bazaar 2021 March issue by bazaar magazine

March 2021 | Issue #254 www.bazaar.town

SOME THINGS WILL NEVER CHANGE OUR INNOVATIONS WILL ALWAYS BE EXCEPTIONAL

At Lexus, we believe the bigger the idea, the bigger the rewards. So, we strive to think in ways that we never have before. Go beyond traditional methods of doing things. And realize we're not just here to test cars, but to test ourselves. With us, the impossible is never impossible.

MOHAMED NASER ALSAYER & SONS EST. CO. W.L.L. 4 A SUBSIDIARY OF ALSAYER HOLDING.

SOME PEOPLE DREAD THE UNKNOWN: ENJOY THE UNEXPECTED. 6

HOME DELIVERY NO.: 55199767

Launches 11 March. Explore the collection online.

Grand Avenue - The Avenues Al Kout Mall - First Floor 10

We are on Whatsapp:

1821212

Good Design

Scan QR Code or visit:

www.westelm.com.kw

INTRODUCING INTRODUCING

Int And just like that, it’s been exactly one year since the damn virus reared its ugly head, and turned our lives upside down, inside out, spinning all around! To say we’ve all got virus fatigue would be an understatement, since personally, I think we are all way beyond that. It’s especially difficult for parents since this whole online schooling situation was supposed to be a temporary fix, not a way of life, and regardless of all of the improvements that have taken place over the last few months, nothing can replace the human element and going to a physical classroom as opposed to sitting in front of a laptop and staring at a Zoom class instead. Kids need human contact and to see their friends and to play in a playground! And let’s not forget all our friends who own small and medium sized businesses, since they’ve been especially affected by the situation and the uncertainty of it all. Finally, if you’re an expat, you’ve also got the whole logistical nightmare of traveling or not traveling to visit family, since the rules keep changing as the virus keeps changing, and it’s a constant game of cat and mouse to say the least. To keep our minds off of the uncertainty of the status quo we have been interviewing Kuwait’s talents to bring you some inspirational stories. This month we sat down with Tareq Qaddumi (AKA @KicksTQ), the force behind the creative agency, Out The Box. His work is featured on our cover this month too. From art installations and Bball culture we dive into the miniature, hand-drawn and animated stop-motion world of the talented Sakina Kunwa who left the realm of finance for a career in art. Chef Talal Hamdhan shows us that art can also be made of sugar, spice and everything nice in his cakes and his classes in this month’s edition of Up Close and Personal, and Hamad Al-Khudher is teaching us a thing or two about how to self-care the natural way with Jana Aromas. Since it is March, we need to remember the often-forgotten hero in most households, mom! She has been managing Zoom school, working from home, and still making sure we’re happy. Treat her to something special from Virgin Megastore, fancy candles and home fragrances from Jana Aromas or a new outfit from HIND. If you or someone you care about is expecting a child, introduce them to Taiba’s amazing Delivery experience, it could be the best gift ever. Of course, you can make it even better by getting mommy the perfect stroller from Pottery Barn Kids! The beginning of spring makes us feel fresh and more likely to be craving fresh greens. We went to Blaze Pizza to discover their amazing new salads (and we may have indulged in the New Cheesy Bread too). Speaking of food, this issue we also learned how The Cheesecake Factory manages to create hundreds of dishes from scratch every day in their kitchen (hint: It is not magic, but it comes down to science and organization). If you want to move towards a healthier lifestyle, we have a rundown of the best items, gadgets and tools from X-cite that will make that accessible right now. Last month saw the opening of H&M HOME’s first Concept store in Kuwait. The interior decorating game just got more exciting, and we spoke to Farah AlHumaidhi, a local veteran in the field and Instagram influencer and educator about all things home styling.

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 Mariam Raslan Yasmin Gamal

Online Producer/Project Manager Umika Pidaparthy

Interns

Ali Mikail Zainah Al Meqbel

Communications Hala Y. Sharara

Cover by OTB

Contributing Writers Craig Loomis Laila Al Gharabally Sara Al Mullah

Contributing Photographers

Hyper Ali Muneera AlKhulaifi

Syndicates & Sources Fast Company LA Times MCT International Newsweek

Printing 22

British Industries for Printing and Packaging

members of:

w w w. b p aw w. c o m The views expressed in bazaar magazine are those of the respective contributors and not necessarily shared by the magazine or its staff (but sometimes they are).

tel.2571 6122 info@bazaar-magazine.com www.bazaar.town | Zahra Complex, Salmiya. 8th floor, office 35 @bazaargram bazaarmagazine @bazaartweets

No one likes to be dumped;

recycle me, please.

INDEX MARCH 2021 32 OTB

64 FERRARI

TALAL ALHAMDHAN Chef Talal Alhamdan, a self made artist with flour, sugar, eggs and butter as his mediums, brings his vision to life. With his beginnings watching The Food Network and adopting his mothers recipes to create a home away from home, Chef Talal created Talal’s Cake Academy to spread his passion for baking.

The ever-changing and evolutionary nature of the Ferrari Portofino M is no different than that of Kuwait’s. The Portofino continues its legacy, with its sensational design features and groundbreaking technology. It embodies the dynamic yet renowned reputation of Ferrari’s evolution and history.

120

MASERATI

TAIBA HOSPITAL

With a sleek design and new hybrid technology, get a rundown of the new Ghibli Hybrid, Maserati’s first electrified vehicle. The Ghibli Hybrid is the latest addition to hybrid automation, equipped with a new generation of engineering and power, while maintaining the acclaimed Maserati DNA and heritage.

Taiba Hospital breaks down their support plan for mothers-to-be and answers the burning questions of “what to expect when you’re expecting”. We get a glimpse of the atmosphere and accommodations they offer for childbirth, inviting you to make the best possible decision for welcoming your child into the world.

GR YARIS

Tareq and DT push to redefine the means of streetwear, culture, and traditional art. While quite literally thinking outside the box, they came together to create OTB, (out the box), to create a community of creatives in the region to openly express themselves. Tareq and DT are actively redefining the art scene and youth culture in the region and establishing a community

Characterized by its compact size and developed technology, Toyata welcomes the GR Yaris. The new, mighty Toyota hatchback offers a car suitable for all kinds of drivers from competitive racers to everyday drivers on the road. Using driver feedback t Toyota developed their first motorsports car turned production vehicle.

136 #XCITED FOR HEALTHY LIVING Technology can aid the journey to a healthy lifestyle, whether it may be home gym equipment or air fryers for guilt-free snacks. Xcite provides gadgets and technology and appliances for everything from healthy eating to physical movement for steps to a healthier, more balanced life, available in-store or online.

140

THE CHEESECAKE FACTORY Get a sneak peek into the kitchen of one of our favorite dining spots, and a behind-the-scenes look into their most popular dishes. The Cheesecake Factory has the largest menu in the restaurant business, and they make it look effortless. In reality, careful planning and dedication goes into staying true to their commitments of making delicious food.

FERRARI P. 64

bazaar connect Freedom to find us

30,000 readers

With a bilingual audience of both English and Arabic, we cover everything from what’s on, to the bizarre. We print and distribute 10,000 copies of bazaar every month; each copy is read by an average of 3 people, giving us a total readership of over 30,000. bazaar is published every month (with a double issue for July/ August), delivered free of charge to a large subscriber database, and distributed free of charge in all of the following locations: Cafés & Eateries

Baker & Spice Café November Casper & Gambini Chocolate Bar, Al Bida’a, Marina Crescent, Spoons

Costa Coffee Outlets: Argan Square Marina Crescent Miral Mall, Mangaf Kuwait Airport Saqran Mall Ghawalli Mall Sahara Shaab

Starbucks Outlets: Abdullah Mubarak Adeliya Airport Mall Al Mowasat Hospital Al Shaya Head Office Aliya & Ghalia Complex Andalouse Coop AUK Bairaq Mall Baitak Tower Behbehani Complex Bida’a Complex BMW Showroom Daiya Co-op Dar Al Awadi Divonne, Abu Hassaniya Four Points by Sheraton Hilton Resort Jabriya Kaifan Khalifa Resort

Kout Mall Marina Crescent Marina Mall Mishref NBK Nuzha Co-op Plaza Hawalli Rosa Castle Salhiya Salmiya, Salem Al-Mubarak Salmiya Co-op Salwa Co-op Scientific Center Seif Hospital Shaab Shamiya Co-op Sharq Co-op Sheikha Complex Sheikh Saed Al Abdullah Terminal Shuwaikh Zain Headquarters Souk Sharq The Avenues The Palms Hotel Zahra Co-op

Other Outlets:

Crumbs, Shaab Dunkin Donuts, Mall 360 Elevation Burger, Abu Halifa, Al Bida’a, Al-Hamra, Avenues, Mishref, Alseif Haagen Daz- Souk Sharq, Arraya Johnny Rockets- opp. Salhiya Complex, Marina, Salmiya, The Avenues, Alia & Ghalia Complex Made Caffe Al Salam Mall November Bakery P.Q. - The Palms, Marina Mall Paul - The Avenues, Marina Mall Prime & Toast - Al Bida’a, Seif Strip

members of: www.bpaww.com

Scoop-A-Cone - Egaila, Fahaheel The Early Bird - Fahaheel, Jabriya Upper Crust Pizzeria

Clinics & Hospitals

Al Mubarakiya Dental Clinic - Egaila, Salmiya Al Safat American Hospital Boushahri Clinic Dasman Diabetes Institute Diet Care Center Gulf Clinic International Clinic Maidan Clinic - Fahaheel, Farwaniya, Hawalli, Sharq, Subah Al Salem Noor Clinic Salam Hospital Seif Hospital Soor Center Taiba Clinic The Cosmetic Surgery Clinic

Hotels & Health Clubs

Crowne Plaza, Farwaniya Hilton Kuwait Resort & Spa Holiday Inn, Salmiya Inspire Pure Fitness Jumeirah Messilah Beach Resort Hotel & Spa JW Marriott – Residence Inn, Sharq Millenium Hotel & Conference Center Pilates & More - Salmiya, Mahboula Spaloon The Palms Beach Hotel The Yoga Center

Malls

Galleria Al Hamra Elevation Burger Boulevard Starbucks Costa Coffee The Promenade Caribou Mall 360 Dunkin Donuts Marina Mall Marina Crescent Casper & Gambini Chocolate Bar Johnny Rockets P.Q. Paul Souq Sharq Starbucks Haagen Dazs Symphony Mall Juan Valdez The Avenues Elevation Burger Johnny Rockets Paul Starbucks Airport Mall Starbucks Dar Al Awadi Starbucks Spoons Chocolate Bar Salhiya Complex Starbucks

4 Boutique Alghanim Marine Alghanim Showrooms - Safat Al Rai, Shuweikh, Sharq, Fahaheel beau-tique cosmetics British Embassy US Embassy Brush Salon CAP Gallery Cookie Dough Dar Al Funoon Dar.Nur Gold Class Lounge - Grand Cinemas Al Hamra TONI & GUY- Al Corniche TONI & GUY- Cliffs Kuwait Airport Business Class Lounges Finesse Nail Lounge Media Elephant Shuwaikh Market Sultan Gallery THE One The Chairman's Club

Schools & Universities American International School American University of Kuwait Australian College Kuwait Bayan School (Hawalli) Boxhill College BSK - British School of Kuwait Universal American School

Kuwait University Starbucks Starbucks Starbucks Starbucks

Stand Alones

Al Salam Mall Arraya Haagen Dazs

Virgin Megastore Artspace Kuwait

Khaldiya Adeliya Jabriya Shuwaikh

bazaar magazine became a member of BPA Worldwide in June 2010, a renouned agency which ensures complete transparency, and verifies bazaar as an audited publication which distributes 10,000 copies on a monthly basis. To access our BPA report, please visit www.bpaww.com or log onto our website www.bazaar.town for a downloadable pdf version.

Freedom to surf us

www.bazaar.town

200,000 unique monthly visitors

In addition to delivering our readers with our monthly print installment of bazaar, we’re here to pick your brain daily with www.bazaar.town–The ultimate guide to Kuwait! Packed with a little bit of everything for everybody, with daily updates on events in Kuwait, tips for life, inspiring interviews, competitions, reviews, a classifieds section, and of course a comprehensive dining directory including addresses, telephone numbers, and links to each restaurant’s location on Google Maps, it will not disappoint!

Freedom to share us

50,000 fans and followers

We get closer to our readers through our vibrant social media channels on a daily basis. With more than 50,000 collective fans and followers, we love starting different conversations, sharing music, jokes, photos, competitions, and much more. From live Insta-stories to live tweeting at events to give you minute-by-minute coverage and commentary so you'll never miss a beat!

facebook.com/bazaarmagazine

Freedom to flip us

twitter.com/bazaartweets

instagram.com/bazaargram

issuu.com/bazaarmagazine

bazaar Newsletter

bazaarTube

20,000 monthly readers

Too busy to go pick up bazaar from your local café? Now you can browse through the entire magazine online via issuu.com and on www.bazaar.town. Featuring our in-depth interviews, reviews, stellar photography, and the latest ads showcasing what’s hot in the market right now; you can browse through bazaar freely and securely, whether you're on your PC, laptop, Smartphone, or tablet.

Spring is here

Grand Avenue The Avenues

Scan QR Code or visit:

williamssonomamena

what's trending March 2021

What: @vespakw Info: The iconic Vespa has landed in Kuwait. Editor’s Note: All we need is a scarf and a hat and we will be living the dream.

What: @misfitskw Info: Record players, vinyls and artist merch. Editor’s Note: Excuse us while we buy more records.

What: @laceless_kwt Info: Never tie your shoelaces again. Editor’s Note: Yes, we are THAT lazy.

www.bazaar.town What: @studio.corners Info: Studio space rental. Editor’s Note: We might just start a podcast.

What: @kaleidonails.kw Info: Press on Nails handcrafted with love. Editor’s Note: Instant mani!

What: @nomadic.kw Info: Products for the traveler/dreamer. Editor’s Note: If you can’t travel, buy the merch.

What: @rv.kuwait Info: Buy and sell a caravan. Editor’s Note: We’re getting an RV and hitting the road!

What: @herbangles Info: Beautiful beaded jewelry Editor’s Note: Let’s all get matching bazaar bracelets.

As much as we work our hardest to give you one rocking print issue after the other, we’re socially active (or try our best to be, we are bazaar humans after all) and we love it! Find us online: It makes our day when we see your tweets/mentions/likes/comments/shares about your favorite features and more.

facebook.com/bazaarmagazine

twitter.com/bazaartweets

instagram.com/bazaargram

bazaarTube

Now Available in

Grand Avenue - The Avenues | Souq Sharq | The Gate Mall

VISITING CREATIVE CITIES An altogether alluring experience by Sara Al Mulla

You could easily lose yourself in a city that feels like a picturesque setting from a novel. Such cities have embraced culture and creativity as bewitching narratives to attract the aesthetes, connoisseurs, and gourmands of the world. Creative cities - such as Tokyo, Paris, and London - have integrated creativity in the fabric of its urban beauty and being, infusing everyday life with a touch of magic. They are also global hubs for the arts, design, literature, and film industries. Anyone glimpsing their calendars will immediately be captivated by an exhilarating selection of creative activities, ranging from book fairs, literary festivals, and performing arts shows, to film screenings, art exhibitions and creative workshops. An instant reverie transports me to Paris with its charming, storybook neighborhoods, opulent opera houses, and whimsical gardens. Venice, this bedazzling aquatic city often feels like a moving watercolor painting and is home to cultural treasures like the Teatro La Fenice, the Academy Gallery, and dreamy gondolas. Walking in Tokyo’s creative urban heart will enthrall you with stylish bookshops, cafés, and museums lining the graffiti-embellished streets. Indeed, such treasured experiences are what wanderlust souls long for. Paris is the jewel amongst cultural cities and is one of the most visited cities in the world. Its remarkable suite of cultural offerings include 4,000 historic monuments, 140 museums, 361 theatres, 5 opera houses, 4 UNESCO sites, 47 foreign cultural institutes, 22,763 restaurants, and 421 parks. Interestingly, the city had to undergo a major urban renovation during the mid19th century in order to reach its coveted status today. Emperor Napoléon III hired a new prefect of Seine, Baron Georges-Eugène Haussmann, and commissioned him to make Paris “more beautiful”. Between 1853 and 1870, the city experienced an urban renaissance, with its masterplan including beautiful projects, such as adding 30

expansive avenues and boulevards, charming squares tucked within neighborhoods, opulent theatres, blooming gardens, ornate architectural façades with chic balconies, and the iconic Parisian street lamps. Indeed, visitors today can marvel at Baron Haussmann’s artistic ingenuity and enjoy many attractions as a result, such as the Étoile area around the Arc de Triomphe, the restoration of the gardens of the ChampsÉlysées, the Opéra Garnier, and the completion of the last wing of the Louvre – to name but a few. Furthermore, his team planted six hundred thousand trees and added a further two thousand hectares of green space to Paris. American writer Ernest Hemingway once said, “If you are lucky enough to have lived in Paris as a young man, then wherever you go for the rest of your life, it stays with you, for Paris is a moveable feast.” Elsewhere, many cities are luring visitors with cultural attractions. For example, Edinburgh, a UNESCO City of Literature has inspired more than 500 novels and is home to many famous writers. The city attracts visitors with its fantastic literary scene, from bookstores and literary cafés to writing workshops and writers’ museums. The yearly Edinburgh International Book Festival is the largest literary festival in the world and welcomes more than 1,000 writers to talk about literature. Venice remains fabled, almost surreal, with its meandering aquatic canals inviting you to get lost in its cultural jewels. The city has been attracting visitors since the 7th century, praising its muchadmired reputation for tolerance, freedom of

expression, hospitality, and its patronage of the arts. It has always been at the forefront of the arts scene – opening the first theatre in Europe, the first coffee house, as well as establishing a thriving publishing industry during the 14th century. In fact, during the 17th and 18th centuries, European aristocratic families would send their children to major cultural cities, such as Venice, as part of their education in the arts. It is also important to note that investment in the creative industries boosts economic prosperity and citizens’ wellbeing, according to a growing body of research by urban economists. In 2013, the UNESCO, International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers, and EY released a study on the global contribution of cultural and creative industries, stating that these sectors generated $US 2,250 billion globally (3% of world GDP) and employed 29.5 million people. It is interesting to note that cultural tourists make up 35.8% of global tourism, according to the World Tourism Organization. Indeed, the charms of creative cities go beyond the physical world, for they nurture our minds with wondrous ideas, boundless inspiration, and unforgettable experiences. Sara Al Mulla is an Emirati civil servant with a Master of Arts in Children’s Literature from the University of Roehampton. Visit www.amorelicious.com to find out more about her work or get in touch with her. Photo by Chris Benson on Unsplash.

OUT THE BOX Tareq Q discusses social justice through art, creativity and No Skill Set By Ali Mikail

Thinking out of the norms of what society expects from you is key to instigate change, be it social, economic or cultural. When Kuwait-based sneakerheads Tareq (@kickstq ) and DT (@del.ten ) hosted their first popup event in SNKR store, the Avenues, they were merely testing the waters and seeing where it would take them as a creative entity. The event was a hit, and hundreds of people showed up. Soon after, they hosted Kuwait’s very own Airmax day, a talk in a kindergarten class in UAS, an Adidas campaign, an event where they sold out their highly anticipated merch, and within a year they had hosted over six pop ups. That’s when Tareq and DT were motivated and knew they were really on to something special by creating out of the box experiences. From there, OTB was born. OTB, also known as “Out The Box” is a creative agency formed by influencers Tareq Qaddumi and DT based in Kuwait and founded in early 2019. OTB collectively includes artists, photographers, videographers, designers, and musicians all who are among a group of several other creatives with different goals and motives. Both Tareq and DT have a combined experience of ten years in brand marketing and consulting, working with companies such as Nike, Jordan Brand, Adidas, Puma, Prada, Cadillac, Farfetch, and Shopify. For Tareq, OTB was one of his biggest accomplishments ever since he started his journey on Instagram in 2014 when he was just posting his daily outfit pics ( #Outfitgrid ) featuring limited kicks from brands such as Jordans and Yeezys to now working with hungry young creators in an agency who are passionate and have an aspiring love for sneakers, just like him. OTB is reinventing the traditional creative agency format, and presents a totally different operation that echoes with Tareq and DT’s passion for street and youth culture. There’s a ‘court’ team of 4-5 guys (artists, photographers, videographers, designers) depending on who is usually available, and the scope of the given project where others could also come in and play a role in helping the project come to life. Currently OTB's team includes Photographer and Videographer Sid Nath, Videographer and Graphic Designer Masood Bloushi, Engineer and Artist Dawood Al Awadh, Photographer and Artist Elvis D'Costa, and Interior Designer and Artist Mariam Al-Yoranee The concept for OTB’s motto, “No Skill Set” comes from Tareq’s personal story where he never really had any specific skill and every project he has done and achieved comes within a vision and involves the right people for it. For the longest time, Tareq felt inadequate, constantly underestimating his self-worth until he realized you don’t need a specific skill to get far in life. When Tareq gave his AUK talk about what “No Skill

Set” is and what it really means, he was relaying an important message that really needed to be thought through and given serious consideration. A lot of young adults nowadays have yet to figure out what they would like to accomplish in their lives with the certain type of skills presented upon them, but feel worthless because they do not feel like they have the required skill to do so. Whether he’s focusing on OTB or his latest collaboration, Tareq is always working on one creative project or the next. When considering his continued content series with OTB, titled the Hoop Series, it is driven by OTB’s passion for the game. The objective was to merge the sport with elements that relate to the culture and the personal stories of the agency. Balling has also always been a passion of Tareq’s ever since high school, and each one of the twelve hoops currently created has a different meaning and backstory too. OTB introduced the first hoop which paid homage to Kuwait’s fishing culture and history with pearl diving, a tradition which people tend to forget about. Titled “All Net”, it features a basketball hoop strategically placed in the middle of the water. The hoop itself is created out of fisherman wood, net and designed basketballs that pose as oversized pearls to complete the image of this story. Individually, Tareq considers “All Net” as a huge success. Not only was 34

[...Continued]

this his first hoop, but also placing the hoop on a small boat in the middle of the sea was technically extremely difficult for him to construct. But with the right mindset and people, Tareq was thrilled to see his vision materialize. Ever since that first hoop, OTB’s Hoop Series has featured over ten unique hoop concepts with amazing backstories to go along with each creation, covering themes like technology, cultural traditions, and awareness campaigns that touch on specific topics. The most powerful project yet by OTB has to be the Slingshot, which is the most meaningful and profound project Tareq has worked on. Constructed as a massive structure and featuring incredible handmade, Palestinian embroidery, the project personally resounds with Tareq because of the cause. In a world where the concept of “free Palestine” has been muddled down to passing news on mainstream media, Tareq looked to create something that is the complete opposite, and deserving of attention. He considers the slingshot not just to “free Palestine”, but as another way of saying that we need to fight evil since there is a lot of it in this world. He said, “Oppression is the enemy and fighting it can be formed in any way whether it’s boycotting, raising funds and awareness or creating a symbolic gesture”, with the creation of the biggest slingshot in the world.

A struggle for Tareq was that many viewed him as just the influencer who would only put outfits together and post cool pictures of sneakers. So when approaching companies and brands with his projects and ideas he found it rather difficult. He set out to prove that he can also offer services that would take everything to the next level, from creating a campaign, developing the key content like videos, pictures, styling, designing elements and much more with a wider variety of his resources on the line to make the project come to life. That’s the beauty of collective creativity at OTB, the sky’s the limit for what you can deliver, and Tareq knew that there was a clear gap in the market for creative offerings like those offered at OTB. Tareq is always working and planning on new upcoming collaborations, as he currently has four big projects planned out on ice and is very excited to tease to the public whenever the time is right. He works on ideas that are way out of his element to elevate every day experiences, and hopefully, within a couple months of time, we are going to see more fascinating events hosted by OTB.

For more information, check out @Kickstq and @outtheboxww on Instagram and visit the website outtheboxww.com.

COMING SOON

• The Avenues – Phase III – 1st Floor: 2220 0504 • Boulevard Mall – Ground Floor: 2576 2629 • Al Kout Mall – 1st Floor: 2208 4529 @TheNorthFaceKwt w w w. E x p l o re r s B a s e . c o m

Exclusive Distributor:

• Al Tilal Complex, Shuwaikh – 2225 6323 • The Avenues Mall, Phase II 1st Floor: 2259 7377 • Kuwait International Airport, Departure Area: 2433 2179

ART WILL GO ON 2021 Ras Al Khaimah Fine Arts Festival (RAKFAF) To Run from 6 February to 3 April By bazaar staff

We’re ready to welcome some good news for a change, and escape into a world of art with the upcoming 2021 Ras Al Khaimah Fine Arts Festival. Running from the 6th of February to the 3rd of April with the theme of Hope, the Festival helps launch the UAE’s 2021 arts calendar, presents a stunning outdoor exhibition of local, regional, and international talents alongside a vibrant program of specially adapted indoor and outdoor film screenings, innovative workshops and tours, as well as new collaborations with Art Dubai and The Arts Center at NYU Abu Dhabi. The historic Ras Al Khaimah pearling village of Al Jazirah Al Hamra will once again provide the central backdrop for the Festival, having been the Festival’s home for the past two years and standing as a critical bridge between Ras Al Khaimah’s cultural heritage and contemporary art scene. However, this year’s Festival will also see two new exciting mini-exhibition sites within the Emirate: the public viewing deck of the UAE’s highest peak Jebel Jais and the Open Park on Al Marjan Island. With the theme of Hope – a theme that reflects the re-opening of the arts following the past year’s closures – the outdoor exhibition of art, photography, and sculpture, set within the Heritage Village and now at Jebel Jais and Al Marjan, will present more than 130 artworks by a diverse mix of artists from some 49 countries. There will also be a vibrant program of film screenings, workshops, guided tours, and other events held across the Festival’s various locations. Whether responding to the theme by considering human connection, the environment, or the current pandemic, each work and activity explores where hope is found, where it is built, and how it is shared. In a rapidly changing world of new technologies, urbanization, climate change, and COVID-19, the Festival is asking the critical question, how can hope inspire art, and art inspire hope? Works by local UAE names such as Azza Al Nuaimi, Nuwair Al Hejari and Abdullah Khouri will be exhibited alongside the notable GCC talents of Awatif Al Safwan from Saudi Arabia, Esraa Al Enzi and Lamia Ghareeb from Kuwait. Speaking to us on Kuwait’s participation in the festival is Tara Sillery of PR Passion, who 36

stated, “Kuwait holds a very special place in my heart and ensuring talented artists and suchlike get the recognition they deserve is a huge passion of mine. The country is blessed with many artists, designers and poets to name but a few. Unfortunately due to the global pandemic this year, the executive decision was taken to downsize the number of participating artists (due to travel restrictions and adherence to safety measures). This, in alignment with the 2021

Theme of “HOPE”, gives me the confidence that those who focused on their inner talents during the pandemic will have outstanding and emotional work to showcase for the 2022 Festival.” For the full article visit bazaar.town. For more information on the Festival, please visit www.rakfinearts.ae or follow on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. RAKFAF is free to the public.

2nd Avenue, The Mall & Grand Plaza - The Avenues • Marina Mall • Al Fanar Mall • The Gate Mall Souq Sharq • Mishref Co-op • Qortuba Co-op • Al Kout Mall • Mubarak Al Kabeer and Al-Qurain Co-op • The Promenade Hateen Co-op • Khaldiya Co-op • Shamiyah & Shuwaikh Co-op • Awtad Center • Rawda Co-op • Abdullah Al Mubarak Co-op bathandbodyworksarabia • www.bathandbodyworks.com.kw Customer Service: 182-12-12

THOUQ STUDIO

Discover contemporary design services that effortlessly blend the essence of the East and the charm of the West By bazaar staff

Kuwait is blessed with a bounty of artists, creatives and visionaries who want to change the face of cultural exploration as we know it. Original thouqers Ahmad AlGhanim and Bader Alhejailan present a fine example of how art, publishing, retail, and design can seamlessly be combined to present a totally different creative ideology. There is no clear distinction in style when it comes to showcasing their various works, as it is a matter of taste, or in Arabic, thouq, after all. With Thouq Studio, Ahmad, Bader and a collective of Kuwaiti entrepreneurs are bringing their distinctive and elevated views on design front and center. Thouq has inspired the minds of many people over the past two decades, whether we consider the cult following of thouqers shopping their latest offerings in merch, fashion, home accessories and art, to the many projects they

work on at Thouq Studio from residential homes to office spaces and cafés. What unites all of these various creative facets is an inimitable aesthetic we are decidedly naming the ‘Thouq effect’, which blends the best of two worlds, the essence of Arabia and the charm of the West. With Thouq Studio, both Bader and Ahmed feel that they are going back to their roots. While some might see their shift from retail to Studio as an adaptation, the reality is that Thouq Studio is merely an evolution of their work. Creativity is at the core of everything that they do, and the duo have completed many interior design projects throughout the years. They take on new builds, home renovations, event design, commercial spaces, and even smaller design projects like designing specific rooms. Bader likens their interior design services to a creative kitchen, stating, “We love being challenged by a new project! Whether we’re working on a private villa, or a commercial space. Upon being approached to work on a new project, a site visit is first conducted to inspect the space, and of course, imagine the potential.” While it is important to present a finished space that is functional, Thouq Studio always aims to

Chalet Project by Thouq Studio

Interior Design work for Caffeine

Home Interior design project by Thouq Studio [Continued...]

Left and Right: Office Interior Design projects by Thouq Studio create a personal story and narrative that echoes with the client’s wishes, while still keeping to their design vision for the space. Some of the most common challenges faced by interior design studios is execution, but with Thouq Studio’s years of expertise in the field, the combined knowledge of the right contractor for each individual job comes so easily to Ahmad and Bader. Ahmed explains that they are “happy to work with contractors recommended by our clients too. However, we also do know that, for a specific goal, we will go above and beyond to make sure that this is achieved for our clients.” Do the experts at Thouq Studio ever replicate their designs? Both Ahmad and Bader nod their heads with an outright no. “Simply because, this is not our ethos, “explains Ahmad, “The beautiful thing about our vision for interior design is that our style is quite known, and while we are happy to emulate a feeling or sense, we will never repeat the same design. Every project is extremely special and unique, and the materials chosen for each client are done with purpose.” This essentially means, no Pinterest pics, and no, Thouq Studio will not deliver a specific look, just because it’s trendy or a specific material is “in”. While it might be more profitable to simply say yes and move along with the project, that’s not what Ahmad and Bader are after. Bader tells me that, lucky for them, people who do approach Thouq Studio are already avid fans of the brand, “They give us the freedom to do our thing because they are after how we are able to blend both elements of East and West, all wrapped up in a cohesive look. It’s the Thouq touch.” So how does this creative duo work together? Bader has always been an absolute minimalist, while Ahmad is the ultimate maximalist, and it 40

[...Continued]

always works! When it comes to a residential project, per se, they will divide and conquer, and they trust one another enough to edit the final project collaboratively, making the right calls as they move along. Bader appreciates Ahmad’s vision, and vice versa. One thing that they do agree on, though, is how people can be very wasteful when it comes to redesigning their spaces. Ahmed tells me that his first question to clients is “What do you already have? Let’s take a look at what we can work with.” Thouq Studio deeply believes in reusing what you have, as furniture is supposed to be built to last. “Like fast fashion, we’re now seeing a lot of fast consumption when it comes to our homes.” Whether it is an heirloom dining table, an old picture frame, or even a demodee couch set, Thouq Studio can definitely give your old valuables a new life, meaning and purpose. Ahmad then proceeded to point to a stunning vintage Louis Vuitton luggage trunk displayed at the studio that has been elegantly converted into a small seat as a prime example from a recent project he worked on. But the reality is, revamping your space doesn’t need to cost an arm and a leg, it can be very efficient, and life changing at the same time, with the right touch from Thouq Studio. Have you ever visited a space and wanted to spend hours on end simply taking in the beautiful interiors? This is ultimately the feeling one gets whenever they step into a space executed by Thouq Studio. Flower Latte Café presents the perfect example. Looking to recreate the feeling of dining in a classic, European salon, Flower Latte is the type of space that instigates deep conversations. It’s all in the fine details, like the original antique, but massive frames, elegantly

paired crystal chandeliers, aged walls and fine marble. This is an aesthetic that required deep research, from choosing the right fabrics for the furniture, and hunting for antique knick-knacks from authentic Parisian flea markets. All of this was done while adhering to a certain budget, wrapped up in a stunning final look. When it comes to designing interiors for homes, Thouq Studio does like to keep a home looking like a home. “It needs to be lived in, functional, and we like to design a space that engages the homeowner, said Bader, “The client will be living in this space, after all. We essentially want the home to look like it’s been designed by the homeowner, and not us. They need to be visible in every aspect of the design of their living space, which is a challenge when people want the space to simply look nice.” To which Ahmad adds, “I would love to take credit for the design of a home space, but that’s not what we’re after. It needs to be a reflection of the person living in that space, and that means coming up with a design for the space that echoes with the spirit and soul of the owner. There is a beautiful intimacy to designing homes, and we love taking on these projects because they are explorative. We usually set a few psychological orientation sessions with prospective clients to get them excited about the entire process. The ultimate goal is a beautiful but comfortable, and cozy space.” This involves mixing and matching new pieces with existing ones, perhaps redoing the flooring, or even finding the right light fixtures to create that intimate feeling. No detail is left behind with Thouq Studio. For more information, head to thouq.com/studio and follow @Thouq.studio on Instagram.

Now Available in

Grand Avenue - The Avenues | Souq Sharq | The Gate Mall

up close & personal

LET’S BAKE A CAKE WITH CHEF TALAL AL HAMDHAN

Those who do, also teach! By bazaar staff

Chef Talal Al Hamdhan stumbled into the cake design world through a series of happy coincidences, and a few sprinklings of good luck. He was working on a post-graduate degree in Political Science in the States in the 90s when he realized that he was missing the taste of home. With his half Kuwaiti and half Lebanese heritage, Chef Talal grew up in a home with rich culinary traditions, where Machboos and Kibbeh Bel Laban happily coexisted. He asked his mom for some recipes and spent his free time watching The Food Network. He was especially mesmerized by the stunning cake creations, with their grand designs and intricate artistry made from basic ingredients like flour, sugar, eggs and butter. Close your eyes and think of the beautiful cake that you had the pleasure of trying. Chances are, it is going to be tied to a happy memory, a birthday, a wedding, a gathering with friends and so on. Cake is one of the few dishes that always make you smile. Even before the internet, we knew that the cake world was full of diversity and creativity. The flavors inside can be endless and the designs on the outside can be as simple as a single layer of frosting to grand constructions that need a team to create and transport. It is no surprise that Al Hamdhan was enthralled with this new world that built on strong culinary traditions that he was already missing from home From the very beginning he knew that he was more interested in the art and design of these sweet delights. He started experimenting and taking classes with the masters. He soon returned to Kuwait and got married only to find himself back in America while his wife was studying for her degree and he immediately assigned himself to cooking duty. The first thing you notice about the chef is his excitement and passion about his 42

chosen profession. Behind his easy smile and friendliness there is a lot of curiosity and eagerness to learn new things. He attended every class he could find by experts and masters and kept honing his craft and skill. Al Hamdhan is one of those rare people who enjoy doing, but also want to teach. He finds a lot of joy and motivation into passing what he knows to other people and feels that knowledge is more valuable when it is shared and spread in the community. When he returned to Kuwait the second time he opened a bakery and started selling his beautifully constructed cakes, but on the weekends he would close shop to teach. After some time he realized that he just wanted to teach budding cake makers and took a leap of faith and opened Talal’s Cake Academy. His students run the gamut from amateur home bakers to professionals looking to improve their

technique and skill set. He offers a number of different classes, but his bestseller is a two-day fundamental cake design workshop. Students get to learn everything from start to finish in an intensive class that is hands-on and allows them to quickly absorb everything they need to get started. The academy itself is located in Sharq on the 15th floor and has a beautiful corner view of the sea. Natural light streams in to highlight a row of colorful KitchenAid mixers, the sign of serious baking about to happen, sits on the marble workbench. Al Hamdhan has equipped it with all the tools needed so every student can try every step themselves as he teaches. But he insists that anyone can replicate everything in the class in a home kitchen. He even teaches children the same exact course and they are able to achieve the same amazing results.

His other popular course is the fundamentals of chocolate. From tempering to little bite sized works of art, Al Hamdhan takes his students on an exhilarating sugar fueled ride through the wonderful world of cocoa. Each design is different, from multicolored marbled domes with nuts to glittering cubes filled with creamy centers of different flavors, they all look too good to eat. Many of us were inspired (or forced) by the pandemic to rethink our time in the kitchen, from necessity to something that we can do to unwind as well as nourish our bodies with high-quality ingredients and delicious food. The chef was quick to pivot into the world of online learning and started offering classes on Telegram so people could learn even if they couldn’t be physically in class. He also regularly does Instagram live classes for everyone. One of his recent ones was more than an hour and showed how to decorate a multi-tiered wedding cake with flowers. It seems that the world has come full circle. We are now watching him build amazing cakes, exactly like he started watching The Food Network, and we are just as dazzled. The space in his studio hosts other teachers too. He regularly invited and hosted teachers and experts from all over the world to Kuwait to bring their expertise to students here. Just before the pandemic, he was joined by pizzaiolo and sourdough wiz Saad Al Watyan to teach a Sourdough class. It seems they were ahead of the times, because the trend exploded! The academy also hosts local chefs like Wafaa Alkanderi who will be teaching a Ramadan class soon. Talal’s Cake Academy is more than just a place you can learn to mix a cake batter and frost it, it is a community and a family where you can learn and grow, and we think that’s exactly what Chef Talal always wanted. [Continued...]

UP CLOSE & PERSONAL QUESTIONNAIRE What do you most value about your friends? Respect. Which living person do you most admire? Parents. What is your idea of perfect happiness? Satisfaction. What is your greatest extravagance? Travel. What is your most treasured possession? My kids. What is your greatest fear? Darkness. What is your most marked characteristic? Honesty. Which talent would you most like to have? Sing. What is one trait you have that you are most grateful for? Being humble. What is the human trait you most dislike about others? Dishonesty. What is it that you most dislike? Dishonesty. Which words or phrases do you most overuse? You know. What are your favorite words to live by? Happiness. Where would you most like to live? In nature. If you could have any job, what would it be? Pastry chef. What would you consider achievement? Getting married and having kids.

your

greatest

What do you hope for the future? To achieve my ultimate dream. Feeling inspired to level up your cake baking game or just want to see the amazing thing Chef Talal creates? Follow him @talalscakesacademy on Instagram.

[...Continued]

ALWAYS IN SEASON, ALWAYS IN STYLE Our collections bring exceptional craftsmanship and timeless to your outdoor space.

1st Avenue - The Avenues WhatsApp: 1821212

Scan QR code or visit:

www.potterybarn.com.kw

bazaar weekends

DECIPHER CODE Learn programming even if you don’t want to develop apps By bazaar staff

The world runs on code-powered algorithms. Most of us however have no idea what code really is. A programming language is a formal language that can instruct a machine or a device to do something. Computer chips speak in binary code, a collection of zeros and ones, and we can’t, so we need an intermediary way of communicating.

There are many reasons to consider learning one of the many languages like a career shift, to create better tools for yourself or even as a hobby or challenge that can help expand your brain. However, my favorite reason is to learn how to think better in general. Machines are logical and can’t really guess, so, you have to be very clear in how you give them instructions. In the not-too-distant past you had to buy a book or take a class, choose a language and install the appropriate suite or tool you wrote code on (which was often challenging) and then muddle through most of it on your own. Luckily for you, it is now easier than ever. All you need is an internet enabled device and some free time. You can even get started on your phone if you want but a bigger screen will definitely make your life easier. A free weekend might be the perfect opportunity to get yourself set up and started. Here are some different ways to get you started. Coded Coded is a locally homegrown organization that 46

offers intensive courses that teach the latest programming languages and frameworks currently used by leading tech companies around the world. They even offer a Weekend @Codedbootcamp that helps you learn what you need from Friday to Monday. Grasshopper This is a super user-friendly app that is geared towards people who have no knowledge of writing code. The app teaches coding fundamentals using JavaScript and everything is in bite-sized nuggets of information making it perfect for newbies and even kids. Code.org Code.org is a nonprofit dedicated to expanding access to computer science in schools. It is aimed for children, but you can filter for more advanced classes and can focus on learning how to think in code which is a great gateway to more difficult things.

Take a course Websites like Udemy and Skillshare boast hundreds if not thousands of computer programming classes. You can even benefit from Ivy League universities like Stanford and MIT that now offer short courses and certificates for people who want to learn. These have the benefit of more formal education, perfect for people interested in making a career move. Raspberry Pi Kit The Raspberry Pi is a low-cost, high-performance single-board computer that comes with free software that you can control with your own code. This might not be the conventional route to coding, but it is FUN. You can start with their guided projects and work your way up to building amazing things like musical instruments or robots.

Photo by Oskar Yildiz on Unsplash.

SCAN & SHOP

TO ALL THOSE WHO MOTHER

4 WAYS TRAVEL WILL BE DIFFERENT IN 2021

Airbnb spills the beans By Connie Lin

It’s obvious that the coronavirus pandemic changed travel as we know it, in that it abruptly ceased to exist for a year. Forget getaways to Paris; getting to the park down the street felt just as foreign.

CMY

But now that vaccines are developed, normal life feels like it could once again be possible, perhaps, even, within this year! And as people anticipate resuming things they love—dining in restaurants, reading in cafes, gathering with family and friends—getting the hell out of Dodge also tops the list, according to a new report from Airbnb. “Travel will be viewed as an antidote to isolation and disconnection,” wrote Airbnb, which pulled together insights gleaned from a year of data spanning mid-2019 to late 2020 and a public poll conducted in December 2020. According to its findings, travel is the out-of-home activity Americans have missed the most, with 54% planning to travel in 2021. But their trips will look a little different from pre-pandemic times. Here’s how: Less social media, more “meaningful” connections: “Spending time with friends and family is the type of travel Americans miss the most,” wrote Airbnb. More than half, or 51%, say the first people they will visit are immediate

family, and 32% say they would want to stay close to family in subsequent trips. Meanwhile, travelers are apparently de-prioritizing the glacier hikes and safari tours: 52% of Americans say they would rather disconnect from technology, versus 21% who say they are hungry for share-worthy destinations to post on Facebook and Instagram. More than a third, or 37%, said their definition of “meaningful” travel has changed to become more focused on time with loved ones. Shorter radius: For 2021 travel, a majority (56%) prefer domestic or local jaunts, versus just 21% who prefer international destinations. Interest in car travel was highest, beating interest in air travel by double digits. That’s a shift from 2019, when travel distances over 3,000 miles were Airbnb’s most popular segment. Fewer crowds: Before the pandemic, Airbnb’s top 10 destination cities included busy metropolitan capitals such as Barcelona, London, Los Angeles, Madrid, New York, Paris, and Rome. After the

pandemic, quieter, low-key destinations saw the largest year-over-year growth, including Derbyshire, United Kingdom; Rodanthe, North Carolina (a coastal village in the Outer Banks); Forks, Washington (the main setting for the Twilight book series); and the Muskoka Lakes, a few hours’ drive from Toronto. The advent of virtual travel: Airbnb defines virtual travel as “experiencing a destination or engaging in a cultural activity while in your own home, using a computer, tablet or phone,” which was relatively new but quickly taken up during the pandemic. Almost a fifth, or 18%, of Americans have already participated, with a strong percentage responding positively. And given current investments in VR and AR technology from computer titans like Google and Microsoft, we can only expect the experience to get better.

Photo by Emanuela Picone on Unsplash.

STUDENT PROGRAM

EVERYTHING YOU NEED WITH YOUR STUDENT ALLOWANCE

Take advantage of the incredible benefits of our Student Program* *Terms and Conditions apply

@XciteAlghanim

XcitebyAlghanim

1803535

www.xcite.com

A WELL-DESIGNED LIFE WITH FARAH ALHUMAIDHI The Kuwaiti designer breaks down essential design lessons based on her experiences, and tells us more about her latest collaboration with H&M HOME By bazaar staff

With a strong belief system steeped in the world of design, Farah AlHumaidhi thrives on those little details that make all the difference. Whether it be her choice of color for a specific design, to setting a positive example as a role model for others to follow on social media, it is her discerning eye for detail that sets her apart from other design thought leaders in the region. She is an educator, designer and content creator on a mission to help us lead our lives with intent, function, and most importantly, design at the heart of it all. Our last encounter with Farah was back in 2012, when she had just embarked on her design journey with her self-created brand, Pieces by Farah. Today, she is a design and content creation influencer in her own right, and we catch up with the talented designer to speak more about her journey, and her latest collaboration that is setting a new design standard for our living spaces with none other than H&M HOME. The new H&M HOME concept store is complete with a dedicated florist, a service area for customization and monogramming, small furniture, home accessories and so many elements that will simply inspire your inner designer to find their muse. From a very early start in presentation art, Pieces by Farah, to paving the road to better develop an understanding of design in Arabic for your followers today, it’s been quite a journey for you! What is one key life lesson that you’ve learned along the way that you could share with our readers? My journey began in 2004 with Presentation Art and through it all, I believe my greatest accomplishment is adapting the philosophy of diversification and adaptability. During my journey which took me from being a designer to an educator to a content creator, I have realized that in order to develop further, one needs to branch out and diversify. The realisation came from my belief that, in order to sustain ourselves, we need more than a single source of income to be able to enjoy disruption-free growth. This comprehension has enabled me to become more resilient, even when a certain industry goes for a toss. Moreover, being adaptable has furthered my belief to go with the flow. Doing what you believe is the right path or altering to the demands of the audience has backed me to always keep an eye open for opportunities that come along the way. 50

You have also written Lulu Designs Her Own Room, what inspired you to write a children’s book about design? Should we expect more books from you? When I began interacting with social media, I gained a big following of young girls aged between nine and 14-years-old, who not only looked upon me as a role model but also laid on me a great responsibility. Lulu’s Story is a book that passes on a very heavy concept, but in simple terminology. This story also tries to bring in the concept of team work, as shown with the friends; building a dream, appreciation and value, as seen in the parents. This book tries to nurture the concepts of desires and values from a young age, going along the lines of the phrase ‘Catch them Young’. Ultimately, I hope to deliver the first design lesson of their young life, and yes, you can expect more books in the future. You are super active on IG, YouTube and your blog, which of these platforms is your favorite and why? I love all mediums, so can’t pinpoint a specific platform, however the one closest to my heart is Instagram because I feel that it brings me closest to my followers. I consider YouTube and my Blog to be more formal platforms. We love the beautiful collections in Farah Home, do you design them all yourself or do you carefully curate them? During the first phase of Farah Home, we focused on providing curated items that are sourced from across the globe, while in the second phase we will concentrate on designing our own lines. Farah Home is not just about offering a curation of beautiful products from around the world though, as with the most recent merger of Pieces by Farah in 2021, it now houses beautiful handmade products designed and made In Kuwait. You can find these now under the “Signature Collection” brand.

Living Room space at H&M HOME edited by Farah AlHumaidhi In a world that is really digital, why did you decide to create Daleel Farah, a printed publication? Do you think people need something tangible to help them create their own spaces? Daleel Farah is a hard bound guide for all interior design lovers across the world that contains information and tips to arrange the thoughts for those who desire to oversee their home build. It not only facilitates the understanding of interior design basics, but also has activities that help homeowners better understand the nuances of their home build. This is done by engaging the

reader to actually perform the design steps with the help of tips, checklist, information, charts, tables and a sample booklet space. Personally, although I live in a digitalised world I still prefer to scribble on my notes and that is one of the reasons that made me focus on a physical book. Clients can actually carry them everywhere, and write or draw on them. This book is designed to assist them in their journey of building a dream house with pockets for collecting samples along the journey and can ultimately be a reminder of their building a beautiful dream space.

When the opportunity to collaborate with H&M HOME to launch the H&M HOME Concept Store came about, what excited you the most about the process? Given my passion for design, I was thrilled when the opportunity to collaborate came my way. I, personally am a huge fan of H&M HOME and I love their taste, and yes…all of their products are my favorite. What excites me the most is being the first designer to collaborate from my country and secondly, the collaboration arrives as a true expression of my personality. How did you go about selecting your chosen pieces to complete the Farah Al Humaidhi edit at H&M HOME? For selection of the chosen pieces I was briefed on the complete concept and style offerings at H&M HOME. The concept offers classic, clean, feminine and casual pieces and moreover I also [Continued...]

Bathroom and Bedroom spaces at H&M HOME edited by Farah AlHumaidhi went through the different sections or zones that were on display at the store. Based on this, I have selected the styles that would go with each zone or area in the store. For the dining area, I have opted for the casual aesthetic, and decided to make the display very raw using natural materials like stone and wood. While in the living area, which was more of a display style, I thought it would be an opportunity to display my favorite pieces as a shop and shop style, rather than a display and therefore went with the clean style. Because to me, and throughout H&M HOME, I felt that the clean style is my favorite, and all the products displayed in that category reflected my taste. I have used several different styles of vases, table mirrors and frames to create more of an accessorizing display opportunity, rather than a full living area or a dining area. The next area I considered was the bathroom area, and I had two spaces to design. For the first, I chose to create a space that was more casual with natural and earthy colors like pastels, while the second area was more classic with deep colors like the flooring which was in black and white, and so it was accessorized with shades like a deep emerald green, some light green and black. The result was a very classic style, though I don’t often see myself in it but I have absolutely fallen in love with the emerald green color. The bedding 52

[...Continued]

area offered a very feminine theme, and since I love linens I have incorporated a lot mix and match style offerings be it in patterns, colors or textures. The last zone, the kid’s zone, which had no specific style but rather a beautifully curated selection of products. What do you like most about the various offerings at the new H&M HOME concept store? I love the new H&M HOME concept store. I fell in love with how the products were displayed, and specially the variety of displays available. I was also very happy to see small furniture being sold, like lighting, pendants, and table lamps. I especially liked the dedicated flower area with the Lily Fleur Boutique, which has a dried flowers section too that will visually assist the clients to set the vases all dressed up prior to taking them home. Plus, it’s a definite guarantee that it will go along with their home theme because they are dried flowers. They also have a section of beautiful fresh flowers which is definitely an add-on. The fact that there is such a large variety on display benefits the clients to choose from its wide range and to purchase everything and anything to make their home pretty and appealing. Aside from the the large furniture pieces, which I believe will be available for purchase very soon at H&M HOME.

Which pieces within the different sections at the store most resonate with your design aesthetic? I am more in love with the clean collection. That zone of the H&M HOME concept store will have majority of my favorite pieces. I love the head sculpture, the vases with a structural face, mirror with wood piece and the green glass vases that broke the neutrals of the collection which were in beige. I also love the wooden bowls, platters, and stamps displayed in the dining area of the store. It is actually hard to pinpoint a single product that I love the most, because I always find myself loving things that reflect nature and raw materials. In the context of the H&M HOME concept store, I also found great pieces in the classic collection, which I feel is more industrial with the usage of metal, gold, silver and glass, which is basically man-made more than it being natural. Nonetheless, what is most endearing about H&M HOME is the availability of a variety of products that I would say I love the most, because anytime I would walk into the shop, I am assured that I can find something that I would fall in love with. Read the full feature on bazaar.town. For more on Farah AlHumaidhi, head to @fnhumaidhi on Instagram. Shop the Farah AlHumaidhi edit at H&M HOME at the 1st Avenue – The Avenues.

Now Available in

Grand Avenue - The Avenues | Souq Sharq | The Gate Mall

COVID SCHMOVID, NOTHING STOPS A WOMAN IN TECH

Shaima Hamoud Abd Alghafoor braves the pandemic with her startup, Dukkan Alfreej, a tech-enhanced convenience store By Laila Al Gharabally

One of the best feelings in the world is being proud of someone you love. Sometime during mid-February, one of my best friends, Shaima, pulled into my house’s garage a little bit after 11 PM. She had just finished her shift at her new venture, Dukkan Alfreej, a convenient store she launched earlier that month on Salem Al Mubarak Street in Salmiya. With her trademark curls and statement eyeglasses, she followed me in the house with her long, golden accordion skirt trailing behind her and backpack slung over her shoulder. There we were in my living space, me at my desk with my laptop open, ready to take notes and Shaima lounging on the couch with a big plate of pasta, just like when we were students in high school. The only difference was that now, we are both 35-year-old Kuwaiti women with years of experience under our belt. I looked at her with admiration, my heart brimming with pride at this magnificent woman who did something quite remarkable within a span of a mere two months. Always the go-getter, Shaima’s accomplishment is the reason behind my desire to document her journey and knowing know that it will inspire others just as it uplifted me. “So what? It’s just a convenience store, your average-day baqala,” a friend of mine remarked when I told her I was planning on writing an article about Shaima. I took a deep breath, smiled and shook my head assuredly, “No, it’s not just a baqala.” Shaima Hamoud Abd Alghafoor has a decade of experience working in tech, specifically in the Partnerships Department at Booking.com. I have approximately nine phone numbers registered under her name due to her frequent travels that average around 80 flights per year. But everything changed when the pandemic hit. One thing in particular demanded her attention; Shaima owned a restaurant in Kuwait that she had to close down in March of 2020. “I thought about selling it in May but when I settled down in my place in Kuwait, I decided to do something about it myself; I wanted to turn it into a unique convenience store,” she said. Shaima arrived to Kuwait in November and during her 14-day quarantine, she contacted different suppliers in the country. “No one answered my calls and if someone did, they promised to call me back which never happened,” she recalled. So what she did next was both simple and gutsy; she hustled. Shaima ended up hailing down drivers dropping off supplies at different convenience stores and supermarkets in Kuwait. “And when I found interesting items in supermarkets, I asked the employees there to share the supplier’s 54 [Continued...]

‫اﺳﺘﻤﺘﻊ ﺑﻨﻤﻂ ﺣﻴﺎة ﻣﺮﻳﺢ ﻣﻊ ﻣﻮﺟﻲ‬

Comfortable living with MUJI Living

BUY TWO GET ONE

FREE Valid on selected lines only. Free item must be of equal or lesser value.

‫ﹺ‬

contact details,” she added. Within nearly two months, Shaima went from having zero contacts and no network of suppliers to a list of 70 verified suppliers. Simultaneously, Shaima was renovating the interior of the store. “I based the look and feel on rustic cafes in Barcelona. I wanted it to be warm and welcoming,” she said thoughtfully as she told me about the wooden floors she installed, sagecolored walls, shelving and lighting scheme. After going through four contractors, Shaima chose the perfect one who eventually became her business partner as well, her relative Danny Aboul Hosn. “Danny has been incredibly supportive. He has a wide network of contacts and vast experience in logistics and operations. Plus, he is the father of one of my favorite people in the world who is getting the best experience working with me at the store,” Shaima said with a smile as she spoke fondly about her 19-year-old niece Noor who has been frequently helping her tech-savvy aunt in the store. So why a convenience store? “I studied which businesses thrived in Kuwait during the pandemic. I noticed that the only ones that survived were grocery stores and supermarkets. Food is essential and these supermarkets are where people’s daily needs are met,” Shaima elaborated. What Shaima offers in Dukkan Alfreej is an assorted range of food, beverages, freshly baked pastries and more at affordable prices. “I am working with local home bakers who need help with wider distribution for their baked goods,” she said before adding that she always offers samples to her customers to see which baker makes the cut. Affordability and assortment is at the heart of her business. “I am in talks with a popular restaurant in Kuwait that will provide healthy, wholesome and affordable on-the-go snacks, appetizers and meals,” she added. Shaima’s experience in tech lead her to take her online knowhow offline. She implemented a data-driven point-of-sale system that allows her to analyze sales based on product assortment. “That way, I can optimize procurement, merchandising and pricing to keep my vision in line with affordability,” the ever-so strategic Shaima stated. What that really means is that nothing in the store is randomly there. “What makes us disruptive is the implementation of tech platforms that allows us to build data structures to optimize our performance and profitability. I wanted to blend my expertise from tech into retail,” Shaima went on before adding that she realized that many businesses in the industry do not have the basic architecture in place to make data experimentation with the aim of driving profitability and growth. “Tech platforms are notoriously known for A/B testing,” Shaima said. A/B tests consist of a randomized experiment with two variants, A and B. It includes application of statistical hypothesis testing or “two-sample hypothesis testing” as used in the field of

[...Continued]

statistics. “In other words, I track profitability by seeing if a certain product is purchased more often or not if I relocate it in the store,” she elaborated, “With the proper implementation in place, our data structures will allow us to understand consumer patterns by building an AI to optimize procurement, pricing, merchandising and marketing. I strongly believe that the fundamentals of a successful tech companies can be applied to this segment within the grocery landscape and support our business goals toward sustainability and expansion,” Shaima said before taking a long pause to survey her surroundings. She smiled reflectively, “I’m starting to know customers by name. I know their orders by heart. There is a man who works nearby who buys the same thing every morning: A chocolate bar, sandwich and beverage. When I saw that I was running low on the chocolate he favors, I ordered a box just to make sure I can supply his daily intake.” Shaima regularly talks to customers so that she knows what they prefer, “I ask them what they like to buy and eat every day so that I can procure the right assortment of products,” she added. An interesting insight she came across? Candy. “You wouldn’t believe how much people love candy. You know those long sugary chewy things we used to have when we were kids? Grown men feast on them every day!” she laughed. But sometimes,

things in the store are not a laughing matter. “I turned down many customers who refused to wear their mask,” Shaima said solemnly. A dutiful daughter, Shaima always had her mother’s health in mind. “It is something I am very serious about especially since I live with my mother and see her every day,” she said before telling me about some of the many unfortunate stories that happened due to mask-less people. In the end it is all about people. “I love seeing my customers every day and I look forward to their feedback. That is why I implemented the catalog feature in WhatsApp Business because quite a few of my customers are elderly people who are not familiar with the delivery platforms the younger generation uses on a daily basis,” Shaima stated. It was 1 AM. The Bolognese was long gone by then. “Okay you,” Shaima said as she started to put on her white sneakers, “I have to open up the store at 8 AM.” We walked downstairs in my quiet home, content, confident and considerate of the peaceful silence between us. I opened the garage gate and watched her as she drove off, this wonder of a woman and dear friend of mine who continues to aspire and inspire. Find out more about Dukkan Al Freej by following @dukkanalfreej on Instagram.

AS REAL AS YOU 2020 was a real year. A real year. We got to spend time with family and reassess what was real to us, and what was just a distraction. We were able to keep our real connections, whether people or things, and shed away what wasn’t that important. And we were able to witness real passion, real empathy and real understanding from people everywhere, as the world went through 2020 together. The local online boutique, HIND, took on the “realness” of 2020 like everyone else, focused on what mattered to them and found happiness in the bright spots that shone through the stress. Khaled and Tasneem, the married couple behind HIND, saw a pattern of women emerging, stepping forward, and making their day brighter. Sometimes it was just a social media message of support, and sometimes it was a movement to feed people in need in locked-down areas. Big or small, they found themselves feeling that maybe it wasn’t all bad, and the real spotlight should be on how real people were doing what they could to make a difference. A brand that actually celebrates realness, whether through hand craftsmanship of fabrics and clothing, or the use of natural materials and dyes, HIND saw their brand values in the actions of these women, and wanted to share the inspirational stories of as many as they could. On these pages you see the latest campaign from HIND, which covers a myriad of inspiring women, from those fighting for a better education system for kids during Covid-19, to those who were instrumental in lobbying for domestic abuse laws to be enacted for the protection of women. It was a true team effort to get these visual stories out in the world. Art direction and styling for the campaign was done by Amplified Eye Candy (@amplifiedeyecandy.co) and shot and edited by Abdullah Alsaleh (@iambooda_). And they teamed up with the sustainably minded Kayak4Kuwait (@kayak4kuwait) for the venue. And that is as real as it gets.

Learn more about each woman’s inspirational story on @hind.clothing on Instagram, or check out the handcrafted, sustainable and ethical fashion outfits seen here on hindclothing.com. 58

Avid environmentalist, Dalal Behbehani started NAZ so that women could have access to luxury clothing without the need for excessive consumption. Here Dalal is wearing the Dhriti Tunic and Idika pants with the Big Blob earrings.

Duna Al Mashaan is an expert and advocate for early child education. Here she looks effortlessly chic in the Ju dress with Kay Slip dress inside and Banjara red necklace.

This is a truly fabulous trio, from left to right Sundus Hamza, Sheikha AlNafisi and renowned artist Amira Behbehani are all accomplished in their own right, but together they founded Abolish 153 an advocacy campaign group that is reshaping legislation in Kuwait. Sundus is wearing the V Kul dress with V Kul Dhoti pants with Afri coin necklace. Sheikha is in the Argon tunic and Void pants with Zuha necklace. Amira is in the Gradient dress with the Quotient 20 pants. Ghalia Hayat, the mastermind and culinary genius behind the small batch artisanal ice cream brand OH G! is seen here wearing the Norah Jumpsuit with the Mustard Iris Necklace.

Sama Alwasmi is an established powerhouse in the world of lucury fashion and founder of slow-fashion label Dear Nin. She shows us how to rock the Asami Cape and pairs it with the Noemi and Zeta Necklace for instant glam!

Art lover Betty (mom) and animal lover and veterinarian Tamara Qabazard (daughter) also love life. Betty is decked out in the Charlotte Dress with the Rika Scarf and Blue Iris Necklace while Tamara rocks the Liza Dress with Nia Scarf and Giada Turquoise Necklace.

Sisters Sarah and Basmah Boodai are co-founders of Montessori-based preschool Leap and passionate about education and the wellbeing of their students. Sarah is dressed in the Indy Circular shirt dress with the Eryka jacket and Blue Iris Necklace, while Basmah is in the Indira Circular shirt dress under the Sunniva Jacket and the Giada necklace. We can learn a thing or two from these edgy outfits. [Continued...]

Shouag Hayat is an artist who can wear many hats, from art direction to styling and visual merchandising. She definitely looks like a pretty portrait in the Ava Slip dress along with the Oda scarf and Afri and Zuha necklace.

Xeina Almusallam is an art director, photographer and content creator. She is also bringing thrifting to Kuwait with Odettes Closette. Xeina is seen here wearing the Malena dress with the Girja Necklace.

[...Continued]

Hind Alkhatrash is into a lot of things like fitness, aerial circus arts, and environmental sustainability. And she looks fabulous in the Mirai shirt paired with the Chiasa Hakama trousers and accessorized with the Noemi and Zeta Necklace.

SIMONE ROCHA X H&M

Rocha’s quirky, feminine and intricate signature style arrives at H&M By bazaar staff

The Simone Rocha x H&M collection unites the inspirations and emotions that have defined the Simone Rocha world. It is an amalgamation of 10 years of design - a cross-pollination of Rocha’s sensibilities and signatures. The collection pays tribute to Rocha’s instantly recognizable silhouettes, fabrications and embellishments. To create each piece, Rocha reflected on her archive, and the individual stories of past collections, dissecting and rebuilding iconic pieces into new propositions. In this process of reworking and mixing, a multitude of references come together in fresh, unexpected forms. Each piece has its own original identity but is born from a specific moment in time. We see glimmers of Tudor courtiers, of wild florals, of portraits and photographs, of dolls and playthings. Rocha is committed to longevity in clothing – her timeless pieces are always intended to be mixed and matched with favorites from the past. Here, she offers a full wardrobe, from daywear to formal treasures. Through the process of being styled and worn, each piece takes on its own identity. The collection is reflective of the intergenerational nature of her designs – there are pieces for those of all ages and sizes. For some, this will be a chance to recall the shapes and details that have defined the Simone Rocha brand, for others, it will be a joyful first entry - a chance to take a piece of the story home. Simone Rocha and Ann-Sofie Johansson, Creative Advisor at H&M told us more about the collaboration and collection. How did this collaborative H&M x Simone Rocha collection come about? Ann-Sofie Johansson: Simone Rocha has been on H&M’s wish-list for a long time. We have been following her for a number of years and have been so impressed with how clear her perspective is, and how unique and special her aesthetic is, season on season. We are thrilled to be working with such a dynamic young female designer – and of course we are so excited that this collection marks the first time we have worked with an Irish designer. Simone Rocha: I’m so thrilled to be working with H&M on this collection. As a designer, and as a customer, I’ve been such a fan of the H&M collaboration concept. Margiela, Alber Elbaz, Comme des Garcons – it’s such an amazing list of alumni to be a part of. Also, as a consumer, it’s something I genuinely believe in – I still 62

have socks from the Marni x H&M collection, I still have a Comme spotty knit! I remember the elation of being able to have those pieces - it was such an incredible moment when you could have a part of fashion history. And for me to be able to do that for a generation that might not always have the opportunity to buy my pieces is thrilling – I am very humbled to be able to do it. And of course, I am thrilled to be the first Irish designer to do it. Tell us about the Simone Rocha x H&M collection; the pieces, the details, the inspirations. SR: The H&M x Simone Rocha collection has allowed me to expand into areas that I’ve long been fascinated by, such as menswear and childrenswear. It is the first time I have offered a collection for the whole family, which I am so excited about, as family is obviously hugely important to me, and has shaped all of my work so far. The timing of this collaboration feels so special given that we have recently celebrated the 10-year anniversary of the Simone Rocha brand; naturally we are in a moment of reflection. We are thinking a lot about how the brand has grown, and the key styles and details and signatures for which we have become known. And this collection has really given us a chance to celebrate those, which is wonderful. ASJ: One of the things that attracted us to Simone for this collaboration is the fact that her brand has such a clear point of view. And I feel that the H&M x Simone Rocha collection really does emphasize the things that define her and her aesthetic. The volume, the decoration, the beautiful fabrications, crafted in house, which is very rare. And, of course, the jewelry. It’s a real amalgamation of 10 years. That is one of the things that is so special about this H&M collaboration opportunity; it allows designers the chance to really reflect on their signatures, and offer a whole new audience a glimpse into their world. Simone, tell us more about the process of looking through the archive, and how past collections informed the garments within the H&M x Simone Rocha collection. SR: Every garment in this collection has been so carefully thought-out – so many chains of ideas and inspirations go behind each one. I really wanted it to feel like each piece had its own identity, and was from a moment in time, but also felt totally relevant to now. It was really emotional going through my archive, when building this collection – it was a wonderful chance to reflect on seasons I was especially proud of, and to revisit collections that felt like milestones, and little gems of ideas that we maybe didn’t push as far as we wanted to the first-time round. And the

archive is so important to the way I work as a designer anyway. We are not a brand that abandons ideas each season – we often look back on past propositions, or continue to evolve a silhouette or shape. I always want my customers to be able to buy one new thing and pair it with other things from the past. They should always be able to mix and match, and evolve their collection of Simone Rocha pieces with time, and in their own way. And, of course, I hope that they will enjoy being able to mix in pieces from this collection. I think that the H&M x Simone Rocha collection really does feel very recognizably Simone Rocha. There’s the palette we adore – creams, pinks, reds. And there are the nods to Ireland, which is hugely special for me, in many of the cable knits. I certainly spent a lot of time looking back at the first neoprene pearly collection we did, which was Spring/Summer 2014 - it really felt like a moment in establishing my identity, and it was when I first introduced the pearl, which is now so signature. I also wanted to look at the Spring/Summer 2016 collection, which was partly inspired by the Japanese photographer Nobuyoshi Araki, and which was my first Fashion Week show in Lancaster House. I also spent time revisiting the Anne Boleyn collection, which was Autumn/Winter 2014, and mixing elements from that, such as the seersucker tartan checked dress, with more recent elements, like the pleated tulles from the Red Dolls collection, which was Spring/Summer 2018. I really wanted to take archive details and reimagine them. So, it’s not mere re-editions, it’s taking things and reinterpreting them for today.

Read the full article on bazaar.town. The collection will be available March 11 exclusively online at kw.hm.com and on the app. Follow H&M on Instagram @hm. 63

PORTOFINO M The new Ferrari Portofino M is a voyage of rediscovery. Much like our beloved Kuwait, the Portofino is a constantly evolving story. From Kuwait’s simple beginnings discovering and then trading fine pearls to our world standing now, Kuwait exists as a proud nation. Ferrari also continues to invest time, knowledge and skill in the Portofino. Developing and displaying design and engineering expertise in every curve of this convertible roadster. The Ferrari Portofino M, which features the legendary “M” suffix for Modificata in its name is the very epitome of the Ferrari evolution through modification of the Portofino. The new Prancing Horse 2+ spider boasts a slew of new technical and design features, most notable an 8-speed dual-clutch gearbox and a five-position Manettino, an absolute first for a Ferrari GT convertible.

For more information about the Ferrari Portofino M, contact the official Ferrari Showroom in Kuwait – Kuwait Automobile & Trading Co located in Al-Rai, on the 4th Ring Road. Please visit www.safat.ferraridealers.com and follow them on Instagram @ferrarizayanikuwait for the latest updates. Photography by @hyper_ali on Instagram for bazaar Studios.

HOW TO BUILD THE CITY OF THE FUTURE

According to Ikea’s innovation lab By Adele Peters

By the end of the century, if cities continue to grow at current rates, the world’s urban space may expand by 618,000 square miles—the equivalent of building another city the size of Manhattan nearly every day for the next 78-plus years. A new book called The Ideal City, from Space10, Ikea’s Copenhagen-based innovation lab, takes inspiration from 53 current cities to consider how future cities might evolve to grow sustainably. “We have an unprecedented opportunity to rethink the way we design our cities to create a better, safer, healthier, and a more inspiring everyday life for the people living there, while boosting the local economy and also tackling the accelerating climate crisis head-on,” says Simon Caspersen, communications director at Space10. “It almost sounds like a ‘too good to be true’ proposition,” he says. “If it was that simple, wouldn’t all cities already be doing this? What we realized is that our cities are planned, designed, and developed in silos, so we wanted to take a holistic approach by gathering world-leading thinkers, architects, designers, researchers, entrepreneurs, city planners, and community leaders around the same table. In doing so, we can draw patterns in the chaos and combine it with real projects from around the world to showcase that all these ideas explored in the book are doable today.” The book looks at dozens of examples of urban innovation. In an abandoned subway station in London, a heat pump captures extra heat from a nearby train line and pipes it to nearby homes in the winter. In another part of the city, a cohousing building for seniors is designed to fight loneliness. In Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, an office building covered in planters grows food. In Harbin, China, a recently built park was designed to act like a sponge for stormwater. In Lavale, India, a school for girls from low-income families was built from materials reclaimed from demolished buildings to keep costs low. In Copenhagen, a playground makes use of an empty rooftop. Not all of the designs would make sense in every city. The book, Caspersen says, is meant to be more like a cookbook that city planners and designers can use to browse through the world’s collective creativity. The team suggests that an “ideal” city has five core principles: It’s resourceful, meaning that it’s both ecologically and economically sustainable, and built on the idea of a circular economy. It’s accessible, meaning that it’s built for diversity, and housing is affordable. It’s shared, meaning it builds community and it’s designed to spark social interactions. It’s safe, meaning, among other things, that it’s protected from climate impacts and it provides safe food, water, shelter, and access to green space and

healthcare. And it’s desirable, meaning that it’s a place where people want to be and spend time outside. All of this is achievable, Caspersen argues. “If 2020 showed us anything, it is that humanity has the capacity to respond—in solidarity, together— to our common challenges,” he says. “Cities are right at the heart of so many of these challenges we face, and therefore also at the heart of the solutions. We have the power to decide which direction we want to go in, and I put my faith in people. And we see so many hopeful examples

out there. For instance, Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo was recently reelected by campaigning the idea of the ’15-minute city’ and just a few weeks ago announced that she’s turning one of the most famous avenues in the world, Champs-Élysées, into an ‘extraordinary garden’ that prioritizes people over cars. The more of these examples we can find and celebrate, those that work for both the people and the planet, the better we are equipped to make them travel.” Photo by Victor Garcia on Unsplash.

X-cite

WhatsApp Services Because Your Convenience Matters Working Hours 24/7

[

180 3535 [ SALES

@XciteAlghanim

XcitebyAlghanim

1803535

www.xcite.com

FOR THE LOVE OF JANA AROMAS

Discover a world of hand-crafted, lifestyle products using naturally sourced ingredients By bazaar staff

While self-care might appear as a passing trend this year, we believe that it’s not going anywhere anytime soon. We’re all craving a sense of calm and serenity in the uncertainty of today’s world, even if for a fleeting moment. Rather than jumping on a trend, we are instead going back to basics by being mindful about our choices and consumption. Whether it’s the candlelight to change the mood after a long day, to everyday objects we use like room sprays to refresh our homes, we are slowing down to observe and think about how these products affect us, spiritually and physically, as well as our environment. Enter Jana Aromas, a homegrown, lifestyle brand that is changing how we perceive those little but valuable moments zen moments. Founded by local entrepreneur Hamad AlKhudher, his fascination with the world and power of scent led him towards taking the step and establishing a brand, amidst a pandemic no less, that helps us make more mindful choices about our lifestyle. Jana Aromas offers a well-thought-out collection of soy-based candles, room sprays, traditional ma’moul and lifestyle accessories that are hand-made using naturally sourced ingredients. Each and every product is crueltyfree, eco-friendly and all the packaging, presented in beautiful amber colored glass containers, is completely reusable. For Hamad, having a slow, sustainable format for his business was his priority from the very beginning. We’re currently obsessed with the Fresh Linen room spray, hand mixed with Lavender oil, Himalayan Salt and Citrus, and we’re regularly lighting the Uplift candle at work during our breaks simply to enjoy the gorgeous notes of Frankincense, Amber and Bergamot. Hamad’s passion for scent has opened up an entirely new world for him, allowing him to better understand the processing systems of the essential oils he sources for his products. “With technology, we have a better understanding of how the products we readily consume are made,” He said, “I’m so interested in the healing power of specific oils and scents. I’m hoping that after this pandemic is under control, I will be able to travel the world to discover more scents. I also love how certain scents involve specific memories, or moods. Every scent has its own stories. Each essential oil has its benefits, and creates a special experience for the person enjoying it.” Hamad wanted Jana Aromas to be established as an eco-friendly brand from the very beginning. “It bothers me to know that Kuwait ranks highest in terms of energy consumption, and I wanted to create a brand that allows customers to reuse or recycle my products. Indulging in the power of aromatherapy and self-care doesn’t have to come at a cost to the environment.” Above all, Hamad’s inspiration for Jana Aromas is steeped in tradition. The idea came to him when he noticed how his mom’s family recipe for preparing the ma’moul is decades old, and 78

was never tampered with. “She learned how to do it from her mom. I grew up watching her carefully mix these special oils to deliver an exquisite scent with the ma’moul, and while we decided to start selling it as a passion project, the idea grew with time. We would always buy high quality, home fragrances, be it candles or room sprays, from abroad. But the reality is, Middle Eastern societies consider scent as an important aspect of our culture. With our proud heritage for scent, our region needs to establish a global position for this market, and not the other way around. So why not harness the tradition of our scents and present it in a modern light?” Deciding to tap into this industry, Hamad knew that Jana Aromas needed to be different. The aesthetic for the brand is clean, elegant and modern. Each and every item will effortlessly blend into your home surroundings. From the amber toned glow emanating from the candles, to the beautiful glass bottles of the room sprays. But it’s not just about how the products look. When it comes to the ingredients selected for the products, Hamad wanted to stay away from all of the harmful chemicals and preservatives used in mainstream offerings. “You can still preserve items naturally,” He explained, “but if the purpose of purchasing an aromatic candle is to soothe the soul, then all of the added toxins will cancel that out.” This is a deeply personal choice for Hamad, because when others encouraged him to proceed with cheaper sources for ingredients, he wasn’t sold on the idea. “There are clean chemicals which we can utilize, but they are not as cheap or widespread as mainstream alternatives.” Hamad learned this the hard way during his research days when establishing Jana Aromas, “I was shocked to learn that so many well renowned brands are using harmful chemicals in their products. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t want to be that person who is anti-chemicals, as that would be misleading,” he laughingly said, “I’m a believer of science, and the advancement of technology. I would rather use chemicals that are not harmful to people and the environment but would enhance my products.” He further illustrated his point by telling us all about the production process of Eucalyptus and its uses. While we can’t process the leaf as it is, you need certain chemicals to make this happen. What is chosen at the end, may be toxic or non-toxic. “We can say that certain chemicals are more natural, but we can’t just slap an organic label on a product because that would be untrue. There is a very big difference between saying a product is chemical free, and toxin free.” With Kuwait having some of the highest number of asthma cases related to cyclical allergies in the world, it is so refreshing to see conscious entrepreneurs come up with products that serve a purpose and without harming those who intend to use them. Instead of outsourcing the entire production process to established companies abroad who

could easily make his vision come true, Hamad was eager to do it all himself, and put his personal touch in every product prepared. The candles are handmade and poured, the room sprays are mixed with love, and every special box of aromatic ma’moul is prepared by hand. Currently, Jana Aromas offers a selection of two types of aromatic ma’moul, Eqbal being his mother’s famous recipe, four room sprays and candles, and a selection of elegant accessories to best take care of your products. He is soon planning to add a special line of aromatherapy

essential oils in Lemongrass, Bergamot, Lavender, Cedarwood, Sandalwood, and Eucalyptus, an essential oil glass burner, and functional wooden coasters made of beechwood and dark walnut to add an even more stylish touch to your Jana Aromas candles. The coasters will serve various functions, and will look amazing in any home setting you choose for them, as with all of Jana Aroma’s products. For more information, check out @Jana.aromas on Instagram and shop online at jana-aromas.com.

HIVE

What we know about Hive, the MySpace, Twitter, Instagram mashup social media app that exploded overnight By Michael Grothaus

This year, we’ve watched entire industries falter, intensifying the inequalities that have lurked just beneath the surface of our economy for so long. Even back in May we knew: the pandemic is disproportionately affecting people of color. COVID-19 has hit women hard as well, exacerbating gender gaps in workplace experiences. New data shows that employers are failing to address the problem—whether that’s down to a lack of awareness or a “not our problem” mentality, companies are missing an opportunity to support employees and strengthen their organizations.

Did you wake up to see “Hive” trending in your social media feeds? Here’s what you need to know. Hive is a social media app that has been around since October 2019, but has only been noticed by most people recently. Overnight the app exploded in popularity and, as of the time of this writing, Hive is the #1 social media app on Apple’s App Store and the #2 most-downloaded app overall. At its core, Hive can be thought of as a nostalgic mashup of multiple social media apps. Nostalgic as in for a time when social media apps were less bloated and algorithmically–driven. The app gives users a Twitter-like profile where they can post text, photos, or videos–with a heavy emphasis on the latter two (ala Instagram). And in a major callback to a time when social media was more innocent, Hive allows users to 80

add a favorite background song to their profile– just like MySpace did. As Hive’s creator, Kassandra Pop told me, “Hive brings back the nostalgic feeling of MySpace with the ability to set songs on a user’s profile, and it also incorporates status posts where you can like, comment, and repost similar to Twitter. While written expression is critical, we still wanted users to showcase their life, hobbies, and talents! So we also added the ability to post media content such as photos and videos in a chronological order. Some have said it’s reminiscent of Instagram when it first began.” So why did the app explode overnight? Tweeting from the Hive account, Pop said they paid a TikTok user to promote the app, and then, no joke, a One Direction psychic tweeted about the app, causing others on Twitter to take an interest.

Pop herself is the 22-year-old CEO of Hive and she works with a team of three others including developers and a UI designer. As for her app’s newfound fame, she tells me, “While it’s definitely exhilarating, I also feel a sense of calm. We’ve worked at this for so long that such sudden astronomical growth happening and having to manage that almost feels natural,” adding that she loves interacting with all the app’s new supporters.

Hive Social is a free download on Apple’s App Store. An Android version of the app is coming soon. Photo by bruce mars on Unsplash.

Now Available in

Grand Avenue - The Avenues | Souq Sharq | The Gate Mall

PORSCHE TAKES THE NEW 911 GT3 OFF THE LEASH Discover pure racing technology on the road in the latest generation of the Porsche 911 GT3 by bazaar staff

Developed in close collaboration with Porsche Motorsport, the seventh generation of the high-performance Porsche 911 GT3 is transferring pure racing technology into a production model. With the double wishbone front axle layout, and sophisticated aerodynamics due to the swan neck rear wing and a striking diffuser, the design originates from the successful GT race car 911 RSR. Tried and tested in endurance racing, the 510 PS (375 kW) four-litre six-cylinder boxer engine is based on the drivetrain of the 911 GT3 R. The acoustically impressive, highrevving engine is also used in the new 911 GT3 Cup. The result is a state-of-the-art sports car, perfect for the track and suitable for everyday use.

Featuring Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK), it is even faster than the previous 911 GT3 RS with a top speed of 318 km/h and accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in 3.4 seconds. Porsche also offers the new model with a six-speed manual transmission. The aerodynamics benefit from the brand’s vast motorsport experience and generate significantly more downforce without noticeably affecting the drag coefficient. In the Performance drive mode, the manually set wing and diffuser elements increase the aerodynamic pressure for high cornering speeds. During final testing, the new 911 GT3 lapped the NuerburgringNordschleife, traditionally the ultimate proving ground for all sports cars developed by Porsche, over 17 seconds quicker than its predecessor. Development driver Lars Kern took just 6:59.927 minutes for a full 20.8-kilometre lap. The shorter 20.6-kilometre track was completed by the 911 GT3 in 6:55.2 minutes. Despite a wider body, larger wheels and additional technical features, the weight of the new GT3 is on a par with its predecessor. When equipped with a manual gearbox, the model weighs 1,418 kilograms, while the PDK version comes in at 1,435 kilograms. Lightweight components included are the front bonnet made of carbon fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP), lightweight glass windows, light-alloy wheels and a sports exhaust system which reduces the weight by no less than ten kilograms. The combined consumption of the 911 GT3 with PDK transmission is 12.4 litres/100 km. Its racing genes are expressed in every detail of the new 911 GT3. The cockpit features a new track screen. It can reduce the digital

displays to the left and right of the rev counter to essential information needed for track driving, such as tyre and oil pressure, fuel level and water temperature. It also includes a visual shift assistant with colored bars to the left and right of the rev counter and a shift light derived from Motorsport. To meet the growing demand for individualization options, Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur offers a wide range of customized equipment for the new 911 GT3. Highlights include a lightweight roof made of exposed carbon fibre, exterior mirror tops made of carbon, darkened LED matrix main headlights and matching Exclusive design rear lights. Guards Red or Shark Blue painted wheel rims enhance the black alloy wheels. As exclusive as the 911 GT3 itself is the individual chronograph that Porsche Design offers exclusively to customers of the high-performance

sports car. Its housing reflects its Motorsport genes and just like the connecting rods of the GT3 engine, it consists of robust, lightweight titanium. The timepiece is powered by an individual winding rotor reminiscent of the wheels of the 911 GT3. The colored ring of the dial can be customized in the exterior paint of the owner’s car. Customers can order the new 911 GT3 as of the 31st of March. From that date, information on the basic retail price, model specifications and local availability can be obtained at the nearest Porsche Centre.

For more information 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.

EMAIL SUPERSTAR

4 Outlook productivity boosters you’re not using yet By Doug Aamoth

If you’re like most of us, you probably spend an inordinate amount of time dealing with email.And if your company uses Outlook, there are a bajillion settings to tweak, including a handful of not-so-obvious time-savers you can leverage to make sending messages more seamless and keep your inbox tidy. Let’s take a look. Some quick housekeeping: I’m accessing these settings from the web version of the Office 365 version of Outlook. For my organization, that’s located at outlook.office.com—yours may differ. Microsoft has continued to put more and more effort into the web offering to the point that it’s now pretty much as good as (and in some cases better than) the desktop version. Give it a try if you haven’t—you might be pleasantly surprised. To access Outlook’s settings, click the little gear icon in the upper-right corner, which will pop out a Settings sidebar. At the very bottom of that sidebar, there’s a “View all Outlook settings” link. We’ll be working in there. Reply all by default You haven’t lived until you’ve replied solely to the sender of a big group email when you meant to reply to the entire group, only to then have to sheepishly re-reply to the entire group.Now, I shouldn’t have to tell you that this option can land you squarely in the danger zone should you intend to reply just to the original sender with some sarcastic but hilarious comment about someone else on the recipient list. Undo send Oops, you replied all by mistake. That didn’t take long! If only you could use Gmail’s cool Undo Send feature with Outlook instead, right? Well, you’ll be happy to know that the same feature exists within Outlook—you’ll just need to turn it on first. It’s located a couple options below the aforementioned reply-all feature, and you can set it up for up to 10 seconds of feverish, panicked undoing. Each time you send a message, you’ll see a “Sending…” box with an Undo button at the bottom of the window. Keep your favorite actions close at hand Not all people use Outlook the same way. Maybe you’re a flag-setter. A meeting-maker. A pin-forlater person. Just be yourself! You can customize the quick action buttons that appear in the upperright corner of messages that are sitting in your inbox by visiting the “Customize actions” section of the Settings menu. Power through your overflowing inbox Here’s a trick I like to use to tame an out-of-control inbox first thing in the morning or when I’ve been out of the office for a few days. In the “Layout”

section at the top of the Settings menu, about halfway down under the “Reading pane” options, select “Hide reading pane” and then head back to your inbox. You’ll notice that you just have a big list of messages. You can probably delete or organize many of them without even reading them—thanks to those handy-dandy quick actions you just set up in the previous step. Each of the remaining messages you open up will be presented in its full, big, wide, eminently readable glory. Start with the first one, read through it, and deal with it as you see fit.

Want to postpone dealing with it? Click the down arrow in the upper-right corner to move on to the next message or, quicker still, hold down the Ctrl key and press the period key instead (Ctrl + comma moves back to the previous message). You’ll power through that pile of email in no time. Good luck!

Photo by Mikaela Wiedenhoff on Unsplash.

BEE A TIGER KENZO brings an ode to the bees for a hopeful future for Spring Summer 2021 By bazaar staff

KENZO’s Spring Summer 2021 collection is optimistic, hopeful and oh-so timely. The references, ideas and concepts of this collection are as eclectic, varied and contrasted as the states of mind that Felipe Oliveira Baptista, creative director, went through since the beginning of the pandemic. Dichotomies have never been so visibly contrasted and harsh. The world is crying, so are the flowers in all the prints developed for the collection. Archival Kenzo poppies and hortensias were given a digital crying effect. From flowers the primal feeling of protection and cocooning came an ode to the bees, the regulators of the planet. Now, more than ever we are overwhelmed by a sense of urgency to take care and protect our world. The collection features bees and the beekeepers with their mesmerizing clothing and hats that echo so strongly the fragility and distance imposed and needed today. Commenting on his experience, and in presenting this collection, Felipe Oliveira Baptista wrote: I have never started a collection with so many questions in front of me and so many mixed feelings about the present and the future. Surely no one can expect linear answers to the current situation. The world is lost and everyone must try to find some sort of sense (and possible order) in it. How can one define and pretend to give answers to a reality that no one understands or fully comprehends? How can one draw conclusions from a situation that is far from ending and in which the consequences are impossible to grasp? The world is ill, the world is bleeding, but it is still alive. And, as long as there is life there is hope. An optimistic answer must come with a certain degree of pragmatism. So, where do we go from here? How do we move on? How can we help people? Make them dream? give them hope and at the same time facilitate their lives. 86

The references, ideas and concepts of this collection are as eclectic, varied and contrasted as the states of mind that I went through since the beginning of the pandemic. Dichotomies have never been so visibly contrasted and harsh. The world is crying, so are the flowers in all the prints we have developed for the collection. Archival Kenzo poppies and hortensias were given a digital crying effect. From flowers the primal feeling of protection and cocooning came an ode to the bees, the regulators of the planet. Now, more than ever we are overwhelmed by a sense of urgency to take care and protect our world. Bees and the beekeepers with their mesmerizing clothings and hats that echo so strongly the fragility and distance imposed and needed today. Going places… mirage of dreams, hope, excitement and discovery. We will not give that up. Clothes that transform themselves to adapt to all situations. The fully covered and protected becomes fragile and naked, daring danger and rules. Kenzo has always been about fun, celebration and optimism. These cravings were pure fuel in the creative process. We wanted to put that raw, daring and curious energy into the clothes and into everything related to the collection. Almost like an optimistic version of punk. It is time to look at things differently and from new perspectives. Time to pull everything apart and put it back together again in a surprising, free and innovative yet meaningful way. Again the dichotomies to portrait a celebration of life that is both : joyful / melancholic, high / low, covered / naked, delicate / bold, fearful / optimistic, protection / exposure, accidental / controlled, surprises / pragmatism and stillness / movement. Be caring, Be brave Bee a Tiger Felipe.

KENZO is located at The Avenues and 360MALL. For more information, visit Alyasra Fashion on Instagram @Alyasra.

THE NEW GHIBLI HYBRID The first electrified vehicle in Maserati’s history arrives in Kuwait By bazaar staff

Maserati welcomes the future with an electrified vehicle that is built using decades of the automaker’s heritage but with tomorrow in mind. The new Ghibli Hybrid represents one of the most ambitious projects for Maserati and sets the seal on another step forward towards the brand’s new Era.

[Continued...]

On the exterior, the blue color characterizes the three iconic side air ducts, the brake calipers and the thunderbolt in the oval that encloses the Trident on the rear pillar. The same blue color reappears inside the car, in particular on the embroidered seams of the seats. The new Ghibli Hybrid also introduces new stylistic contents, starting from the new front grille, with bars redesigned to represent a tuning fork, a musical device that emits a sound of extreme purity, and which also evokes the Trident symbol itself. There are significant changes at the rear of the car, where the light clusters have been completely restyled, with a boomerang-like profile inspired by the 3200 GT and the Alfieri concept car.

The choice to introduce the hybrid technology on the Ghibli sedan is no coincidence: this model, with over 100,000 units produced since its launch in 2013, perfectly embodies the Modenabased manufacturer’s DNA. The arrival of the new Ghibli Hybrid thus expands the Maserati range, which is now even more competitive and responsive to the demands of the market.

Design Ghibli Hybrid is immediately recognizable, thanks in part to the new design of both exterior and interior. The common denominator of the restyling, developed by the Centro Stile Maserati, is the blue color, chosen to identify all cars with hybrid technology and the new world they represent.

Mild Hybrid In perfect harmony with its DNA, Maserati has chosen a hybrid solution focused primarily on improving performance, while also reducing fuel consumption and cutting emissions. The hybrid technology exploits kinetic energy the car accumulates when in motion, recovering it and transforming it into electricity during deceleration and braking, and storing it in a battery. The innovative powertrain, the outcome of in-depth

engineering development work by the technicians and engineers of the Maserati Innovation Lab in Modena, combines an internal combustion engine (4 cylinders, turbo, displacement of 2.0 l) with a 48 volt alternator and an additional electric supercharger (e-Booster), supported by a battery. This solution is unique in its segment, and is the first in a new generation of powertrains, with the perfect trade-off between performance, efficiency and driving pleasure. The battery is mounted in the rear of the car, with benefits in terms of improved weight distribution. This version weighs about 80 kg less than the Diesel. Thanks to maximum power output of 330 hp and torque of 450 Nm delivered from just 1,500 rpm, the new Ghibli Hybrid’s performance data are very impressive: top speed of 255 km/h and acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.7 seconds. Ghibli Hybrid occupants will still revel in the unmistakable sound that characterizes all Maserati models, thanks to the optimized exhaust, which includes specially designed resonators. The Maserati Intelligent Assistant multimedia system is the latest generation, based on digital inputs from Android Automotive, software

that delivers an innovative User Experience fully customizable to the driver’s personal preferences. The multimedia system’s HD screen, with new graphics, more user-friendly and without surrounds, is increased in size from 8”4 to 10”1. A new instrument panel with digital devices and new graphics is also introduced.

The new Ghibli Hybrid will be on display at the Maserati Kuwait showroom from 4th of February 2021. The Al-Zayani showroom is located in Al Rai Industrial Area, 4th ring road at the. For more information call 1808 010 or visit kuwait. maserati.com. For the latest updates, please follow Maserati on Instagram @maseratikuwait.

[...Continued]

H&M KIDS PRINT COLLABORATION IS THE MOST SUSTAINABLE YET Angela Mckay Teams Up With H&M For Spring 2021 By bazaar staff

Once again, H&M has teamed up with an independent print designer for a stunning and sustainable kidswear capsule collection – and it’s also H&M Kids’ most sustainable print collaboration yet with organic cotton, recycled materials and eco-responsible viscose in every piece. Featuring unique depictions of humble country gardens and the wondrous expanse of rainforests, the Spring 2021 collaboration is with illustrator Angela Mckay, founder of Ohkii Studio. With a vibrant sense of color and whimsical detail, Mckay first drew or painted by hand the florals, butterflies, jungle foliage, snarling tigers and sleepy sloths, which were then printed onto a range of clothing, swimwear, undergarments, shoes and accessories. Available from 11 March, the H&M x Angela Mckay will be in stores, as well as online on kw.hm.com and the H&M App. Angela Mckay’s lush and thoughtful illustrations feature on jackets, dresses, skirts, jumpsuits, hoodies, tops, leggings and shorts. Swimwear, undergarments and pyjamas, plus shoes, scarves, socks and hats, round out the collection. With a colour palette that includes a range of striking pinks, sage, sunny yellow, verdant greens, ocean blue and black, the collection is like a love letter to the great outdoors. It’s also takes H&M one step closer to their goal of using 100% organic, recycled or other sustainably sourced materials by 2030. “I’m constantly fascinated by the natural world, but also overseas travel adventures, folk tales and even old mystery novels. I believe the handmade quality of my illustrations really shines through in this H&M collaboration, though I will just be thrilled if by wearing any of the pieces, the kids sense the fun and break into a smile,” says Angela Mckay, illustrator and founder of Ohkii Studio. “Angela Mckay’s illustrations are really eye-catching and expressive — for our H&M collaboration, I think kids will be really drawn to the garden and rainforest settings, right down to the fun and quirky details. We’re also very happy to continue support the journey of independent print designers from around the world and that this is H&M Kids’ most sustainable print collaboration yet, which shows H&M’s increasing efforts overall around sustainability,” says Sofia Löfstedt, Head of Kidswear Design at H&M. Collection will be available from the 11th of March in H&M stores, online on kw.hm.com and the H&M App with prices starting from KD 2.990. 92

YOUR MOTHERHOOD JOURNEY WITH TAIBA HOSPITAL START A NEW LIFE CHAPTER WITH CARE, COMFORT AND SUPPORT By bazaar staff

Becoming a mother is a huge step and milestone for a woman. It can be exciting, scary, exhausting, joyful, and more often it is all of these things combined together and more. Choosing the right hospital and team to help you step more comfortably into your new role can completely transform the experience from being boss level hard to easy. Not only does Taiba Hospital understand how vulnerable a woman might feel as she embarks on this exciting but challenging new journey, they have also created a complete solution that makes it as simple and easy for the expectant mother as they can.

We spoke to head nurse and midwife, Jyothi Lenetdanthi who told us more about the experience and what to expect (when you are expecting, sorry not sorry). She explained that the first thing they have to do when a mom-tobe arrives is to give her a warm welcome and help her feel comfortable and relaxed. Pregnancy and childbirth are a challenging transition into motherhood and knowing that the people who will take you through it understand and have designed their system to make it as smooth as possible will help you move forward in confidence. Because Taiba Hospital’s departments are all tightly coupled together and follow a collaborative approach to provide the best service for their patients, the gynecology department communicates with the obstetrics department to make signing in a simple procedure and the nurses already have access to all the information and health records they need to provide the best medical care when it comes to the life transforming journey of delivery. Towards the end of the pregnancy the doctor and the mom create a birth plan together. The plan is then communicated to the rest of the team, so they can make sure that the mom’s wishes are taken into account. If the delivery date is planned a date is arranged with the Obstetrician ahead of time, if the mother arrives at the hospital before her due date she is taken to see the doctor right away to decide whether they can proceed with a normal birth or if she needs a C-section. The team of eleven nurses is highly trained to respond and react to whatever the situation might be. The mom-to-be only needs to show up and bring a very small bag. Unlike many other places, Taiba provides everything from disposable slippers to newborn diapers. All that is needed in the hospital bag is a night gown and a toothbrush for mom and a darling outfit for the little bundle of joy on the way. But the cutest thing they offer is the baby’s first footprint, a keepsake that can be kept forever and marks the joyous occasion. The delivery rooms are comfortable, spacious and equipped with everything the medical staff needs to bring the baby to the world. And the operating theater is only a couple of meters away, just in case surgery is needed. Because of COVID restrictions only one family member is allowed in the room while the mom is delivering, and unsurprisingly many women opt for their own mothers to be their choice of emotional support. Perhaps, it is fitting that a mom should witness the birth of her grandchild and her daughter joining the mom club at the same moment. But even if there isn’t a close relative, the Taiba team are the kindest and gentlest there is and will provide genuine and heartfelt care. Taiba Hospital was awarded the Baby Friendly Hospital Accreditation in 2015. To fate they are the only private hospital in Kuwait to receive it. This means that they promote, protect and support breastfeeding. The staff is trained and policies

are routinely updated and communicated with everyone. Before delivery a lactation specialist will educate the mom-to-be on the benefits and management of breastfeeding. They also help mothers initiate breastfeeding within a half-hour of the birth by starting with skin-to-skin contact. The baby is dried and laid directly on the mom’s chest after birth for the first feed, an essential step that is often overlooked at most health institutions in Kuwait. The lactation specialist will also visit the mom after the birth to provide needed support. A pediatrician also visits to check the baby’s vitals, weight, height and general health. The coordination and integration of all the needed teams makes delivering and health care at Taiba Hospital a pleasant and comforting experience.

We asked Jyothi Lenetdanthi what she thought moms needed to know before giving birth. “Take care of your health first,” she told us. She explained that before the baby arrives, women should focus on their nutrition, hydration and appropriate exercise. If mom is healthy, it is definitely going to be much better for her. Giving birth might be the biggest first milestone a mother crosses, and the rest of the journey isn’t always going to be easy, but delivering can be with Taiba Hospital. Taiba Hospital is located in Sabah Al Salem, off of route 30 on Road 3. Call them 24 hours at 180 80 88. For updates and information, visit the website taibahospital.com, and follow them on Instagram @taibahospital. 95

IT MIGHT JUST BE IN YOUR HEAD

Why Zoom fatigue can be self-fulfilling By Art Markman

A lot has been written in the past year about Zoom fatigue. There are many explanations given for why Zoom meetings are exhausting for people, as well as suggestions for how to handle this optical and mental fatigue.

It’s not obligatory to suffer from Zoom fatigue, of course. If you think back over your remote work experience, there are likely workdays where things went so well that you found yourself energized by the end of the day, rather than worn down. The way you think about Zoom meetings may influence your feeling about the meetings you attend. An easy way to see this is by analogy to sports. My first year in college, I was on the crew team. We spent the entire academic year learning to row and getting in shape for the racing season in the Spring. One week, the women’s team was racing on a weekend when the men’s team wasn’t, so I rode my bicycle down to the river to cheer them on. Both teams practiced out of the same facility, so I had many friends on the women’s team. I sat on the bank by the starting line and cheered the start of each race. Then, rode my bike to the midpoint, cheered some more, and then to the finish line and cheered each boat home. 96

At some point, I realized that I had ridden my bike the length of several grueling crew races and had done it faster than the boats themselves went. I happened to see one of my assistant coaches by the finish line and commented that it seemed like an exercise in futility that we spent an entire year training only to have eight rowers move a boat slower than I could ride my bike. He said that sport isn’t about getting to a particular place fast. It is about putting constraints on human performance and then seeing how well people can excel within those constraints. People who engage in sports don’t generally focus on the futility of engaging in an activity that is done within a set of rules. Instead, they experience the ups and downs that come with the challenge of dealing with the sport. And Zoom fatigue may operate the same way. The pandemic has created constraints on human performance right now. For safety reasons, you cannot get together in groups the way you did

before COVID-19. If you focus on the constraints (including Zoom), then you experience fatigue and fatalism that are like my questioning the point of training to row at all. But, if you focus on your ability to excel in the face of constraints, then Zoom is just a tool that is part of the rules of the game. Rather than being fatigued by the game, you can focus on the challenge of creating excellence within the rules of that game. And, when you do that, you are mostly going to experience the ups and downs associated with the success of what you’re able to accomplish, rather than the fatigue of being in a game you’d rather not be playing.

Photo by Gabriel Benois on Unsplash.

MOTHER’S DAY GIFTING IS A BREEZE WITH VIRGIN MEGASTORE Discover endless gifting options right here! By bazaar staff

Move aside, predictable flowers, as Mother’s Day gifting ideas at Virgin Megastore are never boring! From devices to groove to, to handy kitchen helpers and the best options in self-care, find mom the perfect gift at Virgin Megastore at the Avenues!

Let there be music! For the groovy mama, help her break it down old school with the (1) Crosley Cruiser Deluxe Turntable in Lavender (KD 54.90), or the fully geared (2) MJI MM2012 Turntable with speakers in a gorgeous, natural wood finish (KD 85). The (3) MJI 651 Gramophone All-in-One Vinyl Radio CD Cassette (KD 119) is not only gorgeous to

look at, its multi uses will go a very long way. So, go ahead, take out her prized selection of classic Vinyl records and have your very own Mother’s Day Dance party at home! For listening to her favorite tunes on the go, then we highly recommend the (4) Jabra Elite 75t Gold True Wireless Earbuds (KD 58)!

The beauty of reading Many moms can sometimes find it difficult to allocate pockets of time to escape their daily routine to take a break and read, so why not gift her with a world of stories for her to enjoy whenever she is on the go, or even for when she’s hiding from all of you in the bathroom (Yes, moms do that, and it’s perfectly okay. We do this for sanity purposes mainly). We love e-readers like the (5) Amazon Kindle Paperwhite 10th Gen 32GB Wi-Fi 6 Inch in Plum (KD 72.9), as this would make for a timeless present, and every time she reads a good book, she will remember that you made it all happen! You’re welcome.

The all-important caffeine ritual Starting the day on the right note is so important. Gift her those precious five minutes of quiet time with a proper cup of coffee to start off the day with the (6) Bodrum Chambord Coffee maker (KD 14). Or you can keep things flexible, and opt for the (7) Xiaomi Mi Smart Kettle in pristine White (KD 16.90).

The best kitchen helper If your mom likes to lead a practical life, then the (11) Instant Pot Duo Plus Electric Pressure Cooker (KD 63.50) will be her new Best Friend Forever! Not only does this nifty electric pressure cooker have all the great features of the most famous pot in the world, this edition also offers the sous vide smart program. So yes, mom can brag about making the best tenderloin in the world, while also taking advantage of the Instant Pot’s 15 cooking modes.

The gift of Self-Care Self-Care is having a massive moment this year, and for good reason. Help mom relax, even for a few moments, and choose from the wide selection of candles available at Virgin Megastore. We especially love the (8) Yankee Candles Melt Warmer in Simply Pastel (KD 6.5), as, along with the amazing selection of Yankee Candles Tarts Wax Melts that work with any unscented tea candle, mom will instantly feel revitalized by the power of aromatherapy. Other candles we love include the (9) Peppermint Grove Black Orchid & Ginger Candle (KD 15) and the (10) Yankee Candle Elevation Vessel Sun Warmed Meadows (KD 8.50).

Just for fun Novelty gifts are always a fun treat! If you’re looking to make mom a complete gift basket, then make sure to include the (12) ‘The Boss’ Pink Desk Plaque (KD 4) to add to her desk or the or this popping coffee mug (13) donning the title ‘Coffee Queen’ with Holographic Foil (KD 4).

Virgin Megastore is located at Phase 2 in The Avenues. For more information, check out @VirginMegastoreMe on social media. Shop online at https://circle.virginmegastore.com.kw/shop 99

bazaar Hitlist

SANDWICH TIME! The perfect sandwich doesn’t exist (or does it?) By bazaar staff

The perfect sandwich is different for each person. Some people claim it doesn’t exist in this reality, and while they might absolutely be right, we’re open to the next best thing. Starting from the bread, filling, sauces to your toasting options, the sandwich or a version of it exists in almost every cuisine and the combinations and options are unlimited. These are the ones that the bazaar staff chose to defend! Ali Mikail (Intern) The Perfect Sandwich: it has to be a pulled beef rib sandwich marinated in some barbecue sauce with caramelized onions, mushrooms and an amazing cheese blend crowned all with a classic slice from some homemade sourdough bread. Where you can get one: well luckily for us it’s located right here in Kuwait! Melting point in Souq Sharq offers one of the most delicious sandwiches I have ever tasted, the beef pulled ribs are so tender, their special cheese blend is to die for and topping it all off with their iconic slice of sourdough bread makes every crunchy yet juicy bite to die for. This shouldn’t even be a debate, the BBQ street sandwich in melting point has to be in the top 3 beef sandwiches of all time in Kuwait, period. Jennifer Cádiz (Mixed Media Solutions) The Perfect Sandwich: It’s gotta be said, I make the perfect sandwich at home with all the trimmings, stuffed with veggies, and bread buttered with salted butter. But, failing that a simple buffalo mozzarella and fresh, perfectly ripe tomato sandwich in the ideal bread is always satisfying. Where you can get one: Princi in Grand Avenue, The Avenues has a Focaccia Caprese sandwich that I’ve been addicted to since restaurants opened up again, and every time I’m in the Avenues, indulging in this is my luxury treat. The focaccia has a delicious bite to it, the mouthfeel crispy then chewy, the layered textures when you bite into the sandwich providing simple yet nuanced pleasure. I like to take my Focaccia Caprese home and anticipate the enjoyment, but my advice would be, ask staff not to wrap your sandwich in wax paper or place it in a box; put the sandwich directly into a Princi signature cellophane sleeve, as this keeps the focaccia’s oils better than any other packaging. This is just my personal taste of course! 100

Mariam Raslan (Mixed Media Content Creator) The Perfect Sandwich: A well seasoned shawarma, with the freedom to put as much garlic and tahini sauce as I please without being judged. Also, french fries must be a part of the sandwich itself. Where you can get one: IKEA, yes as out of place as that sounds, their chicken shawarma is life changing, and they allow me to express my desire to drench it with as much sauce as I’d like. Of course that was pre-COVID, now I’m not sure if they still leave the tahini and garlic bottles outside for you to use. They’re tiny so make sure to order 2-3 shawarmas! Umika Pidaparthy (Online Producer) The Perfect Sandwich: There’s nothing like starting your day with eggs and avocado with some bread. Make that into a sandwich, season it well, and it transforms into a quick and compact breakfast! From whole grain slices to an English muffin, the options for your bread are endless. Your eggs can be fried, scrambled, poached, or even vegan by using tofu instead! Customize it with cheese like cheddar or add veggies like onion, tomato, coriander, baby spinach, and you’ve got a meal packed with fresh wholesome ingredients! I personally love to sprinkle some red chili flakes or green chili to give it a kick of flavor. Where you can get one: Breakfast/brunch places in Kuwait are usually the best places to get your egg and avocado fix. Everyone has their personal favorite combination, but there are two places that get it just right for me. The Breakfast Club has been a brunch staple in Kuwait and their Avo Sandwich has been my go-to weekend morning treat! Guacamole, light cheese and scrambled egg with multi-grain bread is certainly a big sandwich to have and it’s worth it! The crunchy toast is balanced out with the soft textures of the egg, avocado, and cheese. Simple and satisfying. Another place I like is relatively new. The Kind Ones have many amazing breakfast sandwiches from one that is a shakshuka in a sandwich to one with condiments like Sriracha sauce. One of my favorites is their Sunflower Sandwich which has egg, avocado, cheese, their special sauce and sunflower seeds. This sandwich can fit in the palm of your hand and has lightly toasted buns that resemble small bread slices, so you really can’t just eat one! The sunflower seeds add a nice crunchy texture to the egg and avocado. Now I can’t wait for breakfast! Yasmine El Charif (Content Manager) The Perfect Sandwich: Ideally, it would be a Shish Tawook Sandwich. The perfect one doesn’t exist in Kuwait. Where you can get one: Nowhere. Abou Mer3i closed down, and I have yet to find another

replacement. Zaatar W Zeit here does a decent tawook, but it’s not consistent. If we were in Beirut, however, I would recommend 5 places off the top of my head. Let me tell you about the perfect Shish Tawook sandwich, just in case you know of a place that fits the description and you can help a sister out with a recommendation. The chicken is treated perfectly, marinated well, and you can taste the char of the grill on it, or else, what’s the point? The chicken must also be fresh, never frozen. The toumiyeh (garlic paste) is sharp, balanced with a hint of citrus and abundant. Adding mayonnaise is blasphemous. The fries inside said Shish Tawook sandwich are meant to be CRISPY, and never soggy, and the pickles come with a zesty crunch. Most importantly, you must taste everything together with every bite, giving you an insane combo of char-grilled chicken, sharp garlic, crunchy fries, and a refreshing pickle. Anything less than the described sub par, at best. Yasmin Gamal (Mixed Media Content Creator) The Perfect Sandwich: Is made after midnight when you are starving, toasted and is full of melted cheese, crunchy greens and packs a lot of complementary flavor. That makes it both really simple to achieve yet complex to create. Where you can get one: Roast Beef Sandwich From Gia. Sadly, this one does not meet my first two requirements, but it is quite close. The only thing that would make this even perfect is adding salted chips to it for more crunch and to have it with some freshly squeezed orange juice for an even bigger illusion of healthy eating.

Do you have an even better sandwich suggestion? Let us know, DM us @bazaargram on Instagram and we’ll decide if we agree with you. Photo by Ola Mishchenko on Unsplash.

Delivering All Your Cravings

Order Now Scan to view the Menu

Grand Avenue - The Avenues • Arabian Gulf Street, Dasman • Sidra Restaurants, Mahboula TheCheesecakeFactoryME

TheCheesecakeFactoryMiddleEast 101

THE BODY SHOP LAUNCHES GLOBAL SELF LOVE MOVEMENT

Activist beauty company works with Leading Lights around the world to inspire 1 million acts of self-love By bazaar staff

When Anita Roddick founded The Body Shop, she believed passionately that beauty is an active, outward expression of everything you like about yourself. Trusting in the importance of self-esteem, Anita spearheaded the conversation back in 1997 and launched a self-esteem and body positivity campaign featuring a generously proportioned doll, Ruby, with the slogan: There are 3 billion women who don’t look like supermodels and only 8 who do. The Body Shop was the first beauty company to talk about self-esteem and importantly, the link between personal wellbeing and collective wellbeing. Fast forward to today, the body positivity movement has gained much traction. Yet we live in a troubled and turbulent world, where inequalities continue to widen. The Body Shop believes the next frontier in creating positive impact in the world is increasing self-love. Echoing this sentiment, Vice President Beauty Division, Alshaya Group, Rebecca Jobo said “As an activist brand, The Body Shop’s mission is to fight for a fairer and more beautiful world. In order to create a positive change in the world, it is focused on creating positive change. In a society that promotes self-doubt and insecurity, The Body Shop calls for people to rise up with self-love. It’s exciting to embark on this journey to drive change individually, in the beauty industry and beyond.” The Body Shop self-love expert, The Millennial Therapist, Sara Kuburic also commented, “Self-love is many things, but it starts with the recognition and appreciation of our inner worth and value. It gives us permission to be our authentic selves. Self-love is the act of using our voice and standing up for what we believe in. It is the act of creating change and of surrounding ourselves with people who support our journey.” This is why The Body Shop aims to inspire 1 million acts of self-love in 1 year, to create more love and positive change in the world. It doesn’t matter how big or small, every act can lead to big change. Tips on acts of self-love will be shared on the online self-love hub and 102

The Body Shop Kuwait social media channels. To raise awareness of self-love, the company is working with ‘Leading Lights’ - changemakers and cultural ambassadors that are beacons of self-love and help inspire others on their journey. In the Middle East, The Body Shop is working with Zainab Al-Eqabi, Motivational Speaker and Para-Athlete. Zainab AlEqabi is truly an inspiration. She has overcome personal challenges and champions self-acceptance. Her traumatic experience of losing her left leg at age seven in a bomb explosion in Baghdad, made her realize that she is still blessed with other abilities in the face of what she has lost! Through her involvement in several sports events and charitable initiatives, she is sending a message to the world that “life doesn’t stop when you have a disability”. When asked to define the concept of self-love, she said, Self-love is being confident in your own skin, in your whole being. Loving, caring and showing respect to who you really are.” We asked Zainab a few more questions about her story and her involvement with the campaign. Here’s what she had to say: What does self-love mean to you? Self-love is loving who you are! Having a wonderful relationship with your true self. It’s having a deep awareness of your strengths and imperfections, loving and respecting every bit of it! Self-love empowers us and makes us unbreakable. Why is self-love a journey? Every stage of our lives requires a different kind of awareness. We might be facing different types of challenges and therefore, our reactions towards these challenges and towards ourselves may differ. Self-love is a journey, and we keep on learning and improving along the way. No matter what we are going through, we should constantly work on our relationship with ourselves. How do you help others self-love? I should go back in time and tell you more about the reason why I started sharing my story on social media. I couldn’t see a lot of self-love in people who are living with physical challenges and it was really upsetting me. I also realized that there was a lack of understanding from society towards people with disabilities. I wanted to find a way to make a positive change. Upon sharing my story and throughout the years, I was so

Sara Kuburic happy to see more people joining in and sharing their stories. Through this we have managed to spread collective self-love, it is quite infectious. So, how powerful is collective self-love? It is so strong I can’t even describe its magnitude! Sometimes we might think that we are alone in facing whatever challenge we are going through in the moment, but once we share

our story, we realize that we are definitely not alone! By opening up, we become stronger and we empower each other… and eventually, build a stronger, loving community! Follow the campaign online by following @TheBodyShopKuwait on Instagram and Facebook, or shop online at www.thebodyshop.com.kw. 103

THE NEW MOTHER GOES TO BANGKOK Guilt, separation, and motherhood By Craig Loomis

And then there is the story of the young woman who, recently married—15 months’ worth—becomes predictably pregnant, does her nine-month duty, and among much fanfare, delivers a sturdy pink boy who knows all about being loud and squirmy, but never mind, let the breastfeeding begin. But, before the son is even one month old—29 days to be precise--she and her banker husband decide that they need a break, call it a 10-day vacation, to recover, because, after all, it has been a long nine months, ask anybody, and so they catch the next flight to Bangkok, leaving the newborn with Mom, assorted aunts, and one homesick nanny who has three kids of her own back in Manila. The breastfeeding takes a holiday. Part two of the story says that once they arrived in Bangkok and found their way to the 5-star luxury hotel, that she was suddenly overwhelmed with guilt for leaving her baby and begged her banker husband to book a return flight immediately, if not sooner, but he, not being a banker for nothing, said to her, “Wait. We need sleep, and rest. We can have this talk in the morning, sah?” And so they fell asleep, or at least he did. They awoke to a humid Bangkok morning, thick with a bright silver mist, and as he looked out over the city from the 10th floor, he decided to go down to the lobby restaurant because she insisted on more time to shower, to dress, to make herself right. All the while her breasts hadn’t stopped aching, her face a long-flight blotchy. When she finally went down to the restaurant—tea, toast and eggs, not to mention a bouquet of orchids in the center of the table—she still felt guilty about leaving her new son behind, but not as much. At this point he asked her, “And how did you sleep?” She said, “At first not well at all but later, a deep sleep; in fact, my muscles are still sore from sleep.” They both thought this funny, but not the laugh-out-loud funny. He smiled and before long they were talking about what to do and see in the city. “We can go to the Floating Market, they say that’s a wonder. Imagine, a floating market. Of course, there are always the temples and who knows, maybe an elephant or two. Would you like to ride an elephant?” Because she was feeling better about almost everything, she nodded a yes. After breakfast with orchids, they returned to a clean room, the maids leaving behind some of the whitest, brightest towels they had ever seen. Once the mist melted away, they could see more of the city from the tenth floor—a glitter of temples here and there. All that helped, and her feeling better continued. After a Floating Market tour—with a guide full of bad teeth, speaking a kind of English--the humidity had worn them down by mid-afternoon and they hurried back to the tenth floor, where she almost immediately called her mother to ask about the new son; and her mother, in typical Mom fashion, reassured her that all was well, that her son was fast asleep, etc. “In fact, it is almost as if he never knew you were gone,” said Mom in what she thought was a helpful way. But of course that started her crying once again, as the husband watched and listened from the bed. Later, she told her husband that because her breasts were still sore and leaking, maybe she would stay in bed tomorrow. Take a hot shower and return to bed. He thought about this for a moment before saying, “Don’t be silly. We are on vacation, and who knows when we’ll get a chance to do this again. Don’t be silly.” She did not disagree with her husband, but her breasts continued to leak. That night, sleep did not come easy for her as a heavy rain battered the windows. Tossing and turning until her husband asked, “What? What?” she stepped to the windowpane and placed her cheek

104

against the cool glass. Early the next morning, she called her mother again, and again Mom tried to say all the right things: her son was sleeping now but had woken up in the middle of the night to squirm and cry. She said, “Cry? Why? What’s wrong?” But her mother, not being a mother for nothing, laughed and said, “My dear, that is what babies do.” For one week the new mother with banker husband saw Bangkok just like that. There were more city tours, gifts to buy, photos to take, beggars to ignore, new foods to eat, the daily phone calls to Mother, and so on. As their vacation ended, her breasts felt better, two hot showers a day had made all the difference. The daily calls to Mom had slowly pushed her guilt into a corner that no longer made her cry; in fact, in the end, it was only as they were flying back, somewhere over India, that she remembered to cry, one last time. Photo by Jenna Norman on Unsplash.

105

106

THE LFA

DESIGNED LIKE NO OTHER Lexus celebrates the 10 years anniversary of the LFA By bazaar staff

Ten years have passed since the start of production of the LFA, an authentic supercar that revealed a new aspect of Lexus as a committed and visionary manufacturer of world-class highperformance cars. After more than a decade in development, the LFA set a new benchmark in performance. Limited to just 500 models, this feat of engineering would also set the stage for all Lexus performance vehicles to follow.

107

For all its exclusivity and rarity – from the outset, production was limited to just 500 cars – the LFA left a legacy that has influenced every car Lexus has built since. It pioneered new powertrain and material technologies and exemplified the Takumi hand-crafted approach to manufacturing and design that has become a brand-defining quality for Lexus. The LFA story began in early 2000 in the month of February as a research and development project to produce a thoroughbred supercar. Lexus Chief Engineer Harahiko Tanahashi was given free rein and the chance to work with new materials and processes. This tabula rasa approach echoed the way Lexus rewrote the luxury car rulebook with the flagship LS sedan that launched the marque 10 years previously. In 2001 Master Driver Hiromi Naruse joined the team and his skills would prove key to the LFA achieving its handling and performance goals. In the early stages, 500 key assets were identified, from the suspension design to the shape of the steering wheel; every detail had to be perfect. The first prototype was completed in 2003 and a year later was running its first laps of the Nürburgring Nordschleife, the legendary racetrack that would be the cradle of the LFA’s development. The world had its first glimpse of what Lexus was planning with the reveal of a design study at the 2005 North American International Auto 108

Show in Detroit, followed by a closer-to-production concept car two years later. In 2008 the LFA – still a work-in-progress – made the first of four annual appearances in the grueling 24 Hours of Nürburgring. This was the toughest possible test of the car’s performance and quality, prior Lexus confirming its production at the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show. Manufacturing began at Lexus’ state-of-theart Motomachi plant at the end of 2010. Such was the dedication to precision engineering, production was at a rate of just one car per day with each engine assembled and signed off by a single technician, complete with an engraved plate bearing the car’s production number. The LFA was rich in amazing and revolutionary features. At its heart was an all-new, naturally aspirated 4.8-litre V10 engine, produced in a joint venture with specialists Yamaha. Even though it was smaller and had fewer cylinders than some supercar rivals, its performance was exceptional, delivering a maximum 560 DIN hp at 8,700 rpm. Front-mounted and driving the rear wheels through a six-speed automated sequential gearbox positioned on the rear axle, it could power the car from rest to 100 km/h in just 3.7 seconds and on to a 325 km/h top speed. Keeping the car’s weight down was essential to its performance, achieved by switching from the aluminum used for the original concepts to carbon fiber reinforced plastic – CFRP. This strong but lightweight advanced woven composite material was used for most of the bodywork, the passenger cell and the transmission tunnel and has since been used in other Lexus models, including the GS F and RC F, members of Lexus’ exclusive F-performance car stable. Stopping power had to be as effective as the drive, hence the use of high-performance ceramic brake discs. There was still more the LFA had to offer, in the form of the ultra-exclusive Nürburgring

Package, a version re-engineered to maximize the car’s track potential. Drawing directly on the car’s racing experience, it gained stiffer suspension, lighter forged alloy wheels with performance tires and extra aerodynamic features, including a new front lip spoiler, front winglets and a fixed GT-style high rear wing to maximize downforce. With ride height reduced by 10 mm, the car also hugged the ground more closely. To compensate for the extra drag, engine power was increased to 570 DIN hp. Production was to be just 50 cars, with each owner given professional instruction and a year’s driving pass to the Nürburgring. Its quality was confirmed in 2011 when it set a new Nordschelife lap record for a production car, driven by Akira Ida.

The last word on the LFA should go to Harahiko Tanahashi the man who realized the dream. He explained: “I intended to build a supercar that would the driver to this state through the unity of its parts – the engine’s sound, its feel when revving, its handling and stability.” Asked what “this state” meant, he replied simply “euphoria.”

For more information on Lexus in Kuwait, call the team on 1830030. Check out their Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube @Lexuskw, or visit lexus.com.kw.

[...Continued]

109

truth or dare

SAKINA KUNWA

TINY ART DOING BIG THINGS By bazaar staff

In an age where art can be mass produced very quickly using software, there are still artists who enjoy creating slowly and methodically. Using old-school materials, ingenuity and pure creativity, Sakina Kunwa creates beautifully hand drawn stopmotion paper videos that tell relatable stories. 110

[Continued...]

111

truth or dare

Born and raised in Kuwait, Sakina got a Master’s degree in finance but found her true calling in the arts. “I always thought people took art very seriously while I always looked at art as a stress buster. When we are kids we do exactly that - we take art, craft as a way to relax, to explore. In my art, I want to bring about that childlike curiosity and entertainment for the viewer,” she explained. Kunwa derives a lot of her inspiration from the culture and life she grew up in, between being an Indian expat and living in Kuwait. She visits India every year and many of her stop-motion videos are clearly influenced by her heritage. From custard apples to Indian dishes, her ongoing India-based videos are a colorful window into the culture. Despite being creatively inclined her whole life, whether at school or college she never thought of making a career of it. She is completely self-taught and enjoys learning on her own. But she also hopes to teach what she has learned and aspires to create a comprehensive stop motion course someday. Her chosen medium is interesting and quite unique. “My friends and family always tease me that I see everything in small sizes and draw everything tiny! Also, that 112

[Continued...]

I’m a short person. I just find it so intriguing to draw miniatures size drawings on paper and make them do big things!,” Kunwa elaborated. The drawings might be small, but the finished videos are involved and time-consuming. It usually takes her 9-14 days to finish a video, which is a lot of time especially when you consider that the result is under a minute of animation. Commercial jobs can take even longer, because she needs to get the client on board and they both need to agree on the mood of the video. Clients have specific requirements which often make the process more time consuming. But she loves being able to transform someone’s idea into a paper stop-motion. “I spent a few weeks on an idea creating a mood board and drawings. These weeks are crucial and totally consume me. Even after all the planning, the shoot day comes with its own set of challenges. Followed by editing which defines the story,” Kunwa explained her process to us. She also uses a combination of paper and real props depending on the storyline and technique she is using. We have also recently been seeing her work as a food stylist. Her sister is @kulsumkunwa,

renowned food photographer in the Middle East. Sakina started out helping on shoots and figured out that she really enjoys it, and we can tell that she is a natural at it. Branching out seems to work for her too. “It helps me use my creative mojo in more than one field and I love it. I also love doing crafts and cooking,” she told us. If you visit her Instagram profile, and you absolutely should, you will notice that she has a couple of ongoing series that keep popping up. “Most of the series related to motherhood were greatly received and are close to my heart because it is based on my motherhood experience. But currently, loving the Indian based series too,” she tells us. As viewers we love the continuity and the slow but steady evolution of her style and talent. And she’s definitely not done, she told us that she would love to work for Amul, an Indian dairy brand because she has always admired their brand and thinks they match her aesthetic. To aspiring artists she says, “Get organized and get making! The only way to succeed is to put in the hard work and getting started”. And we might just take her advice and try our hand at creating some art.

113

truth or dare

TRUTH OR DARE QUESTIONNAIRE How would your mother describe you in one word? Brave. How would you describe your mother in one word? Strong. What is the most ridiculous question you’ve ever been asked? To be honest I haven’t found any question that ridiculous, I don’t mind silly questions, but one instant a client kept addressing me as a slowmotion artist instead of stop motion and I think that was hilarious. What is the most spontaneous thing you’ve ever done? I left my finance Job and started my free-lance career as a stop motion animator. What is your theme song? Kishore Kumar's song - Yeh Shaam Mastani. What word in the English or Arabic language do you wish you had invented? Let’s go! Where would you like to live? I love living in Kuwait, but yes I need a vacation in India from time to time. What is your dream retirement location? Galiyakot, my hometown in Rajasthan. What is the first famous quote that comes to your mind? Dreams do come true. Which animal best describes your perfect partner, be it in business, or in life? Monkey. Do you miss anything from your childhood and if so, what is it? I miss dancing in the rain. If you could change your name, what would you change it to? “Sakin” haha because it matches with my Instagram username. How would you describe your handshake, in one word? Awkward. What is the toughest part of your character? My temper. 114

[...Continued]

Who is your favourite historical figure? Mahatma Gandhi.

Why do you think most people who do, like you? Honesty.

What in the world do you least desire? Beauty.

Finish this sentence: “Happiness is…” … following your dream.

What do you think is lacking in the world, which [if there were more of it] would make the world a better place? Self-love.

Ready to see some fabulous moving art? Follow @sakinanimation on Instagram.

IT’S BACK

11.950

order.ma i s2 go.com 115

GET READY TO BE ECLIPSE-D The latest occasion and party wear brand is arriving at Debenhams Kuwait By bazaar staff

One of our favorite things at Debenhams is how they flawlessly curate their selection of brands and items. Instead of having to search different stores to find the perfect dress or ensemble we just head there because we’re sure they will have just what we need. The latest addition of Eclipse to their lineup is the perfect example.

116

Our lives are marked by exceptional moments, from weddings to graduations and milestone birthdays to anniversaries. Whether we are celebrating our own accomplishments or that of our loved ones’ we want to be dressed in a killer outfit that we and others will remember forever. Eclipse is every woman’s destination for finding the perfect dress for weddings or other special occasions. The Spring/Summer 21 collection was designed for a woman who exudes confidence, joy, and an impeccable fashion sense. The collection makes use of different fabrics, textures and colors and interesting silhouettes. No matter your aesthetic or style there is a fabulous outfit waiting for you. If you are looking for something ultra-feminine then the Feather Cape Maxi dress will make you feel like a princess floating around the dance floor. If feathers are your thing, you are in luck, the collection also includes a gorgeous Frill Wide Leg Trouser that has a matching over the shoulder top with feather accents in a bright white. The same top can be paired with the beautiful Puddle Skirt for a softer look. For women who are looking for a bolder look, there are so many different looks to fall in love with. Move over a little black dress because the navy Chiffon Overlayer Jumpsuit is here. This is a classic look with a modern touch. This is a vision of BOSS LADY! It is elegant but edgy, beautifully constructed with contrasting textures for maximum effect. We know that a lot of our events are now taking place virtually instead of together, which makes these outfits perfect. They all look striking on camera and may even inspire you to do a little photoshoot to commemorate the event as well as congratulate yourself on your amazing style. The collection feels timeless and will live happily in your closet for years to come without ever feeling dated and you will enjoy them once social distancing measures are lifted. Dressing up is a joy that can be enjoyed whether you are going to be seen or if you just want to glam up for yourself. And the right outfit is the closest thing we have to a happiness potion. Fashion has always been a powerful tool wielded by women to improve their mood and find their inner power and sparkle. The SS21 collection is a celebration of life in fashion form, the collection is all bright, playful, feel-good pieces to love from this season to the next.

Follow @debenhamsmiddleeast on Instagram and Facebook for all the latest updates. Browse the online catalogue on Alshaya.com with free delivery. Shop the collection at Debenhams in Grand Avenue – The Avenues, Souq Sharq and The Gate Mall. Call Customer Service: 182-12-12. 117

bazaar books

THE CODE BREAKER

THE LOST APOTHECARY

by Walter Isaacson, Non-Fiction

by Sarah Penner, Historical Fiction

When Jennifer Doudna was in sixth grade, she came home one day to find that her dad had left a paperback titled The Double Helix on her bed. She put it aside, thinking it was one of those detective tales she loved. When she read it on a rainy Saturday, she discovered she was right, in a way. As she sped through the pages, she became enthralled by the intense drama behind the competition to discover the code of life. Even though her high school counselor told her girls didn’t become scientists, she decided she would. Driven by a passion to understand how nature works and to turn discoveries into inventions, she would help to make what the book’s author, James Watson, told her was the most important biological advance since his co-discovery of the structure of DNA. She and her collaborators turned a curiosity of nature into an invention that will transform the human race: an easy-touse tool that can edit DNA. Known as CRISPR, it opened a brave new world of medical miracles and moral questions.

THE ROSE CODE

One cold February evening in 1791, at the back of a dark London alley in a hidden apothecary shop, Nella awaits her newest customer. Once a respected healer, Nella now uses her knowledge for a darker purpose—selling well-disguised poisons to desperate women who would kill to be free of the men in their lives. But when her new patron turns out to be a precocious twelve-yearold named Eliza Fanning, an unexpected friendship sets in motion a string of events that jeopardizes Nella’s world and threatens to expose the many women whose names are written in her register. In present-day London, aspiring historian Caroline Parcewell spends her tenth wedding anniversary alone, reeling from the discovery of her husband’s infidelity. When she finds an old apothecary vial near the river Thames, she can’t resist investigating, only to realize she’s found a link to the unsolved “apothecary murders” that haunted London over two centuries ago. As she deepens her search, Caroline’s life collides with Nella’s and Eliza’s in a stunning twist of fate.

THE COMMITTED

by Kate Quinn, Mystery

By Viet Thanh Nguyen, Literary Fiction

As England prepares to fight the Nazis, three very different women answer the call to mysterious country estate Bletchley Park, where the best minds in Britain train to break German military codes. Vivacious debutante Osla is the girl who has everything—beauty, wealth, and the dashing Prince Philip of Greece sending her roses. The imperious, self-made Mab, product of east-end London poverty, works the legendary code breaking machines as she conceals old wounds and looks for a socially advantageous husband. But war, loss, and the impossible pressure of secrecy will tear the three apart. 1947. As the royal wedding of Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip whips post-war Britain into a fever, three friends-turnedenemies are reunited by a mysterious encrypted letter--the key to which lies buried in the long-ago betrayal that destroyed their friendship and left one of them confined to an asylum. A mysterious traitor has emerged from the shadows of their Bletchley Park past, and now Osla, Mab, and Beth must resurrect their old alliance and crack one last code together.

HOMO IRREALIS: ESSAYS

The long-awaited new novel from one of America’s most highly regarded contemporary writers, The Committed follows “the Sympathizer” as he arrives in Paris as a refugee. There he and his blood brother Bon try to escape their pasts and prepare for their futures by turning their hands to capitalism in one of its purest forms: drug dealing. No longer in physical danger, but still inwardly tortured by his reeducation at the hands of his former best friend, and struggling to assimilate into a dominant culture, “the Sympathizer” is both charmed and disturbed by Paris. As he falls in with a group of left-wing intellectuals and politicians who frequent dinner parties given by his French Vietnamese “aunt,” he finds not just stimulation for his mind but also customers for his merchandise―but the new life he is making has dangers he has not foreseen, from the oppression of the state, to the self-torture of addiction, to the seemingly unresolvable paradox of how he can reunite his two closest friends, men whose worldviews put them in absolute opposition.

THE SOUL OF A WOMAN

By André Aciman, Anthology

By Isabel Allende Cavallaro, Memoir

Reading has always been a form of escapism and while essays are rarely what come to mind when you want to leave your reality, some can actually be a first class ticket to another world, mood or time. Irrealis moods are the set of verbal moods that indicate that something is not actually the case or a certain situation or action is not known to have happened. André Aciman returns to the essay form in Homo Irrealis to explore what the present tense means to artists who cannot grasp the here and now. Irrealis is not about the present, or the past, or the future, but about what might have been but never was―but could in theory still happen. From meditations on subway poetry and the temporal resonances of an empty Italian street, to considerations of the lives and work of Sigmund Freud, Constantine Cavafy, W. G. Sebald, John Sloan, Éric Rohmer, Marcel Proust, and Fernando Pessoa, and portraits of cities such as Alexandria and St. Petersburg.

As a young woman coming of age in the late 1960s, she rode the second wave of feminism. Among a tribe of like-minded female journalists, Allende for the first time felt comfortable in her own skin, as they wrote “with a knife between our teeth” about women’s issues. She has seen what the movement has accomplished in the course of her lifetime. And over the course of life, she has learned how to grow as a woman while having a partner, when to step away, and the rewards of embracing one’s sexuality. So what feeds the soul of feminists—and all women—today? To be safe, to be valued, to live in peace, to have their own resources, to be connected, to have control over our bodies and lives, and above all, to be loved. On all these fronts, there is much work yet to be done, and this book, Allende hopes, will “light the torches of our daughters and granddaughters with mine. They will have to live for us, as we lived for our mothers, and carry on with the work still left to be finished.”

Source: Goodreads.com 118

119

THE GR

YARIS

The small butBy very mighty Toyota hatchback bazaar staff

The all-new 2021 Toyota GR Yaris was launched in Japan last September. The car was born as a vehicle that anyone can drive the way they want with peace of mind on any road in the world. And it is no surprise that despite its compact size, it packs a punch in terms of specs, capabilities and functionality because it was built after incorporating the lessons learnt from the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Team.

120

Speed, safety, driving experience and extremely competitive, the GR Yaris has it all! Toyota didn’t only depend on the opinions and feedback from their own drivers, they also listened to the evaluations given by nonToyota professional drivers from the early stages of development. The driving force behind the GR Yaris was Toyota’s President Akio Toyoda himself who is also known as Morizo, the master driver persona. When the car was launched Morizo drove it and showed it to the world through a Virtual Reality drive along. Master driver Morizo wanted to “restore the Toyota sports cars,” which led to the creation of the new GR Yaris. It is the first Toyota vehicle developed with the reversed concept of turning a motorsports car into a production car. The main features of the new GR Yaris include vehicle packaging with attention paid to aerodynamics, light weight, and high rigidity. The high power of a newly-developed 1.6-liter in-line three-cylinder intercooler turbo engine combined with the “GR-FOUR,” a newly-developed sports 4WD system, to convey power to all four wheels. Created from three distinctive models: the base RZ, RS and the RC. The RZ is the base model and is a high-output model that offers outstanding driving stability, exceptional acceleration, and the pleasing feel of a revving engine. The RZ “High performance” with even higher marginal performance is also available. A newly-developed compact, lightweight, and high-power G16E-GTS 1.6-liter in-line three-cylinder inter-cooler turbo engine appears in the car. An air-cooled inter-cooler with a cooling-spray function is the standard on the gives the RZ its “High performance”. The driving experience is enhanced with the newly-developed “GR-FOUR” sports 4WD system with a variable front and rear driving force system using a multi-plate clutch Torsen LSD front and rear differentials are standard on the RZ “High performance”. The model has also adopted an “iMT”4 sixspeed manual transmission. It is also equipped with BBS forged aluminum wheels and Michelin Pilot Sport 4S radial tires.

121

Next is the RS, which is “the fun to drive” model that enables anyone to casually enjoy driving the GR Yaris. The M15A-FKS 1.5-liter in-line threecylinder Dynamic Force Engine based on the TNGA approach makes this an exciting and powerful car. Direct Shift-CVT with an additional gear for starting up and powerful and responsive performance from low to high speeds. It also comes equipped with a 10-speed sequential shiftmatic paddle shifter that provides the feel of a manual. The RS also provides low fuel consumption of 18.2 km/l5 in WLTC mode as well as the pleasure of using the power not just during sports driving, but at all speeds in everyday activities, and in enjoying controlling the vehicle exactly as designed. Finally, for the more competitive driver, the RC. A model ideal for customization as a base model for competing in motorsports or other applications. It is based on the RZ but all unnecessary equipment not needed for driving was eliminated. It maintains basic performance with the G16E-GTS 1.6-liter in-line three-cylinder inter-cooler turbo engine and “GR-FOUR” sports 4WD system. The 16-inch ventilated disc brakes adopted in consideration of installation of small-diameter tires for rally use. The release of the car wasn’t the only exciting news, “GR PARTS” for customization that maximizes the appeal of the GR Yaris was announced and launched. The extensive lineup of parts supports the pleasure of driving by those who participate in races with the GR Yaris and those who enjoy driving in everyday activities. The GR Parts (all grades except the RS; sales limited to the GR Garage) were specially created with outside professional drivers in accordance with racing specifications. Technology for winning races has been unsparingly incorporated. In addition, the GR FACTORY, an exclusive production line, has been created at the Motomachi Plant, where each sports model has been produced, to build into cars the performance sought through development by takumi (master craftsmanship) team members. The all-new GR Yaris is the kind of car that excites all types of drivers. From city dwellers who want a dependable and comfortable car on the road that can also perform on the racetrack to more competitive drivers who want to advance their racing careers.

122 [...Continued]

1 81 1 1 1 7 123

live like the 1%

DAVID HOCKNEY TALL DUTCH TREES

APOLLO AND ARTEMIS

LE ROSEY

DALLMEIER CAMERA

TRANQUILITY POD

THE INFRARED SUPINE SAUNA

Show your mom you care by starting your bid at 2,700,000KD for Hockney’s Tall Dutch Trees After Hobbema (Useful Knowledge) 2017. This six-piece work, has angled portions making use of “reverse perspective.” If you squint, the middle bit looks like an “M” for mother; totes adorbs. A portion of the work appeared on the cover of The New Yorker in 2018, and the entirety of it measures 65» tall by 145» wide. Signed, titled, and dated 2017 on the reverse of the center panel, so make sure if you’re transporting it between house that that’s the bit you don’t lose, it will be auctioned as part of Sotheby’s Evening Sale in London this month on the 25th.

Dallmeier’s Swarovski studded surveillance camera performs both the tasks of monitoring your minions and also becomes a beautiful piece of décor by blending perfectly with your interiors. Glittering with 600 Swarovski crystals, this surveillance camera is sure to be the centerpiece of any room, if only because that’s where you’ve placed it to get a good view. But the camera is not just about looks, otherwise it would be diamonds, not crystals, duh, this crystal-studded camera promises high-level performance and is equipped with a 1 / 3 “DPS Image Sensor with Cam_inPIX technology.

Which mom wouldn’t appreciate a cutesy pair of mismatched pear-shaped diamond earrings? Starting at only 12,740,000KD for the Apollo 14.54carat fancy vivid blue diamond, and 4,630,000KD for the Artemis 16carat intense pink diamond they are referred to as the diamonds from the Gods, and not from the ravaged lands of colonized peoples. Both are amongst the purest of all diamonds while the Apollo belongs to the most elite group comprising less than one-half of one percent of all diamonds, pure, with the presence of boron, the element that gives the diamond its blue color.

Spend Mother’s Day in the pod that uses pleasant sound, gentle vibration, and soothing light to transport the body, mind, and spirit to a tranquil state of relaxation. Just over 9000KD gets you a handcrafted fiberglass pod with an ellipsoid exterior that blocks 90% of outside noise while its interior foci ameliorate music plays from the integrated 80watt, four-speaker sound system via an iPhone/iPod or smartphone. The pod’s elliptical opening reveals a 76” in diameter, ultra-suede-topped, memory foam cushion that covers an octagonal waterbed with two lofty ultra-suede pillows. The waterbed is temperature controlled from a panel.

If there’s something all mothers love it’s a little respite, and how better to rest than by stashing the kids than in a remote boarding school in Switzerland for much of the year at onlt 37,000KD? Le Rosey boasts beautiful campuses in two different locations in Switzerland. During the spring and summer, students get to live at the 14th-century Château du Rosey, and in winter they head about two hours east to the quaint town of Gsdaat. Students at Le Rosey are expected to be bilingual, and can learn a third language. The school has a 30 horse equestrian center, a private nautical center, and spa.

When your children have driven your heart cold, this is the personal sauna that provides deep penetrating, soothing heat while you lie in a comfortable supine position. The sauna is gently sloped to place your legs slightly above your black heart, a more relaxed position. Four infrared lamps generate heat that penetrates deep into tissue to relieve swelling and improve mobility. Encased in the sauna bed surface are 440 jade stones, used in China since the Neolithic Era to relax the nervous system, heated by an undermounted infrared mat and radiate heat to soothe and loosen muscles, improve circulation, and burn calories.

live like the 99%

TOUCH OF HOPE

Touch of Hope Animal Rescue and Sanctuary provides many animals with a lifeline and a new opportunity to experience joy. They also work closely with @WingsofLoveKuwait to send rescues to forever homes in the US and both charities are always looking for flight buddies to assist in shipping, with Touch of Hope taking care of all the details. If you are flying from Kuwait to Washington DC please get in touch on 60605065. Touch of Hope takes care of many rescued animals and that means providing food and shelter for over a hundred dogs and cats at any one time. If you are interested in donating, the shelter can always use bags of uncooked rice, towels, blankets, sheets, rugs, newspapers, cleaning products, cat and kitten food and dog and puppy food. Contact the charity for a comprehensive list of appropriate food brands or for more details on how you can help further. Check out Instagram @touch_of_hope_q8 to keep up to date on lost and found animals, shipping opportunities, or to donate to the Touch of Hope kw.myfatoorah.com account. Sources: sothebys.com, uncrate.com, goop.com, hamaccher.com 124

125

LET’S GO FOR A STROLL, MAMA! Discover a wide selection of strollers to suit your family’s needs at Pottery Barn Kids By bazaar staff

Preparing to welcome the newest member of your family is an eventful time. It is the start of a brand-new journey, after all! From planning every single detail in the baby’s nursery, finalizing your birth plan, and overdosing on internet articles on baby sleep, finding the perfect stroller is often an overlooked, but super important step! Lucky for us, the good folks at Pottery Barn Kids have a vast selection of strollers to suit your family’s needs.

126

We can all agree that the stroller is an allimportant parking spot for your baby. It’s where they will safely take those blissful new-born-phase long naps when you’re out and about, and it’s also the place where they will get to explore the world for the very first time when they are not in your arms. No one will be able to recommend the best stroller for your family as well as yourself, as that will depend on various things like your budget, the storage space you have at home, your personal lifestyle, and how you intend to use the stroller. The right stroller makes all the difference, as it can ease your life greatly, providing a safe zone for your little tot when you’re taking a walk in the park, heading to the beach, or having a massive marathon mall day. Do you plan on traveling with your family? Then perhaps that gorgeous, but massive stroller that you had your eye on might not be the perfect fit but a travel system with a car seat might work best! You may even opt for two

strollers, a lighter more compact one for travel, and a larger one to leisurely use around town. Rest assured, though, Pottery Barn Kids has all the options for mamas-to-be. If you were to ask a new mother, she would absolutely recommend that you can opt for safety, comfort and convenience with the Babyzen YOYO stroller. Babyzen Yoyo strollers were initially not easily found in Kuwait but Pottery Barn Kids have made it so easy as they’ve bundled up the Babyzen YOYO frame and color pack together in one purchase, versus other places which sell you each part separately. The YOYO is easily the most amazing stroller ever imagined, as its easy, instant folding mechanism is perfect for moms on the go, it fits compactly in overhead cabins on airplanes, looks modern, is truly affordable and is built to last. The YOYO is available in two systems, the newborn stage pack (0-6 months) which is rearfacing for those all-important bonding moments with mama, with the cutest and warmest cot,

and the six months plus pack. The YOYO is so lightweight, and the fabric of the packs is durable and so easy to clean, and you can switch around the color pack based on your style preference. Here’s my favorite part, you can even buy the car seat adaptors and fit a wide selection of car seats on the stroller, which means no more interrupted naps! Nuna Baby is another brand available at Pottery Barn Kids that is renowned in offering smart stroller solutions and very well-thought-out baby gear. If travel is on the horizon, then your little tot will be in for a grand adventure, while you spend hours dreading what to pack in your diaper bag. Rest assured though, that the Nuna PEPP Next Stroller will be your new best friend forever. It is ultra-compact, folds easily yet offers a sophisticated ride for you and your little one. It rivals the grandest of strollers but comes in a cute, buggy frame, and features a complete canopy system. Also great if you’re all about that on-the-go lifestyle is the Nuna TRIV Stroller, and you can only find that distinctive arrow print design on this model at Pottery Barn Kids! If you are growing your family, then a stroller that grows with you is the perfect solution. Consider the Nuna Demi Grow Convertible Stroller, with its all-season seat (suitable for 6 months and up), stylish storage solutions, and the allimportant ability to expand to a double seater! The original Nuna Demi Grow Stroller system, features 23 configurations to accommodate your new bundle of joy and siblings! You’ll get the smoothest ride on the roughest of terrains, a one touch braking system, an expandable canopy and a pull-out dream drape for additional sun coverage. The practicality of the Nuna Demi Grow Stroller doesn’t stop, as it can also accommodate most Nuna car seats too with the ring adapter.

[Continued...]

127

Also gaining so much popularity in the compact stroller category is the Mima Zigi Stroller, available in cool denim or luxurious champagne. It’s really hard NOT to fall in love with this beauty, as the Zigi by Mima brings in everything we love about the aesthetic and function of the Mima brand. The Mima brand was born in 2009 to deliver practical yet elegant products to satisfy the needs of the fashion and design conscious parents of today. The Zigi is sleek, modern, and cleverly engineered. It is sturdy but still lightweight, making it super easy to handle with one-handed, compact folding-perfect for families on the go! And last, but most certainly not least, is the Rolls Royce of all strollers, the ever-so-fashionable and highly coveted Mima Xari Stroller. The Xari is elegant, playing on the concept of the classic pushchair but envisioned for cosmopolitan, design-loving families. It promises a comfortable ride for both parent and baby, and the patented “carrycot inside” system transforms the carrycot into a seat and vice versa in a snappy 15 seconds. The smooth curves of the Xari are enough to make you want to invest in one, but practically, you still benefit from compact maneuvering too. Whether parent or forward facing, the Xari Pushchair will beautifully grow with your little one! And there you have it, a glimpse of the amazing selection of Stroller systems available at Pottery Barn Kids. Visit them today and try them out yourselves by opening and closing them, and trying out their various functions to make sure you are comfortable with your stroller purchase. Remember to check out the complementary accessories that will perfectly accompany your stroller of choice, from the chicest diaper bags, to the ideal car seat that snaps onto your stroller of choice. 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!

128

[...Continued]

129

bazaar music

MARCH MUSIC Always a little bit cooler than Dad’s because of the old side-eye and knowing what you’ve done before you’ve even thought about doing it, but loving you anyway, this month we celebrate mothers. Google MOM and quite high within your search results you will find MOM explained as the acronym for Minister of Music. So, in tribute to M.O.Ms for March and for Mother’s Day on the 21st, we’ve complied some of the greatest either mom inspired or loved by moms music out there.

MOM MOVES

ABBA

AMR DIAB

SPICE GIRLS

Title: Super Trouper Release Date: November 1980

Title: Nour El Ain Release Date: 1996

Title: Mama Release Date: March 1997

Kuwait loves ABBA, be it attending sold out singa-long concerts performed in full flares get-up by Ahmadi Music Group, or listening to original performers such as ABBA original sax player Ulf Andersson playing ABBA’s top songs in Al Shaheed Park in 2020. Whip out Super Trouper and spin it for your momma enjoying this studio album’s many hits including “Lay All Your Love on Me”, and “The Winner Takes it All”.

“The light of my life” or “the moon of my eye”, no matter what you interpret the title to be, this track has been a popular one for all moms for nearly a quarter of a century, and was the number one track in 1996, particularly in Egypt. The album of the same name is praised for its rhythmic upbeat songs and classic ballads, and belly dancers particularly leave good reviews on Amazon.

The fun tribute songs for “mums” was released by the ‘90s all girl super pop group in March 1997. On the song, the spirited British girl group recalled all the times their beleaguered mothers were there for them, even when they were rebellious. The track Includes the lyrics, “Back then I didn’t know why you were misunderstood, Mama. So now I see through your eyes all that you did was love.”

YAY MOMS

THE SHIRELLES

FOUNTAINS OF WAYNE Title: Stacey’s Mom Release Date: 2003

Title: Mom Release Date: 2016

The R&B and soul girl group released the song “Mama Said” in their 1961 album, The Shirelles Sing to Trumpets and Strings. Through the lyrics, they admit that when it comes to life’s tough moments, mama still knows best highlighted in the lyric, “Mama said there’ll be days like this, there’ll be days like this, my mama said.” Also known for, “Be My Baby” which you may have discovered while Dirty Dancing.

This song tells the story of a kid who has developed a huge crush on his friend’s super-hot mom. Adam Schlesinger, songwriter and bassist for Fountains of Wayne, reveals the track was actually inspired by a friend. “Well, one of my best friends told me that he thought my grandmother was really hot, that added a little bit to the song. That’s a true story. And my grandmother was pretty hot.”

Let’s hope that we can all feel this way about our mothers: “You might have a mom, she might be the bomb/ But ain’t nobody got a mom like mine/ Her love’s ’til the end, she’s my best friend/ Ain’t nobody got a mom like mine,” Meghan sings on the chorus and the song even features Kelli Trainor, the singer’s mother. Make sure you play this tribute to your Mother this Mother’s Day.

Title: Mama Said Release Date: 1961

MEGHAN TRAINOR

Source: albumoftheyear.org, rollingstone.com, songfacts.com 130

131

H&M LAUNCHES NEW SUSTAINABILITY CONCEPT WITH THE DEBUT COLLECTION SCIENCE STORY

An Ode To The Beauty of Science By bazaar staff

H&M’s Science Story collection, the debut capsule of H&M’s new initiative Innovation Stories, is a thoughtful ode to science and innovation’s brilliance and importance. The collection celebrates the inspiring thinkers, researchers and scientists who challenge the boundaries of sustainability. The Science Story collection is a tribute of sorts, honoring the collaboration between H&M and the great minds who trailblaze in textile development. As such, cutting-edge fabrics and processes are paramount throughout and feature on the collection’s versatile silhouettes, exaggerated proportions and bold, modern shapes. Likewise, supersized clothing labels, as well as being a statement design detail, provide transparency on each piece’s science-story. Menswear is also included, with contemporary joggers and crewnecks. H&M has long been dedicated to making positive change and to drive progress within sustainable fashion. The latest initiative, Innovation Stories, sees H&M push further for positive transformation with a directional concept that showcases innovation, sustainable fabrications and design. “For this collection, we wanted to bring the customers closer to the brilliant sustainability-story behind each of these designs. Every piece is crafted from awe-inspiring materials that scientists and innovators have spent years trialling. The Science Story collection celebrates the beauty of that journey,” says Ann-Sofie Johansson, Creative Advisor at H&M. “Our new concept continues H&M’s journey towards a sustainable and circular fashion system. Innovation Stories allows us to develop and grow, all while creating desirable and long-lasting pieces that we hope our customers will love and be proud of,” she explained. The first collection to launch under the collective is Science Story, which pays tribute to the brilliant minds behind fabrications of the future. With it, we introduce new materials such as EVO by Fulgar, a bio-based yarn derived from castor oil, and Desserto, which is a plantbased alternative to leather, produced from cactus plants. “Over the years, the H&M design team have built a fascinating relationship with scientists, following the amazing development and work that’s behind creating sustainably-sourced materials. There’s poetry to their experimentation, and we share a mutual drive to democratize sustainable fashion in our push for a positive future. We wanted to capture that dedication 132

edge sustainably-sourced materials to the world. One of the new materials used for Science Story is EVO by Fulgar, a bio-based yarn derived from castor oil. This renewable resource is primarily cultivated in sites that are unsuitable for other useful plants. Also introduced this season is Desserto, a plant-based vegan alternative to leather created from cactus plants. The cactusbased material is cruelty-free and cuts down on the usage of natural resources, like water. Returning this season are fabrications such as Agraloop Hemp Biofibre – a 2018 Global Change Award winner – which converts food crop waste, in this case, leftovers from oilseed hemp, into a new natural fiber. Eastman Naia Renew cellulosic fiber is also returning, produced in a closed-loop chemical system from 60% wood pulp and 40% recycled waste plastics. Additionally, Texloop, which is a type of recycled cotton called RCOT, processed using pre-consumer cotton waste to create new material while preserving the original fiber quality for further recycling, features throughout the collection. We asked Ann-Sofie Johansson and Ella Soccorsi to learn more about the collection and H&M’s Innovation Science Story.

in this collection with each piece crafted in the best of forward-thinking sustainably-sourced materials.” says Ella Soccorsi, Concept designer at H&M. “Innovation Stories is a platform that pushes our experimentation to the next level. The initiative encourages our work with scientists and developers and puts a spotlight on our progressive ideas. Science Story is a homage to the years of research and experiments behind these incredible materials”, she elaborated on the debut collection. KEY PIECES Extreme proportions, bold details and a crisp color-palette synthesize to create a striking collection. Key womenswear pieces include the wide-leg bright white jeans with removable double waistband, the lightly-cropped chalkwhite shirt with oversized breast-pocket and the cuffed tracksuit. There’s a new focus on revealing cuts and adjustable details, such as the strongshouldered yellow blazer with cut-out features on the waist, the high-waist ruched shirt body and the oversized shirt dress with curved exposed hem detailing on each side. Colors are light and clean; sky blue, pure white and mint green

add freshness, keeping the eye drawn to the collection’s shapes. In contrast, a pop of neon orange adds a degree of eccentricity. ACCESSORIES Energetic and bold accessories are the edgy antidote to the collection’s clean and classic clothing, with circular swirl motifs a nod to the circularity found in the majority of this collection’s sustainably-sourced materials. The chunky necklace with orange swirls and rhinestone detailing adds a bolt of optimism, as do the coordinating statement loop rhinestone earrings, both partly made from recycled plastic. Highheeled green strap sandals add a vivid pop of color and are crafted from Desserto, a cactusbased material a brand-new fabrication for H&M. As too, is the rhinestone-studded neon bracelet. Recycled plastic blue sunglasses have a doublelens frame partly made from resins of plant origin and a statement sustainability-label drawstring bag. SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS AND PROCESSES H&M’s Innovation Stories is the future of fashion. The initiative acts as the nucleus for H&M’s experimentation as it introduces the most cutting-

What material in this collection were you most excited about? Ann-Sofie Johansson: I think Desserto is particularly spectacular. It’s a sustainably-sourced material partly made of Nopal cactus that mimics leather. We used it on this collection’s accessories - the green heeled sandals are a standout in particular. Ella Soccorsi: One of our new fabrics, EVO by Fulgar, is a bio-based yarn made from castor oil seeds. It is an impressive fabric - it’s lightweight, absorbent and very durable, with a low environmental impact. Part of H&M’s sustainability vision is moving towards circular fashion, what does that mean at H&M? How are you doing that? Ann-Sofie Johansson: We’re working to make the entire life cycle of a piece sustainable. H&M offers more ways for customers to repair, rent, or recycle their pieces. We’re working on new re-sale and remanufacture models too. As is the case with this particular collection, H&M is pioneering unique, sustainable fabrications. We’re determined to make a positive change. The collection is visually bold and energetic, why did you choose to go in that direction? Ella Soccorsi: We wanted to focus on the bold shapes and forward-thinking fabrications, so colors are fresh and clean, and we kept print to a minimum. There’s an energy to the collection that we think mirrors our drive for positive change - I hope our customers feel that way too. [...Continued]

133

As consumers, should we be caring for clothes that are made from these new materials differently? Ann-Sofie Johansson: We’ve worked with our innovators so that each of these sustainablysourced fabrications work as their previous counterparts did. When cared for, these pieces will last. H&M created a Take Care concept a few years ago, too, to guide customers on caring for each garment. Is there a material that you wish science could invent? What would it be? Ella Soccorsi: I think it’s awe-inspiring what scientists and innovators are creating at the moment. Even now, to have fabrications that are made from cactus leaves or fibers that leave no carbon footprint, I think that’s hugely inspiring. Any material that can help enact circularity within fashion would be a positive thing. Other than the designs being designed and produced, how else is H&M committing to this sustainability journey? Ann-Sofie Johansson: This collection is truly at the forefront. From fabrications to production, our journey is ever-expanding and evolving. Our Innovation concept is our most recent and explicit

134

[...Continued]

commitment to sustainability; it’s a platform for H&M’s most groundbreaking sustainability ideas, concepts, and fabrications to be realized. Which item in the collection is your favorite and why? Ann-Sofie Johansson: I think it would have to be the shirt body - it fits perfectly into any wardrobe and is such a versatile piece! Ella Soccorsi: My personal favorite are the high-waisted wide-leg jeans. They have a unique adjustable waistband which allows for a multitude of styling options. As a concept designer, do the new fabrics change the design process for you? Ella Soccorsi: Sometimes! Often when we’re working with a fabric that we haven’t before, we might be getting used to how it acts or reacts, how it molds to the body or how it moves. We might have a particular design idea for a new fabrication, but that might not work in reality! It’s part of the fun and reminds us that we are trailblazers in this field. The Science Story collection for spring/summer 2021 will be available exclusively online at kw.hm.com from March 18.

135

#XCITEDFORHEALTHYLIVING Find the right tools and gadgets that will help you become the best version of you By bazaar staff

Few people can argue that they don’t want to become healthier. No matter where you are on your life journey, becoming fitter, eating cleaner or sleeping better are all goals we can work towards. Luckily for us there are now lots of tools, gadgets and appliances that can help you. You can find all of these at X-cite or order online and be one step closer to a happier, healthier and more balanced you.

TAKING CARE OF YOUR BODY

Philips Sonicare AirFloss Ultra Pro

Blueair Air Purifier Blue Pure 221

Medisana Handheld Massager

If you have always struggled with flossing, then the AirFloss by Phillips is a must-have. Helps improve gum health, removes up to 99.9% of plaque from treated areas and helps prevent cavities from forming in the spaces between your teeth.

Most of us worry about pollution outside, but actually indoors air can be just as bad for you. An air purifier will get rid of pollen, dust and other particles quickly and quietly while also looking fab in any of your rooms

A massage can help relax your muscles and instantly improve your mood. And since getting one at a spa is often expensive and not always possible (thank you COVID), having your own at home is a no-brainer. The Medisana Handheld massager offers you variable speed control, soothing vibrations, optional heat treatment and two sets of attachments.

136

HEALTHY EATING

NutriBullet Blender 12 Pieces Set

Philips Premium Airfryer

Instant Pot Duo plus Cooker

A breakfast smoothie is an easy and fast way to get a ton of nutrients in the morning without a lot of fuss. The NutriBullet is your new BFF, just throw in your favorite fruits, veggies, nuts and natural sweetener and you have a clean energy cocktail before you head out the door. And cleaning it is a breeze so you have no excuses

If like us you love all the fried foods, then making the switch to the Phillips Premium Airfryer will definitely pay off. You still get delicious and crunchy foods with none of the added fat. It is a win-win, all the delicious indulging, none of the guilt

If time and energy are the things holding you back from more cooking at home, then invest in the Instant Pot Duo plus Cooker. It is a 9-in-1 machine that includes a pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, steamer, sauté pan, egg cooker, yogurt maker, warmer and sterilizer – all while cooking up to 70% faster. And the free app has some great recipes to inspire you

MOVE YOUR BODY

Nintendo Switch Ring Fit Adventure

Apple Watch Series 6

Wansa 3-in-1 Home Gym Equipment

We want to get our hearts pumping and blood flowing, but we also want to have fun doing it. The Nintendo Switch Ring Fit Adventure gamifies fitness. Explore a huge fantasy world and defeat enemies using real-life exercise. Your movements are monitored using the new Ring-Con and Leg Strap accessories. It is great fun whatever your fitness level or age

The Apple Watch is a genius little gadget that helps you stay on track with your fitness goals. It will remind you to stand up, breath and take a brisk walk when you need to. It can also track your sleep, heart rate, blood oxygen level and so much more. All of that while also being a powerful productivity tool

For more serious gym goers a home gym is just a natural progression to your routine. Having access to your own equipment means more flexibility and freedom and a serious commitment to your training program. The Wansa 3-in-1 Home Gym is designed to be versatile, durable and dependable. It comes with an optional 45 kg selectable weight stack and includes cemented plates for serious lifting

For a comprehensive list of X-cite’s 42 store locations and to shop online for the latest deals visit www.xcite.com. Download the X-cite app for Android on Google Play or iPhone on the App Store. Follow X-cite social media accounts on Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat, @xcitealghanim and Facebook XcitebyAlghanim. Call 180 3535 for further Inquiries. 137

bazaar movie night FABULOUS FILMS WE'RE WATCHING IN MARCH

STEEL MAGNOLIAS

MAMMA MIA!

BAD MOMS

PSYCHO

TERMS OF ENDEARMENT

POSTCARDS FROM THE EDGE

Release year: 1989 Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance Starring: Shirley MacLaine, Sally Field Julia Roberts Synopsis: A young beautician, Daryl Hannah, newly arrived in a small Louisiana town, finds work at the local salon run by Dolly Parton, where a small group of women share a close bond of friendship, and welcome her into the fold. This comedy drama is based on the writer’s own experiences of his sister’s death, and will evoke a few tears as well as laughs. A stellar cast, filled with stars of stage and screen.

Release year: 1960 Genre: Horror, Mystery, Thriller Starring: Anthony Perkins, Janet Leigh Synopsis: A Phoenix secretary embezzles $40,000 from her employer’s client, goes on the run, and checks into the remote Bates Motel run by a young man under the domination of his mother. One of the most iconic films of all time, not only for the shower scene but for the relationship Norman has with his mother, and his love of taxidermy.

Release year: 2008 Genre: Musical, Comedy, Romance Starring: Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, Amanda Seyfried Synopsis: Told using hit songs by the popular 1970s group ABBA. Donna (Meryl Streep), an independent hotelier in the Greek islands, is preparing for her daughter’s wedding with the help of two old friends. Meanwhile Sophie, the spirited bride, has a plan. She secretly invites three men from her mother’s past in hope of meeting her real father and having him escort her down the aisle on her big day.

Release year: 1983 Genre: Comedy, Drama Starring: Shirley MacLaine, Debra Winger Synopsis: Widow Aurora and her daughter Emma have a strong bond, but Emma marries teacher Flap Horton (Jeff Daniels) against her mother’s wishes. When the marriage grows sour due to Flap’s cheating, Emma eventually splits from him, returning to her mother, who is involved with a former astronaut (Jack Nicholson). Soon, Emma learns that she has terminal cancer.

Release Year: 2016 Genre: Comedy Starring: Mila Kunis, Kathryn Hahn, Kristen Bell Synopsis: When three overworked and underappreciated moms are pushed beyond their limits, they ditch their conventional responsibilities for a jolt of long overdue freedom, fun and comedic self-indulgence. As the gals go wild with their newfound freedom, they set themselves up for the ultimate showdown with PTA queen bee Gwendolyn and her clique of seemingly perfect moms.

Release year: 1990 Genre: Comedy, Drama Starring: Meryl Streep, Shirley MacLaine, Dennis Quaid Synopsis: Hollywood actress Suzanne Vale is on a slippery slope as a recovering addict. On exit from rehab, it is recommended she stay with her mother, who has become a somewhat champion drinker herself. Suzanne therefore struggles to maintain her sobriety and her sanity in the company of Doris. Brilliantly observed and written by Carrie Fisher.

Settle in on the sofa with your favorite cinema snacks from Cinescape using talabat or deliveroo, and don’t forget to watch the OSCARS on February 25th at 4am! Sourced from osn.com, netflix.com, guardian.com 138

139

IT’S ALWAYS MADE FROM SCRATCH AT THE CHEESECAKE FACTORY Committing to the idea of making everything delicious is serious work! By bazaar staff

The Cheesecake Factory is a beloved dining institution with good reason. They serve over 100 million people a year around the world while preparing 250 dishes from scratch! With impressive, massive portions, the friendliest service in an iconic inviting atmosphere, they credit their success to a commitment to serving delicious food. But it’s not that simple, as the biggest menu in the restaurant business doesn’t just come to life as soon as you’ve placed your order.

When it comes down to getting the flavors right every single time, making sure the food leaving their kitchens is at the perfect temperature and is immaculately presented, while catering to your kid’s craving for corn dogs and your partner’s peanut allergy, there is a science behind preparing every dish from scratch at The Cheesecake Factory. They run a streamlined kitchen operation that sets a fine example of how dedication, hard work and organization makes for a successful formula that is all about being committed to making delicious food.

140

A VISION FOR DELICIOUSNESS There is a vision and set of standards set by The Cheesecake Factory’s founder David Overton which is telling of his successful forty plus year journey. It all begins with the quality of the people that work in the restaurant. They are the real success behind the brand because they are the foundations behind the well-oiled machine that is The Cheesecake Factory kitchen.

And while it may be easier to take shortcuts in the kitchen, like buying pre chopped ingredients or outsourcing sauces and marinade recipes to other suppliers, they have decided against that. The Cheesecake Factory always wants the best for their customers, and therefore they source the best ingredients and make everything in house. WE (TRIED) TO REVERSE ENGINEER OUR FAVORITE DISHES Luau Salad: One of bazaar’s favorite salads at The Cheesecake Factory is the Luau Salad. It’s got everything you would want in a salad, crunch, texture and umami. I asked Area Kitchen Operations Manager Chef Bill Zito for the recipe (okay, I asked Chef Bill for all the recipes), and he laughingly told me that I’m better off ordering it at the restaurant or getting it delivered. The ‘simple’ salad alone is made up of 10-12 different recipes put together, several dressings, three different types of lettuce, pineapple salsa, cucumber salad, then there’s making the wanton shells from scratch, roasting the bell peppers, and honestly, I had to stop taking notes. I was amazed by how every component of this not-so-simple salad comes together from scratch, and no, I will never attempt recreating this favorite at home. Avocado Egg Rolls: Consider the humble Avocado Egg Roll. This has been one of The Cheesecake Factory’s most popular appetizers for an astounding twenty years because of its inimitable flavor, and the restaurant’s commitment to making it from scratch, i.e., the right way, every single time. The best Hass avocados are sourced from either California or Mexico, the dish takes about four hours of prep and the sauce involves a complex recipe that includes ingredients like tamarind, ginger, cashews, garlic—They essentially create a flavor palette that you know so well and love so much and make it look easy while they’re at it. Fried Macaroni and Cheese Balls: There are no short-cuts at The

[Continued...]

141

Cheesecake Factory, except for maybe one when you consider that this dish uses dried pasta. Everything else though, is a monumental task when it comes to making it from scratch. This favorite appetizer comes together across a whopping 2-day process, it’s “Insanity at its best!” says Chef Bill, “everything is made from scratch aside from the pasta.” Carefully measured portions of five different cheeses (hello!) are shredded, the pasta is cooked, and next it’s on to the marinara sauce prep which marries the fried mac and cheese pasta balls together. Before all of that though, the mac and cheese base is baked and cooled overnight, then taken out the next day to be scooped into balls, battered, and fried before they are plated for service. BUT THEY MAKE IT ALL LOOK SO EASY! Making all 250 dishes from scratch is an extremely differentiated process. The Cheesecake Factory’s team has to work with 1000 prep recipes, prep meats, caramelize vegetables, make marinades, dressings and mixtures, every single day. They also work with over 24 vendors to source the best ingredients, receiving produce every day to make sure that the planned-out kitchen operation goes on without a hitch. By 9:30 am, the kitchen is already buzzing. Everyone is super focused. Pestos and salsas are being prepared along with a jaw-dropping amount of other prep processes, and there is an impeccably labelled fridge system that will floor even the most obsessive planners. Every ingredient is organized using a tamper proof system so that the team knows if they need to make more. Talk about batch prep #ftw. 142

[...Continued]

IT’S ALL ABOUT THAT MISE, MAN The late Anthony Bourdain once wrote, “The universe is in order when your station is set up the way you like it: you know where to find everything with your eyes closed, everything you need during the course of the shift is at the ready at arm’s reach, your defenses are deployed.” The Cheesecake Factory are masters of Mise En Place, which translates to putting everything in its place. In cooking, the phrase means that everything is instantly accessible, prepped and ready for immediate use. Everything is within arm’s reach for the person working. Every inch of space is designed ergonomically for efficient and ambidextrous use. PUTTING ALL THAT PREP TO ACTION A kitchen operation of this scale requires an infrastructure that enables productivity, hard work, and encourages focus. At The Cheesecake Factory, we’ve discovered that making things from scratch comes down to calculated processes and science, and technology is also employed to guarantee consistency and the same processes are repeated without mistakes. There is a touch screen at every station that shows all of the recipes, including ingredients, videos, measurements and techniques. There is even a photo of the plated dish, so that it arrives at your table exactly the way it should. The Cheesecake Factory is located on the Waterfront on Gulf Road next to the Kuwait Towers, Grand Avenue – The Avenues, Sidra Restaurants in Mahboula. For more information, follow @TheCheesecakeFactoryME on Instagram.

‫ﻋﺻﻳﺭ ﺗُﻔّﺎﺡ‬

‫ﻋﺻﻳﺭ َﻛ َﺭﺯ‬

‫ﻋﺻﻳﺭ ُﺭ ّﻣﺎﻥ‬

‫ﻋﺻﻳﺭ ﻓﻭﺍﻛﻪ ﺃﻭﺭﻭﺑﻳّﺔ ﻣﻥ ﺯﺭﺍﻋﺔ ﻋﺿﻭﻳﺔ‬

‫ﺇﺳﺗﻣﺗﻌﻭﺍ ﺑﻌﺻﻳﺭ ﻓﻭﺍﻛﻪ ﻣﻥ ﺯﺭﺍﻋﺔ ﻋﺿﻭﻳﺔ‬

‫ﺷﻬﻳّﺔ‬ ‫ﻋﺻﺎﺋﺭ ﻓﻭﺍﻛﻪ ُﻣﻣﺗﺎﺯﺓ ﻭ َ‬

‫‪www.euorganicjuices.eu‬‬

‫"ﺍﻟﻠﺟﻧﺔ ﺍﻷﻭﺭﻭﺑﻳﺔ ﻭﺍﻟﻭﻛﺎﻟﺔ ﺍﻟﺗﻧﻔﻳﺫﻳﺔ ﻟﺣﻣﺎﻳﺔ ﺍﻟﺻﺣﺔ ﺍﻟﻌﺎﻣﺔ ﻭﺍﻟ ُﻣﺳﺗﻬﻠﻛﻳﻥ‬ ‫ﻭﺍﻟﻣﻧﺗﺟﺎﺕ ﺍﻟﺯﺭﺍﻋﻳﺔ ﻭﺍﻟﻐﺫﺍﺋﻳﺔ" ﻫﻲ ﻏﻳﺭ َﻣﺳﺅﻭﻟﺔ ﻋﻥ ﺃﻱ ﺇﺳﺗﺧﺩﺍﻡ ﺃﻭ‬ ‫ﺇﺳﺗﻬﻼﻙ ﻳُﻣﻛﻥ ﺃﻥ ﻳﺗ ّﻡ ﻛﻧﺗﻳﺟﺔ ﺃﻭ ﺗﺑﻌﺎ ً ﻟﻠﻣﻌﻠﻭﻣﺎﺕ ﺍﻟ ُﻣﺣﺗﻭﻳﺔ ﻓﻲ ﺍﻟﺩﻋﺎﻳﺔ‪.‬‬

‫ﻫﻳﺋﺎﺕ ﺍﻹﺗﺣﺎﺩ ﺍﻷﻭﺭﻭﺑﻲ ﺗﺩﻋﻡ‬ ‫ﺣﻣﻼﺕ ﺍﻟﺗﺭﻭﻳﺞ ﺍﻟﺩﻋﺎﺋﻳﺔ ﺍﻟﺗﻲ‬ ‫ﺗﻬﺩﻑ ﺇﻟﻰ ﺗ َﺭﺷﻳﺩ ﺍﻟ ُﻣﺳﺗﻬﻠﻛﻳﻥ ﺇﻟﻰ‬ ‫ﺻﺣّﺔ‪.‬‬ ‫َﻧ َﻣﻁ َﻣﻌﻳﺷ ٍﺔ ﺃﻛﺛَﺭ ِ‬ ‫‪143‬‬

‫ﻣﻭﻟﺔ ﺑﺩﻋﻡ‬ ‫ﺣﻣﻠﺔ ﺗﺭﻭﻳﺞ ﺩﻋﺎﺋﻳﺔ ُﻣ ّ‬ ‫ُﻣﻘﺩّﻡ ﻣﻥ ﺍﻹﺗﺣﺎﺩ ﺍﻷﻭﺭﻭﺑﻲ‪.‬‬

CLEAN INDULGENCE WITH BLAZE PIZZA New crave-able salads, pizzas and sides to indulge in, sans the guilt! By bazaar staff

“Treating yourself” and “taking care of your body” don’t have to be mutually exclusive. Nothing exemplifies this better than a pizza slice from Blaze Pizza. Fresh, high quality ingredients on a delicious thin crust makes for a great meal that is light and tasty. It is a treat that is also good for you. Who said that clean eating has to be boring? The key to achieving the perfectly beneficial but indulgent experience can be found at your closest Blaze Pizza! Healthy indulgence always begins with Blaze Pizza’s renowned artisanal quality and dedication to the best ingredients, while bringing fresh, tasty options that will cater to everyone’s dietary requirements. Blaze Pizza is committed to offering a variety of quality, clean ingredients and crave-able nourishing options to suit different

144

lifestyles, from freshly made salads like the Quinoa and Butternut Squash Salad to alternative crusts that are lower in carbs like the Cauliflower crust pizza. The trusty salad is the king of clean eating and with good reason too. Good news, because Blaze Pizza has just introduced two new delicious and nutrient rich salads. The smart people at Blaze Pizza are ticking all these boxes with the new Quinoa and Butternut Squash Salad and the

Chicken Caesar Salad. The fresh crunchy greens and deep flavors work great as a side to any pizza or even as a standalone meal. The secret to the delicious and fresh-tasting Quinoa and Butternut Squash Salad is using the pizza oven to roast the butternut squash to deliver the best texture. The squash is then added to quinoa, feta cheese, red peppers and mixed greens, and to bring it together the beautiful ingredients are all tossed in a zesty, lemon vinaigrette dressing. It is full of all the nutrients your body needs to tackle the day while still leaving you feeling energized! Salads aren’t necessarily new offerings at Blaze Pizza, as they already had two delicious options; the Classic Greek Salad which includes fresh Lettuce, tomatoes, olives, red onion and feta cheese, tossed in lemon vinaigrette dressing and the Classic Caesar salad full of Romaine lettuce, Parmesan, croutons and served with a fresh Caesar dressing. The latter has had an upgrade in the form of the new Chicken Caesar Salad, with added grilled chicken for more protein to fill you up for a longer period of time. Clean eating isn’t about denial, it is about making smart, balanced choices and now you have even more of them at Blaze Pizza. Remember that one day a week when you had pizza for your cheat meal? Well, scratch that, because now, everyday can be pizza day at Blaze Pizza, whether you opt for their classic crust, or you're looking for something lighter. The Cauliflower Crust is a great alternative if you are looking for a lighter option. Vegetarian and health-conscious Blaze fans are loving this lowcarb and gluten free pizza option, as it even contains extra protein. It’s so liberating to be able to indulge healthily knowing that the Cauliflower Crust pizza is made fresh, in house, every single day and is Blazed to perfection in a real fire oven for that familiar pizza flavor we love so much. We ordered ours completely guilt free, and didn’t tell our friends that it was not a regular pizza crust, and they didn’t even notice a difference! Blaze Pizza understands that dietary needs are varied, this is why they developed a delicious gluten-free crust option. Foodies who are avoiding gluten can still enjoy all the goodness of a Blaze pizza. Whatever you choice of pizza crust, you can rest assured that any visit to Blaze Pizza is guaranteed to hit that pizza craving. You won't want to miss out on this bonus though: their Cheesy Bread! It is pure comfort food! Prepared using Blaze Pizza's signature dough that is made from scratch, it is then covered in whole-milk mozzarella before being finished off with oregano and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil. The cheese pull on this gooey delight alone is worth it! Served with classic red sauce for dipping, the Cheesy Bread is for pure indulgence which is absolutely all about self-care in our books. For contact-free ordering and payment visit order.BlazePizza.me. For car service visit the Ahmadi Park, Jabriya, Murouj or Arabian Gulf Road Blaze Pizza locations. You can also enjoy dining at Blaze Pizza at Grand Plaza – The Avenues. Follow @BlazePizzaMiddleEast on Facebook and Instagram @Blazepizzame for the latest updates.Photography by Muneera AlKhulaifi, @i9ora on Instagram.

145

bazaar around town GULF BANK CELEBRATES DIAMOND JUBILEE WITH FORWARD TOGETHER CAMPAIGN A story that started 60 years ago. The same story they continue to write, with you. A story that’s written with the purpose of paving the way. A story dedicated to the dreamers and doers. To the forward thinkers. To you. It’s Gulf Bank’s diamond jubilee. Experience has paved the way and we know where they’re headed and they are inviting us to go along with them. From assistance, to amazing services and rewards, we know that going through life with Gulf Bank makes life much easier. Gone are the days of “a bank that does this” and “a bank that does that”. It doesn’t matter where you are in your journey. Theirs started 60 years ago and they will always be here to walk with you. They have the expertise you need to keep moving forward. Here’s to the next 60 years together with Gulf Bank. For more information on this service, please visit e-gulfbank.com/forward-together-en or follow them on Instagram and Twitter @Gulf_Bank or Facebook and LinkedIn @GulfBank.

MASERATI GRECALE SUV PROTOTYPE PHOTOS DEBUT ON SOCIAL MEDIA A prototype of the new Grecale SUV has been photographed outside the historic Maserati plant on Viale Ciro Menotti in Modena. The employees were the first to diffuse these images on the social networks. Innovative by nature, Maserati decided to share the photos of the new model exclusively with the Maserati Family. The prototype cars are currently undergoing a period of intensive road, circuit and off-road tests, in various conditions of use, to acquire vital data for the preparation of the new SUV’s final setup. The Grecale will be built at Cassino (Italy), where an investment of about 800 million Euros is planned. The Maserati Grecale will receive its World Premiere before the end of 2021. For more information, visit the Maserati Showroom at Al Zayani, Al Rai Industrial Area, 4th Ring Road, call 1808 010 or visit kuwait.maserati.com. For the latest updates, please follow Maserati on Instagram @maseratikuwait.

ALSHAYA BRANDS SHINE AT 2021 SERVICE HERO AWARDS Two leading international brands operated in MENA by Alshaya Group have once again topped the pyramid of customer service in MENA by winning 2021 Service Hero Awards, the region’s only consumer-powered customer satisfaction index. At a virtual awards ceremony, The Cheesecake Factory won the overall award for best customer satisfaction in Kuwait. In addition, the brand was recognized as the best service provider in the Casual Dining category in both the UAE and Kuwait. The Kuwait winner in the Clothes category was American Eagle. Both brands are past multiple award winners and this year’s wins reflect their ongoing commitment to deliver excellent service and always offer a positive customer experience. Jeff Kellen, Vice President - Casual Dining, Hospitality Division at Alshaya said: “We know that customers expect fantastic service when they come to dine at The Cheesecake Factory so delivering a great customer experience every time is our number one priority. This is the second time that The Cheesecake Factory has won at the Service Hero awards and it is a real testament to the team’s dedication – we are delighted to see their commitment and consistency of delivering their service promise recognized.” Steve Parkinson, Vice President, Apparel Division at Alshaya said: “This is a great result for the American Eagle team. The brand is known for its youthful, stylish, and great value ranges but in a competitive marketplace great customer service really makes the difference. It is great to see the team recognized for their consistent hard work and win a valued Service Hero awards for the seventh time in the last 11 years.” Faten Abu-Ghazaleh, Service Hero President said: “These awards celebrate top performing companies that have succeeded in understanding their consumer’s needs, and more importantly, were able to reflect that understanding by delivering a customer-focused, unique and differentiated service. It is great to congratulate The Cheesecake Factory and American Eagle Outfitters once again for their achievements.” For more information on Alshaya brands visit alshaya.com or follow @alshayagroup on Instagram.

146

‫نقدم لكم جديدنا‬

‫دبل شوت دولشي دي ليتشي‬ INTRODUCING THE NE W

DOUBLE SHOT DULCE DE LECHE

‫دبل شوت‬ ‫دولشي دي ليتشي‬ ‫ساخن‬ Hot Double Shot Dulce De Leche

‫دبل شوت‬ ‫دولشي دي ليتشي‬ ‫مثلج ومخفوق‬

Doubleshot® Iced Shaken Dulce De Leche

‫تواصلوا معنا عبر‬ Like us

facebook.com/StarbucksMiddleEast Follow us

@starbucksmiddleeast

1821212 :‫ اتصلـوا بنا علـى‬،‫ لمزيد من التفـاصيـل‬.‫متوفـر لـدى كافة مقـاهي ستــاربكـس‬ Available at all our Starbucks stores. For more details contact us on 1821212

147

bazaar scopes

your way from the 5th, which will enliven your love and sex life, and if unattached the possibility of a new relationship is very distinct, but don’t be put off if you get an initially chilly response on or around the 11th .

VIRGO AUG 23 – SEP 22 Your usually excellent communications skills will be far less than usual when in discussion with your partner. If you are making plans, realize that until after the 25th it will be difficult to finalize them because you may be talking at cross purposes, and simply need some breathing space before decisions are made. As the month ends, the situation will resolve itself and you’ll happily work together to achieve your objective.

LIBRA SEP 23 – OCT 22

PISCES FEB 19 – MAR 19

The planets suggest you should think more about travel – not only rewarding trips to countries you’ve not visited before but journeys of an intellectual kind which will put you in touch with new and fascinating interests. Student Pisceans also will get enormous benefit from this trend. Whatever creative gifts your Pisces Sun sign has endowed you with, get your act together and consolidate your efforts – be disciplined about the time you spend in these pursuits.

ARIES MAR 20 – APR 19 Because your mind is cluttered up with what amounts to a lot of unnecessary and even silly problems which have become disproportionate, you are not at your most assertive or determined. Maybe you are more tired than you realize. These complicated feelings will dog you until the 21st of March when the Sun enters your sign and focuses on a beautiful clear blue horizon. Rest assured, by then you’ll know exactly what to do!

TAURUS APR 20 – MAY 20 A lively investment which has elements of risks will pay off because you’ll have expressed your Taurean business sense and sound ideas on the venture. As Mercury is being distinctly unhelpful, you will experience delays or complications when making arrangements with friends and acquaintances – double check times of arrival, meeting places and so on, otherwise they – or you – will turn up an hour early or late, or even mistake the date!

GEMINI MAY 21 – JUN 21 Both physical and intellectual energies are very high, but you will be very prone to speak out of turn and upset people more than you realize. Being consciously aware of this will be an enormous help because then your quick-witted responses will be to the point and very incisive. Your social life will take a decided upturn after the 21st, when you’ll do something or go somewhere new and different.

While your love and sex life will be particularly dreamy and delicious, work won’t be. You’ll experience muddles and confusion due to other people’s carelessness or forgetfulness. But you’ll be ultra-diplomatic as usual, and will bear all this with a patient shrug. From the 21st , you’ll be able, even more than earlier, to concentrate on that delightful romantic scene.

SCORPIO OCT 23 – NOV 22 Go with the flow, and don’t put up any barriers to suggestions put to you whether they involve your personal or business interests. If in the mood to take a gamble at the races or any kind of risk, listen to your intuition as it’s particularly in tune at the moment. The result: fun and satisfaction! Towards the end of the month, you’ll be working under increasing pressure and will make more sound progress than you realize.

SAGITTARIUS NOV 23 - DEC 21 If you feel that your love life has been a bit too predictable or even dull for a while, you’ve only yourself to blame. However, at present, you really are in an excellent position to be considerably more adventurous in your attitude towards your partner who will delight in your inventiveness and experiments. Go for it – especially at the time of the Full Moon on the 9th!

CAPRICORN DEC 22 – JAN 19 You recognize a good investment when you see one. However, you’ll challenge yourself because on one hand, you’ll tell yourself that ‘investing’ in it’ (whatever it might be) will be a mere extravagance, but on the other, you’ll get such a strong gut reaction to it that it’ll be hard to resist. If that feeling is dominating, forget the other and splash out; because your painting, jewel or designer gown will give you terrific pleasure!

AQUARIUS JAN 20 – FEB 18 An interesting and potentially exciting month awaits, especially if you’ve just met someone new. You’ll run the gamut of emotions though, because you love your independence and that rather special lifestyle, therefore, if you deepen your blossoming relationship you know sacrifices will almost inevitably have to be made. According to your March 2021 Monthly horoscope, this problem probably lies further down the line, so for a few weeks just have fun.

CANCER JUN 22 – JUL 22 While you will hit a few trying days between the 11th and the 13th when worry will dominate, this glitch is definitely temporary, and will probably be caused by someone close to you being uncooperative; but come the 14th you’ll soon see just how unnecessary their attitude was – and so will they! Visitors from overseas will also feature, and mixing business with pleasure will be excellent for all concerned -and they’ll love your entertaining skills!

LEO JUL 23 – AUG 22 Finances may be shifting and you may need to gather your funds quickly so you Financial complications will be resolved after the 21st when you will move forward and put plans of this sort into action. There’s a superb influence from Venus coming 148

Source: wisehoroscope.org

Accounts

Terms and Conditions apply 2011101494 | 2011101493

TRANSFER YOUR SALARY TO ABK AND EXPERIENCE THE CHANGE Experience market-leading benefits with ABK: • Cash gift up to KD1,000 or • Interest-free loan up to KD10,000 • Monthly draw to win back your salary – 4 winners every month

Simpler Banking

149

Launches 11 March. Explore the collection online.