebrating the hope and inspiration embodied by

the Refugee Olympic Team athletes. There will be 36 athletes, representing 12 sports, and each of them has travelled further and fought harder than anyone, just to get to the start line. They will have made it against all odds.

The “1 in 100 Million” campaign encapsulates this, and will mobilize global support for this years’ Refugee Olympic Team, encouraging fans to follow the athletes’ journey on social media.

For the first time ever, the team will have its own emblem and identity, the design featuring arrow waymarkers signifying the shared experience of their exceptional journeys, both physical and emotional.

We are calling on everyone to get behind this team that represents the more than 100 million displaced people on the world’s biggest sporting stage. Let’s make them the best supported team in the world. They deserve it.

As Yusra Mardini—now retired from

competition and a presenter on Eurosport at this year’s Olympic Games—said of the 2024 team, “I hope the world will open their hearts and minds to them and hear their stories.”

Athletes like Cameroonian-born Cindy Gamba, the first ever female boxer to represent the Refugee Olympic Team and a serious medal contender, or weightlifter Ramiro Mora, who said of his selection: “I will be so proud stepping out wearing the Refugee Olympic Team emblem. To represent myself, my journey, but also the thousands of people who find themselves in similar circumstances as I did. I hope seeing us walk out at Paris 2024 will bring hope and inspiration to people everywhere.”

Sport has a unique power to unite the world, and this team can unite us more than ever, whatever the odds.

Photo by Peter Robbins on Unsplash.

THE NEW ‘DIWANIYA STUDIO’ BY MASTARA

A 5-Step Customization Process, design led Approach, and Exciting New Additions

By bazaar Staff

and

window coverings, the Diwaniya Studio offers a dedicated space where customers can work with mastaras in house design team and walk through the guided 5 step process to create the perfect seating for their salon or diwaniya.

“We wanted to create a complementary product line to our window coverings while still staying in the fabric and customized home

product space. The inspiration to create the Diwaniya Studio by Mastara stemmed from the need to simplify and modernize the traditional furniture customization process specific to diwaniyas, removing the shock factor that comes with not fully knowing how the end result will be with custom designed furniture. The aim was to make it more customer-friendly, engaging,

Introducing the ‘Diwaniya Studio’ by mastara Mastara has just given the studio an exciting update by adding a new line to their existing business: the Diwaniya Studio by Mastara. This addition introduces a clear

guided 5-step customization studio as an extension to their existing window covering studio. It is unlike their previous business model, which focused primarily on in-home consultations and custom

and efficient by integrating digital and physical visualization tools as well as a step-by-step guided approach, similar to successful models like Build-a-Bear and Build your Bowl on Talabat for example. Personalization is the future and having the capability to do that through a guided process is what we are achieving with the studio,” explained Jamal Saad Alfahham, mastara CEO

The 5-Step Customization Process

The most notable change to the studio is the introduction of a 5-step customization process that is engaging, interactive, and easy to follow. The studio is divided into 5 clear stations which guide you through the process to create your own designs:

1. Design: Collaborate with our in-house designer who will showcase visual designs and work with you to identify your style through a selection of predefined style types that can be personalized into your very own style, theme, and functional requirements.

2. Layout: Plan the perfect arrangement for your Diwaniya or salon seating according to your space requirements and optimize space and flow to ensure functionality and aesthetic appeal.

3. Comfort: Customize cushions, seating depths, and support levels for ultimate comfort.

4. Finishes: Choose from a beautiful selection of fabrics by ‘Fabric Library’ in lots of colors and textures. Fabric Library are globally renowned for their stain-resistant, high-performance, ISOcertified options for long-lasting and sustainable fabric choices. You can also select wood and marble finishes to add a touch of luxury and elegance to your design.

5. Accessories: Enhance your space with custom tables, cushions, and armrests or add modern touches like LED lighting and power plugs for a sophisticated finish.

The new process is supported by the addition of a curated library of timeless designs and essential collections, the introduction of modern

amenities like LED lighting, integrated power plugs, and customizable tables to designs, allowing clients to add contemporary features to classic pieces. The Studios Lego-like approach helps you create and visualize your diwaniya seating components, for people who like their furniture to match and evolve with their lifestyle as it changes.

The Designer Community Mastara’s continuing belief in the local creative and design community saw the introduction of a young and extremely talented resident designer to mastara, Hussain Alkazemi, who will create and oversee all designs coming through the studio. He will work closely with customers to personalize each Diwaniya to their specific space and style, bringing a unique and contemporary touch to every project. Our aim is to extend design requirements beyond seating alone, providing a complete design solution for your entire space. The studio also showcases local artistic talent with a customized art installation

by Rasha Elzamel, which customers can view and procure through mastara.

“We are eager to collaborate more with complementary businesses and freelancers to create a truly creative and localized experience. Supporting and moving further into this space, especially with anyone working in customized products that complement mastara’s offerings, is a key part of our vision.” Carly Arzeen Zandipour mastara CMO.

The changes and additions have only strengthened and highlighted what Mastara has always offered like a commitment to creativity, personalized service, and the mastara guarantee.

“My favorite thing about the Custom Design Studio is the interactive and hands-on customization process. It transforms a traditionally complex and overwhelming experience into something fun, engaging, and accessible, allowing customers to truly express their personal style without worrying about whether the end result will turn out to look

amazing. The process is designed to result in end pieces where it is extremely hard to go wrong, making furniture design accessible to literally any and everyone,” Hussain Alkazemi, mastaras Designer & Architect told us.

The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. Customers appreciate the simplicity and clarity of the process, as well as the ability to see and feel the different components before deciding. Both amateurs and professionals have found the studio to be a valuable resource for creating unique, high-quality pieces with limitless aesthetic possibilities. When considering the myriad of wood and stone finishes, along with the preselected fabric options, stitching styles, and cushion arrangements, the potential combinations are endless. All these elements have been meticulously designed to seamlessly complement one another, ensuring cohesive and aesthetically pleasing outcomes. The Diwaniya Studio by mastara is an innovative service that provides immense value to both customers and design professionals, making the process of custom furniture design more accessible, educational, and efficient.

For customers, the new Diwaniya Studio by mastara offers a guided and simplified process, ensuring that they can navigate

custom design with ease and confidence. This accessibility means that customers can engage in the design process without fear of making mistakes, as the studio’s structured approach guarantees successful outcomes. Additionally, customers benefit from a hands-on experience and education about furniture design and materials. Working with an in-house designer, they gain valuable insights into the intricacies of design, helping them make informed decisions and appreciate the craftsmanship behind their custom pieces.

Design professionals find the Custom Design Studio to be an invaluable tool in their practice. It serves as an excellent platform for showcasing design options to clients, allowing for a more interactive and visual presentation of ideas. This capability not only enhances client engagement but also aids in conveying complex design concepts more effectively. Furthermore, the studio streamlines the customization process, significantly saving time and effort. By providing a wide range of high-quality components and materials, the Custom Design Studio enables design professionals to create bespoke pieces with ease, ensuring that every project meets the highest standards of quality and creativity.

We asked the Mastara team about their

future plans and they told us that they would love to expand the range of customizable components and materials. They also want to incorporate more advanced digital tools, such as augmented reality and haptic technology to enhance the visualization process and sensory experience, especially after extending the 5-step as an at-home service. Additionally, they plan to offer workshops and tutorials to further educate customers and designers on the customization process and allow them to register their own signed versions of the diwaniyas.

The Custom Design Studio bridges the gap between customers and design professionals, offering a comprehensive solution that simplifies custom design, educates users, and enhances the overall design experience. A bespoke, stylish, and comfortable Diwaniya or salon seating area that reflects your personal style and meets your exact needs, all backed by the Mastara guarantee of exceptional service and delivery is only a visit away.

Mastara is the first and only bilingual app and website in the region to offer customized curtains, and blinds. Book a free consultation today at www.mastara.me/appointment or Whatsapp 9092 5757.

FEELING GRITTY

Emotional intelligence can boost your perseverance at work

By Harvey Deutschendorf

Success is rarely achieved overnight. It involves numerous setbacks, roadblocks, detours and failures. The ability to keep going, despite things not working out, is expected of anyone who wishes to advance, especially in the workplace.

During an interview, one of the things that hiring managers want to determine is our ability to persevere when things aren’t going well. This is why one of the most common interview questions is about how an individual has dealt with setbacks in the past.

Everyone can feel motivated and determined when things are going well. It is when things aren’t going well that there is separation between those who will keep going and those that will quit or take an easier route. By going through setbacks and difficulties, we develop and increase our crucial problem solving skills, critical thinking skills, and our adaptability. Without developing these skills, we often simply can’t reach our personal and professional goals.

I believe that one of the most important skills we need to develop in order to strengthen our perseverance is emotional intelligence. Here’s why:

Emotional intelligence and perseverance

There are many reasons why developing our emotional intelligence is one of the most effective ways to increasing our perseverance levels.

The basic tenets of emotional intelligence involve a deeper level of understanding ourselves and others. In the workplace, this translates into trying to understand a given situation and the importance of how we react to it. Instead of allowing fear and negativity to take over emotionally intelligent people manage their emotions. This allows them to step back and to look for solutions.

In my own research, I have found that there are specific attributes of people who have developed perseverance, such as an all-consuming vision, a burning desire for success, inner confidence, the ability to adjust, and a commitment to lifelong learning. Instead of blaming others, people with high levels of perseverance move more rapidly towards problem solving.

How perseverance helps us at work

Leaders with strong emotional intelligence will have a good sense of how situations impact those that report to them and reach out to support them. When things go wrong and unexpected complications come up, emotions can overpower us and our judgments. This can lead to added stress and bad decisions made in the spur of the moment to try to alleviate the situation as quickly as possible. Emotional Intelligence allows us

to take the time we need in order to step back and carefully think things through, resulting in responding with our powerful thinking brain instead of instinctively reacting from our emotions.

People with high emotional intelligence are sensitive to, and better at understanding, other’s emotions. Plus, they can provide support and empathy when it is most needed during stressful situations that arise. In this way, perseverance increases the comfort levels in the workplace and decreases the level of fear that we experience when we try something new that we aren’t sure will work. As a result, perseverance leads to a decrease in the level of defensiveness and instills workers with more confidence to try new ideas. These new ideas are crucial to helping keep an organization competitive and thriving. Without this level of comfort, workplaces will stagnate and creativity will grind to a halt.

When workers know that they will be supported, everyone’s desire to experiment, try new ideas, and be more innovative increases. This results in developing a solutions-focused mindset throughout all levels in a workplace. And

ultimately, this is crucial to both an organizations’ and an individual’s success.

Emotional intelligence increases positive relationships between colleagues, supervisors and managers. As a result, levels of teamwork and collaboration goes up. Not having valuable energy drained by bickering, backstabbing, and infighting builds trust and increases team spirit. It builds confidence that whatever challenges will come up, together we will find the way through and persevere.

This increase in confidence, pride, and perseverance leads us to believe that we are capable of handling any situation that comes along. Consequently, team productivity goes up along with levels of job satisfaction. Our ability to figure things out and keep going despite difficulties has a snowball effect. It increases our confidence in our ability to take on larger challenges moving forward.

Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash.

FOUR SEASONS HOTEL KUWAIT AT BURJ ALSHAYA ANNOUNCES MARTIN KIPPING IS HOTELIER

MIDDLE EAST’S GENERAL MANAGER OF THE YEAR

A visionary leader merging luxury hospitality with environmental and social sustainability

By bazaar Staff

Crowned Hotelier Middle East’s 2024 GM of the Year: Kuwait, Martin Kipping has redefined what it means to lead in the luxury hospitality industry. From garnering world-renowned awards to pushing pioneering sustainability initiatives, Kipping has dedicated himself to elevating every aspect of the urban sanctuary at Four Seasons Hotel Kuwait at Burj Alshaya. Drawing on a dazzling international career, his vision has broadened into a heartfelt human- and planet-centric approach: “Luxury hospitality has shifted from the idea of glamour to something much deeper,” he muses. “Today’s luxury honours local culture, meaningful experience, environmental and social sustainability, and exceptional service, weaving all these elements into the fabric of the hotel experience.”

A Transformative International Leader

Born in Wissen an der Sieg, Germany, Kipping’s journey into luxury hospitality began in palace hotels in the UK and Switzerland before he graduated from Les Roches Global Hospitality Education in Switzerland. His 30-year career – 15 with Four Seasons - took him across the globe from various locations in the United States, the West Indies to Costa Rica and high-end establishments in Mexico. Fluent in German, English, Spanish, and French, Kipping’s international background has played a crucial role in his success. His love of different cultures and of the Four Seasons brand is vividly reflected in his successful management of the Hotel’s 450-strong team. “I’ve never worked in a hotel with such diversity,” he reflects. “We have over 45 nationalities here, so it’s key for me to create an environment where people feel as connected to each other and to the values of the Four Seasons family as I do.”

Exceptional

Commitment to Sustainability

In a hyper-arid desert land with the lowest internal freshwater availability of any country, Kipping has been unwavering in his commitment to put sustainability at the heart of his leadership. Keen to inspire other desert-dwellers to take action, Kipping’s initiatives for Four Seasons Hotel Kuwait include advanced energy and water conservation

“ There are so many stories and interesting cultural components to explore – our role is to share an insider perspective you won’t find

on Tripadvisor.

For instance, it’s thanks to my amazing concierge

team that I can tell you where to find the best Majboos in town” - Martin Kipping

measures, eliminating single-use plastics, and extensive community engagement efforts to promote local biodiversity and support sustainable development. His vision extends to environmental innovation in guest service and operational efficiency, such as energy-saving controls in guest rooms, in-house water bottling, and eco-certified cleaning products. Under his guidance, Four Seasons Hotel Kuwait achieved LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum certification in 2024, becoming the first and only Hotel in Kuwait to earn this recognition and setting a new benchmark for environmental excellence in the region.

Prestigious Accolades and Industry Recognition

LEED certification is just one of Kipping’s many achievements. Since joining Four Seasons Hotel

Kuwait at Burj Alshaya in 2021, his leadership has brought numerous accolades to the Kuwait City hideaway. The Hotel and its Spa and Wellness Center have earned the coveted Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star rating for two consecutive years. This recognition, based on an independent assessment by anonymous inspectors according to 900 objective criteria, underscores Kipping’s dedication to delivering a highly customized level of service with sustainability at its heart. During his tenure, the Hotel has also scooped up several awards for best business and luxury hotel, including “Kuwait’s Leading Luxury Hotel” 2023 and 2024 at the World Travel Awards.

A Personal Mission

Despite his success, Kipping is not driven by a desire for accolades and achievements. He sees himself as a storyteller, one with a passion for opening doors on different cultures. “Kuwait has such a sense of proud heritage,” he comments. “There are so many stories and interesting cultural components to explore – our role is to share an insider perspective you won’t find on Tripadvisor. For instance, it’s thanks to my amazing concierge team that I can tell you where to find the best Majboos in town,” he adds with a smile. This desire for cultural connection extends beyond his professional life into his personal one. When he’s not working, Kipping dedicates 100% of his time to his family, raising his children to be world citizens.

He hopes that in time they will also embody the human-centric message that is central to his sense of purpose.

Future-Forward Vision

Not one to rest on his laurels, Kipping is already planning his next steps to shape the future of hospitality in his adopted hometown and beyond. Integrating e-limousine service and e-charging stations as option for its discerning clientele into the hotel’s offering by the end of the summer while other sustainability-focused initiatives, including enhanced support of local producers and an onsite water processing site, are in the pipeline. His visionary leadership and dedication to excellence and innovation have set new benchmarks in the hospitality industry, inspiring current and future generations to create more meaningful and sustainable experiences. With dreams as soaring as the starlit skies of the Arabian Gulf, Kuwait 2024 GM of the Year Martin Kipping is one to watch.

To learn more about the Four Seasons and to see what else is going on, follow them on Instagram @FSKuwait, or give them a call on 22006000 to book a hotel stay or spa treatment.

DON’T MOVE

5 times you should stay in your comfort zone

By Stephanie Vozza

You’ll likely have to step outside your comfort zone if you want to grow. Learning something new is often uncomfortable, but it’s necessary for developing new skills and forging new neural pathways.

While a growth mindset is a critical component for success, there are times when the better choice is to stay inside your comfort zone. Here are five times you should stick to what you’re comfortable doing:

1. You’re in a Period of High Stress If you’re experiencing a lot of stress or feel burned out, reconsider adding something new to your plate.

“Sticking to familiar routines can help you feel more in control,” says Henna Pryor, author of Good Awkward: How to Embrace the Embarrassing and Celebrate the Cringe to Become The Bravest You. “It’s like finding a calm spot in the middle of a storm.”

Katy Riddick, managing director for the strategic consulting firm High Lantern Group, agrees. “If you are experiencing grief, trauma, or other personal mental health challenges, sticking to what you know best can help maintain productivity and wellbeing without adding extra pressure,” she says. “[It can also] have the positive benefit of still feeling like you are a valuable member of the team.”

Sometimes, stress comes from the job itself, such as having a lot of out-of-your-comfort-zone activities coinciding, says Joseph Galasso, a clinical psychologist and CEO of Baker Street Behavioral Health. “It is generally good strategy not to show up to every battle you are invited to,” he says. “If you are already trying something new, or several something-news, that require you to be out of your comfort zone, it is okay to say no to others.”

2. You’re Happy in Your Role

If you’re currently in a job where you’re a high performer, love your work, and would be perfectly happy continuing in this role for years to come, it’s perfectly fine to stay in your comfort zone, says Cheryl Naumann, chief human resources officer for the University of Phoenix.

“If you feel your role is not likely to be threatened by emerging technologies, and you’re pretty confident that AI won’t take over key parts of your work and render you obsolete, then sticking with your current role may be perfectly acceptable,” she says.

Make sure you won’t have regrets, though. “Most people find that stepping out of their comfort zone offers more satisfaction and greater rewards in the long run,” adds Naumann. “The nagging feelings of missed opportunities and chances that you passed up may take a greater

toll as time passes than living in discomfort for the short term.”

3. You Need to Be Efficient or Precise

Your comfort zone is home to the skills you’ve mastered, which enhances your efficiency and productivity, says Caitlin Collins, organizational psychologist and program strategy director at Betterworks, a goal-management software Company.

“Expertise can lead to consistently high-quality work and can be especially valuable in roles that require precision and reliability,” she explains. “At this level, the employee becomes a role model, even if not actively teaching others, and setting the example for how to do something very well for others to learn by example.”

Your comfort zone can also help protect limited resources, adds Pryor. “When resources are tight—whether it’s time, money, or people— sticking to what you know works can help you get the most out of what you have,” she says. “It’s about being smart and not taking unnecessary risks.”

4. Your Performance Is Being Reviewed

If you’re in performance review season or you know you’re being assessed, it’s best to demonstrate your level of accomplishment by staying in your comfort zone, says Jason Walker, program director and associate professor of industrial and organizational psychology at Adler University in Vancouver.

“In situations requiring top-notch performance, like during a client meeting or a supervisor’s evaluation, familiar routines can boost accuracy and dependability,” he says. “This empowers

employees to use their knowledge and selfassurance to achieve outcomes when the stakes are high.”

When you need to feel and appear more confident, the best vantage point is comfort, says Galasso. “Express the things you know and perform with consistency,” he says. “These are great precursor experiences to have prior to stepping out of your comfort zone, asking for a promotion, or trying new things.”

5. You Need a Confidence Boost

If you’ve gone through a series of workplace challenges or losses, you may need to take a break to build or rebuild your confidence, says Pryor.

“If you’re feeling unsure of yourself, working within your comfort zone can help you rack up some early wins, as long as you commit to moving out following those wins,” she says.

“These small successes at the beginning of your shift can boost your confidence and prepare you for bigger challenges down the road.”

Whether you stay in or venture out, the key to comfort zones is balance, says Collins. “While staying in the comfort zone has its benefits, it’s crucial for employees to periodically challenge themselves to grow and adapt,” she says. “Encouraging a balanced approach where employees have opportunities for both stability and growth can create a more dynamic and resilient workforce.”

Also, make sure you’re not turning into awkward avoidance or entering a rut, adds Pryor. “Regularly check in with yourself to make sure you’re still growing and not just coasting,” she says.

Photo by Felix Luo on Unsplash.

YOUR CHILDREN ARE SAFE BECAUSE WE‘RE COMMITTED TO OUR STANDARDS.

THE ALL-NEW TOYOTA LAND CRUISER PRADO 2024

New Standards for On-Road Comfort and Off-Road Performance

By bazaar Staff

Building on an enviable heritage as one of the world’s toughest 4x4s, Mohamed Naser Al Sayer & Sons EST Co. and Toyota are proud to announce the launch of its all-new Land Cruiser Prado in Kuwait, a vehicle whose unrivaled off-road capabilities have been honed across more than 70 years and 190 countries.

The ceremony was attended by Martin Aherne Senior Business Director Toyota Group Sales, Theo Kruger General Manager of Toyota retail sales, Bader Faisal Al Sayer Head of Toyota Marketing, along with the representatives from press and media.

Since its debut in 1951, the Land Cruiser has proven its ability to excel in even the harshest environments. It has also played an indispensable role in supporting livelihoods in remote areas, contributing to humanitarian aid and disaster relief efforts, and enriching lives through unique experiences only the Land Cruiser can offer. The Land Cruiser Prado, introduced to the Land Cruiser family in 1985, then brought the unparalleled performance of previous models in a more compact, lightweight package.

Bader Faisal Al Sayer said “The Toyota Land Cruiser family of vehicles has always

undergone development and innovation so that our customers can enjoy distinctive driving experiences with exceptional specifications that give them real and safe driving pleasure on all roads”.

“The Prado series is considered the jewel among the Land Cruiser four-wheel drive vehicles that are characterized by attractive appearance as well as strong performance thanks to superior driving systems and advanced technologies that make everyone who drives the Prado feel safe and reassured” added Bader Al Sayer.

As the generations have evolved, the Land Cruiser Prado has tended to shift to the highend, luxury lines. During development of the vehicle, Akio Toyoda, Chairman of Toyota Motor Corporation, who was the person with ultimate responsibility for the product, explained his basic approach as the following: “The Land Cruiser

should be a vehicle that supports people’s lives and local communities, so the Land Cruiser Prado must return to the true form that customers are looking for.” In response, the development team defined the model’s new concept as a return to the roots of the Land Cruiser, creating a vehicle that is simple, sturdy and a practical choice for customers’ lifestyles.

Keita Moritsu, Chief Engineer in charge of development, said: “Toyota aims at providing ‘Mobility for all’ and ‘Happiness for all.’ What can the Land Cruiser do for that? I believe it is to embody ‘Producing happiness for all’ in more diverse daily life through providing ‘mobility’ in places that only the Land Cruiser can let you come back safe, and ‘reliability’ entrusted by the QDR as well. This is the role that the Land Cruiser has always played — and I believe that should never change.”

Toyota Alsayer Management with the japanese delegate.

Moritsu added: “Whether brand new or used, this is a car that will support every owner. Our aim for the Land Cruiser is to help drivers express their individuality beyond regions and generations and become a reliable partner for years to come.”

Nobuyuki Takemura, Chief Representative, Middle East and Central Asia Representative ‎Office, Toyota Motor Corporation, commented: “We are thrilled to unveil the all-new Land Cruiser Prado to our ever-growing Middle East fan base. This legendary 4x4 represents an integral aspect of Toyota’s heritage, built through our constant pursuit of greater reliability, durability, and capability. From its strong horizontal lines and signature silhouette to its sturdy and stable interior layout, the Land Cruiser Prado has been engineered with timeless design principles that grant it the look and functionality of a true off-road vehicle. We thank our customers in the region and beyond for their continuous support and look forward to working hand-in-hand with them to create ‘ever-better cars’ that surpass their expectations.”

The all-new Land Cruiser Prado is built on the body-on-frame Toyota New Global Architecture GA-F platform, which offers a 50% increase in frame rigidity and a 30% increase in overall rigidity for superior handling and a comfortable, stable ride both on and off-road. This platform upholds Toyota’s traditional values of build quality and safety while delivering an enjoyable driving experience.

To achieve a more exciting driving style, the Land Cruiser Prado comes with a new lineup of powertrains that combine powerful driving performance with environmental efficiency. The first powertrain is a 2.4-liter inline four-cylinder turbo gasoline engine that produces 278 hp and 430 Nm of torque, paired with a direct shift eight-speed automatic transmission. The second powertrain is a 2.8-liter inline four-cylinder turbo diesel engine that produces 201 hp and 500 Nm of torque, also paired with a direct shift eightspeed automatic transmission.

The all-new Land Cruiser Prado’s all-terrain support systems make it one of the most technically advanced, safe, pleasurable and easyto-use four-wheel drive vehicles in the region. This helps both skilled and inexperienced drivers maximize their vehicle’s performance thanks to a multitude of assistance features, including a rear Differential Lock System that provides enhanced off-road capabilities on rough terrain. Superior wheel articulation has also been ensured, dramatically enhancing off-road ground-covering ability. The Adaptive Variable Suspension System (AVS) further improves tire road holding ability and ride comfort when off-road, and stability and controllability when on-road.

The Land Cruiser Prado comes with a total of six modes, including a new AUTO mode that enhances Multi-Terrain Select capabilities by adjusting to various road conditions such as sand, rock, dirt, and mud, as well as crawl control and turn assist functions to further enhance its offroad prowess.

The latest Land Cruiser Prado is also equipped with Electric Power Steering (EPS), which helps

reduce loss of steering control when driving offroad, provides a crisper steering feel, improves maneuverability at low speeds, and enables Lane Tracing Assist. The Stabilizer Disconnect Mechanism (SDM), allows the front stabilizer state to be changed via a switch, delivering ride comfort when off-road and handling stability when on-road.

The all-new Land Cruiser Prado combines seamless maneuverability, excellent functionality

Bader Faisal Alsayer – Toyota Senior Marketing Manager.

Theo Kruger – General Manager Toyota Sales and Bader Faisal Alsayer.

for carrying passengers and cargo, and simplicity, allowing for easy maintenance and modification. Its exterior design is characterized by inherent strength and stability, combined with an array of high-quality, user-friendly interior features. The result is a true fusion of heritage and modernity, a fully-fledged off-roader that inspires confidence across even the most challenging terrains.

Striking a balance between rugged durability and enhanced convenience and comfort, the new Land Cruiser Prado’s cabin is equipped with a range of advanced features. These include as wireless charging for smartphones, a 12.3-inch touchscreen multimedia system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, a 12.3-inch full graphic color meter, a color head-up display (HUD), a dual-zone automatic air conditioning system with rear AC vents, a 10-speaker surround sound system, multi-adjustable power and ventilated front seats, and 60/40 split and reclining secondrow seats, fully flat-folding third-row seats.

As with any other Toyota model, safety remains a top priority for the all-new Land Cruiser Prado, which comes with an advanced safety system. This is complemented by Toyota Safety Sense, an advanced safety technology package that includes a Pre-Collision System (PCS) with extended features to include Intersection Collision Avoidance Support; Acceleration Suppression, which reacts to sudden use of the throttle in low-speed driving; and Emergency Steering Assist. The package also includes Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC) with Full-Speed Range and several features such as Earlier detection of interrupt vehicle and Curve speed reduction, Lane Tracing Assist (LTA), Lane Departure Alert (LDA), and Adaptive High Beam System (AHS).

In addition, the all-new Land Cruiser Prado features a comprehensive array of safety features to protect its occupants, such as 8 SRS airbags, including side-curtain airbags for all three rows, Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Traction Control (TRC), Anti-lock Brake System (ABS), Brake Assist (BA), Parking Support Brake (PKSB), Blind Spot Monitor (BSM), Multi-terrain Monitor (MTM) including Panoramic View Monitor (PVM), Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA), Safe Exit Assist (SEA), Downhill Assist Control (DAC), Tire Pressure Warning System (TPWS), Drive Start Control (DSC), driver and front passenger seat belts with pre-tensioners and force limiters, and a clearance sonar featuring eight sensors located in the front and rear bumpers.

Available in 10 distinctive exterior colors, the all-new Land Cruiser Prado allows customers to express their individuality. These include Avant Garde Bronze Metallic, Dark Gray, Smoky Blue which

is also available with a light grey roof, Super White, Platinum White Pearl MC, Black, and Attitude Back MC. In addition to the newly developed color Sand that is available either individually or combined with a light grey roof. Meanwhile, the interior is available in a choice of Dark Chestnut, Black, or Chateau. The vehicle also comes equipped with

a choice of two 18-inch alloy wheel designs: one that offers better off-road performance, while the other expresses functional beauty and practicality.

Visit toyota.com.kw, call 1803803, or follow @toyotakw on Instagram. [...Continued]

IN DEFENSE OF MODERATION

6 unexpected benefits of having moderate viewpoints

By Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic

Why is it so difficult to relate to individuals who are capable of expressing nuanced or moderate viewpoints about broad public opinion matters and sometimes even trivial issues? Whether it’s the war in the Middle East, the virtues and flaws of artificial intelligence, or the U.S. presidential election, polarization and tribalization seem the norm rather than the exception.

This is firmly at odds with what both common sense and science dictate, namely that most things, including the strength of attitudes and beliefs, should be average or moderate by definition.

As we transition to the second half of a year that will see 50% of the world’s population electing their national leader, with divisive political campaigns heating up, it seems timely to wonder about the human potential—both the ability and willingness—for holding moderate viewpoints and making rational decisions based on facts and evidence, as opposed to acting based on our tribal, emotional, or passionate impulses.

Extremist views are simple because they avoid ambivalence and ambiguity while conveying the illusion of clarity and certainty. This saves mental resources and lubricates our self-concept. One of the easiest ways to feel smart is to distort reality so that it fits with our values, beliefs, and aspirations.

And yet there are clearly many underrated virtues to holding moderate viewpoints.

Provides a reality check

Reality doesn’t go away just because you stop thinking about it. Understanding the world is key to making accurate predictions about key events in everyday life, which is critical for building and maintaining healthy interpersonal relations with others and achieving personal and professional success.

In contrast, reality distortion is linked to clinical syndromes and psychopathological disorders that hinder our physical and mental well-being and account for the vast majority of intrapersonal problems. Moderate viewpoints are always closer to rationality than extreme views, which detach people from facts, evidence, and reality.

Encourages flexibility

Intellectual flexibility enables you to connect with a broader spectrum of humans. Unlike in medieval times, the modern world goes to great lengths to foster a climate of diversity and inclusion so that large societies (and organizations) can accommodate people from different backgrounds—not only to tolerate each other and live in peace but to produce creative and innovative team behaviors.

Your ability to produce anything innovative is significantly enhanced by your capacity to avoid one-dimensional thinking and see things from multiple perspectives, and this is also an

essential prerequisite for having a rich social life and collaborating effectively with people who don’t share your values and beliefs.

Enables tolerating complexity

Nature is complex, particularly human nature. If it were easy the world would not be as prejudiced, biased, and flawed as it is. On the upside, much of the progress we have seen over the past millennia is a direct result of our ability to cope with complexity, tolerate ambiguity, and understand complicated issues deep down, all of which is a testament to the mighty power of human intelligence, especially when we harness it collectively through cooperation. Unsurprisingly, several studies have shown a positive correlation between tolerance of ambiguity and cognitive ability.

Accesses a wider range of experiences

We all inhabit multiple selves, as life requires us to play different roles (e.g., boss, employee, child, partner, president of the debating society, etc.). Only narrow-minded or cult-like people reduce their whole identity and self-concept to a single noun or dimension.

Resistance to psychological manipulation

Extreme thinking leads to categorical views of the world that undermine rational thinking and make us more prone to other people’s influence and persuasion. In fact, the stronger your conviction that you shouldn’t do X, the easier it is to manipulate you into doing Y.

When we seek constant validation for our existing attitudes and beliefs, we fall victim to narrow-mindedness, embracing any narrative or views of the world that confirm our own biases— the perfect way to deceive ourselves into thinking that our biases are facts.

Being less defensive, aggressive, and tribal

Prejudice and discrimination stem from an authoritarian mindset and the need to feel superior to others, which results in making categorical interpretations of the world and reducing people to our own (overly simplistic) mental models of how things should be.

Moderate viewpoints give us the ability and patience to understand individuals for who they really are. This would significantly reduce prejudice, bias, and antisocial behavior. Furthermore, fewer people would feel the need to bring other people

down to feel better about themselves, since deep personal insecurities always underpin prejudice and discrimination.

Potential downsides to moderate viewpoints

If you want to approach any issue with an open mind and think hard about the pros and cons and different sides of the argument, you will spend a great deal of time thinking, which is probably not very efficient and more time-consuming than not thinking at all.

Then again, if you let your thinking muscles go dormant there are questionable benefits and many of the drawbacks underpinning the above six points. Also, in a world that is becoming more narrow-minded, being too open to ambiguity and embracing moderation could make you a freak and make it hard for others to understand you. This will cause them problems, especially if they are interested in seeing everything as black and white. Finally, it is much harder to know how to behave or what to do in any given situation when you are generally agnostic or ambivalent about the world. Albert Einstein’s wardrobe consisted of identical sets of blue suits so that he didn’t have to waste time thinking about what to wear.

All moral codes, whether religious, political, or intellectual, serve the same purpose: eliminating the mental inefficiencies that connect environmental stimuli or events to specific behavioral actions and responses. A simple life has benefits, but if you read this far I suspect this doesn’t appeal to you.

Photo by Ludovic Migneault on Unsplash.

Back t o

A SUCCESSFUL YEAR STARTS WITH IKEA®

Let the Back To School adventure begin!

By bazaar Staff

Back-to-school shopping is upon us, a time to gear up for adventures in learning, reconnect with classmates, and set the tone for a successful year. Whether you have a kindergartener who is just starting their academic adventure or a seasoned senior, there’s something undeniably exciting about picking out the perfect checklist of things that reflect a student’s unique personality and academic goals. But the real secret to a productive and fun year is being prepared and organized. Get ready for an exciting new chapter with IKEA’s kid approved back to school essentials. From budget-friendly storage boxes to an organized desk, IKEA has got everything you and your child need to revamp their room for the term ahead, their way.

Creating a dedicated study space for your child can significantly improve their focus and productivity. Here are some key elements to consider: a well-sized desk to accommodate their needs, easy-to-reach storage for keeping supplies organized, a comfortable and adjustable chair that promotes good posture, a work lamp for adequate lighting, practical organizers to minimize clutter, and motivational décor to personalize the space and create a positive atmosphere.

It’s a joy to see kids in a stimulating and creative workspace of their own that really supports who they’re growing into. These are our favorite picks that can help them stay focused and engaged all through the year.

LÄRANDE school desk for studying, drawing and dreaming!

A desk to centre around, comfortable seating for hangouts with friends, good lighting for all activities and lots of smart storage. This sturdy desk with pull-out storage offers many smart functions, plenty of storage and, and its surface is large enough to fit a screen and many accessories which create a children’s room which is both fun and functional.

LÄRANDE Desk with pull-out storage unit, white, 120x58 cm, KD 49. ÖRFJÄLL Children’s desk chair, white/ Vissle gray, KD 16.950.

Both the desk and the pull-out storage are sturdy enough to hold heavy books and other things that usually end up on and around the desk. All corners are softly rounded so that both you and your child avoid sharp edges. A desk surface must withstand a lot. That’s why the lacquered surface is extra durable.

A better chair for better grades

Seating comfort is important for people of all ages. And when it comes to kids and teenagers it can actually affect their school results. A comfortable, height-adjustable chair makes longer study session easier – and will grow with them.

ÖRFJÄLL desk chair always gives your child comfy seating with great support. The backrest and seat have soft padding and it’s easy to change the sitting position. High-quality density foam will keep the chair comfortable for many years to come. The safety castors have a pressure-sensitive brake mechanism that keeps the chair in place when you stand up, and releases automatically when you sit down.

Space for hobbies, play and work!

This HUVUDSPELARE gaming multi-activities/ functionality table has all those key features

and more. It is durable desk holds two 24-inch screens. It is also easy to keep neat and tidy by using the cable truck under the tabletop. You can always have your headphones close at hand thanks to the included hook.

If you want to create a complete gaming station, you can add HUVUDSPELARE gaming chair. It matches perfectly and help you sit comfortably since it is adjustable in height. The safety castors have a pressure-sensitive brake mechanism that keeps the chair in place when you stand up, and releases automatically when you sit down.

Play with light and stay focused

Brighten up your child’s desk with a flexible and colorful FUBBLA LED work lamp. With directed light, they’ll finish their masterpiece in no time – and maybe have time for homework too!

This lamp is playfully simple to dim for a cozier light after the bedtime stories. Perfect for reading stories or creating cosy lighting. Our children’s lighting products go through some of the toughest safety tests in the world so you can be sure your child is safe. This work lamp will help you see better whatever you’re doing. And the long lasting, energy-efficient LED lamp contributes to saving both energy and money.

TROFAST Mesh storage box , light red, 42x30x23 cm, KD 2.500.

SMÅSTAD Loft bed frame with desk and storage, white, 90x200 cm KD 189

NISSEDAL Mirror, Black, 40x150 cm, KD 14.950

TROFAST Wall storage , white Frame, KD 11.500

KALLAX , black - brown, 77x147 cm, KD 19.950.

Who says homework has to be dull?

With the STÄNKREGN LED ring lamp fixed to the top of the laptop screen, you can illuminate yourself in the best way during your video meetings since you can choose the intensity and color temperature of the light. You can choose between 4 color temperatures (2700K, 3500K, 4000K, 5000K) and 3 different intensities of light. A built-in variable touch dimmer means that you can turn off, turn on, and dim the lamp with only a light touch of your finger.

Small organizer for this and that You always need somewhere to put the small stuff. With the TROFAST series, you can create a cool solution that makes it easy to organize and keep big and small things in order.

Add the frames and mesh storage boxes in the TROFAST series to customize a storage solution that takes care of big and small things, even in other parts of the home. Using walls for storage is great, especially if you have a limited floor space in the room.

Storage over the desk is great for getting things out of the way – but still having them handy. A storage unit where you can display your things is smart for keeping track of school assignments you shouldn’t forget about. Simply rack them up.

Complete your setup with drawers and cabinets

Keep your desk tidy with MICKE, a handy drawer unit on wheels. Or if you’re not working at your desk, simply roll it over to wherever you are. A practical drawer unit with clean lines, drop-file storage and pull-out stops. The unit also has a

TIBAST Curtains , 1 pair, white, 145x300 cm, KD 27.500.

STÄNKREGN LED ring lamp , dimmable/turquoise, KD 3.950.

FLADDRIG Lunch bag , patterned grey, 25x16x27 cm, KD 0.25.

BÄRFIS Hanger for door, adjustable, KD 7.500.

SPLITTERNY Snack container Snack container, grey/yellow, 300 ml, KD 0.500.

STARTTID Backpack , white/bright lilac, 27x9x38 cmx12 l, KD 4.950.

finished back, so you can place it where you like in the room – and easily move it thanks to the castors.

With school comes a lot of stuff. Hiding some of it away in cabinets makes the room feel less messy. With the BÄRFIS Hanger for door you can customize the outside with handles you like and hooks that make smart use of an otherwise unused surface. Perfect for keeping your sports bag ready to go.

Standing or lying – the KALLAX series adapts to taste, space, needs and budget. Smooth surfaces and rounded corners give a feel of quality, and you can personalize the shelving unit with inserts and boxes.

Maximize the space you already have

An extra room isn’t always an option when space is limited at home. But there are other solutions. The SMÅSTAD Loft has room for sleeping, studying, storing, playing and chilling that only takes up 2m2 of space. With this loft bed you get a complete solution for your child’s room –including desk, wardrobe and open shelf unit. You can assemble the desk parallel or perpendicular with the bed. If you choose to assemble the desk perpendicular to the bed, you can access the wardrobe from both sides.

Make getting ready in the morning easier NISSEDAL’s timeless design works just as well in the bedroom as in the bathroom. Hang it vertically or horizontally – and if you mount the mirror with hinges you can hide keys and smaller things on hooks behind. The mirror can be made turnable, if you choose to mount it with the included hinges and can be hung horizontally or vertically.

Control outside lighting

The TIBAST curtains are a perfect solution when you want privacy or want to block annoying glares on TV and computer screens. The outside light still comes through and creates a cozy atmosphere in the room. The curtains lower the general light level and provide privacy by preventing people outside from seeing directly into the room.

Carrying it all

The STARTTID backpack holds everything needed for a school day – water bottle, travel card, lunch box and laptop. Comfy to carry and made of water-repellent material that withstands everyday wear and tear.

Inside the backpack there’s one separate compartment that holds a 14” computer and two separate compartments where you can keep things you want quick access to. The backpack has a handy outer compartment where you can keep for example, keys and mobile phone, so it is easy to find and to access your things.

Pack the perfect lunch to keep them fueled up

In FLADDRIG lunch bag you can pack your lunch box, food container, beverage and snacks – and

Duvet cover and pillowcase , lilac, 150x200/50x80 cm KD 5.95.

easily bring them with you when you’re on the go. Carry your lunch boxes, snacks and mugs in style. This lunch bag with practical handles goes great with IKEA food containers and bottles –with a playful pattern inspired by our on-the-go range. The UTRUSTNING mug has a dry food compartment where you can keep things like tea bags, sugar and croutons for your soup.

For items like nuts you can use a resealable ISTAD bag and for sandwiches or salads, you can use any of the IKEA 365+ food containers.

A good night’s sleep is essential Get ready to catch some quality sleep with the

NATTSVÄRMARE set. This solid-colored duvet cover set in bright purple brings a happy look into your bedroom. Made of pure cotton – natural goodness for a fresh feel and comfy sleep. Made of 100% cotton - a natural and durable material that becomes softer with every wash.

Shop at IKEA the Avenues, IKEA the Warehouse (Sabahiya), IKEA 360, IKEA Assima, IKEA Khiran or online at www.IKEA.com.kw. For more information, please call 184 0408 or follow @IKEAKuwait on Instagram. [...Continued]

NATTSVÄRMARE

IKEA 365+ Food container with lid, KD 2.250.

ASK QUESTIONS

Your brain wants you to be curious, not anxious

By Joe Berkowitz

In a letter Albert Einstein wrote to his biographer in 1952, the brilliant scientist claimed to possess no special talents other than being “passionately curious.” False modesty aside, it was only through pursuing his interest in the world’s mysteries during his time on this planet that Einstein managed to reveal so many hidden secrets about the universe.

Curiosity may be humanity’s brightest, most powerful spotlight for illuminating the unknown— whether it’s quantum mechanics in the case of Einstein or, gulp, the possibility of AI replacing all our jobs—and a new study appears to back that up. It may even offer a new way to think about anxiety.

A research team from Columbia’s Zuckerman Institute recently published a study in the Journal of Neuroscience about what happens in the human brain when feelings of curiosity develop. By revealing how certain brain areas tend to process uncertainty as curiosity in visually ambiguous situations, the study’s findings show how deeply the two elements are interrelated.

“What distinguishes human curiosity is that it drives us to explore much more broadly than other animals, and often just because we want to find things out, not because we are seeking a material reward or survival benefit,” one of the study’s authors, Jacqueline Gottlieb stated on the Zuckerman Institute’s website. “This leads to a lot of our creativity.”

Gottlieb and her team of researchers used a type of MRI scan on 32 volunteers, monitoring changes in blood-oxygen levels within each subject’s brain as they viewed a series of images with varying degrees of distortion. While observing participants’ brain activity, the researchers asked them to rate their confidence and curiosity about each image. As uncertainty rose, so did curiosity.

The brain scan data seemed to confirm the subjects’ verbal responses, showing high activity in two regions: the occipitotemporal cortex, known to be involved in vision and recognizing types of objects; and the ventromedial prefrontal cortex, which helps determine a person’s perception of value and confidence about a situation. According to Gottlieb, the latter region seemed to pick up on the former region’s encoded uncertainty and helped subjects decide whether to be more curious about an image. The scientists were thus able to observe uncertainty driving curiosity in participants’ brains.

While this study is limited to the visual realm, its implications may extend to how we deal with other forms of uncertainty—perhaps even the intrusive, existential kind that keeps some of us up at night.

Most people seem to hate uncertainty. It signals a lack of control, along with an unshakable sense of trouble looming over the horizon; difficult

to anticipate and even harder to brace for.

“To the human mind, uncertainty equals danger,” Bryan E. Robinson wrote in an article for Psychology Today back in 2020, when uncertainty seemed to run particularly rampant. “If your brain doesn’t know what’s around the corner, it can’t keep you out of harm’s way. It always assumes the worst, overpersonalizes threats, and jumps to conclusions.”

Uncertainty is a critical driver of stress. In fact, a scientific study from 2016 concluded that uncertainty is even more stressful than situations with predictable negative outcomes—meaning most people might generally prefer knowing their day will surely end with a slap in the face from a stranger than to instead have only a 50% chance of getting slapped.

But maybe they shouldn’t.

Another way people can deal with other forms of uncertainty is to intentionally treat it the way their brains automatically treat the visual kind. It might be as simple as a matter of reframing. For instance, Amy Poehler once described dealing

with nervousness by reframing it as excitement, since the two feelings resemble each other: “That way you acknowledge the physical feelings without putting a negative spin on things.”

The same goes for uncertainty and curiosity. Instead of stewing within the unbearable absence of instant answers, another way to process ambiguity is as an opportunity for discovery. Anything agonizingly unclear in one’s life can likely be broken down into its component parts for further analysis. Practically all possibilities are rife with potential for obsessive research and exploration, rather than mere dread. The paradigm shift to an attitude of curiosity won’t just magically resolve the issue at hand, but it can certainly help one prepare for, or deal with, whatever awaits.

The flipside of “I’m worried about the unknown” is “I’d like to learn more about the unknown.” The second option just happens to feel a lot better, and is far more constructive. It doesn’t take an Einstein to understand that.

Photo by Marija Zaric on Unsplash.

Hanin Maki

SYMPHONY OF FLAVORS

WALDORF ASTORIA KUWAIT UNVEILS

EXCLUSIVE SUMMER PACKAGE

Experience Luxury And Adventures

By bazaar Staff

Beat the summer heat and treat your family to an unforgettable summer getaway at Waldorf Astoria Kuwait with the “WaldorfKidz” summer getaway package. Designed to redefine family vacations, this package offers an array of enticing benefits that promise to create cherished memories for every member of the family.

Families will enjoy a plethora of exclusive offerings, ensuring a remarkable stay, including complimentary breakfasts, where families kickstart their days with a delectable breakfast offering featuring a tantalizing selection of culinary delights, setting the perfect tone for a day of adventure and relaxation.

The exclusive package includes a generous 25% off spa treatments at the renowned Forbes Travel Guide Five Star Waldorf Astoria Spa, providing guests with a well-deserved opportunity to unwind and rejuvenate amidst opulent surroundings.

Families can also enjoy culinary delights at Ava Mediterranean and Roka Restaurants with a tempting 20% off, savoring exquisite dishes crafted by the hotel’s esteemed chefs. And as an added bonus, each suite includes two combo tickets offering access to a world of entertainment, featuring one Kidzania Kuwait Admission ticket, one TEKZONE play card, and one Quest admission voucher for a single round in the arena, ensuring endless fun and excitement for the entire family.

To take advantage of this extraordinary offer, guests are encouraged to book the minimum suite category of accommodation. Additionally, for those requiring additional tickets, booking a connecting room will ensure access for all family members.

The “WaldorfKidz” summer getaway package is available from 1st June 2024 until 15th September 2024. The tickets are not valid for special event days and have a 6-month validity from the date of the issue.

For reservations, please contact +965 2477 4444 and use the code “WaldorfKidz” while booking.

Serenity by the Pool: Summer Getaway Package

Escape the city heat and dive into an unforgettable summer journey at Waldorf Astoria Kuwait with Serenity by the Pool: Summer Getaway Package Immerse yourself in a serene oasis of tranquility, nestled amidst lush greenery and adorned with exquisite features. Whether you’re looking to embrace the joys of summer and the outdoor pool experience, spend quality time with family and friends, or simply unwind and relax, the pool offers an inviting and accommodating space for everyone to enjoy.

The Waldorf Astoria Kuwait offers the perfect escape from the bustling city, inviting guests to take a refreshing dip in its outdoor pool. Designed with the utmost comfort in mind, the pool features three different widths and two depths, catering to swimmers of all abilities.

This summer, Waldorf Astoria is introducing the exclusive Serenity by the Pool: Summer Getaway Package at Waldorf Astoria Kuwait, offering a blissful escape from the city heat for 40 KWD per person, including one 0% cocktail per person, or 50 KWD per person, including a delectable array of food options and drinks. Children aged 0 to 3 years stay free, while those aged 4 to 12 years receive a generous 50% discount. The pool opens its doors from 10 am till sunset, inviting you to indulge in a day of relaxation and enjoyment. For reservations, please kindly contact +965 2477 4414

A Tantalizing Afternoon Tea Experience at Peacock Alley

Peacock Alley, a Parisian-inspired café known for its sophisticated atmosphere and exquisite culinary offerings, is inviting guests to indulge in a truly remarkable afternoon tea experience this summer.

Their crafted menu boasts a variety of mouth-watering options, such as freshly baked scones, homemade chocolates, delicate finger

sandwiches, and assorted warm quiches, that are sure to delight guests’ taste buds. To complement the brunch meals, Peacock Alley offers a carefully curated selection of fine teas, allowing guests to enjoy the overall ambiance at their own pace. You can indulge in the Afternoon Tea experience every Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday, from 3 pm to 11 pm. And for a delightful twist, the Afternoon Tea Brunch awaits you every Thursday and Friday, from 5:00 pm to 11:00 pm. [Continued...]

Savoring the Essence of the Mediterranean: Ava’s Award-Winning Dining Experience

Ava, the Mediterranean Restaurant at the Waldorf Astoria Kuwait, is renowned for its delicious, relaxed, and authentic Mediterranean cuisine, made with the freshest seasonal ingredients. It has recently won the BBC Good Food Award for ‘Best Fine Dining’ in Kuwait. Inspired by the relaxed lifestyle across the coast, the food is light and fresh, showcasing the best cuisine from the French Riviera, the South of Italy, and the Greek Islands. Guests can choose from sharing items like woodfired pizzas, appetizers and salads, grilled items, and decadent desserts. For an intimate dinner, a birthday celebration, corporate get-together or a gathering with close friends, the dinner menu will set the tone for a memorable evening at AVA.

Luxuriate in Ultimate Relaxation at the Waldorf Astoria Kuwait Spa

Boasting eight treatment rooms, three hammams, and two vitality pools, the Forbes Awarded Waldorf Astoria Kuwait Spa guarantees a serene environment for optimal relaxation. Guests can indulge in personalized treatments ranging from facials to massages, among other advanced skin and body therapies, individually tailored for both men and women.

This summer, guests can take advantage of the exclusive packages for the signature combinations of AMRA 24kt gold rejuvenating body oil. Allow the

adept therapists to whisk away tension and stress, immersing you in blissful relaxation. Following this, treat yourself to a 30-Minute Facial to revitalize your complexion and unveil a radiant glow. The skilled estheticians will cleanse, exfoliate, and nourish your skin, leaving it luminous and youthful. 90 Minutes | Price: KWD 99

For more information and reservations, please call +965 2477 4444, email: reservations.kuwait @waldorfastoria.com, or visit kuwait. waldorfastoria.com. Follow the hotel @WaldorfAstoriaKuwait on Instagram for the latest updates.

From the soul of Saudi Arabia to the heart of Kuwait

COS RETURNS TO THE RUNWAY

Three Years Strong in New York Fashion Week

By bazaar Staff

COS returns to New York Fashion Week this September to launch its Autumn Winter 2024 mainline and Atelier collections on the runway. Following its debut show at based fashion brand is set to present its winter collections as part of the Council of Fashion Designers of America’s official schedule, engaging with communities at the forefront of fashion, art, music, and

Inspired by contemporary culture, the Londonbased fashion brand is known for iconic wardrobe pieces, elevated essentials, and innovative designs that are made to last. Dedicated to quality and sustainability, COS takes a bespoke approach to design, creating unique collections that combine function with timeless style. Experimental design details and material innovation are frequently revisited to include the latest sartorial advances and ensure the considered use of fibres whether they be recycled, renewed, or more sustainably sourced.

Complementing the main COS collections, the seasonal COS Atelier lines for men and women, designed at the brands’ in-house atelier in London, present day-to-eveningwear founded on the principles of luxury and exceptional design. The ready-to-wear atelier collections are committed to craftsmanship and focus on fabrics and contemporary fits.

COS Design Director Karin Gustafsson comments, “New York is a dynamic city with so much character - it’s a place of inspiration, full of interesting and creative people. We are honoured to return for our third year, bringing the collections to life on the runway at an exciting new location.”

CFDA CEO Steven Kolb comments, “The CFDA is delighted to welcome COS back to the Official NYFW Schedule. The brand’s international presence strengthens the overall week for our designers, and their commitment to making New York City the home for their collection showcases over the years is a testament to the power and appeal of our city as a global stage for creativity and business.”

The show will take place on the 10th of September at 1 pm EDT and will be streamed live on cos.com.

Enjoy our Breakfast Menu at Mais Alghanim “Sharq”

Daily from 8:00 AM to 11:30 AM - Ground Floor

LES VOILES DE SAINT TROPEZ

X NORTH SAILS:

EMBRACE THE SPIRIT OF THE OCEAN.

Available exclusively at Jack Wills

By bazaar Staff

The House

North Sails continues its successful partnership with Les Voiles de Saint Tropez, one of the most prestigious regattas in the Mediterranean, with a dedicated collection with the same name.

Inspired by the “Tropezien” spirit of Les Voiles de Saint Tropez, an event that also represents the main technical characteristics shared with North Sails, this special collection will include sleeveless jackets, polo shirts, t-shirts and other garments, all embellished with graphic elements, including the emblematic regatta logo, in a range of bright colors, a nice addition to the typical nautical colors of white, red and blue.

In 1957, North Sails founder Lowell North set out to make the best racing sails the world had ever seen. He succeeded, and went on to reshape sailing altogether. Lowell’s enduring legacy is the combination of leading edge technology and highperformance materials, which defined the first apparel collection that launched in 1989. Today, for Performance Apparel the singular goal is to make the best foul weather gear on the planet, while the Lifestyle Collections bring the spirit of the ocean to shore and city. As part of our journey to becoming an Ocean Positive brand, we strive to use environmentally responsible materials that strike the balance between sustainability, functionality, and purpose, so we can plot—and steer—the course to a cleaner, healthier ocean, and preserve it for future generations.

The commitment to a cleaner sea is a key element of the brand’s journey to become Ocean Positive: a commitment to protect the health of the oceans. With its heart on the racecourse and its mind on sustainability, the collection is made from organic cotton and recycled polyester.

Find all this exciting North Sails collection at Jack Wills The House in Grand Avenue – The Avenues and online at Tamanna.com. Follow @jackwillsme on Instagram and JackWillsME on Facebook to check out the latest collections.

ECCO SHOES UNVEILS 2024’S BACK TO SCHOOL COLLECTION

Comfort Meets Style

By bazaar Staff

As the new school year approaches, ECCO Shoes has announced the launch of its latest Back to School collection. Renowned for its commitment to quality, comfort, and innovative design, ECCO brings a range of footwear that ensures children step into the new academic year with confidence and style.

Combining Functionality with Fashion

ECCO’s Back to School collection is designed with both parents and children in mind. Understanding the importance of supportive, durable footwear for growing feet, ECCO has crafted shoes that do not compromise on style. The collection features an array of designs suitable for school uniforms and casual wear, ensuring every child can find a pair that matches their personality and needs.

Premium Quality for Growing Feet

ECCO, believes that children’s shoes should provide more than just style; they should also support healthy foot development. ECCO’s Back to School range is crafted from high-quality materials, including soft leathers and breathable textiles, ensuring long-lasting comfort and durability. Each shoe is designed to offer excellent arch support and cushioning, making them ideal for active school days.

Innovative Technology for Ultimate Comfort

ECCO integrates advanced technology in every pair of shoes. The FLUIDFORM Direct Comfort Technology ensures the perfect balance of cushioning and rebound for all-day comfort and support. This technology is combined with flexible soles and ergonomic designs, allowing for natural movement and reducing fatigue during long school days.

Sustainability at Heart

ECCO is committed to sustainable practices. Their Back-to-School collection is made with environmentally responsible processes, ensuring that every pair of shoes not only cares for your child’s feet but also the planet.

ECCO invites parents to explore the new Back to School collection at stores across the Middle East and Africa. The knowledgeable staff are ready to help you find the perfect fit for your child, ensuring they start the school year on the right foot. Visit the website or nearest ECCO store to discover the collection today.

Ready to give your kid the best start to their school year? Check out the new Back to School collection at ECCO stores across the Middle East or shop online www.ecco.ae/en/.

PANAMERA TURBO S E-HYBRID AND PANAMERA GTS

The Dynamic Peak

By bazaar Staff

Porsche is launching the dynamic top series models with the Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid and the Panamera GTS. The particularly performance-focused tuning of the Panamera GTS is setting standards when it comes to purism and agility. The Turbo S E-Hybrid, in turn, impresses by spanning the range from luxurious driving properties to racetracklevel top performance.

The Porsche Panamera has redefined the luxury saloon segment. It combines smooth driving comfort with the properties of a Porsche sports car in a unique way. Now two particularly powerful and sporty variants have been added to the model range.

These are cars with different focuses: the Panamera GTS is a dynamic sports saloon that places the emotional driving experience in the foreground. The Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid is positioned at the very top of the model series as the most powerful, fastest and most luxurious derivative. This top model is the new record holder in the official ranking of the fastest combustion engine cars and hybrid luxury saloons on the Nürburgring Nordschleife.

Both models are driven by the further developed 4.0-litre biturbo V8 engine that is already used to power the Panamera Turbo E-Hybrid. This powerful engine is prepared for the strict requirements of the Euro 7 emission standard. Changing from a twin-scroll to a single-scroll turbocharger shortens the warm-up phase of its catalytic converters. Exhaust gas temperatures of up to 1,000°C and the associated clean combustion, as well as the increase in the mean peak pressure to 140 bar in the combustion chambers, increase the efficiency of the drive, especially in the highly dynamic range.

The 8-speed Porsche dual clutch transmission (PDK) has been fundamentally redesigned. With optimized power-transmitting surfaces and a higher thermal load capacity, it is able to implement the enormous drive torque of the Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid.

The most powerful Panamera: Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid

At Porsche, the Turbo model designation traditionally stands for the pinnacle of performance among the model variants mainly intended for the road. At the same time, the Turbo logo signifies technological leadership in the respective segment. The combination of highly efficient combustion engines and electric powertrain enables particularly powerful drive and exceptional performance.

The new Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid is the most powerful Panamera produced in series so far. Its V8 bi-turbo engine has an output of 441 kW (599 PS), and the output of the electric motor completely integrated into the housing and into the cooling circuit of the PDK amounts to 140 kW (190 PS). Compared to its predecessor, its system output has been increased by 75 kW (102 PS) to 575 kW (782 PS), and the system torque has risen by 150 Nm to 1,000 Nm. The Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in 2.9 seconds and has a top speed of 325 km/h. This signifies an enhancement of 25 km/h and 0.5 seconds.

At the same time, the new Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid is efficient to drive. Compared to the previous generation, its hybrid powertrain offers greater electric range, faster charging and more

agile responsiveness. With a capacity of 25.9 kWh (gross), the high voltage battery stores 45 per cent more energy than the predecessor battery did. This gives the most powerful Panamera an electric range of up to 88 km (WLTP EAER City).

With an increase in recuperation output to 88 kW, the Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid drives more efficiently than ever in the fully electric mode. At a suitable power source, the 11 kW on-board AC charger charges the battery from zero to 100 per cent in around two hours and 39 minutes.

Distinctive design of the Turbo models

Porsche underlines the role of the Turbo models as the top performers in their model lines with a distinctive rear bumper and a distinctive front end in the exterior color. At the rear, the chrome-plated tailpipes in Dark Bronze complete this look. The standard equipment for the Turbo S E-Hybrid also includes the Porsche Ceramic Composite Brake

(PCCB) with yellow brake calipers. Acid Green is also available as a typical E-Hybrid color.

Turbonite, the elegant metallic grey tone, is exclusively reserved for the Turbo models. The Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid has this color on its airblades at the front of the car, on the strip of its rear bumper, and on the forged 21-inch Panamera Turbo S center-lock wheels. Porsche also uses Turbonite in the interior, for example on the trim strips and belt straps, the controls in the center console, and the steering wheel. Turbonite contrast stitching also features on the seats, door panel trim, dashboard and floor mats. The roof lining is completely upholstered with the suedelike Race-Tex.

New record for the Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid

Even before its launch, the new Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid set a best time. Porsche test driver Lars Kern (36) completed a lap of the Nürburgring

Nordschleife (20.832 kilometers) in just 7:24.172 minutes. With this notarized time, Porsche set the record for the fastest top-class saloon with a combustion and hybrid engine in the official ranking of Nürburgring 1927 GmbH & Co. KG. The new Panamera broke the existing record in this car class by 3.62 seconds. The record lap was driven by Lars Kern on 12 July 2024. To protect the driver, the record-breaking Panamera was equipped with a racing seat and a safety cage, but otherwise corresponded to the series version.

Lars Kern had already set Nordschleife class records in 2016 and 2020 with the Panamera, most recently in the Panamera Turbo S. This new faster time by the Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid is proof of the consistent further development of the four-door sports car. With the new time of 7:24.172, Lars Kern improved on his record from 2020 by 5.64 seconds.

Track tires and Carbon Aerokit for the Panamera Turbo models

With this new class record, the new Panamera has shown what it is capable of. To a great extent, the car’s performance is due to the new Carbon Aerokit and the specially developed UHP tires from Michelin. The Aerokit is available for the sports saloon models of the Panamera Turbo and the Turbo S E-Hybrid. It includes airblades, side skirts and a rear diffuser made of carbon, and optimizes the aerodynamic balance for driving on the racetrack. The front spoiler lip completely eliminates lift on the front axle. In combination with the Gurney flap on the adaptive 4-way rear spoiler, its net effect is to generate downforce.

At a speed of 200 km/h, it improves the downforce by 60 kilograms and enables even higher speeds to be attained in challenging series of bends. Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires with the N0 marking further improve the car’s traction. The

Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires with dimensions

275/35 ZR 21 at the front and 325/30 ZR 21 at the rear were specially developed for the Panamera and for dynamic driving situations.

Comprehensive equipment range in the Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid

Porsche has equipped the top model of the Panamera series with the Porsche Active Ride suspension as standard. This innovative chassis is coupled with a 400 V high-voltage system and is therefore technically feasible only in the Panamera models with an E-Hybrid drive. Each shock absorber has an electrically operated hydraulic pump that actively generates forces in the rebound or compression direction. In this way, the suspension almost fully compensates body movements and

keeps the car horizontal during dynamic driving maneuvers. The technology enables innovative functions such as the overcompensation of pitching and rolling motions. It also matches the wheel load distribution to the grip level, thereby optimizing the traction. The comprehensive range of equipment available for the Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid also includes all the driving dynamics control systems, rear-axle steering, the Porsche Ceramic Composite Brake (PCCB) with 440-millimeter brake discs at the front and a 380-millimeter diameter at the rear, as well as a Bose® sound system.

The most agile Panamera: Panamera GTS GTS stands for Gran Turismo Sport. Porsche cars with this model designation offer an extra serving of sportiness and maximum driving

pleasure, together with high day-to-day usability. In line with this philosophy, the Panamera GTS is also distinguished by a chassis tuned for high performance, an exclusive SportDesign package and a sporty, high-quality interior. It is a particularly direct and agile variant of the top-class sports saloon. The powerful, comprehensively upgraded V8 bi-turbo engine plays a major role in the especially intensive driving experience in the Panamera GTS. It offers linear power delivery that is clearly noticeable even at engine speeds above 6,000 rpm.

The engine delivers 368 kW (500 PS), 20 PS more than the drive that its predecessor exhibited. This results in better driving performance and dynamics, and even greater efficiency. The fourdoor sports car accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in 3.8 seconds and has a top speed of 302 km/h. The standard sports exhaust system in the Panamera GTS was specifically developed to create a powerful, emotional soundscape.

Porsche has given the standard dual-chamber two-valve air suspension including PASM in the Panamera GTS a particularly sporty tuning. The 10 millimetre-lower body and reinforced anti-roll bars provide a noticeably more direct driving experience and a lower basic spring rate. The electronically controlled PTV Plus differential lock ensures the torque is distributed optimally between the wheels. In combination, these measures ensure greater body stability and reduced pitching and rolling over the entire speed range. These added dynamics come without any significant reduction in comfort.

Exclusive GTS-style design and equipment

As is the case across all model lines, the Porsche GTS models can be identified by their distinctive sporty design. Black GTS logos on the sides and rear of the car, a unique front section, dark-tinted HD matrix LED headlights and tail lights, as well as red brake calipers also make the Panamera GTS unmistakable. The standard Sport package also includes body trim elements in satin-matt Black. These include side skirts, insets in the front area, side window trim, and the rear bumper. Porsche has kept the tailpipes of the sports exhaust system in Dark Bronze to create an exciting contrast. A further accent is added by the 21-inch Turbo S center-lock wheels in Anthracite Grey.

In the interior, Porsche is lavish in its use of the suede-like Race-Tex. It covers the roof lining, armrests and door panels, as well as the center panels of the adaptive sports seats with 18-way adjustment. Porsche also offers two GTS-specific interior packages in Carmine Red or Slate Grey Neo. The decorative stitching and belts also come in the color of the selected package. An interior package in Carbon matt is also available. The standard equipment of the Panamera GTS also includes a Bose® sound system and the Sport Chrono package with a stopwatch and the pushto-pass function.

The Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid and the Panamera GTS are now available to order as sports saloons. Both models benefit from the many new features of the third generation of the Panamera. These include the Porsche Driver Experience control concept and the high-resolution matrix LED headlights, offering exceptional resolution and particularly far reach.

For more information, please visit Porsche Centre Kuwait, Behbehani Motors Company, please call 1870 870 or head to porschekuwait.com. For the latest updates on social media, follow @PorscheCentreKuwait on Instagram and Facebook.

ARE YOU AN ENTREPRENEUR

Quit chasing food and wellness trends

By Brad Charron

Having spent my career at companies including Kind, Frito-Lay, Chobani, and now ALOHA, I’ve experienced firsthand how insanely competitive the food consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry is. According to Informa Markets, nearly 80% of CPG startups fail. I’ve seen the way some CEOs are so focused on being different, they don’t spend enough energy figuring out how to be excellent and common. Not different for the sake of different, but truly better.

The idea of being “trend right” versus “trendy” calls for pinpointing a customer need, staying relevant, and delivering a consistent product or solution. With consumer goods, and food in particular, I’ve learned that creating a brand that sustains over time hinges on trust—not necessarily all the bells and whistles. If you’re in the spotlight too much, you may not be focusing enough on doing the hard work.

Know your customer

Trends come and go, so it’s important to build loyal followers based on solid products and diversify from there. Knowing your core customer and their motivations is essential. It is not a one-sided dialogue—it 100% matters what your customers have to say.

I always try to determine if customer feedback points to a systemic issue or a personal one. If it’s personal, where are the gaps in consumer knowledge about a product or ingredient and how can we provide the missing information? If it’s systemic, are there patterns that indicate an oversight on our part? What are we not hearing and how can it help identify what the category is missing? A good rule of thumb is to talk to customers like people rather than speeding through customer service tickets.

When I was at Under Armour, “listening” meant observing pro athletes who endorsed our performance equipment. We noticed that they wore other brands to and from their games, outside of the locker room, and in the press. If we wanted to reach our full potential with this consumer group, we realized we had to address their demand for casual and stylish wearables. It opened up a whole new environment to think about how Under Armour could merge innovative technology (fabric) into lifestyle. It led us to design our Charged Cotton line and expand the brand off-field.

Once you attract the right customers, once they feel heard and their needs are fulfilled, you won’t have to use marketing dollars to buy their patronage again. A huge win—and a lucrative one. This hinges on embracing the comfort of consistency (availability plus product experience). If retailers are fully stocked and customers have a great experience with your products every time, it builds trust. They are more likely to stick around because you give them no reason to seek alternatives.

Value progressive thought

Being trend right also means valuing progressive thought. It means innovating by bringing new flavors to market (and twists on proven favorites). Combined with a commitment to authenticity, ethical sourcing, and storytelling, this will get you much further than chasing every flash-in-the-pan product trend. That’s why I won’t launch any product I don’t love. It’s why I’ll never create something just for the sake of a hashtag.

Once you gain a customer’s loyalty for one product, you need to be able to deliver across other variants. It’s an idea I call “alligator arms.” The most valuable customer is a loyal customer who goes to your shelf space, reaches out their arms, and scoops your entire product line into their cart. A silly visual but an impactful one, nevertheless.

Don’t overdesign

With product development there’s a tendency to overdesign, and that’s a mistake. Some of the best Michelin star chefs take a theory about the right mix of ingredients and craft something that stands out,

where diners have a new experience with their food. In a similar vein, packaged food product producers need to be knowledgeable about new, exciting ingredients—but people trying to overdesign often screw it up.

At ALOHA, we are exploring an ingredient called Ponova oil. Oil isn’t an inherently buzzworthy ingredient, but because Ponova has a neutral flavor profile, is heart healthy, and is derived from a sustainable crop that is moving the category forward (compared to soy and palm oils), it aligns with ALOHA’s food philosophy and delivers a new value prop to consumers. Earth shattering? Maybe not. Trend right? Absolutely.

It’s easy to get distracted in the ever-changing food and wellness CPG market. By taking an evolutionary rather than revolutionary approach—taking real problems that consumers have and addressing them through better food and better processes—leaders in the space have the opportunity to buck trends in favor of a more sustainable approach to growth.

Photo by Vitalii Pavlyshynets on Unsplash.

BACK-TO-SCHOOL WITH STYLE

Pottery Barn Kids’ Latest Backpack and Bento Box Collection

By bazaar staff

Even kids who aren’t eager to go back to school are excited for back-to-school shopping. Nothing says a “fresh start” like a brandnew backpack and matching (or not) lunch essentials. This year, Pottery Barn Kids has once again elevated the game with their latest collection of backpacks and bento boxes. Combining functionality, durability, and style, these new releases are set to make the school year both exciting and efficient.

THE PERFECT BACKPACK IS STYLISH AND FUNCTIONAL

Pottery Barn Kids’ backpack collections always stand out for thoughtful design and eye-catching aesthetics. Each backpack is crafted to ensure maximum comfort and durability, making it a reliable companion for the school year.

Ergonomic

The backpacks feature padded shoulder straps and back panels, ensuring that carrying heavy textbooks and school supplies is comfortable for your child. The ergonomic design helps distribute weight evenly, reducing the risk of strain or injury. The adjustable straps also allow for a customizable fit, accommodating growing kids and their changing needs throughout the school year.

Built to Last

Constructed from high-quality, water-resistant polyester, these backpacks are built to withstand the wear and tear of daily use. The robust zippers and reinforced stitching ensure longevity, making these backpacks a wise investment for parents. Pottery Barn Kids’ commitment to durability means that these backpacks will likely last for several school years.

Fun and Functional

Each backpack includes multiple compartments, making organization a breeze. The main compartment is spacious enough to hold textbooks, notebooks, and a laptop or tablet. Additional pockets provide easy access to smaller items like pencils, snacks, and a water bottle. Reflective detailing on the exterior enhances visibility, ensuring your child’s safety during early morning or late afternoon commutes. Make it Yours

Our favorite thing about the Pottery Barn Kids backpacks is the option to personalize it with your child’s name or initials. This adds a unique touch and helps prevent mix-ups with other students’ belongings. The wide range of designs, from playful patterns to beloved characters, ensures that every child can find a backpack that reflects their personality and interests.

BENTO BOXES: A HEALTHY AND FUN LUNCHTIME SOLUTION

Accompanying the backpack collection, Pottery Barn Kids’ new bento boxes are designed to make lunchtime more enjoyable and nutritious. These bento boxes are perfect for packing a variety of healthy meals and snacks, encouraging balanced eating habits.

Mess-proof

The bento boxes feature multiple compartments, allowing parents to pack a variety of foods without worrying about them mixing. The tight-fitting lids prevent leaks and spills, keeping the contents fresh and intact until lunchtime. These boxes are also microwave and dishwasher safe, making them convenient for busy families.

Sustainable

Pottery Barn Kids is committed to sustainability, and their bento boxes are made from BPA-free, food-grade plastic. This not only ensures the safety of your child’s food but also reduces environmental impact. By choosing reusable bento boxes over disposable lunch containers, parents can contribute to a greener planet.

Support healthy eating

The compartmentalized design of the bento boxes makes it easy to pack a balanced meal with appropriate portions of fruits, vegetables, proteins, and grains. This encourages healthy eating habits and helps children develop a preference for nutritious foods. The fun designs and colors of the bento boxes also make mealtime more appealing, enticing even the pickiest eaters to enjoy their lunch.

Customizable

Just like the backpacks, the bento boxes can be personalized with your child’s name or initials. This adds a special touch and ensures that your child’s lunch is uniquely theirs. The vibrant and playful designs match the backpack collection, creating a coordinated and stylish look for the school year.

Pottery Barn Kids’ latest backpack and bento box collection is a testament to their commitment to quality, style, and functionality. By offering products that cater to both the practical needs of parents and the aesthetic preferences of children, Pottery Barn Kids ensures a seamless back-to-school experience.

As you prepare for the upcoming school year, consider Pottery Barn Kids’ latest collection of backpacks and bento boxes. With their combination of functionality, durability, and style, these products are sure to make a positive impact on your child’s school experience. Invest in quality and let your child start the school year with confidence and excitement, carrying a backpack that reflects their personality and enjoying nutritious meals from a fun and eco-friendly bento box. Pottery Barn Kids has once again proven that back-to-school shopping can be both practical and delightful.

Visit Pottery Barn Kids at 1st Avenue-The Avenues. You can also shop Pottery Barn Kids online at potterybarnkids.com.kw and follow @PotteryBarnKidsMena for the latest updates!

WORKCATIONS

What are they and do you need to take one?

By Lesley Cooper

The pace and complexity of modern work has transformed traditional work patterns. Now, people are looking for new ways to balance their life and work, and the trend of taking a “workcation” is gaining momentum.

Workcations allow people to travel and work remotely from a new destination instead of at their usual desk. Taking a workcation allows workers to change up their typical patterns and allows them to explore new places during their free time. Workcations are a way to escape from your everyday routine and recharge batteries without needing to formally take time off, all while fulfilling the same work obligations.

However, workcations can blur the lines between work and personal time, making it difficult for some to fully disconnect and rest. Some people feel that without properly switching off while on a break from work, burnout and stress can actually increase.

So, should you take a workcation this summer? Here are the pros and cons:

Pro: A new burst of creativity and productivity

One survey found that 86% of employees agree or strongly agree that taking a workcation increased their productivity. This is because while on a workcation, you become more disciplined to complete your tasks efficiently so you can dedicate the remainder of the day to relaxing and enjoying your new surroundings. What’s more, stepping away from your usual work environment can inspire fresh ideas and enable you to approach tasks with renewed energy and from a different perspective. New places and experiences can also stimulate creativity and may expose you to new ways of thinking.

If taken properly, workcations can give you a sense of flexibility and autonomy, ultimately leading to reduced stress and increased well-being. All this will help you achieve a balance across your personal life and work responsibilities, boosting your overall satisfaction and mental health.

Taking a workcation is a perfect opportunity to cultivate a healthier relationship with work, while simultaneously recharging and fulfilling your personal life.

Con: Blurred lines between work and personal time

On the flip side, working from an entirely new place can be overwhelming. You might find yourself feeling like you’re always in high-alert mode, unable to switch off and shift your focus away from your work obligations.

Or, in an effort to make up for being absent from the office, you may feel compelled to be constantly available to your boss or colleagues. This may seem like a harmless behavior, but it’s a recipe for decreased productivity and burnout.

During your workation, you can also struggle with feelings of guilt. While I’m away, my colleagues are

all in the office putting in hard work, you may think.

However, workcations should complement paid time off, but not serve as a substitute. If your company’s policy allows workcations, you shouldn’t feel obligated to work beyond the agreed-upon hours, nor should you feel guilty about not working round-the-clock.

How to have an effective workcation

So, should you take a workcation? The answer depends on your personal and professional dynamics. While taking a workcation may not be suitable for everyone, it can be a highly effective way of breaking up the monotony of work, enhancing productivity and creativity, and boosting your overall well-being.

The key to ensuring your workcation is effective and beneficial is to set clear boundaries.

Combining work and leisure requires flexibility from your organization. Before you set out on a workcation, agree on specific working hours with your boss and communicate these to your

colleagues and clients, making it clear that you will be unavailable at certain times. By establishing and protecting these boundaries, you enable yourself to enjoy your workcation to the fullest.

Planning and effective time-management are also vital. Set achievable goals and organize your tasks ahead of time to make sure you can manage your workload. And if you know that there’s a particularly busy period at work ahead of you and your team, consider postponing your trip entirely. With the right approach, workcations can be a great investment in your well-being, boosting productivity and overall satisfaction. Yet, without carefully setting and protecting your boundaries, you risk ending up with the opposite effects, such as increased stress, decline in well-being, and even burnout. Ultimately, whether workcations are beneficial to you depends on finding that right balance.

Photo by Anastasia Nelen on Unsplash.

VERSATILE MINIMALISM

MUJI’s Acrylic Storage Solutions and Stationery

By bazaar Staff

If you’ve ever strayed while scrolling and found yourself in the world of StationeryTok or #organizeYourLife, you will have noticed that MUJI has a cult following in both groups. It’s not surprising, in a world where minimalism and functionality are increasingly valued, MUJI has established itself as a brand that can consistently create products that do both without sacrificing either. Known for simplicity and utility, MUJI offers a wide range of products that cater to all sorts of needs without the unnecessary frills. Among its extensive product lineup, MUJI’s acrylic storage solutions and stationery stand out as quintessential examples of the brand’s philosophy and things that can make your every day life so much better.

MUJI’s acrylic storage solutions have garnered a loyal following for the clean, transparent design that allows for easy visibility of contents, making it simple to locate items quickly. This is particularly useful in spaces like offices, bathrooms, and craft rooms where organization is key.

Our favorite thing about MUJI’s acrylic storage is the modular design. They are stackable so you can customize your storage to fit your specific needs. Whether you need to organize makeup, office supplies, or small household items, these versatile containers can be arranged in countless configurations. The ability to see through the acrylic also means you can quickly assess what you have, which helps in maintaining an organized space and avoiding unnecessary purchases.

Moreover, the durability of MUJI’s acrylic storage solutions ensures that they will last

for years. Unlike cheaper plastic alternatives, these acrylic units do not easily crack or yellow over time. Their sturdy construction makes them ideal for everyday use, and their timeless design means they won’t go out of style.

MUJI’s stationery line is another testament to the brand’s commitment to simplicity and functionality. From notebooks and pens to planners and folders, MUJI’s stationery products are designed to make everyday tasks more enjoyable and efficient.

One of the highlights of MUJI’s stationery collection is its range of notebooks. Available in various sizes and formats, these notebooks are perfect for students, professionals, and creatives alike. The high-quality paper ensures a smooth writing experience, and the minimalist design means they look sophisticated in any setting. Whether you’re jotting down meeting notes, sketching ideas, or writing a journal,

MUJI’s notebooks provide a blank canvas for your thoughts.

MUJI’s gel pens are another favorite among stationery enthusiasts. Known for their smooth ink flow and comfortable grip, these pens make writing a pleasure. The retractable gel pens, in particular, are a standout product, offering a fine tip that is perfect for detailed work. The range of colors available allows for creative expression, whether you’re color-coding notes or adding a splash of color to your planner.

The true magic of MUJI’s acrylic storage solutions and stationery lies in how well they complement each other. The clear acrylic organizers are perfect for storing stationery items, keeping your desk neat and tidy. Pens, paper clips, sticky notes, and other office supplies can be easily sorted into the various compartments, ensuring everything has its place.

For those who appreciate a clutter-free workspace, MUJI’s combination of storage and stationery is a dream come true. The clean lines and neutral tones of the products create a serene environment that is conducive to productivity. By eliminating visual noise and keeping everything organized, MUJI helps you focus on the task at hand.

In addition to their aesthetic and functional benefits, MUJI’s products are also designed with sustainability in mind. The brand emphasizes the use of eco-friendly materials and practices, ensuring that their products have a minimal impact on the environment. For example, MUJI’s notebooks often feature recycled paper, and their acrylic storage solutions are made from durable materials that reduce the need for frequent replacements.

MUJI’s acrylic storage solutions and stationery are perfect examples of the brand’s commitment to simplicity, functionality, and quality. These products not only enhance the organization and efficiency of your workspace but also contribute to a minimalist and aesthetically pleasing environment. Whether you’re a student, a professional, or simply someone who appreciates good design, MUJI’s offerings are sure to elevate your everyday tasks. With their timeless appeal and practical benefits, it’s no wonder that MUJI’s acrylic storage solutions and stationery have become staples in homes and offices around the world.

Visit the MUJI stores in 2nd Avenue – The Avenues, Grand Avenue – The Avenues and Al Kout Mall or shop online at muji.com.kw. For more information, follow MUJI on Instagram @mujimiddleeast.

RESILIENT FOOD OF THE FUTURE

It’s time to embrace a new era of gene-edited food

By Lara Williams

At first, it seemed like a 28 square-meter plot of Arborio rice in Italy was a symbol of changing attitudes toward genetically engineered food. Instead, it’s shown us that the debate is well and truly alive.

Scientists used CRISPR-Cas9, a precision gene-editing technique, to create a variety of risotto rice potentially resistant to Pyricularia oryzae, a pathogenic fungus which leads to rice blast disease. Italy’s first outdoor experiment of the crop was launched in mid-May after rules were loosened to allow such a study, but disaster struck on June 21, when scientists arrived to find most of the plants torn up or mown down.

Some of the rice has begun to recover after being replanted, but lead scientist Vittoria Brambilla has said that the experiment has now “lost its scientific value.” Nobody has taken responsibility for the vandalism, but the message is clear: Genetic engineering remains extremely contentious in Europe.

This matters because resistance to food altered by biotechnology is holding back development of new crops that may improve our health or help us mitigate and adapt to climate change.

Take the example of Golden Rice, a genetically modified organism (GMO) developed in the 1990s to combat vitamin A deficiency. The World Health Organization estimates that the deficiency causes between 250,000 and 500,000 young children to go blind every year, and half of them die within 12 months of losing their sight. The Philippines was the first country to approve the commercial cultivation of the crop, but earlier this year, campaigns by Greenpeace, which argued that the rice hadn’t been shown to be safe, convinced the court of appeal to revoke that approval. All the evidence from multiple toxicity and allergenicity studies points to the plant being safe — a lifesaver, in fact — and it has gained approval from multiple countries for safe consumption, including the US, New Zealand and Australia. Yet unfounded fears continue to stymie its rollout: It’s still not grown commercially in any nation.

Meanwhile, in the U.S. (1), a purple tomato has been made available to grow at home just this year. Developed by laboratory Norfolk Plant Sciences, the GMO tomato contains antioxidants called anthocyanins, which are healthy antioxidants found in blueberries, blackberries and aubergines. By selling direct to gardeners, the scientists hope to change perceptions around GM foods.

Genetic alterations have come a long way. We arguably began doing it thousands of years ago, when we started selectively breeding crops for size, yield, taste and resilience. In the 1980s, transgenic plants or GMOs, where genes from another species are inserted into the genome, were created. This is the technology which gave rise to the term

“frankenfood,” though it’s not as unnatural as it sounds. A 2015 study found evidence that modern sweet potatoes are the product of a similar gene transfer that happened naturally thousands of years ago. There have been hundreds of studies examining various ways in which GMOs could have negative effects on our health — such as increased cancer risk, toxicity buildup and allergic reactions — and no links have been found. (One infamous study by scientist Arpad Pusztai claimed that rats fed on GM potatoes had worse health outcomes, but a scientific audit panel found the experiment to be seriously “flawed in many aspects of design, execution and analysis.”)

Gene-edited seeds could also aid agriculture as climate change leads to more droughts, floods, pests and diseases.

For instance, insect-resistant crop varieties have been shown to greatly reduce the need for chemical applications, therefore shrinking the number of pesticide poisoning among farm workers. A 2013 study showed that adoption of insect-resistant cotton reduced food insecurity within Indian farm households by 15%-20%. Scientists have also developed drought-tolerant wheat in Argentina, while Kenya has begun growing drought-tolerant maize.

It could even help broaden the uptake of regenerative farming — an approach to agriculture that focuses on improving the soil and environment.

Giles Oldroyd, professor of crop science at the University of Cambridge and director of the Crop Science Center, is leading a team using GM and gene-editing to engineer cereal crops that can take advantage of symbiotic relationships with

microorganisms in order to better absorb nutrients, just like legumes can. This would enable a vast reduction in the use of nitrogen-based fertilizers, which are responsible for about 5% of global greenhouse gas emissions.

Those opposed to agricultural biotechnology often cite health concerns, although decades of research has not found any negative impacts of eating GMOs. The most convincing criticism is that only a small proportion of GMOs thus far would deal with concerns related to the climate and instead have been developed by the Big Four of the seed industry — Bayer AG’s Monsanto unit, Corteva Agriscience, China National Chemical Corp.’s (ChemChina) Sygenta and BASF SE — to strengthen their own market power.

We shouldn’t do away with safety checks where they’re required, but the UK’s Royal Society, the oldest scientific academy in the world, recommends an outcomes-based approach similar to the US model, which looks at the scientifically plausible risks of new crops on a case-by-case basis and balances the costs of using the method against any hypothetical costs of not using it.

Activists such as Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth often pitch organic farming as the only sustainable alternative to conventional, high-tech agriculture. But embracing technology can add resilience to our food systems and support a radically different regenerative system — if only we have the vision and political will.

Photo by Eduardo Prim on Unsplash.

NEW FRUIT&HERB

Blend of nature

DISCOVER THE TRENDIEST PRODUCTS FROM XCITE

Experience the latest and greatest lifestyle tech has to offer

By bazaar Staff

Galaxy Z Fold 6

The future of smartphones is here with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6. This marvel of engineering seamlessly blends the convenience of a smartphone with the expansive screen of a tablet. Its enhanced durability, powerful performance, and innovative folding mechanism make it the perfect device for multitaskers and tech enthusiasts alike. Whether you’re streaming, gaming, or working on the go, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 has got you covered.

Human Ring

Step up your health game with the Ultra Human Ring, a sleek and stylish wearable that provides comprehensive health tracking. From monitoring your sleep patterns to analyzing your daily activity and heart rate, this ring is designed to give you actionable insights into your well-being. Made with premium materials, it’s not just a fitness tracker but a statement piece that complements any outfit.

Samsung

Ultra

Dyson

Say goodbye to bad hair days with the Dyson Airstrait. This revolutionary hair tool combines the power of a blow dryer and the precision of a straightener, giving you salon-quality results at home. Its intelligent heat control and innovative airflow technology ensure your hair remains healthy, shiny, and frizz-free. Perfect for all hair types, the Dyson Airstrait. is your go-to for effortless styling.

Huawei FreeClip

Enhance your audio experience with the Huawei FreeClip. This innovative Bluetooth audio adapter allows you to transform your wired earphones into wireless ones, offering you the freedom and convenience of wireless listening. Compact and lightweight, the FreeClip delivers high-quality sound and can be clipped onto your clothing for easy access, making it a perfect companion for music lovers on the go

Experience the perfect blend of fashion and technology with Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses. These stylish frames come equipped with built-in speakers and voice assistants, allowing you to stay connected without lifting a finger. Whether you’re listening to music, taking calls, or getting directions, the Meta Smart Glasses keep you effortlessly in the loop while looking chic.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 Ultra

Stay connected and track your health with the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 Ultra which features advanced health monitoring capabilities, including blood oxygen level measurement and an ECG app. Its sleek design and customizable watch faces ensure it matches your style, while its powerful performance keeps you on top of your day. Perfect for fitness enthusiasts and tech lovers, the Galaxy Watch 7 Ultra is a versatile addition to your gadget collection.

Staying trendy has never been easier with Xcite’s latest selection of innovative products. Whether you’re looking to upgrade your tech, enhance your health, or simply add a touch of luxury to your daily routine, these must-have items are sure to impress. Visit Xcite today to explore these and many more exciting products and elevate your lifestyle to new heights.

Stay updated on the latest events, monthly promotions and offers by subscribing to the monthly newsletter on xcite.com, follow X-cite’s social media channels on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok and Snapchat, @xcitealghanim or Facebook at XcitebyAlghanim and win prizes with contests, or visit the online store at www.xcite.com.

Airstrait

Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses

BY ANY OTHER NAME

by Jodi Picoult, Fiction

In 1581, Emilia Bassano feels trapped by the societal expectations for women. As Lord Chamberlain’s mistress, she has access to all of England’s theatrical productions. Desperate to see her own work come to life, Emilia pays William Shakespeare to use his name, writing herself out of history. A century later, Melina Green has written a play based on Emilia’s life and is faced with the same question: should she give up her credit as the author just to see her work performed?

OBITCHUARY: THE BIG HOT BOOK OF DEATH

By Spencer Henry and Madison Reyes, Non Fiction

THE SEVENTH VEIL OF SALOME

by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, Fantasy

1950s Hollywood: Every actress wants to play Salome, the star-making role in a big-budget movie about the legendary woman whose story has inspired artists since ancient times. So when the film’s mercurial director casts Vera Larios, an unknown Mexican ingenue, in the lead role, she quickly becomes the talk of the town. Vera also becomes an object of envy for Nancy Hartley, a bit player whose career has stalled and who will do anything to win the fame she believes she richly deserves. Before the curtain comes down, there will be tears and tragedy aplenty in this sexy Technicolor saga.

WORST CASE SCENARIO

by T.J. Newman, Thriller

When a pilot suffers a heart attack at 35,000 feet, a commercial airliner filled with passengers crashes into a nuclear power plant in the small town of Waketa, Minnesota, which becomes ground zero for a catastrophic national crisis with global implications. The International Nuclear Event Scale tracks nuclear disasters. It has seven levels. Level 7 is a Major Accident, with only two on record: Fukushima and Chernobyl. There has never been a Level 8. Until now. In this heart-stopping thriller, ordinary people—power plant employees, firefighters, teachers, families, neighbors, and friends— are thrust into an extraordinary situation as they face the ultimate test of their lives. It will take the combined courage, ingenuity, and determination of a brave few to save not only their community and loved ones, but the fate of humanity at large.

It’s safe to say everyone thinks about death— whether they want to or not. But have you ever wondered about what sort of keepsakes you can make with your remains, or given any thought to the most scandalous deathbed confessions throughout history? Well Madison Reyes and Spencer Henry have, and they’ve spent countless hours scouring the darkest corners of the internet, digging through newspaper archives, devouring documents, and picking the brains of death industry experts to bring you Obitchuary, a darkly funny and deeply poignant exploration of all things death.

THE HOUSEKEEPER’S SECRET

by Iona Grey, Fiction

It is the summer of 1911 that brings new faces above and below the stairs of Coldwell Hall including the handsome and mysterious new footman, Jem Arden. Just as the house’s shuttered rooms open, so does Kate’s guarded heart to a love affair that is as intense as it is forbidden. But Kate can feel her control slipping as Jem harbors secrets of his own. Told in alternating timelines from the last sun-drenched summer of the Edwardian Age to the mud-filled trenches of WWI, The Housekeeper’s Secret opens its door to a world of romance, the truths we hold onto, and the past we must let go.

THIS IS WHY WE LIED

by Karin Slaughter, Mystery

Mercy McAlpine, the manager of the Lodge, is dead. With a vicious storm raging and the one access road to the property washed out, the murderer must be someone on the mountain. But as Will and Sara investigate the McAlpine family and the other guests, they realize that everyone here is lying. Lying about their past. Lying to their family. Lying to themselves. It soon becomes clear that normal rules don’t apply at McAlpine Lodge, and Will and Sara are going to have to watch their step at every turn. Trapped on the resort, they must untangle a decades-old web of secrets to discover what happened to Mercy. And with the killer poised to strike again, the trip of a lifetime becomes a race against the clock…

KNOWING YOUR FOOD FACTS

The complicated legacy of Nutrition Facts labels

By The Conversation

The Nutrition Facts label, that black and white information box found on nearly every packaged food product in the U.S. since 1994, has recently become an icon for consumer transparency.

From Apple’s “Privacy Nutrition Labels” that disclose how smartphone apps handle user data, to a “Garment Facts” label that standardizes ethical disclosures on clothing, policy advocates across industries invoke “Nutrition Facts” as a model for empowering consumers and enabling socially responsible markets. They argue that intuitive information fixes could solve a wide range of market-driven social ills.

Yet this familiar, everyday product label actually has a complicated legacy.

I study food regulation and diet culture and became interested in the Nutrition Facts label while researching the history of Food and Drug Administration policies on food standards and labeling. In 1990, Congress passed the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act, mandating nutrition labels on all packaged foods to help address growing concerns about rising rates of chronic illnesses linked to unhealthy diets. The FDA introduced its “Nutrition Facts” panel in 1993 as a public health tool that empowered consumers to make healthier choices.

The most obvious purpose of the Nutrition Facts label is for consumers to learn the nutritional properties of a food. In practice, however, this label has done much more than simply inform shoppers. It also encodes a wide range of political and technical compromises about how to translate food into nutrients that meet the diverse needs of the American public.

Where do “% Daily Values” come from?

The daily value, or DV, percentages on the label don’t all come from the same source. This is a reflection of differing public health targets for the label.

Recommended values for micronutrients like vitamins are based on Recommended Dietary Allowances, or RDAs, from the National Academies of Sciences Engineering and Medicine. Vitamin RDAs were developed out of historical concerns with undernourishment and meeting minimum needs.

Daily value percentages for macronutrients – carbs, fats and proteins – are based on U.S.

Department of Agriculture Dietary Guidelines. DVs for macronutrients registered a new concern about overeating and a focus on “negative nutrition” encouraging maximum intake levels.

DVs reflect two fundamentally different causes for concern. The numbers for micronutrients represent a floor: the basic minimum vitamin needs a child should meet to avoid malnutrition. The numbers for macronutrients, on the other hand, are a ceiling: a target maximum limit that adults should avoid surpassing if they want to prevent future health problems caused by eating too much high sodium or fatty food.

Why 2,000 calories?

The FDA almost used 2,350 calories as the baseline for calculating daily values, because it was the recommended population-adjusted average caloric need for Americans ages four and older. But after pushback from health groups concerned the higher baseline would encourage overconsumption, the FDA settled on 2,000 calories.

FDA officials felt this figure was less likely to be “misconstrued as an individualized goal since a round number has less implied specificity.” This means 2,000 calories is not actually a target for most American consumers reading the label. Instead, it is an example of the public health preoccupation with collective risk – what one scientist called “treating sick populations not sick individuals.”

By choosing a round number that was easy to do math with, and a calorie count below the average American’s, FDA officials were favoring practicality and utility over accuracy and objectivity. Advocating for the lower 2,000 calorie baseline, they reasoned, would offset Americans’ tendency to overeat and do more good than harm for the population overall.

Who determines serving sizes?

According to the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act of 1990, serving sizes should reflect “an amount customarily used.”

In practice, this involves routine negotiations between the FDA, U.S. Department of Agriculture – which also sets serving sizes for dietary guidance tools like the MyPlate – and food manufacturers. Each conducts research on consumer expectations and food consumption data, taking into consideration how a food is prepared and “typically eaten.”

Serving sizes are also determined by product packaging. For example, a soda can is generally considered a single-serving container and therefore just one serving, regardless of how many fluid ounces it contains.

What’s

in a name?

The label was almost called “Nutrition Values” or “Nutrition Guide” to highlight that Daily Values

were recommendations. Then FDA Deputy Commissioner Mike Taylor proposed “Nutrition Facts” to sound more legally neutral and scientifically objective.

The new design – a staid, black Helvetica text against a white background, using indented subgroups and hairlines for readability – and the authoritative boldface title helped establish “Nutrition Facts” as an easily recognized government brand.

This led to imitators in other policy arenas: first “Drug Facts” for over-the-counter medicines, then consumer protection initiatives in various tech industries, such as Federal Communications Commission “Broadband Facts” and “AI Nutrition Facts.”

The Nutrition Facts panel has remained largely consistent since the 1990s, despite some updates like adding lines for trans fats in 2002 and for added sugars in 2016 to reflect evolving public health priorities.

New ways to calculate the facts

Establishing the Nutrition Facts label required building an entirely new technical infrastructure for nutrition information. Translating the diverse American diet into a consistent set of standardized nutrients necessitated new measures, testing procedures and standard references.

A key player in developing that technical infrastructure was the Association of Official Analytical Chemists. In the early 1990s, an AOAC Task Force developed a food triangle matrix dividing foods into categories based on their proportions of carbs, fats and protein. The intention was to determine appropriate ways to measure nutritional properties like the amount of calories or sugars, as the food’s physical properties would affect how well each test worked.

Legacy of the Nutrition Facts label

Today, public-private collaborations have taken this translation of foods into simplified nutrient profiles further by making nutrition facts plugand-play. The USDA FoodData Central provides a comprehensive database of nutrient profiles for individual ingredients that manufacturers use to calculate Nutrition Facts for new packaged foods. This database also powers many diet and nutrition apps.

The analytic tools developed for the Nutrition Facts label helped create the basic information infrastructure for today’s digital diet platforms. But critics argue these databases reinforce an overly reductionist view of food as simply the sum of its nutrients, ignoring how the different forms a food takes – such as its moisture, fibrous materials or porous structures – affect the way the body metabolizes nutrients.

Indeed, many nutrition researchers concerned about the negative health effects of ultraprocessed foods now talk of a food matrix to emphasize precisely the opposite of what the AOAC sought with its food triangle: a need for a holistic understanding of how food shapes health.

Surprisingly, the Nutrition Facts label’s greatest impact may have been driving the food industry to reformulate products to achieve appealing nutrient profiles – even if consumers weren’t closely reading the labels. While envisioned as an education tool, I believe the Nutrition Facts label in practice has worked more like a market infrastructure, reshaping the food supply to meet shifting dietary trends and public health goals long before consumers find those foods at the supermarket.

Photos by Lynnette Jones on Unsplash.

CMF BY NOTHING PHONE

The Nothing Phone (CMF) features a minimalist design, emphasizing simplicity and functionality. Its standout features include a transparent back revealing the phone’s internals, a unique Glyph interface with customizable LED lights, and a clean, bloatware-free software experience. It aims to offer a fresh, distinct alternative in the smartphone market.

Ninja CREAMi Deluxe

The Ninja CREAMi Deluxe is a versatile ice cream maker that allows you to create custom frozen treats at home. It features multiple preset programs for ice cream, gelato, sorbet, and more. Its innovative Creamify technology ensures a smooth, creamy texture, making it perfect for experimenting with various flavors.

Boox Go Color 7

The Boox Go Color 7 is a versatile e-reader with a 7.8-inch color E Ink display, ideal for reading and note-taking. It supports various formats and offers adjustable front light for comfortable reading in any lighting. With Android OS, it provides access to a wide range of apps, enhancing productivity and entertainment.

DwarfLab DWARF 3

The DWARF 3 is the world’s most portable and versatile smart telescope. Designed with a compact size, automatic setup, and advanced shooting capabilities, it brings astrophotography within reach of everyone, anywhere. Capture stunning images of the Moon, Sun, Milky Way, galaxies, and nebulae in minutes. It’s not just for stargazing—use it for bird watching with object tracking and shoot spectacular 1 Billion pixel panorama photos.

PowerOcean Smart & Modular Home

Solar Battery Solution

EcoFlow PowerOcean is a premium 3-phase modular home solar solution. Featuring flexible upfront investment, outstanding safety, outage backup and super smart control, the solution is designed to achieve power independence for the whole house.

Punkt. MCO2 5G

The Punkt. MC02 5G is a minimalist mobile phone designed for essential communication. It features 5G connectivity, long battery life, and a simple, intuitive interface. With its compact and durable design, it emphasizes functionality and ease of use, offering a distraction-free alternative to smartphones for focused, efficient communication.

THE LATEST IN WEDDING TRENDS

More couples are hiring wedding content creators, so they and their guests can ‘live in the moment’

By Erin McCarthy

In the car on the way home from her wedding, Bayley Shanley’s phone pinged with a notification from one of her vendors. As her new husband drove, Shanley flipped through more than 500 candid photos and videos. She watched her bridesmaids walk down the aisle, a moment she had missed, and relived the speeches. She sent her flower girl’s mother photos of the child helping the bride put on her shoes.

The images had been captured by Taylor Moy, a South Philadelphia-based wedding content creator, who was hired to document behind-the-scenes moments of the couple’s June wedding at the Hotel Du Pont in Wilmington. Unlike professional wedding photography and videography, which is higher quality and requires weeks of editing, wedding content creators often can turn their work around in 24 hours or less.

“It felt so good to have it right away,” said Shanley, a 27-year-old accountant from Bethesda, Md. “I didn’t have to ask anyone for a photo. If anything, I was sending her Dropbox [virtual folder of photos and videos] to everybody,” including friends who couldn’t make the wedding.

And relative to other wedding costs, it was a bargain: The couple paid about $700 to have Moy document their wedding day and rehearsal dinner,

compared with the $5,000 they paid for professional photography and the $2,500 to $8,000 they’d been quoted for professional videography.

“You just couldn’t beat the value,” Shanley said.

Wedding content creation is a relatively new facet of the wedding industry, having gained nationwide popularity over the past two years and expanded into the Philadelphia market more recently.

San Le, 30, of Old City, recalled that she couldn’t find a local wedding content creator when she was planning her March 2023 wedding; the closest ones were in New York. Since then, Le, a data analyst by day, and a handful of others have taken on the gig in the Philadelphia region, making a full- or part-time business out of snapping hundreds of photos and videos, usually on their iPhone, at weddings and other events. Most wedding content creators also

offer short, edited videos that are ready for clients to post on Instagram or TikTok within days.

“The vibe that I always try to bring to the function is your uncle in the 90s with a camcorder, but modern,” said New Jersey-based wedding content creator Isabella Gagliardi. The 27-year-old explains her job to older generations as “not much different from their homemade wedding video.”

“I’m not necessarily capturing the ‘1, 2, 3 smile’ clips,” said Marjorie Raimo, a 29-year-old Wallingford resident and owner of Behind The Scenes Bridal. “The majority of it is unposed.”

The Inquirer spoke with five local content creators, who between them have shot more than 100 weddings in the past year. For their weddingday services, they charge between $500 and $2,000, depending on how many hours of coverage, photos, and edited videos clients want. Demand is

increasing, the creators say, with dozens of couples having already booked for 2025.

Content creators stress that they aren’t replacements for professional photographers and videographers. So far, all of their couples have also hired a photographer, they said, and about half of them also have had a videographer.

“I actually will not work a wedding where a professional photographer is not present,” Gagliardi said. “They are exponentially more expensive than me and probably more important in the grand scheme of things.”

Letting guests ‘live in the moment’ — and ‘post in the morning’

While wedding content creation was borne out of Gen Zers’ and millennials’ obsession with social media, creators said their clients don’t only care about how many likes and views their wedding content gets on Instagram or TikTok.

Some wedding content creators do cater to couples who want their big day to go viral — sometimes even posting from clients’ accounts in real time. But Philadelphia-area vendors said few of their couples opt for that.

“That’s just not something that I’ve done. I’d be open to doing that,” said Raimo, a full-time wedding content creator who has shot 23 weddings so far this year. But “I think there’s a specialness in the moment, of just keeping it to yourself for a little bit.”

She said she and most of her clients are of the

mindset: “Can we just live this for now and post in the morning?”

Le, who owns Vivid Moments with San, said her clients aren’t usually interested in recreating trendy wedding TikToks and don’t care how many people beyond their close friends and family see the content.

“Most people just want those moments for themselves to relive the very next day,” she said.

The local wedding content creators said the biggest draw for clients seems to be the quick turnaround time — as well as the pressure they take off guests to capture every moment.

“Everyone wants to share everything, but we’re also putting a big emphasis on living in the moment,” said Claire Vance, owner of Scorpio Media.

A wedding content creator “allows everyone to enjoy the reception,” said Gagliardi, a full-time creator with the Wandering Stardust Collective. “You don’t have to worry about leaving your phone at the table. I got it.”

For the couple the next day, she added, “it does eliminate all of that ‘Who has this video? Does anybody have this?’”

And while a content creator’s iPhone images are lower quality than the professional photos, they’re often better than the crowdsourced shots that couples usually look through the day after.

“Do you really want your great aunt’s blurry

photo with her thumb in it?” said Vance, 25, of Limerick. “Probably not.”

Wedding content creation is not just for the day-of events, either: Philadelphia creators say they have shot engagements, showers, rehearsal dinners, even bachelorette parties.

Vance spent the Fourth of July weekend in Avalon documenting her first bachelorette party, a celebration for 26-year-old Gabrielle Vagnozzi. It was Vance’s first time doing content creation for a bachelorette, and she charged around $900, a tab picked up by Vagnozzi’s maid of honor.

On other bachelorettes Vagnozzi has attended, “everybody takes photos, and then everybody wants to look at the photos, and we don’t have somebody to take the photos of all of us. It’s a pain,” said Vagnozzi, a Collegeville native now living in Virginia Beach. “It takes away from the moment.”

Vagnozzi knew she wanted a content creator at her own bachelorette so she and her friends could be more present, without the stress of making sure every moment was well-documented.

“This generation — and I’m so guilty of it — we just always care about photos,” said Vagnozzi, a sales rep. “I didn’t want to worry about that. I just wanted to be with my 13 girlfriends who I was lucky enough to all have in one room.”

Photo by Jeremy Wong Weddings on Unsplash.

WAYWISE CITYGUIDES

Get comprehensive transport, language, money and neighborhood tips for nearly any big city in the world with Waywise and travel on your own terms.

iOS only

ROOTS

Roots is not just another screen time app. We’re the first to quantify the digital dopamine you get from using your phone, and we help you build a better relationship with your phone from the ground up.

iOS only

COSMOFY

Cosmofy is an educational app offers an immersive exploration of the solar system with stunning 3D models of planets, fascinating planetary facts, tracking of natural events and disasters, and an interactive space assistant to answer all your cosmic questions.

iOS only

JOE – COLLECTIVE DECISIONS

Discover Joe: Your trusted companion for decisionmaking. Get real-time advice from a vibrant community and make confident choices.

iOS only

SCANIT

Tired of clunky, slow, ad-ridden scanning apps? Meet ScanIt. Lightweight, lightning-fast, and loaded with features, it’s the scanner-in-your-pocket that you’ve been waiting for.

iOS only

DOT ME

Tired of underserved link-in-bio tools? Welcome DotMe, the most beefed up, well designed, easy to use and dynamic link-in-bio tool ever. Access our widget ecosystem and create a link-in-bio like never before.

iOS and Android

DEADPOOL & WOOLVERINE

Genre: Action, Comedy, Science Fiction

Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Morena Baccarin

Synopsis: The irresponsible hero Deadpool will change the history of the MCU with Wolverine?

BORDERLANDS

Genre: Action, Adventure

Cast: Kevin Hart, Cate Blanchett, Ariana Greenblatt

Synopsis: Returning to her home planet, an infamous outlaw forms an unexpected alliance with a team of unlikely heroes.

BLIND WATERS

Genre: Action, Horror, Thriller

Cast: Meghan Carrasquillo, Noam Sigler

Synopsis: A deadly shark turns a couple’s dream vacation into a nightmare when they are stranded at sea and forced to fight for their lives.

BONEYARD

Genre: Action, Crime, Drama

Cast: Mel Gibson, 50 Cent, Brian Van Holt

Synopsis: Inspired by the true events of a serial killer that may still be out there.

TRAP

Genre: Mystery, Horror

Cast: Josh Hartnett, Ariel Donoghue

Synopsis: A father and his teen daughter attend a pop concert, where they realize they’re at the center of a dark and sinister event.

CHIEF OF STATION

Genre: Action, Thriller

Cast: Olga Kurylenko, Aaron Eckhart

Synopsis: After learning that the death of his wife was not an accident, a former CIA station chief is forced back into the espionage underworld.

LEO JUL 23 – AUG 22

The month begins with empowerment, Leo, as Mercury enters your sign on July 2 and awakens your first house of self. You’re an influential communicator, especially when you balance your natural leadership with active listening. The intuitive Cancer new moon on the fifth arrives in your twelfth house of spiritual growth and helps you make peace with the past.

VIRGO AUG 23 – SEP 22

The month begins with sacred release, Virgo, as Mercury enters Leo on July 2 and lands in your twelfth house of endings. This is an opportunity for reflection. Spiritual practices like meditating or dream journaling can help facilitate a deeper healing experience as you let go of the past. The Cancer new moon on the fifth in your eleventh house of hope encourages new connections and restored optimism.

LIBRA SEP 23 – OCT 22

The month begins with hope, Libra, as Mercury moves into Leo on July 2 and activates your eleventh house of aspirations. Creative and confident communication, especially in groups, will create major impact. As you express your ideas with charisma, people are drawn to your vision. On the fifth, the Cancer new moon in your tenth house of career encourages you to pursue a goal that brings both professional excitement and a sense of heartfelt purpose.

SCORPIO OCT 23 – NOV 22

The month begins with accomplishment, Scorpio, as Mercury enters Leo on July 2 and uplifts your tenth house of personal power. Your communication skills could help advance your career. Share your creative ideas to experience the recognition you deserve. The Cancer new moon in your ninth house of exploration on the fifth invites you to embark upon a new adventure!

SAGITTARIUS NOV 23 - DEC 21

The month begins with expansion, Sagittarius, as Mercury dashes into Leo on July 2 and energizes your ninth house of exploration. There’s a strengthened desire to learn about the world around you. Spiritual practices could feel especially rewarding, as could a trip to an exciting place. The Cancer new moon in your eighth house of rebirth on the fifth begins a sixmonth cycle of transformation.

CAPRICORN DEC 22 – JAN

The month begins with change, Capricorn, as Mercury enters Leo’s domain on July 2 to awaken your eighth house of transformation. Assess your communication style and make adjustments that help foster more intimate connections. The way you express yourself and connect becomes bolder! On the fifth, the intuitive Cancer new moon touches down in your seventh house of love, opening new paths in relationships.

AQUARIUS JAN 20 – FEB

The month begins with connection, Aquarius, as Mercury enters Leo on July 2 to activate your seventh house of relationships. Conversations feel more meaningful and passionate. Create harmony in your closest bonds by approaching every interaction with warmth. On the fifth, the Cancer new moon in your sixth house of wellness marks a new cycle of self-love and personal development.

PISCES FEB 19 – MAR

The month begins with wellness, Pisces, as Mercury enters Leo on July 2 to awaken your sixth house of personal development. There’s an emphasis on creating healthy routines that not only support your goals but also bring joy. As you move with a sense of purpose, be sure to communicate your ideas with conviction. The Cancer new moon on the fifth takes place in your fifth house of pleasure and begins a new cycle of abundance.

ARIES MAR 20 – APR 19

The month begins with abundance, Aries, as Mercury moves into Leo on July 2 and activates your fifth house of creation. Bring your passion projects to life by crafting the perfect blueprint! Sharing ideas is a form of self-expression that will reap well-deserved recognition. On the fifth, the Cancer new moon in your fourth house of intuition awakens your inner world and invites you to embrace emotions.

TAURUS

APR 20 – MAY 20

The month begins with clarity, Taurus, as Mercury moves into Leo on July 2 and energizes your fourth house of intuition. It’s the perfect time to have conversations that foster deep connections with others. The Cancer new moon on the fifth enlivens your third house of perspectives, and exciting ideas inspire you to walk a new path.

GEMINI MAY 21 – JUN 21

The month begins with connection, Gemini, as Mercury moves into Leo on July 2 and visits your third house of communication. You can strengthen bonds through heart-centered conversations. Your storytelling skills are at an all-time-high, making this an excellent time for you to express yourself. Confidence grows during the empowering Cancer new moon on the fifth, bringing its magic to your second house of self-esteem.

CANCER

JUN 22 – JUL 22

The month begins with strategy, Cancer, as Mercury enters Leo on July 2 and influences your second house of values. This is a time to express your ideas with confidence. You’re invited to embody an assertive mindset regarding your resources. As you align with what’s most important to you, a new moon in your sign on the fifth graces your first house of self and presents a new path for you to explore.