November 2022 | Issue #274 www.bazaar.town
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Great weather, great new restaurants and cafes, great events, a ton of exciting activities going on from now till the end of the year! All in all, no complaints. Well ok, maybe just one, but this is neither the time nor the place to talk about the traffic and the many solutions to dealing with it, from bike lanes, to a metro system with multiple lines crisscrossing the country, to encouraging people to use ridesharing apps. I personally would love to ride my bike to work, but I’d rather get stuck in traffic for an hour than to possibly get run over by some lunatic, simply because there is no clearly marked bicycle lane for me to stay in, and for him/her to stay out of.
As always it is the wonderful people of Kuwait who inspire us to keep going every month. This issue we’re introducing you to Dana Hamad of @danacancook, who has been showing us that not only can she cook, but she can also teach us all how to make food that tastes delicious and looks great! We went from food to fitness when we met Sarah Al Homood the powerhouse behind The Institute of Performance Arts studio, which is the latest movement studio in the country, and currently offers dance, martial arts, and yoga classes. We even caught up with talents behind The Cage on Netflix, and pinned down the always busy Marco Fiorot to talk to us about his Sicilian farm (PS, we’re still waiting for our invite, Marco).
This month has been a flurry of activity. We celebrated 20 years of the revolutionary Porsche Cayenne, the sports SUV that everyone loves in Kuwait. Another notable milestone this month, it’s been 60 years since the G60 Nissan Patrol recognized as the first motorized vehicle to cross Australia’s Simpson Desert, a huge accomplishment at the time.
We’ve also been out and about, and we have great news! We continue our special coverage of Grand Hyatt Kuwait’s incredible restaurants, and we’re here to tell you that they have thought of every little detail, and will take you on the culinary adventure of a lifetime with Saheel Lounge, MEI LI, ‘Stambul and Liberté. Our beloved Al Boom deck at The Radisson Blu has also re-opened its doors, promising diners a one-of-akind experience. If you’re craving a taste of home, then head to Amiti Noura’s Sabah Al Salem branch and dine outdoors! We’re also heading the Four Seasons Kuwait for the La via Dell’ olio e del tartufo, (or the way of oil and truffles for those of you who don’t speak Italian), a celebration of truffles and Italy’s golden oil.
It almost feels like everyone is making up for lost time these days. There’s something new and exciting happening every day. We spoke to Yalda Goldsharifi about her latest venture, Love by Sé. Yalda, her father and her business partner Mahnaz are treating us to some gorgeous bling. We also dive deeper into the world of Icoona as concept founder Eric Meulien tells us more about how Icoona will change how shoppers in Kuwait interact with artisanal designers from around the world.
As if that’s not enough excitement, we’re getting ready for the World Cup. Our friends at X-cite have given us some great ideas on how to make the most of the soccer season. After all, this only happens once every four years, and we’re determined to have as much fun as possible, whether we’re watching the matches or waiting for the next one.
We have barely scratched the surface of everything in this issue of bazaar. So just dive in and discover it all for yourself!
Happy reading Ahmed El-Adly
About the Cover: This month’s cover is the creative work of OTB and captures a completely unexpected moment frozen in time. One of the shemagh designed basketballs caught the eye of a gentleman who was walking past the OTB booth at Sneak Me, Riyadh, and he walked in and started to spin the ball on his finger. OTB’s lead photographer, Sid had his camera in hand and got the shot. OTB were the official and exclusive creative consultants of Sneak Me, the largest sneaker event in the Middle East. The booth was designed to show the people of Riyadh that one of the guiding principles of OTB is to preserve our existing culture through art, creativity, and sport, and this November cover is a perfect reflection of that.
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Ahmed El-Adly Editor
Alia Al Duaij
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Cover By Out The Box @Outtheboxww Communications Hala Y. Sharara
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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). No one likes to be dumped; recycle me, please. tel.2571 6122 info@bazaar-magazine.com www.bazaar.town | Zahra Complex, Salmiya. 8th floor, office 35
IntNovember 2022 Issue #274
SO FAR SO GRAND
INDEX NOVEMBER 2022
LOVE BY SÈ
SARA AL HOMOOD WILL GET YOU MOVING
Sara, a half Mexican half Kuwaiti hybrid, knew from a very young age that she wanted to pursue a career in the arts and now she’s inviting all of us on that journey too. She has just opened The Institute of Performance Arts studio is the latest movement studio in the country, and currently offers dance, martial arts, and yoga classes, so get ready to learn some new moves.
DANA HAMAD CAN COOK, AND SO CAN YOU!
Dana Hamad has been showing us that cooking can be fun and easy since 2017 via her Instagram account @DanaCanCook. She was brave enough to sit down with us for a round of Truth or Dare. Find out how she got started and how she became a favorite on our feeds.
Yalda Golsharifi’s latest business venture Love By Sè is a celebration of women’s power and a reminder that is within. Sé which means three in Farsi represents the three partners, and is considered to be the number of harmony, wisdom and understanding. Learn more about her adventure in the world of jewelry.
THE CAGE ON NETFLIX
We’ve always known that our local drama needed to go global. And The Cage on Netflix proved us correct. The star-studded Kuwaiti dramedy featuring Khaled Ameen, Hussain AlMahdi & Rawan Mahdi debuted just last month to rave reviews and if you haven’t seen it already you really should.
LA FARM DI MARCO
We all know Marco Fiorot as the culinary genius behind Vigonovo, but his latest venture was a surprise. We discover that his true passion lied in the farm to table concept; using fresh, organic produce to serve people delicious tasting food. So, he bought a farm in Sicily. Find out why and what his future plans for the farm are.
LA VIA DELL’ OLIO E DEL TARTUFO
Four Seasons Hotel Kuwait at Burj Alshaya is treating us to two of Italy’s finest exports. Dai Forni is celebrating The Way of Oil and Truffles. During the month-long event, diners at the Hotel’s Italian restaurant can enjoy a specially crafted Truffle Menu, alongside special highlights including personalized table side truffle service and sample testing.
X-CITED FOR WORLD CUP 2022
Are you ready for the World Cup? We’re here to help you set up the perfect way to watch the event as it was meant to be! From large screen TVs to the perfect sound bar and even a popcorn machine for fresh snacks during half-time, our friends at X-cite helped us figure it all out.
ALL ABOARD AL BOOM
The beloved Al Boom deck at The Radisson Blu has re-opened its doors, promising diners a one-of-akind experience! From an exquisite menu to a fancy ambiance aboard the iconic Dhow boat, you are promised a one-of-a-kind pampering experience! Here’s everything you need to know.
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THE GRANDEST CULINARY EXPERIENCES P. 52
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SARA AL HOMOOD IS ELEVATING THE PERFORMANCE ARTS SCENE IN KUWAIT
By bazaar staff
Sara, a half Mexican half Kuwaiti hybrid, knew from a very young age that she wanted to pursue a career in the arts. Whether it was in the form of dancing, acting or singing, the stage really was her whole world. She shifted her focus more towards dance as she entered her early teens, with a focus on modern, jazz and classical ballet.
Her training was the inspiration behind the Institute of Performance Arts (IPA). Sara felt that she had been very lucky to have access to really good training, and she wanted to extend that opportunity to people in Kuwait when she moved back.
Sara is nothing if not passionate about dance and performing, and she really does want to spread her passion to all those in the country. She tells us a little about what drives her, “I’d say it is an innate desire to create. This is especially true when it comes to dance. My motivation has always stemmed
from a deep curiosity to learn and try new things. I appreciate hard work and I love seeing the growth that comes from consistency. I dance because it makes me happy. Performing, teaching, taking class and connecting with other artists. There really is no better feeling. Every time I dance or have an opportunity to perform, I feel like I’m able to step out and express myself in ways that I otherwise wouldn’t be able to.”
Sara feels that there is a lot of growth potential with IPA, both inside and outside of Kuwait, “For now I would like it to evolve into a space where
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The Institute of Performance Arts studio is the latest movement studio in the country, and currently offers dance, martial arts, and yoga classes
up close & personal
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SHOP RIVER ISLA N D MEN'S WEAR AT DEBENHAMS, T H E A VENUES & O N LI N E AT T A M ANN A . CO M
SCAN THE CODE FOR MORE INFO
people can come together to train and grow as movement artists. I’d love to later integrate performance and competition opportunities for the students, as well as continue their training by having more guest instructors come in to teach and share their knowledge,” she shares.
What we love about IPA is that they will be offering more than just dance classes, and since they are just a stone’s throw from our office, we know where we will be spending our lunch breaks! On the subject of offering a variety of classes, Sara shares “I think the most unique aspect of IPA is its holistic approach to movement arts. We’re not just a dance school. IPA offers training in a variety of movement arts. From martial arts, to yoga and pilates. I genuinely believe that being versatile in your training gives artists and athletes the greatest edge.”
We cannot wait to try out some classes and report back! We already love the studio design. Sara shares that she believes that when it comes to creativity it’s always best to start with a blank canvas and add on from there. As a result, the IPA studio space is quite minimalist, but they incorporated large windows to let in a lot of natural light and frame the stunning sea views.
The studio is an impressive space, and Sara tells us that she has received an overwhelming amount of support. So many people, friends, family and even strangers were so helpful and encouraging, and she cannot wait to unveil the long term plans for the studio. She wants to slowly introduce more classes, both for adults and children. They have already got a few guest instructors lined up to come in and give masterclasses this year already. Instructors that are incredibly well versed in their respective art forms. Sara also hopes to integrate performance opportunities at IPA for the dancers.
Sara is not just relying on instructors from abroad, she feels that Kuwait has a massive amount of talent, and she really wanted to hone in on that.
She informs us that the team on board at IPA are fantastic and that she is so excited to have them as part of the family.
It seems that IPA is all geared up to be a fabulous location to practice either some form of dance, or other classes such as yoga or martial arts amongst others! Sara’s energy and her passion for dance is inspiring, but when she’s not dancing or at IPA, she loves to be outside, or travel and just be around people but also enjoys her personal time by curling up on the couch, reading a good book and spending time with her pups.
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[Continued...]
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UP CLOSE & PERSONAL QUESTIONNAIRE
What do you most value about your friends? Their honesty.
Which living person do you most admire? My parents.
What is your idea of perfect happiness?
I don’t believe in perfection. So I guess more good times than bad ones.
What is your greatest extravagance? Definitely Travel.
What is your most treasured possession?
A heart locket I’ve been wearing for 8 years.
What is your greatest fear?
Losing or having bad things happen to the people I care about.
What is your most marked characteristic?
Determination
Which talent would you most like to have? Being good at learning languages.
What is one trait you have that you are most grateful for?
Curiosity
What is the human trait you most dislike about others?
Arrogance
What is it that you most dislike?
Dishonesty
Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
“That’s wild” and reciprocity
What are your favorite words to live by?
Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.
Where would you most like to live? Mexico
If you could have any job, what would it be?
I think I’m quite happy with what I do already. Otherwise something in the performance space.
What would you consider your greatest achievement?
Right now, I’d say IPA.
What do you hope for in the future?
To leave behind a positive impact on people and their lives even when I am no longer there.
We are so eager to learn more about the classes, masterclasses, and workshops that Sara will be hosting at IPA! The studio is located in Dalal City Hotel in Salmiya and is already offering classes for both adults and children. To stay up to date with the studio’s fabulous offerings, follow @ipa. kuwait on Instagram.
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[...Continued]
DINE UNDER THE
STARS @jumeirahmessilahbeach /JumeirahMessilahBeach @JumeirahMB 965 222 69 666 | jumeirah.com+ Join us for our renowned BBQ Nights, bring your family and friends along, and dine under the stars. Relish and explore our International buffet along with an incredible assortment of BBQ and grilled delicacies, served to you straight from different live grill stations while enjoying the fascinating views over the hotel's marvelous gardens. Every Thursday & Friday at Garden Cafe Terrace From 19:00 to 23:00
DANA CAN COOK, AND YOU CAN TOO!
Dana Hamad is inspiring us all to embrace our inner chefs
bazaar staff
She considers herself to be “... simply Dana Hamad, a Lebanese girl who loves life and food.” But we see her slightly differently, to us and her large online audience, she is @danacancook, social media superstar, foodie and our favorite source of online recipes and cooking tutorials.
“I used to watch a lot of cooking shows and spend time helping my mom in the kitchen since I was a little girl. What I still remember is me preparing sandwiches and easy dishes all the time for my family,” Dana tells us. If you started following Dana in 2017 when she created her account, you’ll know that she shared photos of her favorite dishes at restaurants and meals that she cooked at home. She then started sharing the recipes on her IG stories, and her friends and family were very encouraging. So she started filming more often and slowly transitioned from basic videos to more advanced and visually appealing videos.
Dana takes so much care to ensure that her videos are accessible and easy to follow. She has given a lot of thought to her setup, and has consistently improved the quality of the videography, lighting, and angles she chooses to capture her recipes. What really sets Dana’s content apart is the simplicity. Her voice-overs are clear, calm, and easy to follow. Anyone can follow her instructions. She walks us through each recipe in simple steps that are easily replicated by even the most novice of home cooks.Even the grandest version of traditional Maqloobeh looks easy to replicate! And this is truly her recipe for success, as Dana makes cooking more accessible and less scary.
This is a conscious decision on her part. We asked her what it has been like adapting to Instagram’s constant changes. “Content is key, no matter how many new features are introduced. I keep focusing on what I want to share with my followers and adapt to what changes the platform introduces,” she explained. Her content truly is king. There are no gimmicks, no trend-chasing, just high-quality content, delicious recipes and Dana’s calming voice guiding us through it all.
Many of her recipes are Middle Eastern, which makes sense because it is her favorite cuisine. And her favorite recipes to make are traditional Lebanese dishes like Lobiya B Zeit, Kishik, Warak Enab and Fatteh. We never thought we would attempt stuffing grape leaves until Dana showed us how simple and fun it could be.
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truth or dare
We asked her what dish still evades her, she said “Croissants! I would love to learn the proper way of making them”. We really hope she does because that means she will find a way to make it easy for us to try too. She is also interested in trying out sourdough breads and different bread baking techniques in general. Dana is always curious for more and has an insatiable appetite (pun not intended) for learning new things.
This all started as a fun personal project, but Dana’s following has grown. Last November she hit 100k followers and today there are more than a quarter of a million of people interested in her recipes. “Honestly speaking, hitting 10k followers was a big achievement for me, and it made me want to develop myself even more and share better recipes. I started investing more in the utensils and the pots I use. As you can see in my videos I am in love with STAUB pots. Then when I hit 100k, I realized that this is becoming serious and requires a lot of attention and dedication. I really enjoy and love what I do; however, I wouldn’t have reached to where I am now without the support of my family, friends, and most importantly my followers,” Dana tells us.
She has an ongoing collaboration with Ahmed Al Zamel, another of our favorite social media foodies. And it is always fun watching both of them interact and create fun dishes together. “Ahmed Al Zamel is a good friend and I can’t thank him enough for his support when I started and until now, he still is a great support. He shared valuable tips and tricks, especially since he has been in the field for a long time and his success is spectacular,” she tells us. We love the energy that is created when different creators come together and Dana tells us that she has more plans of collaborating with other people in the near future.
We asked her who she follows on Instagram and she told us that some of her favorites were Ahmad Al Zamel (@ahmadalzamel), Sawsan Da’ana (@sawsansmatbakhi), Fatmee (@fatmee_kitchen), and Tieghan Gerard (@halfbakedharvest).
She is still not done yet and dreams of opening her restaurant where she can share her delicious recipes with everyone. We are definitely rooting for her because we would love to everything. Until then, Dana tells us that if you are a total newbie, get started with stews, since those are the recipes that anyone can pull off.
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[Continued...]
TRUTH OR DARE QUESTIONNAIRE
How would your mother describe you in one word? Achiever. How would you describe your mother in one word? Life.
What is the most ridiculous question you’ve ever been asked? Don’t you ever gain weight? I get this question at least 3-5 times every day.
What is the most spontaneous thing you’ve ever done? I can’t think of anything.
What is your theme song? Any Lebanese old song.
What word in the English or Arabic language do you wish you had invented? Arabic phrase that I use in every video: ةبيط وش دقعتب
Where would you like to live? Any place where my kids can live happily in a safe environment.
What is your dream retirement location? Lebanon, if the situation is better.
What is the first famous quote that comes to your mind?
There are many famous quotes, however, there’s a quote that I love, “You can’t wait until life isn’t hard anymore before you decide to be happy.”
Which animal best describes your perfect partner, be it in business, or in life? An Eagle.
Do you miss anything from your childhood and if so, what is it? I miss when life was stress-free as a little girl.
If you could change your name, to what would you change it? I’d rather keep it as Dana.
How would you describe your handshake, in one word? Warm.
What is the toughest part of your character? Stubbornness.
Who is your favorite historical figure? Gibran Khalil Gibran.
What in the world do you least desire? War.
What do you think is lacking in the world, which [if there were more of it] would make the world a better place? Love and peace.
Why do you think most people who do, like you?
Maybe because I am straightforward with people.
Finish this sentence: “Happiness is… … good FOOD!”
Follow @danacancook to follow along her culinary adventure, but don’t blame us if you fall into the rabbit hole of deliciousness.
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THE TUTANKHAMUN GALLERY AT THE GRAND EGYPTIAN MUSEUM
ATELIER BRÜCKNER designs project of the century
By bazaar staff
The legendary tomb of the child-king Tutankhamun was discovered in the Valley of the Kings exactly 100 years ago on 4 November 1922. In the Grand Egyptian Museum, the complete burial hoard will be exhibited for the first time. The exhibition design comes from ATELIER BRÜCKNER. “Truly a project of the century!”, says CEO Shirin Brückner.
In December 2016, ATELIER BRÜCKNER was commissioned to design the Tutankhamun Gallery. It has 7,500 square meters of exhibition space, located on the second floor of a new building by heneghan peng architects. The world’s largest museum of Egyptian art and culture with a total area of more than 90,000 square meters is set to open soon, close to the pyramids of Giza.
One of the main challenges is the expected number of visitors, at more than 15,000 per day. For them, ATELIER BRÜCKNER conceived a narrative visitor routing that, in spaces of huge dimensions, enables even small objects to command the attention that their outstanding importance demands.
Two parallel wings, each 180 meters long and up to 16 meters high, comprise the Tutankhamun Gallery. On show are 5,400 artefacts – including 3,000 that have not been seen before. The greatest attraction is Tutankhamun’s mask, one of the most valuable art objects worldwide.
The fantastic journey in the footsteps of Tutankhamun can be experienced as a coherent, spatially impressive narrative. The visitors accompany the myth-enshrouded king throughout his life step-by-step until his afterlife.
Finally, they encounter Tutankhamun’s grave in the form of a real-size abstract model onto which images of the discovery are projected. The interplay of architecture and narration, of materials, light, graphics, and interactive media creates an emotional experience.
ATELIER BRÜCKNER characterizes the Grand Egyptian Museum. Their work spans the main access axis, the atrium with an over eleven-meterhigh statue of Ramses II and the expressive Grand Stairs – 180-metre-long backbone of the museum with large sculptures weighing several tons. The children’s museum with 3,500 square meters of exhibition space on the first floor of the museum, is also designed by the German studio. The firm has been designing exhibitions and architecture since 1997, and has been creating scenography that set standards in an international context. Designing scenographically means thinking in terms of space and content at the same time: creating experiential spaces that tell stories and convey history and knowledge.
Photos: Tutankhamun, Golden Mask. The Egyptian Museum, Cairo, Egypt. Photography: ©Kenneth Garrett. The mask will be the highlight and integrated part of the Tutankhamun Gallery, Grand Egyptian Museum, Giza.
Model of the Tutankhamun Gallery, Detail.
Photography: ©Claudia Luxbacher
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THE WIZARD OF OZ PANTO PERFORMED BY STAGED IN KUWAIT
We’re off to see the wizard, the wonderful wizard of Oz!
By bazaar staff
Brought to you by the community theatre team at Staged in Kuwait, Wizard of Oz – The Panto promises to start off the holidays on the right note, allowing for a huge amount of interactive fun and laughs for families of all ages!
Annual Pantomimes are a British tradition that date back to the late nineteenth century. The tradition was brought to Kuwait by British oil workers who first performed the genre at Kuwait Little Theatre in 1953. Since then, pantomimes have been showering the stages annually with talented actors, outrageous costumes, magnificent sets and fun for the whole family.
“Panto” for short, a pantomime is a magical form of entertainment that takes a fairy-story and incorporates drama, music, dance, physical comedy and audience participation. It is a piece of theatre that interactively engages the audience and promises a fun night of live theatre for ages four to ninety-four.
This year the traditional British panto is based on the L. Frank Baum story of The Wizard of Oz. When a tornado rips through Kansas, Dorothy and her dog, Toto, are whisked away in their house to the magical land of Oz. They follow the Yellow Brick Road toward the Emerald City to meet the Wizard. En-route they meet a Scarecrow that needs a brain, a Tin Man missing a heart, and a Cowardly Lion who wants courage but must defeat the Wicked Witch of the West to earn their stripes. Will they succeed? You’ll have to travel somewhere over the rainbow, and along the yellow brick road to find out!
Staged in Kuwait’s Artistic Director, Tim Waddell, who helms the local production team made up of passionate theatre volunteers, commented, “Following the success of Dick Whittington last year, we are excited to be off on another panto journey this December all the way to Oz. We have a fantastic team of local volunteers all working around the clock to make sure that this year’s show is as bold, vibrant and fun as ever and we can’t wait to share it with you!”
Staged in Kuwait has just celebrated its tenth anniversary and Wizard of Oz – The Panto will be the group’s tenth pantomime having only missed the annual event in 2020 due to the pandemic. This year there will be 8 performances from December 1st to 10th in the beautiful theatre at the Gulf British Academy, Salmiya.
Whatever age you are, you can jump on the yellow brick road and follow it to the magical world of Oz! Tickets are available now from the online box office at www.SiKtkts.com. You can also find them on social media for more information @stagedinkuwait.
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IN CONVERSATION WITH ERIC MEULIEN FROM ICOONA
We caught up with the main man behind bespoke luxury platform Icoona, and he spoke to us about the launch of this new e-commerce platform and the plans for the future!
By bazaar staff
We are already in love with Icoona, in particular the variety of labels that this platform carries and the product mix that is updated weekly online! There’s something special for the whole family. We wanted to learn a little more about the foundations which power Icoona, so we reached out to Eric Meulien, Director of Buying, Category, Design and Intelligence to learn more about his vision and ethos for the brand.
The charismatic Eric Meulien is the man who brought Icoona to life for Alyasra Fashion, and tells us all that the vision has always been to create a ‘brand incubator’. Icoona is a place for the people of Kuwait to discover new brands that have a story to tell.
This is not the first time that Eric has wanted to focus on unique brands; throughout his career he has loved finding beautifully crafted products from around the world. In particular, his focus has been on smaller brands and companies where artisans are perpetuating their craftsmanship, and Eric finds sharing that to be a very enriching experience.
Born and raised in Marseille, France, Eric started his career in the perfume industry in Miami, where he had an advertising company. During the 90s, Miami was a vibrant epicenter of fashion and Eric was able to discover the industry from the inside out. He soon after started making waves in the world of fashion in his role as buyer and product developer for fashion retailers. He tells us that he will always have a passion for customer service and retail due to his long rich experience in the industry.
A few years ago, Eric joined Alyasra Fashion, where his main role has been to build up e-commerce capabilities for the company. He tells us that Alyasra Fashion is great to work for since the group has such strong ethics and family values. He has been the driving force behind the launch of Icoona, and he wants the concept to be a platform for new brands, but at the same time, an outlet for brands to learn about the Kuwaiti customer and gain business intel. “We are trying to instill a real new ecosystem that benefits our suppliers as well as our customers, and all shoppers beyond that,” Eric shares. This excites us because this is a two way conversation that Icoona will be having with suppliers and customers, and enhancing the relationship between the two to cater to the Kuwaiti customer even better.
We asked Eric about about the main challenges faced when launching Icoona, he told us that: “launching a new retail platform online in a market saturated by very large retailers is a challenge in itself. Adding to it that many of our brands are
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by definition unknown to the local consumer is bringing the level of risks and difficulties to new heights. Yet, we learn a lot on our way – like on any journey, the path is often more enriching than the final destination. We improved our practices, we discovered new amazing business partners, and we surprised ourselves with some of the early successes.” It is clear that Icoona is here to make waves in the fashion industry and bring something new to Kuwait. This is very true for Icoona, simply because this ethos defines the brands chosen by Eric to bring to the Kuwaiti customer. Eric’s brands of choice stem from his meetings with the people behind the brands. He tries, where possible, to work directly with the brand to understand their vision and their values and to actually form long term partnershipsthis is also one of the primary goals of Alyasra Fashion.
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[Continued...]
Eric goes on to tell us that about fifty percent of the brands are exclusive to Icoona in Kuwait.
“Some of my favorite brands are from master artisans dedicated to producing fabulous creations that rival the quality of the prominent fashion houses. Nadege Seguy is one of those exceptional artisans, she is currently creating leather bags in her tiny workshop in France that will be exclusively available on Icoona this winter,” he shares.
In addition, he tells us about Capelle Miami, a small enterprise built by a handful of young entrepreneurs hailing from Miami. The label has had great success with their unique, multifunctional hybrid swim shorts which are available on Icoona. In addition to these young, contemporary, artisan labels, Eric tells us that Icoona also carries some labels which are much bigger and have already established notoriety in their domestic countries, for example, Le temps des Cerise - which produce beautiful jeans from the best denim fabric available, as well as Goen-J, Recto, Gu-de, all three Korean fashion rising stars, to name just a few.
To learn about new brands and to get inspired, Eric still travels to the Paris and Milan fashion weeks, usually with an open mind, a camera, and good walking shoes. However, he tells us that what he truly enjoys the most is to visit workshops where the garments are actually made, to better understand the construction, the techniques, the property of the materials and the legacy of the master of their art. While Italy and France are important, Spain, Portugal, Peru, Japan, and Korea are also great places to find inspiration.
It is Eric’s constant search for inspiration, unique labels, artisans and craftspeople that has culminated in Icoona. The brand truly offers something different and is set to bring an expanded assortment of unique products and brands. “Our goal is to let consumers influence its evolution and for us to bring new, fresh and exclusive offers to Kuwait and eventually to other regional markets,” Eric comments. The plan is for Icoona to ultimately grow into a full fledged department store with a physical presence.
We cannot wait to see what else Icoona brings to Kuwait! In closing, we asked Eric a few questions to get to know him a little more and
we learnt that his favorite style icon of all time is Audrey Hepburn and that his favorite fashion designer is Karl Lagerfeld. He tells us that this is the man who rebuilt Chanel while managing Fendi, and having the ability to run two different fashion houses of that magnitude at the same time is no small feat. In his free time Eric studies and writes about Japanese medieval history and
he enjoys reading, he also paints and dabbles in amateur photography.
Icoona offers next day delivery so you never have to be without the latest fashions for long! Discover Icoona online at www.icoona.com and follow the brand for its latest launches on Instagram @shop.icoona.
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REACHING NEW HEIGHTS
With Ascend Kuwait
By bazaar staff
I don’t remember how I found @ascend.kw on Instagram, but I do remember being instantly excited by the prospect of indoor climbing in Kuwait, and commented just as much on their social media posts. Ascend responded almost instantly, encouraging me to join them. Even though it was months later, as soon as I saw a gap in my schedule, I took my chance.
The first thing I notice, is that this “indoor climbing club” climbs outside. Built on the walls of what can only be described as a residential property, this space has been created by Ali, who first experienced climbing when he was studying in Dublin many years ago. It’s an eccentric and definitely “out the box” idea, an, “if you build it, they will come” moment. And wow, do they come.
Arriving early, sessions start at 7pm and finish at 10pm, I see a few young men ranging in ages getting warmed up, stretching out and eyeing the wall. This could be intimidating, but they are so jovial, and all smiling in such a genuine way that it puts one at ease. As a group, they are convivial and friendly. Ali takes me and my friend aside – I had roped in a young woman, new to Kuwait to experience this too –and gets us fitted for our pointy wall climbing shoes. These are nothing like the sock-like slipons from twenty-five years ago that I remember; these shoes have a hard tip, which should make it easier to hold on to grips in the wall with the feet. Ali shows us his more professional shoes and these are super hard with a claw bend at the end. One can’t help but wonder if the shoes are doing most of the work. But that thought gets banished as soon as you’re clinging for dear life onto a wall, desperately feeling around for your next move.
The various routes up, along and overhanging the wall are color coded for degrees of difficulty and there’s one particular white route which has only ever been conquered by five climbers in the club’s history. This route is not far off the ground and starts with a horizontal traverse, so I give it a try before anything else and to the whooping encouragement of the group. Laughter ensues as I can’t get even my first grip on the wall before falling off. But this is a crowd that laughs with you, so it feels like camaraderie and good oldfashioned innocent fun. Contemplating the gray wall speckled with challenges and threat, I realize these routes could be ten meters off the ground or ten centimeters, but the fear of the fall is just the same. It’s frustrating more than scary. It’s a game of chess, how you approach climbing. You can watch climbers studying the routes before they start, twisting and swinging their bodies once the ascent is underway, planned moves occasionally giving way to daring depending on how strong you feel. There’s a massively thick gym mat ready to catch loose fingered climbers,
and Ali and the gang regale me and my friend with piled-high bed-mattress stories from the early days of Ascend.
After about only half an hour my fingers are shaking and I’m bruised but that’s my ego more than anything. I know that climbing is in the legs, not the arms, but I just couldn’t get my weight over my hips to push myself up or across. Maybe climbing is in the head then, in actual fact.
As the evening goes on, even more climbers join the wall, including many women, some veiled, some not. Everyone feels comfortable here, I can’t think of a less intimidating environment. All types of adventurers are present when bazaar is “acending”; aged fifteen to fifty, from climbers giving a wall their first try, to veteran climbers
with more than twelve years of experience. Various body types are represented, and personalities too also range across the board, from quiet to serious and even pranksters exist here. But each participant truly engages in the Ascend experience…and they have done all through the Kuwait summer – which really tells you something. They are dedicated to the group, to the cause, to the climb, and it’s not hard to see or feel why. I cannot recommend this club enough; you’ve got to give Ascend Kuwait a try.
Climbing sessions are every Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday. Follow @ascend.kwt on Instagram and DM to book your spot on the outdoor wall.
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bazaar tries
RAFA NADAL ACADEMY KUWAIT ACHIEVES 2 STAR RECOGNITION FROM THE INTERNATIONAL TENNIS FEDERATION
Putting Kuwait on the global tennis map
By bazaar staff
Tamdeen Sports Company, a subsidiary of Tamdeen Group, announced that the Rafa Nadal Academy (RNA) Kuwait, a first-of-itskind world-class tennis academy in the Middle East, has received the 2-star certification from International Tennis Federation (ITF). The prestigious recognition elevates the Gulf nation’s standing to be amongst the top major tournament hosts in the international tennis calendar.
Mohammed Mostapha Al-Marzouq – GM of Tamdeen Sports, said, “The recognition by ITF is a proud moment for all of us. Tamdeen Group is committed to aid all development schemes with a mission to empower grassroots tennis and instill the vision to build a new generation of tennis champions in Kuwait.” He added, “The certification will undoubtedly have a positive impact on meeting the ambitions to further grow the list of international tournaments held in Kuwait.”
Rafa Nadal Academy Kuwait is a leading tennis academy that specializes in tennis, squash, padel, and fitness. It is also the second academy outside Spain bearing the name of the renowned global tennis star ’Rafa Nadal’. With exceptional integrated facilities in the Sheikh Jaber Al-Abdullah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah International Tennis Complex, Rafa Nadal Academy has an international team of coaches who provide tennis and fitness programs for all ages, as well as continuous recreational activities organized throughout the year.
The ground-breaking professional sports hub combines Rafael Nadal’s champion methodology with Tamdeen Group’s inventive and progressive approach, creating a new benchmark for competition experiences in the Middle East.
To obtain the ‘One-Star’ recognition, the court was tested for its quality of installation. The test results had to strictly meet the requirements contained in the ‘ITF Guide to Test Methods for Tennis Court Surfaces’.
As for obtaining the ‘Two-Star’ recognition, the average Court Pace Rating (CPR) of the court must be within five points of the ITF Classified value for the surface product, in addition to fulfilling the requirements for OneStar recognition.
Rafa Nadal Academy attained the ‘TwoStar’ recognition certificate after meeting the essential requirements in the ‘ITF Guide to Test Methods for Tennis Court Surfaces’. The International Tennis Federation gives recognition only to the courts that strictly meet and adhere to the criteria set by them.
For more information on Rafa Nadal Academy visit www.rafanadalacademy.com.
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YALDA GOLSHARIFI TALKS TO US ABOUT ALL THINGS SÉ
Sé Jewels was born to illuminate women by reminding them of the immense power that resides within them
By bazaar staff
Yalda, along with her business partner Mahnaz and her father, launched Sé Jewels in March 2021. Sé which means three in Farsi was chosen to highlight the three partners, the number 3 was considered as the perfect number since it is considered to be the number of harmony, wisdom and understanding.
Yalda tells us that “one day, my now partner Mahnaz and I were chatting and I casually saidhey, since my dad has been a jeweller for all his life and you’ve been in the jewelry business for 14 years, let’s start a collaboration! I’ve always wanted to be in the jewelry industry with my dad and I just had to trust the timing of things.”
Although Yalda and Mahnaz had known each other since high school and had a lot of mutual friends, it wasn’t until covid that they became inseparable, Yalda refers to Mahnaz as the sister she never had. Yalda tells us “our moms are actually best friends and so are our daughters! And now she is my business partner… and my dad is also the third partner here; it works perfectly because it feels like a small family business, full of love.”
From there, Sé Jewels was born. Yalda and Mahnaz sit and they put their heads together to create beautiful designs that Yalda’s father then helps bring to life! All of the gorgeous pieces are handmade with love in Kuwait, and all of the precious stones are sourced from different countries across the world such as Zambia for emeralds, Mozambique for rubies, and so on.
The bazaar team has been coveting many of the gorgeous pieces that Yalda, Mahnaz and Yalda’s father have brought to life. When we asked Yalda about how it was working with Mahnaz, she told us that “we’re both very calm and understanding so we give each other the space to do what we do best. For example, I handle our social media and she handles finance. My dad handles the making of our jewelry. And we all sit and brainstorm designs and ideas together.”
It seems that the team works together harmoniously, building upon each of their strengths. Yalda tells us that this has become her favorite venture of all time. Not only because she works with her dad and her best friend, but also knowing that they make pieces that women love and enjoy is the cherry on top. “Nothing feels better than knowing you’re making women feel beautiful in your jewelry,” she shares.
Yalda continues to tell us that “as precious as these stones, every woman has qualities they represent. Every single piece we design has a story and an intention. We want our customers to feel beautiful and powerful wearing our pieces.”
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This passion for jewels and jewelry design is not new for Yalda, about 12 years ago she wanted to start something with her father, but it wasn’t the right time, and of course, timing is always key.Her inspiration for jewelry came from seeing her mother blinged out all the time, that is where she knew that someday she would want to be designing her own line. And her absolute favorite piece from the Sé Jewels collection? She tells us “that’s a tough one! For now I would say our snake pendant, it was originally something I made for myself, but we decided to add it to our collection as we were getting requests for it. Snakes represent femininity, rebirth, fertility, power and transformation. And I love that.”
We absolutely cannot wait to see what the future holds for Sé Jewels! The brand has achieved so much already in the short time from its launch a little over a year and a half ago. The team behind Sé Jewels is looking forward to expanding and bringing new designs to their customers.
Sé Jewels are constantly adding new designs to their collections and sharing fabulous new ways to style their gorgeous jewelry. Stay current in the world of jewels and jewelry by following Sé Jewels on Instagram @LovebySe.
THE DESIGNERS’ MANIFESTO
Why they need one
By Charlotte Burgess-Auburn
Is it just me? Or do you feel like this moment, right now, is the most complex, fraught, pivotal, dangerous, and important moment that has ever been? Change is upon us. The future is (mercifully) unwritten, but increasingly unknown. Never mind the answers; we don’t even have the questions that will arise. It’s an awkward situation at best, and terrifying at worst. It feels like history is hurtling toward us like the dinosaur-killing asteroid, and we’re still trying to get to work on time.
To thrive in the tumultuous present and make some headway toward the future you’re looking for, you’ll have to get comfortable with managing a flood of choices, holding fast against the continuous threat of attention-drain, and doing daily battle with embedded and entrenched systems.
You need a manifesto, to recruit yourself into exercising your power as a creator and change maker. To filter the signal from the noise. To know—not just what you can do, but also what you should do, what you must do, and how to do it.
What makes the tuning fork of your soul tremble with recognition? What resonates? What rings true? Seize it. Save it. Test it. Work it. When you are right, celebrate your victory. When you are wrong, change your assumptions.
You can write it in tiny print on a laminated card and keep it in your wallet. You can wheat-paste it onto public buildings. You can tattoo it on your body. You can print it on T-shirts. You can write it as prose, poem, or song. You can borrow the words or breathe out your own. But have one. Start one. Right now.
A personal manifesto can take many forms, but we’re not talking about the errant musings of crackpot extremists here. You need some solid advice, inspiration, and support, preferably on the pithy side. There is a reason that most manifestos are short. Concise, powerful statements create a clear image in the mind’s eye. They function as mental shortcuts to your goals, your values, and your ethics. They maintain access to these concepts that are more complicated and nuanced and allow you to conceptualize your choices, change your mindset, and reinforce the behaviors you want to have. Ultimately, they make it easier to act.
This is not about cat poster affirmations; it is about what is really happening in your work and life. We all need the opportunity to grow authentically, to develop a practice of selfawareness and improvement, to become aware of our weaknesses and biases, to cultivate our strengths and intuition. Your manifesto is a selfteaching feedback loop: a decision, a memory
trigger, to put you in the right stance for the work at hand, or a mantra of encouragement for moments when ambiguity or uncertainty has made you insecure.
There is real power in a manifesto. What you say to yourself and to others has an impact on the world. You can harness that power and turn it inward to influence and recruit your best self. To keep yourself both motivated and mindful throughout this work, you’ll want to cultivate two important mindsets that help form the boundaries of this work: agency and humility.
Step in with Grace
Agency is the power to effect change, make decisions, implement ideas, and achieve goals. It is the ability to act, unhindered by physical or structural blocks. Agency is also the feeling of the ability to act, that internal permission to pursue and achieve. It carries the meaning of both “can” and “may.” You need agency—both the feeling of it in order to act and the fact of it in order to make change.
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Start Small
[Continued...]
Right now, agency is unevenly distributed— some people have much more access to power than others. But in some important ways, it is more available than ever. Even if you don’t think of yourself as a designer, we are all punching above our weight as creators with just the smartphones in our pockets. While there are significant structural blocks to power for many people that prevent them from exercising their intentions directly, we also have more capacity and access than ever to lift each other up and give each other permission to act and make the change we need.
We all need to feel the power and joy of acting in the face of challenge and opportunity. But we also need humility and restraint to ensure that we guard against hubris and harm. Many of the creative tools that we use now are technologies based on sophisticated research, new manipulations of human behavior that allow unproven ideas to be scaled so fast and far that they affect hundreds of millions of people in real ways before we even know what they are (pre-checked boxes for monthly donations on one-time digital forms, anyone?). Creative work is more viral than ever—and that capacity is amoral. It can work for good. But you, as an individual, have to be the one to bring the sense of moral judgment to bear. This requires humility.
Humility feeds awareness and leads to a posture of learning, seeking to grow in skill and do better in the future by understanding and reflecting
on past and present work. You can’t ask for more than that. Humility acknowledges that we don’t know everything about what we have invented, and that intentions are not the same as outcomes. Humility does not mean inaction. We can and should be working on even the most difficult problems and sensitive topics, and a strong set of ethics and values can help guide you in those endeavors, as well as in situations that are less risky and delicate. By spending time to understand your motivations, biases, and reservations, you will be better equipped to make the best decisions you can at any given moment; to get in there and get to work with gusto—and a manifesto.
Craft Your Way to a Manifesto
You don’t have to become a radical philosopher or avant-garde artist to produce a great manifesto. You can make a manifesto that works for you and helps you make solid choices when it counts, using just a few simple tools and processes.
Make your first manifesto by borrowing the wisdom of others. All you need to do is open your eyes and ears and tune in to your very fine sense of independent judgment. Lean into your intuition. Play, practice, and prototype your way to clarity and conviction.
To build your manifesto takes a deliberate process of actively examining your values and beliefs. Once you’ve done this inner work, move outward, mindfully collecting the raw material for
your manifesto in the inspiring words of others. There are countless pieces of wisdom, statements of purpose, manifestos, mantras, and memes available to you from designers, artists, writers, scientists, philosophers, religious leaders, social activists, and more.
Next, synthesize and filter this material through your own experience and for your own understanding to make it true for yourself. And finally, curate this collected wisdom into an expression of your own, a living document that you can trust and test and change. Over time, this work will teach you how to identify and merge your knowledge, feelings, and beliefs into an assured sense of self-awareness. Defining your manifesto will give you a clear understanding and crisp articulation of the goals you’re moving toward, the values that drive you, and the ethics that govern the boundaries of your work.
Crafting a manifesto is a simple exercise, and it works. There’s no single perfect way to do it. Instead, there are many. Your manifesto can be about your aspirations and intentions; it can be about your convictions and your goals; it can be about your behaviors, your identity, or your impact in the world. It is a practice of self-awareness— part of a set of key skills that everyone can benefit from, whether you call yourself a designer or not.
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Photo by Mapbox and Theme Photos on Unsplash.
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THE GRANDEST CULINARY EXPERIENCES
By bazaar staff
Grand Hyatt hotels are globally renowned for celebrating the iconic in the smallest of details that make for magnificent, memorable moments. Right here in K-town, Grand Hyatt Kuwait has already been making waves even before its highly anticipated opening last month. Our social feeds are abuzz with posts from the hotel’s spectacular grounds and restaurants, and with two convenient access points from the high-end 360 Mall extension, it’s easy to understand why. Everybody wants to be at Grand Hyatt Kuwait, and everybody wants to sample the hotel’s carefully curated dining experiences.
Carving a place for itself within the rich culinary landscape of what has affectionately been named the food capital of the Middle East, Grand Hyatt Kuwait features three standalone lifestyle dining venues, Liberté, a Modern Brasserie; ‘Stambul, a theatrical Turkish dining experience; and MEI LI, (Mandarin for “Beautiful”) a fine dining Pan Asian restaurant slated to open early next year, as well as the highly immersive lobby situated Saheel Lounge.
The carefully curated dining experiences to be had at Grand Hyatt Kuwait’s restaurants have been designed to take guests on a delightful global culinary tour that begins in Kuwait at the dramatic Saheel Lounge, followed by a journey to Liberté to experience Brasserie culture at its finest, crossing over to the Ottoman ‘Stambul where food is celebrated with fanfare, and finally traversing through the ancient Silk Road to arrive in the modern east at MEI LI.
A Celebration of art and heritage at Saheel Lounge
Stepping into the lobby-situated Saheel Lounge is a transcendent experience. The space is a showcase of luxury and distinctive contemporary art paying tribute to Kuwait’s heritage of pearl diving, and dhow explorations. Even the nation’s equestrian passion is celebrated through the effortless, free flowing, marble equine sculpture that appears almost like a desert mirage, a truly unmissable sight. Grand Hyatt Kuwait’s elegant and contemporary Saheel Lounge is indeed the heart of the hotel, where guests can work and socialize throughout the day.
Saheel Lounge is a meeting place to see and be seen. Offering a seamless transition from day to night, this dynamic yet captivating space is truly immersive - creating an ambiance that is refined yet unassuming. Boasting sand-inspired tones, luxury furnishings, and wispy, weightless white drapery across the perimeter of the space, the distinctive Saheel Lounge offers the perfect social setting for conversations that enrich the soul. Airy and filled with light, the space envelopes each of the senses, whether it be through the beautiful art on the walls or the aroma of freshly brewed coffee.
A dramatic backdrop of breathtaking works of art celebrating Kuwait and the region sets the tone for elegant meetings, casually socializing or simply relaxing in style. Continuing the interior design’s homage to Middle Eastern culture, wall panels are clad in white, geometric patterns, while floating, orbital shapes from the stunningly oversized mobile sculpture add a contemporary air to the lobby lounge space. But perhaps what we find to be the most riveting detail is how a bespoke collection of 2000 books holds its prideful place in the Saheel Lounge Library.
Whether guests are seeking an indulgent afternoon tea with friends, meet a colleague over coffee, or relax in the evening with family, Saheel Lounge is a convenient and dynamic space to unwind, connect, relax and engage. Saheel Lounge serves exceptional drinks, light meals, and desserts all day long.
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Grand Hyatt Kuwait invites gourmands on a global gastronomic tour with Saheel Lounge, Liberte, 'Stambul, and MEI LI
Liberté, where everyone is free to be
Next up on our culinary journey at Grand Hyatt Kuwait is Liberté, a destination offering an immersive culinary experience that lies at the intersection of classicism and modernity where every bite is adorned with an aftertaste of freedom. Liberté is Grand Hyatt Kuwait’s modern brasserie and what we consider to be its most fabulous culinary addition, a natural extension to the iconic hotel’s vow for grandeur.
With direct access to 360 Mall’s light-filled new extension, hotel residents and mall dwellers alike are treated to an aesthetic feast that calms the mind and awakens the soul, and a reimagined brasserie menu that stops time in its tracks as guests ponder on the fused flavors of culinary innovation.
Notwithstanding the classic roots of the traditional brasserie, Liberté puts a unique modern twist on the experience, challenging its guests’ expectations and invigorating their senses. Instead of abandoning the old to make way for the new, Liberté inspires modernity from classicism, creating a stylistic melting pot where boundaries are blurred and a new, reimagined identity prevails.
Designed by abConcept, a design studio which seeks to “create compelling interior environments that make people feel present in the moment,” Liberté is bathed in the wholesome inclusivity of the feminine energy. From round lines and flowing designs to floral installations and the warmth of the brasserie’s colors - pinks, blues, and grays, the space extends a welcoming embrace to all and an invitation to stray away from the ordinary.
Among the primary visual features which encapsulate Liberté’s modern classicism is the Art Deco undertone of the brand identity. Beyond the brasserie’s interior design, this appears everywhere from the product packaging to the backdrop posters decorating the space.
The casual-chic, laid-back sophistication of Liberté is particularly what inspires a sense of freedom to be present, real, and open, making for the perfect place to share a genuine connection and weave memorable moments.
Liberté’s aesthetic splendor is easily matched with the culinary experience it offers. From breakfast that is infused with the signature warmth of the feminine energy to a reimagined brasserie cuisine that’s spiced with creativity and innovation, and even pastries and cakes which smell of pure bliss, Liberté’s guests are up for a real treat regardless of their choices.
Nourishing the soul at ‘STAMBUL Restaurant
With its name signifying loyalty, unity and community, ‘Stambul is positioned as Grand Hyatt Kuwait’s all-day dining venue with good reason. At ‘Stambul, Turkish food serves a purpose that goes beyond just nourishment. It is intended to nourish the soul as well, invoking a sense of a comfort and happiness by making core ingredients shine on a plate. Paying heed to the importance of great produce in Turkish cooking, Grand Hyatt Kuwait delivers on authenticity for the culinary experience promised with ‘Stambul.
The Turkish food-hall and dining destination showcases the vibrancy and vitality of Turkey and its many culinary delights. Taking inspiration from the energetic and dynamic streets and bazaars of Istanbul, the concept delivers the true spirit of a city that is diverse and well loved by diners in Kuwait. A city that has been fought for and has such great importance since the early days of civilization. The fact that the ‘Stambul straddles two continents wasn’t its only attraction. It was also the final stage of the legendary Silk Road linking Asia with Europe which gave the city a cultural diversity that it retains to this day. We love how Grand Hyatt Kuwait has chosen to adopt how Istanbul is pronounced by its locals, ‘Stambul. This is a purposeful ode to a city that is best appreciated through the eyes of its insiders.
Fusing modern with elements of the traditional, ‘Stambul celebrates the beauty and craft of the country through a rich yet contemporary design style, diverse food offering and service that is characterful and engaging. ‘Stambul immerses guests into Turkish culture and cuisine through its many offerings, creating a sense of escape whether it be for a quick bite or a leisurely meal. No matter the duration, ‘Stambul is unforgettable, as the Food Hallinspired design of the space is always abuzz with action at the theatrical kitchens and food stations. Diners will instantly feel that they’ve stepped into a vibrant, Turkish food bazaar complete with stunningly prepared Turkish, Mediterranean and Ottoman recipes infused with a modern, lighter attitude. The talented team at ‘Stambul fire up their clay ovens early in the morning, and prepare delicious fare to be enjoyed over the fiery charcoal grill or dedicated spit. Everything is made by hand, from the smoky kebabs to oven cooked meat, chicken, fish, and vegetarian dishes to pastries and flatbreads. From fragrant salads, mezze, grilled seafood, food hall plates, kebabs and Turkish specialties to stunning desserts and boutique made delights, ‘Stambul is a thoroughly modern Turkish showcase.
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A Pan-Asian Foray at MEI LI (Opening early 2023)
Stepping towards the right of Grand Hyatt Kuwait’s Saheel Lounge is the spectacular MEI LI. The hotel’s specialty restaurant celebrates contemporary Pan Asian cuisine and hospitaly, with flavor profiles rooted in tradition. MEI LI, meaning “beautiful and full of grace” in Mandarin, perfectly encapsulates the essence of Grand Hyatt Kuwait’s signature Pan Asian restaurant. Everything from the stunning interiors, the innovative food presentation to the engaging service style is considered, beautiful, and done with grace.
MEI LI’s menu illustrates a fresh take on the most loved dishes from Pan Asian cuisine – modernizing them in format, presentation, and ingredients. Incorporating uniquely crafted experiences such as a dedicated tea bar, celebrating artisanal traditions such as the art of dim sum making and rituals behind the service of Peking duck, MEI LI brings Asian culture to modern life through differentiated presentations styles and a sleek aesthetic. With something for everyone, MEI LI’s menu pushes the boundaries to include long time favorites and lighter options.
Innovative, modern and creative, MEI LI’s beautiful interior fuses traditional Asian elements with new-age design styles, presenting an ambiance that is elevated and refined, yet fun and vibrant – something to be enjoyed no matter the day or occasion. With interiors inspired by revered designers such as Shanghai Tang and Vivian Tam, MEI LI puts Asian design at the forefront. Iconic shades signifying Asian vibrancy and values like deep vivid reds, royal blues and regal grays command the eye, and striking details like chic, hand blown glass orbs, marble features and handmade silk panels decorate the space and celebrate Asian history, architecture, ideals, and society.
In order to constantly differentiate itself from the rest, MEI LI’s space is actually comprised of multiple zones, each set with a distinct dining mood in mind. Whether it be MEI LI’s lounge menu that ensures flexibility – perfect for an intimate dinner – or the integration of live stations designed to enrich the diner’s experience, MEI LI’s service style is engaging, storytelling and charismatic.
Located in Grand Hyatt Kuwait, but operated to feel like an independent restaurant, MEI LI adds a robust and differentiated offering to Kuwait’s dining landscape. Created with today’s guest in mind, the concept is energetic, lively and chic – immersing guests in experiences that are memorable and captivating time and time again. MEI LI is a modern and contemporary – ensuring that this all-new destination will stand the test of time and quickly become a firm favorite amongst local gourmands.
For more on Grand Hyatt Kuwait, please visit the website www.grandhyattkuwait.com and follow the hotel’s latest on social media @GrandHyattKuwait. For the latest on Liberté, ‘Stambul and MEI LI, follow @libertekw, @Stambulkw and @Mei_likw on Instagram. Photography by Anthony Parkinson.
THE CAGE SERIES ON NETFLIX LEFT US WANTING MORE!
The star-studded Kuwaiti dramedy featuring Khaled Ameen, Hussain AlMahdi & Rawan Mahdi debuted just last month to rave reviews
By bazaar staff
If you haven’t had the time to Netflix and chill recently, we strongly recommend that you do and start with The Cage - it will definitely bring back waves of nostalgia if you grew up in Kuwait! This eight-episode dramedy brings a fresh take on tackling marital challenges in Arab drama, in a light-hearted and relatable way.
In The Cage, produced by Abdullah Boushahri and directed by Jasem Almuhanna, we see Khaled Ameen (Dr. Nasser) take on the role of a social counsellor who is working with a married couple, played by Hussain AlMahdi (Zaid) and Rawan Mahdi (Rawan), to address their seemingly irreconcilable differences and better understand each other’s perspective to save their marriage. While the counsellor is helping them reconnect, he too is facing struggles in his personal life.
The show is set predominantly in the counsellor’s office, with many flashbacks to Kuwait in the 90s era where the married couple
relive their courtship, marriage, and the problems they face. The style of the show is uber-engaging and is able to draw you in. Many times, we felt that we were right there sitting on the sofa in the counsellor’s room, identifying with one of the characters, and feeling the same frustrations. While the counselling itself was presented in an extremely relatable format, we cannot deny that every flashback took us back to an incredible era in Kuwait. Beepers were a lifeline, billiards were the social thing to do, mix-tapes were edited with such expertise to amplify budding romances, and most importantly, gender roles
were extremely different. We loved how AlMahdi and Mahdi channelled the social intricacies of this era with complete accuracy, from sneaking time to get to know one another on the phone (a grave taboo back then), which essentially defined their entire courtship pre-marriage, to how their lives transformed completely when they survived so many hurdles to finally tie the knot. Once they lived together, they were in for a rude awakening when it came to the realities of day-to-day married life. Here at bazaar, we were lucky enough to catch up with the talent and learn a little more about how the show came together.
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Have You Made a MAJOR Decision?
admissions@auk.edu.kw Tel: 1802040/(+965) 2224-8399 Ext: 3148 www.auk.edu.kw
The American University of Kuwait received its Institutional Accreditation from the Private Universities Council (PUC), Ministry of Higher Education in the State of Kuwait, and has a Memorandum of Understanding and Cooperation with Dartmouth College (Hanover, N Hampshire - USA).
Every single talent that we spoke to commented on how seamlessly the team came together despite the challenges of filming in the midst of summer, and how beautifully everyone cooperated. Hussain AlMahdi likened it to a meal made with love: “you know when you eat a great meal and you can tell that it was cooked with love? That’s how I feel about The Cage Everyone worked on this project with such love and devotion, and I think this comes through in the series - you can tell it was made with love.”
The aim of the series is to highlight some of the social issues faced in a marriage, without delving into sensitive topics. Abdullah Boushahri, the Producer, tells us that “with The Cage, we wanted to create a series that explored some of the problems couples face in marriages, but in a relatable and light-hearted way, that the audience could connect to… It’s a positive and uplifting story about facing your differences in relationships and being more mindful of your partners’ point of view.”
With a team of talent that had a really strong vision from the start, it was clear that the mutual respect they had for each other would result in a show that would touch peoples’ hearts. Rawan Mahdi told us just as much: “One of the most exciting things for me was working with such a talented, passionate team. Jasem Almuhanna is a really inspirational, conscious director and I admire the way he works. Jassim had a very clear vision for The Cage and we were all heading towards the same goal, connecting the dots across a story and focusing on every small detail. He pushed us, as artists, to get the most out of our characters and scenes, to take everything to the next level and make the series as good as it could be. I am proud of the work we’ve done together and hope audiences enjoy watching The Cage as much as we enjoyed making it!”
Along with the vision of the director, producer, and actors, another element that stands out is the portrayal of the characters. Following the couple on their ten-year journey really helps the audience connect with them. Additionally, the portrayal of a counsellor, not usually seen in Khaleeji dramas, is quite different. Khaled Ameen told us that “my character, the social counsellor, is a really interesting character, one that’s quite new to Middle East dramas. Bringing him to life was an exciting opportunity for me, and I enjoyed portraying him as he helped the couple navigate their difficulties, while facing his own personal struggles too.” We personally felt Ameen channel his inner Fraser Crane for this role, but with a Kuwaiti twist.
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All of the talent that we spoke to credited the director in bringing together the script and story, and extracting the best of each of the actors, the crew, and all of the support staff. Before each scene, Jasem Almuhanna would conduct one-onone sessions with Khaled, Rawan and Hussein to dive into what was happening, what they wanted to achieve, what details they wanted to come through. He knew that all the actors were committed to the same vision and were open to feedback on how to make the most of the scene or their character.
To understand a little more about how Jasem Almuhanna found his passion in filmmaking, we asked him in closing what inspired him to enter the world of film, he shared a sweet memory of the past: “when I was 7 years old, my family and I went to see Titanic at the cinema and I was blown away by my first movie experience. I couldn’t stop talking about it! My oldest brother, who is also a filmmaker, broke the news to me that it was fiction, that people were acting and that it wasn’t real. I remember being so surprised, but also really impressed. He sat me down and told me all about James Cameron, and his job as a film director. That was the beginning for me and I knew exactly what I wanted to do with the rest of my life.”
If you haven’t watched The Cage on Netflix yet, once you do, you will easily see the harmony created amongst the artists. It is a fantastic production, our only request would have been a few more episodes!
The Cage is the next milestone in Netflix’s journey in the region as it continues to invest in amplifying the voices of more Arab storytellers. The Cage is just the beginning for Netflix series in Kuwait, with another high-profile project in the works that promises to deliver a fresh perspective, exciting twists and turns and some beloved, familiar faces.
You can watch The Cage series on Netflix.com and stay up to date with the latest new productions from Netflix, especially those catered for the Arab world, by following them on Instagram @NetflixMENA.
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MARCO FIOROT’S SICILIAN DREAM
By bazaar staff
We are all well aware of Marco’s passion for food, starting with the launch of Vigonovo, then the upscale eatery, Giulia, and also his dabble into the world of burgers. But what he has always been most passionate about is the farm to table concept; using fresh, organic produce to serve people delicious tasting food. Simple, tasty ingredients were always Marco’s go-to when he first brought us Vigonovo, and has always been the driving force behind his culinary journey. With this dream in mind, Marco has recently undertaken his latest venture: La Farm di Marco, and it’s a glorious endeavor.
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La Farm di Marco is Marco’s latest venture, but perhaps one closest to his heart
For Marco, it all started with a trip to Sicily. He visited the island for the first time last year to meet up with some friends, and he absolutely fell in love. Everything was amazing; the weather, the landscape, the people, and most importantly the food. Once he was back in Kuwait he could not stop thinking about the produce he had enjoyed while he was there. He decided that he would bring produce from Sicily to Kuwait for his restaurants, but then he realized he wanted to harvest the produce himself. And so the search for a farm began, and he found just the farm in Sicily that he wanted to own and cultivate produce from.
Marco is now producing his own olives, tomatoes, basil amongst other fruits and vegetables too, and is working on bringing all of the delicious produce to Kuwait to use in the foods he serves at the restaurants. Marco will also be going back to Sicily soon to produce his own olive oil that will be available to purchase in the local market. We absolutely cannot wait to enjoy fabulous quality olive oil in Kuwait!
You may wonder, who is managing the farm when Marco is in Kuwait? Through common friends, Marco met Pippo, the gentleman from whom he took the farm over on the condition that he could continue farming the land. Pippo is a Sicilian farmer, and lives and breathes farming
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La Farm di Marco is situated in Sicily, Italy’s largest island and one that is known to be incredibly fertile. The island is famed for its olives, figs, oranges, lemons, eggplants, tomatoes, pistachios, almonds, grapes, cherries, peaches and so many other varieties of delectable produce, including chocolate!
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and cultivating organic produce. Pippo believes in organic farming and he taught Marco so many old school tricks and tips, the ones that you don’t find in the books, the ones that can only be handed down through the generations.
“Right away, our energy matched despite the age difference. He’s 84, but more like a very energetic grandfather. I saw him watering the plants at 4 am, cooking me a fantastic breakfast of an omelet made of freshly crafted sheep ricotta and house eggs, and then he kept on working the land till dinner, and then danced late into the night. I wish I had the same energy!” Marco tells us about Pippo. It was the ideal situation for him to have this knowledgeable farmer manage the farm with such love and care when he returned to Kuwait.
La Farm di Marco has already harvested tomatoes, garlic, capers, walnuts, almonds, figs, grapes, lemons, oranges, amongst a variety of other produce. We are so excited to see what else is going to be grown on the farm next.
One day, Marco hopes to have a bed and breakfast at the farm. He wants to share the glorious produce that Sicily has to offer with more and more people and showcase the true farm to table concept. He tells us “Food, it’s my hobby, my passion, my work, my love, my everything.”
Now, if we know anything about Marco, we know that he will make it happen! We are already dreaming of seeing Pippo and Marco in Sicily, sipping on some limonata made from the local lemons, and we know that you probably are too!
To stay up to date with La Farm di Marco, we know you will absolutely want to, follow @siciliadimarcovigonovo on Instagram. We are eagerly awaiting the launch of the olive oil in Kuwait, but until then, you can also see what else is happening at Marco’s restaurants in Kuwait by following @vigonovo_kw and @giulia_kwt.
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SOAPBOX EVENT SHEDS LIGHT ON BREAST CANCER AWARENESS THIS OCTOBER
The Promenade continues its ongoing support for women by bringing together experts and survivors of breast cancer
By bazaar staff
The Promenade once again has hosted an event at Soapbox that focuses on shedding light on a serious women’s health issue, breast cancer. The event brought together survivors and doctors from First Step Counseling Center, speakers from Birth Kuwait, a cancer survivor from the US Embassy in Kuwait. Additionally, iCare Clinic and Kuwait Agro sponsored the event and distributed giveaways for all of the attendees.
Most recently, The Promenade hosted the Wednesday gatherings at Soapbox to give women a platform to discuss current issues that are important to women. Supporting women and giving them a voice has been one of the main reasons that The Promenade created Soapbox, it is a venue for people to be able to stand up and share thoughts.
The breast cancer event was just that, cancer survivors were given a safe space to share their
stories and their plights, and inspire others that may be on this difficult journey. The majority of the breast cancer survivors had been supported by First Step Counseling Center. The First Step team is a voluntary team that aims to share knowledge and create awareness of illnesses to create a new generation that enjoys sound health. The team generally cooperates with all official authorities in order to preserve human health.
At the event, The First Step Counseling Center
brought doctors to talk about the importance of early screening for breast cancer checks. The cancer survivors that spoke as a part of the team shared their stories, and also shared how important it was to have family support and faith, these are the two things that kept them going as they received treatments and battled the types of cancer they had.
Birth Kuwait, a local nonprofit community health network that brings together birth-related
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+9651811285
professionals and mothers to provide better support for mothers and improve maternity services in the region, shared information about how breastfeeding can help reduce breast cancer risk. The statistics show that women who have breastfed will reduce their risk of breast cancer by up to 33%, and the number of years you breastfeed will result in a greater reduction in the risk. Birth Kuwait offers support to mothers who wish to breastfeed in a variety of ways, they offer one on one consultations, as well as courses, and there is also a hotline you can contact for support.
Additionally at the event, Kuwait Agro, one of the largest privately-owned agricultural companies in Kuwait, and the owners of Yasmin Farms which produces chemical-free dairy and eggs, distributed rose milk. This rose flavored drink has been produced for the month of October and was launched at the Soapbox event as part of Kuwait Agro’s corporate social responsibility initiative. All of the profits from the sale of rose milk will go to the Kuwait Society for the Care of Cancer Patients.
It was clear to see that The Promenade had brought together the key people to share information on the early detection of breast cancer. The speakers inspired all of the attendees by sharing their struggles and how they were able to combat cancer. The event marks another success in Soapbox’s calendar, and we are so excited to see what they will bring us next.
To learn more about First Step Counseling Center, follow @firststep_kw on Instagram.
To stay up to date with Birth Kuwait and how you can get support, follow @birthkuwait.
For more information on the rose milk from Kuwait Agro, follow @yasminfarms. For
more Soapbox news follow @soapboxkw on Instagram. The Promenade is located on 3rd Ring Road, opposite Qadsiya, for more on The Promenade’s activities and events follow them on Instagram @thepromenadekw or call 2227 7130.
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PORSCHE CENTRE KUWAIT CELEBRATES 20 YEARS OF THE REVOLUTIONARY CAYENNE
By bazaar staff
The arrival of the Cayenne in 2002 re-set the parameters for sports-luxury motoring with Porsche setting a trend other luxury and sports car manufacturers would eventually follow by introducing a full-sized SUV.
Hany Marie, General Manager at Porsche Centre Kuwait, said the Cayenne has been a welcomed success for Porsche in Kuwait, expanding the marque’s appeal to a much wider audience beyond
“To put it simply, Cayenne is the model which introduced Porsche to an audience that perhaps would not have walked through our showrooms before. It provided a family-sized option for the first time and many of those initial customers remain with us today, often owning several Porsches including 911, Cayman and Boxster next to their
The immersive night included a local film that highlighted the three Cayenne generations across 20 years as well as an entertaining session of 20 questions, testing participants on their Porsche and Cayenne knowledge in return for winning a memorable prize.
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Porsche Centre Kuwait, Behbehani Motors Company has celebrated an important milestone in Porsche’s history with a gala evening to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the game-changing Cayenne SUV.
two-door sports cars and set the path for the likes of Panamera and Macan to follow.
Cayenne. So we wanted to not only celebrate Cayenne but also to say thank you to our many loyal customers.”
Located at Plot 40 in the industrial Shuweikh area, customers and media engaged in activities that included a 360-degree video booth with a virtual reality experience while being surrounded by all three generations of the Cayenne.
The birth of the Cayenne created an economic basis for sustainable success without compromising Porsche’s motorsport values and succeeded by introducing a completely new market segment to the line-up. Since 2002, Cayenne has been one of the mainstays of Porsche’s global success and is one of the bestselling sports luxury SUVs in Kuwait.
Hany Marie said the night reflected the connection Kuwaitis have built with the Cayenne and Porsche: “Many of our customers and long-term media, some of which were here for the launch of the first E1 model back in 2002, described how it changed their perception of Porsche from being a pure sports car brand to one that encapsulates the Kuwaiti lifestyle. For some of our more adventurous customers, it opened up the remote areas of Kuwait to explore while for others it allowed them to make a Porsche their family car for the first time.”
“Now we have a full range of family-sized cars like the Panamera, Macan and of course the new Taycan electric sports saloon, but it all began with Cayenne 20 years ago. Cayenne remains as popular as ever with variants like the Cayenne Turbo GT being a hit with the Middle East. We see another very exciting 20 years ahead for Porsche’s large SUV.”
For more information, please visit Porsche Centre Kuwait, Behbehani Motors Company, please call 1870 870 or head to porschekuwait. com. For the latest updates on social media, follow @PorscheCentreKuwait on Instagram and Facebook.
THE MOON IS CALLING
Why Nokia wants to put an LTE network on the moon
By Rob Pegoraro
Nokia has picked a particularly challenging site for an upcoming network deployment: a place where temperatures range from 250 degrees to -208 degrees Fahrenheit, and there is no air to breathe whatsoever. But on the upside, the lack of atmosphere means no clouds to impair power generation by this future cell site’s solar panels.
Nokia’s plan to put a cellular network on the moon may seem like an Elon Musk-size publicity stunt. But its lunar-LTE ambitions come with a NASA contract to solve a real off-world problem: Existing data systems won’t scale as increasing numbers of devices—and someday, people— work some 239,000 miles away from Earth and its typical communications nodes.
“We know we need more than the communication we have right now,” says Thierry Klein, president of Bell Labs Solutions Research at Nokia Bell Labs. In 2020, NASA awarded Nokia a $14.1 million “Tipping Point” contract to develop and deploy a test LTE system that could pave the way to a lunar network for use by astronauts living and working on the moon and in lunar orbit as part of NASA’s Artemis project.
“Most links from the moon are point-topoint Direct-To-Earth, which has worked well with our current space network infrastructure and number and type of lunar missions,” says Jason Mitchell, director of NASA’s SCaN Advanced Communications and Navigation Technology division, in an email. But that legacy system won’t keep up with the space agency’s ambitions for a longer-term, scaled-up presence on the moon— and, ultimately, Mars.
“Link management becomes a substantial challenge,” he explains. “So, we need a solution to scaling and to smartly flow data where it needs to go, i.e., not all data needs to come back to Earth.”
Nokia, however, is starting on a much smaller scale than a lunar base. Its first beyond-Earth cell site will fit on the compact automated Nova-C lander that the Houston space startup Intuitive Machines plans to launch next summer on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket as part of its IM-2 mission—which will also deliver a tiny rover that will use this network to talk to the lander.
“We provide all the parts,” says Klein. “We provide the terminal that goes on the rover, the antenna that goes on the rover, the fully integrated network equipment that goes on the Nova-C lander.”
He cites better throughput as the most immediate upgrade, predicting 50 Mbps performance up to about 3 miles away on a 1.8 GHz frequency that Bell Labs picked for, among other reasons, reduced interference with radio astronomy.
Klein says the network gear attached to the side of the Nova-C is about the size of a deep-dish
pizza box and includes two redundant units.
“The starting point is a commercial Nokia small cell product,” Klein says. “We’ve done a lot of modifications from a maintenance, operational, reboot perspective”—for example, including software hardening to resist radiation interference.
The receiver on the rover, meanwhile, is about the size of two iPhones stacked together.
And why only 4G instead of 5G?
“When we started this project, that was a few years back,” Klein says. “4G, from our perspective, was definitely the right starting point to validate this technology.”
New Jersey-based Bell Labs—the storied research center founded in 1925 by Western Electric and the company then known as American Telephone & Telegraph that became a Nokia property in 2016—started working toward this goal well before NASA called.
In 2018, it signed a deal with Vodafone Germany to provide a lunar network for Mission to the Moon, a private mission by a Berlin firm then named PTScientists that would have delivered two Audi-built rovers near the landing site of Apollo 17, where American astronauts left their last footprints on the moon in December 1972.
That effort, in turn, built on work Nokia did
for Alphabet’s Project Loon, the Google parent firm’s ultimately unsuccessful effort to provide broadband from a flock of autonomous balloons 11 to 16 miles up in the sky.
PTScientists went insolvent in 2019 and that mission didn’t happen, but Intuitive Machines seems much further along. Its debut IM-1 mission is now projected to launch sometime in the first quarter of 2023.
Success on IM-2, says Klein, “should open the door and validate that we can do this.” Future missions could bring multiple-node networks, 5G included, to future missions.
As NASA’s Mitchell writes, this Tipping Point project “provides the first steps on a potential path to commercial service capability at the moon.”
Ground-bound users will also benefit, Klein predicts.
“With all of the things that we’ve had to do for the equipment on the moon, we also have lessons learned that we can bring back to terrestrial environment,” he says. “If you think of a mine or an oil rig or a remote wind farm, there’s a lot of extreme industrial environments on earth.”
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Photo by Pawel Czerwinski on Unsplash.
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FLOWERS, RUBBER, AND EVEN ROCKS
By Adele Peters
Mushroom leather. Apple leather. Pineapple leather. Cactus leather. There’s a growing list of vegan leather alternatives made from plants (in some cases, mixed with plastic). But a new startup thinks that it can get more realistic results not by relying on one type of plant, but a blend of multiple biomaterials.
Our theory was that no single plant was really doing a great job of providing all the characteristics of leather,” says Stephanie Downs, cofounder and CEO of the startup Uncaged Innovations. “We took a step back and said, ‘What makes leather leather?’ It’s strong. It has some stretch to it. It has flexibility. It has a certain smell and hand feel.”
For the past two years, at its lab in White Plains, New York, the startup has experimented with hundreds of different plant materials in tens of thousands of combinations, testing for factors like strength and elasticity. The components can include extracts from corn and wheat, mushrooms, algae, natural rubber, wood, coffee, flowers, even rocks. One sample I saw— which looked and felt like animal leather—used 10 different ingredients. The company plans to make a wide range of variations. “It enabled us to customize the material, which is important— leather that’s in automotive is very different [from] leather that’s in a wallet or in a clutch,” she says.
Cofounder and CTO Xiaokun Wang, who has a background in tissue engineering, studied the individual components of leather and then looked for alternatives in the plant kingdom. Different proteins replace collagen, the main component in leather, to form the structure; natural rubbers and gums help make it stretchy. Vegetable oils help replace components like hyaluronic acid. “We can tune the elasticity and tune the stiffness,” Wang says.
One version of the material is fully plasticfree. Others include a small amount of plantbased polyurethane or other plant-based plastics to help with performance. Most vegan leather in the industry is made from plastic, and has been criticized for making environmental claims when that plastic comes from fossil fuels (as it typically does). Most so-called plant-based leather also includes some plastic. Downs says that polyurethane is also commonly used to coat animal leather to make it more waterproof, which can then mean it’s no longer biodegradable. Clients will be able to customize what they buy from Uncaged, including whether any plant-based plastic is part of it. “We’re trying to balance sustainability with performance,” she says.
In a preliminary life-cycle analysis, Uncaged estimated that its materials produce 95% fewer emissions than traditional leather, and use 93%
less water. When a product made with the material wears out, it can be returned for recycling into a second generation of bioleather. The company also is testing it for biodegradability.
While developing materials, the company focused on making it possible to manufacture with existing factories, rather than have to build its own equipment—something that Downs says has been a challenge for others in the space. Working with partners makes it easier to scale and reduces the cost. “Some of the innovations that are out there cost six times more than brands usually pay for leather,” she says. “We’ve got to get that price point down.” The team sees a path to cost parity for its materials, she says.
For the past six months, the company has been running trials on pilot equipment, with the first large trials planned for later this year, and full rolls of the material produced for brands early next year. (Uncaged doesn’t plan to sell any products directly to consumers.) It’s possible, Downs argues, for next-generation materials to completely replace animal leather in the future.
“I do believe as a planet we will be wearing and sitting on and sleeping on all vegan materials before we’re eating vegan,” she says. “Because I think that the barriers to entry are much lower.”
Photos courtesy Uncaged Innovations.
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This vegan leather blends biomaterials to mimic the real thing
By bazaar staff
Cole Haan, the iconic American performance lifestyle brand, launched a new brand campaign and product collection for Fall 2022 in September. The Work For What You Believe In campaign stars an array of inspirational, real-life changemakers who serve as the inspiration behind the Fall assortment made to support work, play, and the everyday moments that matter.
The campaign marks the emergence of a new era where what we do is an expression of who we are and what we believe. It features inspirational individuals who embody the collective and individual passions that drive each and every one of us. The brand tapped five changemakers in Kuwait who are inspiring others to follow their passion.
Sara Al Homood, Dancer: Joffrey School Graduate, founder of the Institute of Performance Arts, and Restaurateur Sara Al Humood cultivates a safe space for movement online. The Mexican Kuwaiti hybrid loves to utilize dance to motivate people, and she channels her culinary passions at Azteca, her family restaurant.
“Working on something you love, giving it your 100% every day and building a community that is inspired by it is what working for what you believe in is all about.
My love for dance, It makes me happy. On my best days, as well as my not-so-great days.
It’s consistent in the fact that it’s always there for me which is what I want for more people.
I want to make movement arts accessible to as many people as possible and extend the opportunities I didn’t have growing up by offering that caliber of training here in Kuwait.”
Farah Bishara, DJ: Farah Bishara is Kuwaiti DJ renowned for her 90s hip hop sets on vinyl, and founder of Kuwait’s first vinyl store, Vinyl Destination. Challenging local gender stereotypes about women in the entertainment field, Farah has always pushed boundaries by pursuing her passion.
“To me, “Work for what you believe in” means working to make your dreams come true, no matter how wild they are.
I’m working towards happiness and fulfillment for myself and for others. And I chose to do that through music.
Music is what inspired me. It gave my heart a home and birthed my purpose, and I want to share that feeling with everyone I meet on this crazy ride.
It’s so important to remember your “why” on the good days and the bad days. Remind yourself of the beauty of the journey without focusing so much on the destination. You’ll get there”
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Cole Haan’s latest Campaign Explores the Dedication, Passion, and Commitment of Featured Extraordinary Talent Who Epitomize the brand’s Ethos
Sara Al Homood Farah Bishara
Dana Ghareeb, Nutrition & Wellness coach: Dana Ghareeb is a passionate nutritionist and Business Owner that educates her followers about the value of healthy eating. She is also the founder of Wafra Wellness, a lifestyle website focused on all aspects of wellness as well as local food subscriptions.
“To me, working for what I believe in means working on something I am passionate about, making a difference in society and creating a positive impact on people’s lives.
As a nutritionist and wellness coach I am working to transform women’s perception about healthy living and move away from diet culture to creating a balanced lifestyle with a functional approach where food, sleep, social interactions, movement, and stress management are all equally important.
Being able to guide my clients on their lifestyle transformation journeys and watch them adopt it successfully into their lives fuels me to work harder and keep expanding my knowledge on the subject.”
Faisal Al Nashmi, Chef: Local Executive Chef and President of the Kuwait Chef Club Faisal Al Nashmi brings to Kuwait elevated dining experiences in the form of Al Makan Table Otto, Street Café Kuwait, Pam and Cow, San Ristorante, Experimental Eatery and Zuba’s Kitchen.
“Working for what you believe in means making who you are a reality. It’s to be your ultimate self. This is the only way to express your full self-potential and know what to add to the society.
Funny enough, I stumbled upon my fate by accident, and now it has become my destiny. Sharing meals on a table not only brings communal happiness but being the reason behind this happiness is a joy that is unexplainable.
I strive to be a key turning point to our culinary industry, and I hope to become a catalyst for this developing market.”
Shurooq Amin, Artist: The Internationally renowned and award-winning artist and poet Shurooq Amin constantly creates to challenge socio-political dichotomies. She’s he first Kuwaiti woman t be interviewed on BBC’s HARD Talk, and boasts an impressive portfolio of 15 solo exhibitions and 45 group exhibitions.
“I’ve struggled my whole life with being told that art is just a “hobby”, but I believed that I could be anything I set my mind to.
For me, the phrase “work for what you believe in” literally represents my life ethos. No matter the opposition or the challenges and resistance one faces, if you hold steadfast in your beliefs, work hard to develop your art, success will surely follow.
I want to bring about a positive change in society, by creating artworks that make people think, contemplate, and discuss with each other thereby broadening their minds to accept this ever-changing world and the need to adapt for a better tomorrow.”
All products associated with the campaign are available across all Kuwait stores and online on colehaan.com.kw.
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Shurooq Amin
Dana Ghareeb
Faisal Al Nashmi
THE MOST INTERESTING GENERATION YET
By Chris Morris
Teens, and Generation Z in general, are something of a mystery to older generations. Digitally native in a way that older adults just can’t grasp, they often communicate in ways that are alien to their parents and employers.
But, a new survey of 14,500 teens by Piper Sandler offers fresh data on what this fast-growing customer base is buying, and gives managers some insight into who will be applying for jobs in the months and years to come. The answer: Today’s teens, at their core, have more in common with previous generations than either would like to admit, but the environment they’ve grown up in has given them some unique characteristics.
Generation Z – people born after 1996 – has lived a much different life than their parents and millennials. The Center for Generational Kinetics called the pandemic a “generationdefining experience for Gen Z [that] will impact them for the rest of their lives.” They’re a generation that, broadly speaking, can’t remember a life without smartphones—and they have no memory of the 9/11 attacks, beyond the classroom.
They have numbers on their side, though. Some 32% of the planet’s population falls within the generation’s parameters and they see the world much differently than millennials, Gen Xers, or Baby Boomers. And that makes it all the more important to learn to speak their language.
So, what do teens like? Well, as you might guess, they are, to a point, brand driven (though not as much as their predecessors). Nike is their favorite brand of apparel (preferred by 31% of respondents) and footwear (with a 60% share). e.l.f. is the top cosmetics brand and Bath and Body Works leads the fragrance brand.
They’re wearing more Crocs (which saw its ranking jump from sixth to fifth), but less Under Armor (which fell out of the Top 10). But, among e-commerce sites, it’s Shien (which doesn’t sell most of the top brands) that takes the #2 spot, as ranked by most frequent use. (Amazon, of course, is the leader, as it is with every other generation.)
Among food brands, Nature Valley, Clif; and Goldfish were the most preferred snacks. And Chick-Fil-A is the top restaurant chain (followed by Starbucks and Chipotle). When it comes to plant-based meats, though, interest appears to be fading fast. Just 14% said they consume products like Beyond Burgers–and 23% of those who do say they plan to eat less plantbased meat in the future, up from 17% in the fall of 2021.
TikTok leads social media preferences, which won’t come as a surprise to anyone who has been in the general vicinity of a teen in the past year or two. Snap is a close second (with 38% using TikTok compared to 30% for Snap).
Instagram rounds out the top three with 20% of the votes, though it did lose some ground since the spring of this year.
Gen Z lives through its smartphones, communicating with friends and relying on it for their primary source of entertainment. Apple has a strong inroad with this generation, with 87% of teens saying they own an iPhone and 88% expecting to get an iPhone when they upgrade.
Make-up? That’s coming more into vogue, as 41% say they wear it every day, compared with just 33% who said so last year. Virtual reality is losing some ground, though, with just 14% saying they use the headsets (versus 17% last spring).
And, despite the generational differences, some truths about teens remain the same after all these years. A little over one-third (39%) hold part-time jobs. Parents still cover about two-thirds of their total spending (which hit $2,331 last year, a 3% increase over 2021). And the bulk of spending by females went to clothing (which saw a 10% increase over last year) and footwear (up 7%).
As confused as parents might be when it comes to Generation Z, employers are just
as lost. A separate study from the Center for Generational Kinetics (CGK) found 43% of Gen Z plan to change their career or industry because of what they learned or experienced during the pandemic.
Despite being saddled with a stereotype of not wanting to work, though, the CGK said Generation Z takes work very seriously, having watched their parents struggle through the Great Recession and seen the effects of the pandemic.
Saving money is important to them and they place a high value on employee benefits. One of their biggest fears in the office, though, is public speaking. Since socialization in front of people has been deemphasized in the age of smartphones, something as small as a review with managers can be anxiety inducing.
Perhaps that’s why technology is the most intriguing field to Gen Z. Nearly half of the respondents to CGK’s survey said they believe it will have the best career opportunities for them.
Just be sure to have real burgers in the cafeteria.
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Gen Z is wearing more Crocs–and eating less fake meat
Photo by Olha Ivanova on Unsplash.
@mujimiddleeast Shop online
EMBRACE SMALL TALK
How (and why) you should get better at talking to strangers
By Stephanie Vozza
As children, most of us were raised to not talk to strangers. The rule is meant to keep us safe, but carrying the idea into adulthood can cause us to miss out on enriching conversations. A new study published in the Psychological and Cognitive Sciences journal reveals that people actually enjoy talking to strangers more than they expect and the exchange can provide benefits.
We already know from previous research that people think they’ll enjoy spending their commute in silence, but it turns out that talking to a fellow passenger is more pleasant,” says Stav Atir, assistant professor of management at the Wisconsin School of Business at the University of WisconsinMadison and lead author of the study. “People underestimate the informational value of conversations. Yet, it’s an asset we are underutilizing.”
Atir teamed up with University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business colleagues Nicholas Epley, who is a professor of behavioral science, and graduate student Kristina Wald. The researchers paired strangers for short conversations. Afterward, the participants reported back about the impact of the experience. Many shared that they were surprised at the breadth of information that people learned from each other.
Why You Should Talk to Strangers
“Strangers are a powerful source of information,” says Atir. “If you know your conversation partner well, or if you have a good idea of what you’ll be talking about, you may learn about as much. But if you talk to strangers or acquaintances, then that’s where there’s an unexpected amount of learning that takes place.”
For example, participants said they learned about the other person. One person got a tip on possible summer work, and another individual got a recommendation to check out a new TV show. People also learned a lot of random information that that was interesting to them or related to their life somehow. One person shared that they learned about the refugee situation in the Chicago area and another person learned about someone who joined the Russian mafia by accident.
Atir and her colleagues followed up with the participants two weeks later, asking them about their memory of the conversation. They found that people didn’t remember the conversation as positively as when they first experienced it.
“That could be contributing to a reluctance to then go out and strike conversations again,” she says. “Their expectations are back exactly where they were before they had a conversation, even though they had found the conversations are fun and informative.”
The best way to start a conversation is to look for a commonality that can open the door to connection, says Dr. Joy Qualls, associate dean for Biola University’s School of Fine Arts and Communication.
“Begin with something simple such as ‘How long have you been with this organization?’ or perhaps, ‘Tell me about your role,’” she says. “If you are not in the workplace, you could ask something similar, ‘What do you do for work?’ or ‘How long have you been coming to this church?’ Asking open-ended questions does not assume details about someone’s life that may be uncomfortable, such as questions about marriage or kids. This allows the other person to add whatever details they might choose.”
You can also break the ice by noticing something about the other person and commenting on it, says Lisa Earle McLeod, author of Selling with Noble Purpose and a communication and sales coach.
“It can as simple as ‘Those are really cool shoes,’” she says. “When you lean in, and pause after you say it, people will usually tell you the story. It doesn’t have to be a flowery compliment; it is simply you noticing something and giving the other person the chance to talk about it.”
Circumstances can also be conversation starters, says Earle McLeod. “Asking something like ‘How are you enjoying the party?’ or ‘Are you finding this line as tedious as I am?’ sets them up to share their perspective on what’s happening right now,” she says. “It’s low-stakes shared experience.”
Thinking about what you need in a conversation can help you get over your fears, adds Quall. “What do you wish people knew about you?” she asks. “What questions make you relax and feel comfortable? Engage conversations with strangers by engaging in the conversation you need when you are the one being approached.”
While the study paired the strangers together, Atir says ultimately, the key to gaining the benefits conversations with strangers can offer is to push yourself to do it. With more practice, you’ll adjust your expectations.
“Expectations matter because they determine people’s decisions to approach others or avoid them,” says Atir. “As you talk to people more and more, you become more comfortable. You will calibrate your expectations because you’ll realize that the conversations can be enjoyable and informative.”
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How to Become More Comfortable Talking to Strangers
Photo by Nikola Johnny Mirkovic on Unsplash.
LA VIA DELL’ OLIO E DEL TARTUFO
The Way of Oil and Truffles at Dai Forni at Four Seasons Hotel Kuwait at Burj Alshaya
By bazaar staff
Four Seasons Hotel Kuwait at Burj Alshaya is treating us to two of Italy’s finest exports. From October 23 until November 24, 2022, Dai Forni is celebrating La Via Dell’ Olio e Del Tartufo – The Way of Oil and Truffles. Calling all gastronomes and gourmands, free up your schedules, and get ready for serious foodie heaven.
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Chef Luigi Frassanito
During the month-long event, diners at the Hotel’s Italian restaurant can enjoy a specially crafted Truffle Menu, featuring the exquisite ‘liquid gold’ produced during Italy’s autumnal olive harvest ritual alongside special highlights including ppersonalized tableside truffle service and sample testing.
Italian culinary ambassador, Lecce-born Chef Luigi has dedicated his career to “conveying the authenticity of Italian cuisine” through his selfstyled cucina libera (“free cuisine”). Honing his culinary skills since the age of 12 – and on a lifelong mission to share his native cuisine with the world – few ingredients excite him more than
the truffle: Italy’s greatest gift to global gastronomy. Equally passionate is Dai Forni’s Olive Oil Ambassador – Assistant Manager, Riccardo Capella. “Italy is home to the world’s greatest variety of olive oils,” he explains. “It’s incredible how they differ between the northern, central and southern regions, from delicate and mild to rich and robust.”
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Riccardo Capella
Together, these two gourmands deliver intriguing insights into two of their homeland’s greatest exports in an exclusive menu that allows the truffle to sing. A subtle melody on the plate and the palate, Fiori Di Zucchina Al Tartufo Nero is a beautiful zucchini flower stuffed with truffle potato, zucchini sauce, and black truffle, while Merluzzo Al Tartufo Bianco is a harmonious quintet of cod fish with parsnip sauce, fresh green peas, almond and white truffle. Even pizza hits the black truffle high notes with Pizza Porchetta e Tartufo Nero.
Rome-born Riccardo will also be spearheading an olive oil tasting station where guests can sample the artisanal ‘golden elixirs’ in each dish, including Frantoio di Santa Fe olio di Oliva nere –from Tuscany’s Santa Téa farm where the Gonnelli family have made olive oil since 1585 – and Bono olio Biologico Selezione Sicilia, an organic extra virgin olive oil made with Sicilian indigenous cultivars.
The undisputed star of the show, however, is the Alba White truffle. The most expensive ingredient in modern cuisine on account of its brief seasonal appearance, and distinctive flavor and aroma, it is hand-harvested by trained professionals using scent dogs in Tuscany’s Marche region.
Thanks to exceptional contacts in his Italian homeland, Chef Luigi is able to source some of the region finest truffles for the exclusive tasting pleasure of guests of Four Seasons Hotel Kuwait at Burj Alshaya – a unique opportunity to marvel in the one of the world’s rarest culinary gems.
To connect to Italy’s greatest exports at Dai Forni this truffle and olive oil season, please contact 2200 6200. To stay up to date with events at Four Seasons Hotel Kuwait at Burj Alshaya, follow @fskuwait on Instagram.
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LONG LIVE THE LOGO
Why designers keep trying to kill the logo
By James I. Bowie
“Logomania is over,” declared Teo Van den Broeke, British GQ’s style and grooming director, in the Financial Times earlier last month. He was referring to the unfortunate fashion world trend of plastering every square inch of articles of clothing with designer logos, and suggesting that it was no longer compatible with the reality of these uncertain economic times.
But what of logomania in the larger business world? Over many decades, the logo has taken on an outsize prominence as the most obvious and ubiquitous visual representation of the brand. And while branding practitioners may insist, correctly, until they are blue in the face that the logo is only the tip of the brand iceberg, it remains the case that, as designer Sir John Sorrell pointed out, “Iceberg tips are actually rather important because they’re the things you can see.”
As more and more corners of our world became branded, various factoids, some perhaps apocryphal, popped up to quantify and illustrate the extent of the logo’s takeover. “The average person sees as many as 600 trademarks in a single day,” wrote Samuel G. Michini in an Industrial Marketing article in 1959. By 2007, the number of logos in our lives had exploded. Design critic Alice Rawsthorn noted in the International Herald Tribune that “the average Western consumer is said to be exposed to more than 3,000 corporate symbols a day.”
Amid this firehose of trademarks blasting across society, there have been plenty of predictions that consumers would tire of logos, often from designers themselves. All the way
back in 1994, Richard Ford, creative director of Landor Associates—now known as Landor & Fitch and recognized for its work on behalf of FedEx, Pepsi, and Verizon—speculated in the design publication Eye that the transition to designing for screens would allow for the use of more sophisticated graphic elements that could become “widespread to the point of undermining the hegemony of the logo.” In 2007, corporate image consultant Naseem Javed, writing in the Asia Times in wake of the hideous London Olympics logo unveiling, put it bluntly: “Let’s face it, in this hyper-accelerated society, logos are almost dead. Fifty years ago, customers remembered the logos of IBM or Chevrolet…Not today. Pick 10 companies and try to remember their logos, and ask yourself if they really have an impact.”
Most strikingly, designer Simon Manchipp, founder of UK design practice SomeOne, wrote in Design Week in 2010 that “Logos are a hangover from another time. They need to be shaken off, moved away from, de-focused.” Later, he doubled down, calling logos “pointless,” “rubbish,” and “dead.” And yet, in the past 10 years, over one million new logos were filed for registration with
the United States Patent and Trademark Office, 65% more than had been submitted in the decade prior. These marks now coat the physical and digital surfaces of our society in increasingly wider swaths, leaving virtually no space unbranded, from mobile apps to the bottom-right corner of your TV screen to rooftop solar arrays to human bodies.
Designers rightfully would like to be acknowledged by the public for their many skills beyond logo design. At times, they must feel like Sir Mix-a-Lot taking the stage eager to perform a wide range of his hits, only to hear the crowd immediately cry out for “Baby Got Back.” Likewise, branding agencies are certainly keen to charge their clients for much more than just the creation of a new logo. And it may be that, in the visual cacophony of today’s brandscape, logos don’t pack the same punch they did in the less-cluttered decades of the past. But as U.S. companies continue to crank out symbols numbering in the six figures every year, it’s clear that the logomania gripping the world of branding won’t be abating anytime soon.
Photo by Axel Ruffini on Unsplash.
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BEYOND BURNOUT
Why are so many people unhappy at work these days?
By Kathleen Davis
In the last few years, employees across industries suffered a remarkable decline in morale, and are quitting, retiring, changing jobs or scaling back. Often the normal attempts to address dissatisfaction with bonuses or allow employees extra time off aren’t making a difference. So what’s really behind this crisis and how can both managers and employees address job satisfaction in a more meaningful way?
To help answer those questions, I spoke to Ludmila Praslova and Phoebe Gavin last week at the 8th annual Fast Company Innovation Festival in New York. Praslova is a professor of organizational psychology at Vanguard University of Southern California with extensive experience in talent systems, inclusion, and wellbeing. (She is also frequent contributor to Fast Company.)
Gavin is a career and leadership coach specializing in career strategy, negotiation, and self-advocacy. She’s also the executive director of talent and development at Vox.com.
What is burnout?
Both made the distinction between real burnout and just being tired of doing something. “Chronic depletion is a very good way to think about [burnout],” says Praslova. “It’s really a matter of human sustainability. You cut more trees than you replenish. You’re going to lose the forest. You take more energy out of the human than you are allowed.”
Gavin points out that it’s a matter of determining where you or your employee falls on the spectrum: Are they disengaged from their work, on the way to burning out, or already burnt out? The solutions to each problem are different—and trying to solve the wrong issue will backfire.
Gavin calls burnout an “occupational safety issue” that should be addressed immediately by leaders in the same way other safety hazards would be. But dissatisfaction, she says, is up to the employee to bring up. “When it’s about disengagement with the work, you need to use your individual agency [as an employee] to advocate for yourself to your supervisors to say, ‘This is the work that I’m excited about doing; this is the work I’m less excited about doing. Is there something that we can do to adjust the demands of my job so that it’s more in line with the things that I’m really excited [about] and where I really want to send my energy?’”
Often companies seek to solve problems of burnout and disengagement with either more time off or flexible hours, which on the surface may seem like good solutions, but are often implemented without deeper thought. As Praslova explained, “Flexible hours go only so far. If your choice is which 70 or 80 hours you’re going to work, that’s not the real deal. The real deal is manageable workloads.”
Disengagement vs. Conflict
Many people may confuse disengagement and “quiet quitting” with burnout, but Praslova and Gavin also pointed out a third issue: moral injury, which flies under the radar of many leaders, but
is just a dangerous. “Burnout is fundamentally a matter of energy,” says Praslova. “Moral injury [is the idea] you’re doing something against your moral values and against your conscience. The basic idea is ‘I got into this job to help people, but I end up doing something that goes against my values.’ That can be very damaging. … Sometimes you can have moral injury, but no burnout. Sometimes you can have both.”
Gavin pointed out that there is a difference between being disconnected from your work— often what people are talking about with “quiet quitting”—and being in conflict with your work (aka moral injury). “If you’re disconnected from your values, you have a few options,” she says. “You can find a different job that is more connected to your purpose, or you can take that purpose into your personal life. It’s a very different situation when the job is forcing you to behave in a way that is in conflict with your values. And that is a situation that can only be resolved by changing the job.”
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Photo by Nubelson Fernandes on Unsplash.
The latest fall collection from Tribe of 6 brings us striking athleisure looks to covet for the Autumn Winter 2022 season
By bazaar staff
The brand centers sustainability, inclusivity, and community at its core and is designed for those who style with a purpose. The Autumn Winter 2022 collection delivers on its promise that fashion should not cost the earth. The timeless and comfortable pieces are made of 45% recycled fabric and the other 55% of the fabrics used are from organic or bamboo-based sources. And what’s more, since the collection is produced locally in the region, the carbon footprint is minimised.
Tribe of 6’s Autumn Winter 2022 collection features long-cut jackets and hoodies, chic bodysuits, blazers, unisex gillets and on-style cargo pants. This new season’s collection is a must have for the fashion-conscious customer who is looking to pick up some fabulous essential looks and capsule pieces!
In keeping true to its brand ethos, Tribe of 6 delivers us with yet another highly covetable collection for the Autumn Winter 2022 season. Discover a trend-setting series of striking fash-leisure looks that offer stunning fall fits for the new season.
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We absolutely adore this season’s color palette which features a variety of great pantones ranging from fuchsia purple, cobalt blue, flame orange, myrtle green and much more! The fabulous prints are inspired by earthy minerals, which tie in effortlessly with the sustainable and natural elements that Tribe of 6 stands for.
What are our favorite pieces, you ask? We especially love the asymmetric hem hoodies, the mesh trench coats, the wide-leg pants, and the utility jumpsuits! We love that this gorgeous fash-leisure collection is street style driven, and can be dressed up or down. All of the pieces are super versatile and lend themselves well to be taken from day to night, or even to the airport for all you jet setters!
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Tribe of 6’s latest collection features a unisex line but also individual womenswear and menswear selections. The show-stopping looks cater to a variety of style aesthetics, and come in a range of sizes to build on the brand promise of inclusivity. The men’s collection has a Limited Edition World Cup inspired football range which we are definitely excited about. Each line of the Autumn Winter 2022 collection offers something unique to elevate a look at any given occasion and flatters all body shapes.
The Tribe of 6 brand story, ethos and aesthetic is one that resonates deeply with us at bazaar. We are already shortlisting which pieces we are adding to our wardrobe, and we recommend you
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do the same as we don’t expect this range to stay on the shelves for long! We are confident that you are going to be excited about this latest collection just as much as we are.
Tribe of 6 is a regional fashion player that is working to push the industry towards meaningful change, by bringing together all walks of life to form a community that celebrates talent, diversity, and inclusivity. The brand showcases not only where we come from, but where we are going together. You are invited to be part of the tribe!
Customers can discover the latest Tribe of 6 collection at select Foot Locker stores in Kuwait and the UAE, as well as Harvey Nichols, Kuwait. Also shop Tribe of 6 online at Namshi as well as Tamanna in Kuwait.
Follow the brand to stay up to date on their latest launches and news on Instagram @Tribeof6ME. You can also find them on Facebook at: Tribe of 6.
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THE FARM THAT IS MORE ZOO THAN FARM
It was never meant to be one
By Craig Loomis
There is a farm near Wafra that, if truth be told, is more zoo than farm. To begin with there is a row of cages teeming with monkeys and green and yellow parrots. Under the palms there are wiry, rickety pens for the goats and chickens. Of course, chickens care nothing for pens and stroll anywhere they like. And there is what can only be described as big black squirrels in small wooden cages, along with four horses and two very unfriendly lumpy camels. In what pretends to be a barn he has a place for the snakes, but snakes being snakes spend a lot of time anywhere they want. Wandering here and there are multi-colored dogs and cats who, seemingly, are the best of friends, as well as two very gray tortoises who, so he tells me, haven’t moved more than two meters in days.
Saleh didn’t mean to make it into a zoo, not really, it just turned out that way, and now, after all these years, it is too late to change, to make everything go away. It just happened as more and more creatures were given to him, sometimes gifts, sometimes not. One day he woke up to find a pair of falcons at his window, “and if falcons could talk they would have asked for some food, a swallow of water would be nice,” he said, laughing at his own joke. From his farm that is more zoo than farm I can see a tiny line of highway in the distance, trucks moving bug-like towards the Saudi border. On a clear night, you can see the soft glow of Kuwait City, or at least that is what Saleh tells me. And sure enough, that night is clear and starry and as we walk past the goats and lumpy camels that sudden grow excited because they think they are about to be fed, he tells me to look that away, pointing, and I do and see something like a glow. He says, “See, I told you.”
I turn this way and that until finally I say, “But Kuwait City is the other way. You’re pointing west into an empty desert.”
Saleh considers this for a moment, looking first one way, then the other. We can hear the monkeys arguing, one of the camels grunts, while two cats come out of nowhere to worm around our ankles. Finally, he says, “Is it? Then what’s over there?” Motioning, “What’s that glow all about?”
We consider this together in silence, until I say, “No idea.” By now the monkeys have woken the sheep, the peacock, the rooster begins his flapping, crowing, thinking that with all the noise it must be morning.
“You know this is more zoo than farm, right?”
He shrugs and kicks one of the cats away. “I’ve become popular, you know. I mean, not me personally but the place. This what you call a zoo. People come from all over to spend the day, bring the kids, grandma and grandpa. If they want to give me a donation for the animals, to feed them, of course I accept, but if not and they simply want to wander around, that’s okay too.”
That’s when something like a deep growl comes from the deep desert’s darkness. “And what was that?” I ask.
More shrugging on his part, but then he points off into the night, saying, “Not sure. It comes and goes whatever it is.”
One of the dogs begins to whimper. I wait to hear it again, but nothing. “Comes and goes, you say?”
“Yes, just like that. By the way, one of the big black squirrels died the other day. We called him Harvey. Not sure why. Just Harvey the squirrel. Not sure why. I just went out in the morning, doing my usual walk about, and there it was motionless, stiff. None of the other squirrels seemed to care one way or another, as if to say: ‘What do you expect, and by the way, what’s for breakfast?’ So I am on the lookout for another squirrel, or at least something round and fuzzy. Kids love that stuff, you know. A rabbit would be nice.”
As a rule, the authorities care nothing about Saleh and his farm. As long as the animals don’t attack people or run dangerously wild in the desert, onto the road, who cares? So, it’s not the police Saleh is worried about.
“Ok, so what’s the worry?” I ask.
“Teenagers. They are always trying to steal a monkey or two, squeezing them through the wooden slats of their cages and into their backpacks.” More cats come out of the shadows to see what is going on, not to mention the big black dog named Charlie, whose doggy smile is like a sneer. “I’ve caught them more than once, you know. Teenagers who think it great fun to stuff a monkey in their backpacks. Like some kind of computer game.”
So, there you have it, the farm that is more zoo than farm and if asked if it ever really was a farm, in the traditional sense of the word, Saleh looks off towards the barn, as if barns know something about answers, before saying, “Probably—rows of palms all up and down the road, a kind of farm but nothing like now.” And he wanted to say more, was preparing to say more, when the monkeys suddenly begin screeching. This sets Saleh off into a trot, muttering as he goes, “Teenagers.”
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Photo by Dan Dennis on Unsplash.
WE NEED TO DECARBONIZE THE ECONOMY AT SCALE
Here’s one clever solution
By Talib Visram
What’s the one idea that humanity has come up with in the last 1,000 years that’s still transparent, cost efficient and verifiable?” asked Andrew Dailey, co-founder of Climate Vault, on the panel entitled Seizing the Last, Best Chance to Slow Climate Change. “It’s the market. So we said, ‘How can we take the market mechanism to address this problem’?”
The markets for buying and selling carbon offset are central to the Climate Vault’s mission. It buys permits allowing the emission of CO2 using funds from its partners, then “vaults” that carbon, reducing the amount of legally permissible emissions.
Next, the company, which was also cofounded by Michael Greenstone, previously chief economist for the Council of Economic Advisers for the Obama administration, invests in innovative carbon removal and sequestration technologies to permanently erase emissions from the Earth. “Our thing is really simple, which is: Tons, tons, tons, tons,” Dailey said. “And we end conversations with, ‘Let’s go get more tons.’”
For Dailey, the system works because of the scale it can achieve, comparing it to smaller actions that we do on behalf of sustainability in our everyday lives. “We all go home and compost
our coffee grounds. The reality is, does the planet care?” he asked. “Composting is a wonderful thing…. [but] we’ve got to go after the big targets and do it in a cost effective way that’s durable, over the long term.”
Supporting Climate Vault to scale its work is Genpact, a digital transformation company, whose data and insights will help the company reach a wider segment of the market, and work with bigger industries, to ultimately achieve its goal of reducing 10 million metric tons of emissions by the end of 2025. On the panel, Tiger Tyagarajan, Genpact’s CEO, agreed with Dailey about the approach. “Markets really work,” he said. “Bringing demand and supply together works.” And, it’s relatively easy for businesses to participate.
One such business partner is financial services company Northern Trust. “People will look at what Northern Trust has done and say, maybe we were too slow, because we weren’t the first out of the pack to claim we were going to be net zero carbon by 2050,” said Kimberly Evans, Northern Trust’s EVP and head of corporate sustainability, inclusion, and impact. But, the partnership is the result of a measured strategy that has involved all of its stakeholders. “It’s probably a little bit slower,
but it doesn’t land us in a spot where we then have to pull back,” she said.
The company is still in early days, and there’s much to iron out. “We’re a two-year-old a startup,” Dailey said. “So I’m not confident in a lot of things.” It remains to be seen which carbon removal technologies will be most useful and effective. Direct air capture is promising, but there are many other candidates. “I don’t think we’ve got the answers just yet,” he admitted.
While markets will do the bulk of the work, Tyagarajan emphasized they will still have to be supplemented with policy. However unpopular at first, reasonable government mandates could help cut carbon tolls. He recalls when the world’s carbon footprint dropped in April 2020 at the onset of the pandemic, because everyone had to stay home. “No one sat down at the table and said, ‘Let’s negotiate a treaty,’” he said. “There was no treaty. You’re not getting out of your home, buddy. You’re not driving a car.”
That could inform future policy initiatives. For instance: “I wish there was a mandate that basically says, on Saturdays and Sundays, no one drives,” Tyagarajan said.
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Photo by Matthias Heyde on Unsplash.
LEGENDARY NISSAN PATROL CELEBRATES MONUMENTAL GLOBAL MILESTONE
60 years since G60 Patrol recognized as first motorized vehicle to cross Australia’s Simpson Desert
By bazaar staff
Nissan Al Babtain was keen to celebrate the monumental 60th anniversary of the first motorized crossing of Australia’s vast Simpson Desert, achieved by the Sprigg family in their G60 Nissan Patrol. The family adventure, which has since made its way into Australia’s record books, was undertaken by Doug Sprigg, his sister Marg, and his parents Reg and Griselda in 1962.
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Looking back at the journey, nearly-70-yearold Doug fondly recollects being just seven when he and his family squeezed into the front seat of their G60 Patrol and set off on the adventure of a lifetime. With no real tracks or maps to follow, and with a 200-liter drum of fuel and 200-liter drum of water in the back, the family averaged just 5km/h on their journey. By day, the family would track across the desert, and each night the family would camp beneath the stars.
Starting from Andado Station in the Northern Territory, the two-week journey saw the Sprigg family navigate the endless sands of the Simpson Desert before completing their journey in Birdsville, Queensland on September 11, 1962. The Simpson Desert is the largest parallel sand dune desert in the world, stretching more than 170,000 square kilometers and touching the Northern Territory, Queensland, and South Australia.
“I have such fond memories of that G60 Patrol. It was such a robust and reliable vehicle. I was even shorter then than I am now, and Nissan had provided me a way of seeing forward — through the air vents below the windscreen and I remember the vehicle was magnificent. Every other vehicle had significant problems, with gearboxes in particular, or with differentials, but the Nissan never had any issues”, said Doug.
Globally renowned for its breathtaking capabilities and having earned its title as the “Hero of All Terrain”, the Patrol recently celebrated 70 glorious years of transporting people across the harshest of terrain in absolute comfort and luxury. This milestone coincided with the ‘Year of Patrol’ and was celebrated through a one-of-a-
kind event last December at Expo 2020 Dubai in the Middle East.
Recognized in the Middle East for its capability to conquer the harshest of terrain, the Patrol has built a legacy, composed of a deep-rooted heritage, power, and superior off-road capability over the past 70 years. Since its introduction to Kuwait in 1957, the Patrol has become an intrinsic part of the Gulf Countries and its people, integrating itself as a culture within society.
To cater to the unique needs of customers in the Middle East, Nissan continues to introduce
Middle East-exclusive versions of the iconic Patrol, including the luxurious Patrol 70th Anniversary model, the rugged Patrol Super Safari, and the race-inspired Patrol NISMO. In the region, the Patrol has earned its position as an icon and one that is passed on from one generation to the next.
Visit the Nissan Al Babtain showrooms located in Al Rai, Ahmadi and Jahra to learn more about Nissan cars in Kuwait. For more information, please call the dedicated call center on 1804 888 or visit the official website www.babtain.com.
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WHAT WILL AI DO TO BRANDING?
It’s not just what you think
By Rob Walker
A few months ago, when artificial-intelligence services that generated images based on text prompts started taking over the Internet, Heinz decided to test just how much its brand was synonymous with ketchup in general.
Working with the agency Rethink, Heinz asked AI image-maker DALL-E 2 to render “ketchup” and variations with different aesthetic modifiers (“renaissance,” “impressionism,” “street art,” etc.). The results, though varied in style, were all unmistakably Heinz-centric—notably referencing the unique shape of the Heinz label. Apart from being a fun stunt, it was a mighty flex, demonstrating the power of the Heinz brand.
But it also hinted at a potential issue for trademark holders that’s lately starting to get more attention: By and large, these AI systems seem to have been built without much regard for intellectual property.
Some observers have been raising this point for a while. Text-to-image tools like DALL-E 2 are “trained” by crawling the Web and “learning” hundreds of millions of text and image associations. Earlier this year, a TechCrunch report noted that DALL-E 2 maker OpenAI “filtered out” pornography and duplicates from that learning process. But the tool can produce images that include logos, trademarked characters, and other intellectual property—such as, SpongeBob shopping at Best Buy, Homer Simpson in Psycho, ancient Rome Spider-Man, Santa shopping on Amazon, or an “angry mob” of Ronald McDonalds protesting working conditions, in the style of Caravaggio.
DALL-E 2 and similar tools created by research lab Midjourney and the open source Stable Diffusion are becoming increasingly accessible— and popular. Video iterations are next, and the quality of the images produced is improving rapidly. “In a few years,” New York Times tech columnist Kevin Roose speculated not long ago, “the vast majority of the photos, videos and text we encounter on the internet could be A.I.generated.”
As usual, any semblance of a regulatory strategy creating some parameters for managing this technology is trailing well behind these developments. Already, AI-generated images are becoming increasingly commonplace on stock image sites like Shutterstock, iStock, and Adobe Stock. (Getty, meanwhile, has banned AI imagery, citing “unaddressed rights issues.”) Clear answers around authorship and ownership of these images are a work in progress.
For brands, the issues are slightly different, but just as vexing. On one hand, as Heinz demonstrated, AI-generated visuals represent another tool that adventurous companies can play and experiment with. There are a few other examples. Stitch Fix has described how it used
the technology to generate images of potential products—to “surface the most informative characteristics of a product in a visual way, ultimately helping stylists find the perfect item that matches what a client has requested in their written feedback.”
Others have examined how AI imagery could fit into marketing campaigns and materials. This speculation has included wondering whether AI could actually become a threat to graphic design or other creative careers.
In the years ahead, AI video could become a radically cheaper alternative to traditional ad production for marketers. “Why spend $100,000 on a single television commercial targeting millions of people,” Brett Winton, director of research at ARK Invest, has argued, “when, with the same budget, an advertiser will be able to create 10,000 different commercials, each tuned to a cluster of like-minded viewers at a moment in time?” Such scenarios may be off in the future, but it’s worth noting that Meta and Google are experimenting with simple AI-generated videos right now.
In the shorter term, AI imagery raises IP and branding challenges that will likely get sorted out in real time. The most obvious case study would probably involve AI creations featuring recognizable IP—a Disney character, for instance, or a trademarked corporate logo. “If a Disney princess is recognizable in an image generated by DALL-E 2, we can safely assume that The Walt Disney Co. will likely assert that the DALL-E 2 image
is a derivative work and an infringement of its copyrights on the Disney princess likeness,” a prominent IP attorney told TechCrunch. There could be counter-arguments for transformative or fair use, but IP owners are likely to push the issue as hard as possible. One layer deeper than that is the question of whether allowing these AI systems to “learn” from copyrighted imagery in the first place might be legally problematic.
On a more practical, short-term level, there’s the more workaday matter of how brands and logos and the like might be sucked into grassroots AI experimentation, goofing-off, and meme-making against their will—not for profit, but for lulz. Think of this as the bizarro-world flipside of that Heinz experiment. After all, brands are cultural material, for better or worse, and these are the consequences. In a fairly benign early example, Janelle Shane, on her “machine learning humor blog” AI Weirdness, has already played around with using DALL-E 2 “to mess up corporate logos.” The results are a mix of accidental satire and a kind of critique of any given brand’s relative strength.
It’s not clear that a brand would have an IPbased argument for squelching such material— and it’s even less clear that it would be a good idea to try. DALL-E and its rivals are already incredibly impressive at visualizing whatever we can imagine. But the consequences are going to be very real.
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Photo by Jeff Sheldon on Unsplash.
SCAN THE CODE FOR MORE INFO SHOP RIVER ISLA N D T H E A VENUES | MARI N A MA LL & O N LI N E AT T A M ANN A . CO M
ALEXA BE USEFUL
How to get the best use out of your Alexa
By Jeremy Caplan
Last year Amazon and Google sold 73 million smart speakers. Since Amazon introduced Alexa in 2014, competitors have emerged, including Apple and Google. Even as big models with glossy screens have emerged, I still prefer the smallest, screenless models. The minis take up less space, look better, offer the same features, and cost less. Alexa’s Echo Dot sells for $30 or less when on sale, with no subscription cost. Google’s Nest Mini costs the same on sale. A Google device sits in my kitchen and an Amazon Echo Dot in my office. Read on for how I use them.
Timers
Set a timer for pasta, for your morning routine on busy weekdays, or for anything else. I like keeping my phone in another room, to avoid distraction, so it’s nice being able to just say “Hey Google, set a timer for 5 minutes.” You can also use your voice to control smart home devices like lights or a TV.
News
When I get home late and haven’t seen the news, I sometimes ask for a quick news summary to catch up. It’s easy to customize for the outlets and topics you prefer. You can get world headlines from the BBC, domestic news from NPR, sports from ESPN — or whatever others suit you.
Podcasts
When I’m washing dishes, I’ll sometimes say “Hey Google, play the Planet Money podcast” or whatever else I feel like listening to, like one of these superb shows. It’s nice to just start listening and not to have to fiddle with a podcast app or put on headphones.
Music
When we’re having weekday family breakfasts, we like listening to our local classical music station, New York City’s WQXR and its terrific morning DJ, Jeff Spurgeon. (Yes, classical DJs have fans, too). We used to have a radio in the kitchen, but a smart speaker can serve up any radio station you want. We no longer have to fiddle with a radio antenna for good reception.
Weather
When you’re deciding on umbrellas and jackets, ask for a local weather forecast. Or if you’re traveling somewhere, ask for the weather or traffic at your destination.
Questions
When we’re stumped about what a sparklemuffin is during a dinner discussion or wonder when Isaac Asimov published Foundation (1951) we can get a quick answer without having to pull out screens.
Poetry and jokes
When you want to take a break with a quick riddle, joke or poem, a smart speaker can immediately oblige. The jokes tend toward the juvenile, but
sometimes the badness of the jokes is funny. And listening to a random poem can provide a welcome pause on a busy day.
Games
I was surprised to discover how many games smart speakers can play. During the pandemic my daughters, wife and I tried trivia and soundguessing games. There are even choose-your-own adventure-style games, where you have to pick where to go or what action to take.
A few Alexa games to try: Twenty Questions, Song Quiz, Common Knowledge. Or try Comfort My Dog or Calm My Cat. “Listening to this music will help your dog (or cat) feel more relaxed and calm,” the app makers say. Thousands of strong reviews concur. I don’t have a pet, so I haven’t tried either.
Echo Buttons let you buzz in to play game-show style, though they’re apparently now unavailable. I’ve used them to play trivia games with students.
Google’s Nest Mini vs Amazon’s Echo Dot Google Advantages:
Smarter, more reliable answers to questions, from trivia queries to how-tos.
Better range of music. Google’s smart speaker allows me to listen to the full YouTube Music library, which Alexa doesn’t allow. You can customize either smart speaker to play music from Spotify or Pandora. Has a clear switch to turn off the microphone.
Amazon Advantages:
Simple, amusing games are part of an extensive collection of Alexa “Skills.”
You can create custom apps easily with templates called Alexa Skill Blueprints. These are for you or your family only, not for public use. When my daughters were little, we had fun customizing a fairy tale with their names, and making up questions for our own quiz game.
Drawbacks and concerns
Privacy is a significant consideration when you have a device listening for your voice and storing recordings. Read tech publication MakeUseOf’s analysis of privacy questions about Alexa for more on this, and the Ambient’s piece on what smart speaker makers do with your data. Unplug a smart speaker to disable it. Or if the idea of your voice being recorded troubles you, just avoid smart speakers entirely.
If you already have an Alexa and want to delete past recordings of your voice commands you can open the Alexa app on your phone and choose Settings > Alexa Privacy > Review Voice History. Then navigate to All History and select > Delete All My Recordings.
If you have people in your house who find it fun to order things online, you can disable purchasing so that kids or pranksters can’t shop through your Alexa device.
Photo by Nicolas J Leclercq on Unsplash.
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AlRai, The Avenues, Souq Sharq, Al-Kout, Boulevard, Promenade
THE EVERYDAY IS THE MOST IMPORTANT DAY
There are moments in life that are special. And then there’s the everyday. All those Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays that make up the days of our lives.
At IKEA we have always cherished the small moments in life. Those everyday happenings when everyone comes together doing the most ordinary things. Like getting dressed, brushing your teeth or lying on the bed doing nothing. It’s for those everyday moments we create affordable home furnishings that make life at home not only beautiful, but easier too. Because when your home works for the way you live, life itself will be simpler too.
Now it’s time to shed light on one of the most important areas at home. Where you sleep and where you get ready for your day and night. Because if everyone can make the everyday begin and end in a nicer way, just imagine how smooth your life would be. Wouldn’t it be simply better?
Enjoy the third issue of our magazine!
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BEST WAY TO START AND END YOUR DAY
By bazaar staff
We’ll be the first to say that we love, love, love magazines. We love perusing them and immersing ourselves in all the beautiful content they offer. Which is why we’re really excited about The IKEA Magazine. They’ve distilled decades of expertise and knowledge to guide us through the process of making our homes truly ours, and we explore some of our favorite pages from their latest issue in this special feature.
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The secrets to starting and finishing the day in the extraordinary way as told by the experts at the IKEA Magazine
20% OFF PAX and PLATSA WARDROBES, and integrated Lighting + FREE Delivery and Assembly! *Terms and conditions applyThis offer is valid until the 10th of November, 2022 [Continued...]
The third issue just came out, and it is titled The On-Off Home: Start and Finish the Day. While you can read the magazine on your phone, it really is so much more enjoyable on a tablet or computer, so you can fully enjoy the gorgeous photos and editorials. The magazine is a great example of why going digital is a much more immersive content experience; you can find embedded videos that are part of the narrative to help us better understand and visualize IKEA’s innovative home solutions.
Step
Create your mood board
Steps to CREATING YOUR DREAM BEDROOM
Earlier this year, IKEA announced their newest and most exciting initiative yet. Helping us all making extraordinary memories in the ordinary moments of life. And The IKEA Magazine was part of that. It is an aspirational, yet very accessible digital-only lifestyle magazine that helps us create spaces (literally and figuratively) that help us live our best lives.
Step 2: Focus on the layout
Start with
When
Step 3: How to choose the perfect bed
Step 4: Smart storage just for you
If
This issue focuses on bedrooms, since it is the place where your day starts and ends, making it an integral part of your routine. The articles are clear and concise, and have found some great tips and tricks that we will be implementing.
The first feature gives readers eight fantastic and concrete solutions to common bedroom blunders. If you’ve never created a mood board, that’s where you need to start. While most of us have a general idea of what we like, a mood board is a visual representation of your style. It will help you have figure out color schemes, textures and general style of your room.
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Cuddle up in your own nest and wake up with a smile. A restful bedroom is the sum of many parts – comfort, the perfect balance between dark and light, air quality, temperature, soft colors and sound (or the absence of it). Together, they create perfect harmony. Join us in the following pages to guide you through one step at a time and in no time, you will be able to create your dream bedroom that suits your style and needs without breaking the bank. 8 Step 6: How to have a good night’s sleep Light sends a wake-up signal to the brain that lowers the sleep-inducing hormone melatonin, which makes it harder to fall asleep or stay asleep. Controlling light is important for good sleep. Window treatments also offer privacy, comfort, style and energy efficiency. A heavy curtain will help you regulate the temperature of the room. A block-out blind or curtain is your best friend when it comes to sleeping well. Layering a block-out with a sheer curtain lets you decide how much light you want to let in while keeping things private. Step 5: The importance of bed linen Crisp, good quality bed linen is key too. Make sure that your bedlinen last. Choose a high thread count (at least 300) bedding that is made of sustainably sourced materials. Linen is also great if you have no time, or don’t want to iron your bed linen, as it has a naturally destressed look. Maximize the natural light coming into your bedroom during the day so it feels bigger and brighter. Then minimize it at night when you want the room to be as dark as possible. It is all about getting the right balance.
1:
Start by looking for inspiration online or in magazines – just to get a sense of what you want. Then, grab the images, colors, textures and items you adore. Green tends to make you feel calm. See if it can help resting at bedtime (if not for you, then maybe for overly energetic family members near you). For full effect – or just for the look of it – let a canopy of green textiles envelope the entire bed.
the position of your bed, organizing all other furniture around it. It is best to position your bed lengthwise in a rectangular room, while larger bedrooms will allow for more creativity; and you may want to position the bed in the center of the room.
planning the layout for small bedrooms, consider moving the bed into a corner to save floor space all around. Consider things such as windows, doors, activities and of course, the number of people.
Choosing a bed isn’t just about buying a good-looking bed frame but also one that best suits your needs. For example, are you short on bedroom storage and would benefit from built-in drawers, or a bed that lifts up to reveal hidden storage in the base, or a bed with a storage headboard? And of course, the mattress is a very important factor to consider. Did you know that you have to choose your mattress depending on the way you sleep?
you only have to follow one rule when choosing your
bedroom furniture,
pick pieces that double up as
bedroom
storage. If you are designing a bedroom that’s tight on space, a mirrored
wardrobe
is
probably the
best trick
for visually enhancing the size of the room. Bedroom storage options should be easy on the eye as well as functional.
Step 7:
Light up your room
While
Start
Add
Step 8: Add your special touch
•
•
In
Rugs
They also reminded us that creating storage space while you are designing your room is what we should all be doing. We all know that we like our stuff and making sure that you maximize the space available to store it will keep your room neat, tidy and a much more pleasant place to be. Our all-time favorite step was figuring out lighting. Most of us used to just make sure we had a light on the ceiling and maybe a small lamp on the bedside
table. IKEA suggest we should create softer lights in several places to create different vibes based on our needs. Adding some dimmable bulbs or a string of fairy lights can help create a cozy feel at the end of the day so we can relax our way to sleep.
Our next favorite article tackles the wardrobe. We learned how to create more space by selecting the right inserts, drawers and dividers. Stowing away seasonal items that won’t be in use in sealed
containers will also save space. And making things accessible means we will enjoy our clothes and accessories more often because we will be building cute fits instead of forgetting we had the elegant earrings or could not find our navy blazer. There are also interesting tips like making sure all our hangers matched, it’s such an easy and affordable change that will instantly make your closet look more coordinated stylish.
Storing
Hanging
Hiding
Display
Folding
Folded
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natural light is important when designing a bedroom, most of us spend more time in our bedroom when it’s dark, so clever bedroom lighting is crucial to creating a cozy and relaxing space.
with soft, diffused light from dimmable bedside or wall lamps, or even a string of fairy lights arranged along your headboard. Opt for Integrated lighting in a wardrobe and good task lighting around your dressing table.
a chandelier or over-sized lampshade to create a focal decorative point above the foot of the bed.
any bedroom design, large or small, a few finishing touches can make all the difference.
add softness to the room, dampen the sound and keep your feet from feeling cold. Invest in a quality rug and see your bedroom instantly look more elegant. Layer cushions and throws for better comfort. Create a gallery wall to add interest and color.
Display photos and pictures to personalize the bedroom.
Use plants to promote a healthy atmosphere.
Use the space up high for all your seasonal and once-a-year items. Then just pull them down when you need them.
Spacious closed drawers to hide away whatever you want.
Organize all your items together by function –shirts, jackets, skirts…
Pull-out trays are perfect to display all your accessories.
sweaters get the most of fresh air.
[Continued...]
Hanging with style
Hanging things like shirts, dresses and jackets means fewer wrinkles and gives you a good overview so you can see what you have and get some outfit inspiration. You can arrange your clothes by type – all jackets together and so on. Or by color, which makes things look calmer – especially helpful if you have an open wardrobe.
Choose the right kind of hanger for the clothes but using the same hangers for most of your clothes will help your wardrobe look more coordinated.
If you are not sure how to design a wardrobe from scratch, IKEA’s free of charge planning and consultation services can help you out. From sending a pro to measure your space to helping you select the most suitable add-ons, drawers and options that will make the best use of your space while also matching your style, their experts can really make this a much easier solution.You can visit www.IKEA.com/kw to find out more about the services.
There’s still so much more goodness in the magazine so keep reading, the issue
Hanging works for accessories, too
Hanging
way
like scarves,
The beauty of organizing
A wardrobe is a
Shelves are
them all at a
for things that you can
for your T-shirts
and
A
can be a
Clothes boxes inside a drawer mean you can keep things
socks or
together so you can find them
and
are
with compartments make sure that your
for spacious drawers! How you combine the different options is down to what you need to
to find
and your personal taste.
includes how different households from young couples to small families have designed their bedrooms and bathrooms to work for them. They’re all gorgeous rooms, and instead of feeling jealous, we feel rather inspired, and ready to introduce changes to our homes. Flip through some more pages and you will find another article that helps you with creating a healthier food routine. It is all about fresh, healthy, and nutritious ingredients. Not only do they provide us with tips they have included delicious looking breakfast recipes to help us
start the day fueled and full. We’re definitely trying the Friday Brunch Casserole recipe first!
We’ve barely scratched the surface of the useful information and inspo in the pages, so absolutely check it out. You can thank us later, by inviting us and showing us how you levelled up your room with IKEA.
Now is the perfect time to start leveling up your bedroom because IKEA is offering 20% off PAX and PLATSA WARDROBES and integrated lighting. The offer also includes free delivery and assembly and valid until November 10th.
Kick-start to a good day
It is called the most important meal of the day, for a good reason of course.
When you wake up from your 8 - 10 hours over night sleep your body needs to replenish the en ergy and nutrients needed to function effectively. Adding breakfast to your morning schedule will kick-start your metabolism which helps you burn calories that will give you the needed energy to fo cus for work or school.
Many reasons exist for not having that needed meal in the morning. For example, you done have the time, you don’t feel hungry, or you still feel tired.
but avoid caffeine as well as spicy and acidic foods that can contribute to reflux and heartburn.
Give it a try; Set your alarm 15 minutes earlier, grab that healthy morning shake or bowl of fruits that will only take you less than 5 minutes to prepare. It will give your body that kick-start to a good day!
As healthy and fresh as it can be!
Healthy, tasty and full of flavour!
Steaming is the perfect cooking solution for vegetables, fish, chicken and dump lings without the use of unhealthy oils.
Steaming your food has been shown not only to maintain the shape, colour and freshness of your food, but it also has shown that this is the most preferred way to maintain those vitamins and minerals that is lost through boiling.
Through steaming you retain vitamins such as vitamin B, riboflavin, thiamine, ni acin, biotin, B12, pantothenic acid and vi tamin C, as well as minerals such as zinc, calcium, phosphorous and potassium. 90 present of antioxidants are also kept in tact by steaming rather than boiling.
Visit www.IKEA.com/kw/en/ to find the latest version of the magazine. Follow @IKEAkuwait on Instgaram for more inspiration and updates.
big box – it’s how it’s organized inside that helps you see and get your things.
great
fold up
stack – like chunkier sweaters.
drawer
perfect, easy access home
– just fold them and put them upright so you see
glance.
like
belts
super fast. Boxes
accessories
organized
easy
– perfect
store
them up is an easy to see, easy to get and spacesaving
to store things
ties and accessories. Healthy food will do miracles Healthy and sustainable routines to help you start and finish the day in a good way! Our bodies are perfectly capable to do two things at the same time, however sleeping and digestion that late night dinner or snack might result in you not getting all the sleep you need to start the next day fresh and rested. So, what’s the best time to stop eating before bed? Having your last meal 3 hours before bed is recommended to allow enough time to digest so it won’t disrupt your sleep. Having a small healthy evening snack should not be a prob lem,
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DEBENHAMS’ PINK OCTOBER EVENT:
Helping Women Take Care of Themselves a Little More
by Engy Ali
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We know Debenhams for being one of the go-to spots to shop for quality global brands of clothes and accessories for men, women, and kids. Last month, Debenhams decided to make a difference by helping women take care of themselves a little more through hosting their Pink October event.
Last month, we visited Debenhams as they hosted Pink October Event where visitors, loyal customers, and VIP were able to receive a free fitting experience with the help of their lingerie experts, enjoy a 50% off their bra purchases that day, along with a 30% off of all their lingerie items until the end of the month in support of the Breast Cancer Awareness month.
The event took place in their branch in The Avenues, Grand Plaza, specifically in their lingerie section on the first floor. Upon walking
in, we were first greeted by the soothing live music and the warm staff offering you food and refreshments. The ambiance is already gracious and friendly, not that we would expect anything less from Debenhams.
Visitors were able to get fitted in the fitting rooms by Debenhams’ fitting experts who later give them a token which they could use to receive the 50% discount off their bras and a goodie bag containing nice gifts including a breast awareness pin.
We were most excited to be able to get to chat with one of fitting experts, who shared extremely valuable information about bra fittings. Did you know that you have to get a bra fitting every 3 months? That’s right. There are many factors that could result in you changing bra sizes, be it weight gain or loss, pregnancy, changing hormone levels, and others. While the frequency may seem a little bothersome to many, it is imperative to wear the correct bra size, says the expert, since otherwise not only is
wearing an ill-fitting bra uncomfortable, it could also potentially lead to neck, back, and shoulder pains and bad posture.
Debenhams’ newly expanded lingerie section offers a wide variety of brands and options for women, that are ideal for every occasion and are stylish to ensure that you feel comfortable wearing them. You can currently find a range of amazing lingerie by Debenhams, Georgeous, Hunkemoller, Dorina, Chantelle, Simone Perele, Wacoal, Spanx, and Chantelle X. The best part? The free expert fitting service is here to stay, as it’s been recently relaunched.
Follow @debenhamsmiddleeast on Instagram and Facebook for all the latest updates. Visit Debenhams in Grand Avenue – The Avenues Phase 4, Souq Sharq and Kuwait International Airport or shop online at www.debenhams.com. kw. You can also call customer service on 182 1212 for more information.
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WHAT GAME STRESSES YOU OUT?
Mario Kart is the MOST STRESSFUL Video Game Based on Heart Rate Increase
By Sanna Lahteenmaki
Mario Kart has been ranked the number one game for getting pulses racing, according to a new study. The research put experienced gamers to the test to uncover the most demanding video games on the market, with results showing that Mario Kart produces a 32.81 per cent increase in heart rate over a 30-minute period.
Using heart rate monitors to test their reactions, the research conducted by BonusFinder, found that playing the legendary racing game elevated their pulse by an average of 21 beats per minute, raising the average resting heart rate from 64 BPM to 85 BPM.
The game’s 30 per cent increase in heart rate is equivalent to nearly half of the target increase in heart rate when exercising, and is physically equal to going for a gentle walk.
The research was undertaken with 14 participants playing 16 of the most popular and challenging console, PC, and mobile games presently available. The participants, who were selected, were used to playing a minimum of 15 hours a week and were familiar with the video games that were used as a part of the study.
According to the findings, the other games that made it into the top 5 alongside Mario Kart were FIFA Soccer (31%), Call of Duty (30%), Dark Souls (28%) and Fortnite (27%).
Elsewhere, the research also uncovered that certain video games were able to reduce heart rates and stress levels.
Animal Crossing, The Sims and Skyrim were all found to lower participant average heart rates throughout the course of a 30-minute session, by as much as 5 per cent. This would explain their popularity, as while competing to win games can be very fun and rewarding, sometimes all we want to do after a hard day’s work is unwind, explore and de-stress.
Fintan Costello, Managing Director at BonusFinder, said: “If you are looking for a
timeless classic, Mario Kart remains a fan favourite even after three decades.
“What the study highlights is quite remarkable, despite all the newcomers with improved graphics and increased spending, the old Nintendo formula is still irresistible to gamers and nothing can replace the jeopardy of a red shell on the last lap of a race.
“It’s interesting to see in so many of these games, the increase in heart rate is equivalent to doing light exercise, which might explain why it feels like it takes plenty of energy out of those playing them.”
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Photo by Ravi Palwe on Unsplash.
IS READY FOR FALL!
DISCOVER FALL LOOKS THAT ARE FUN, PLAYFUL AND COZY ALL AT ONCE
By bazaar staff
Fall is cozy season, don’t tell the other seasons, but it’s our favorite. It’s time to start overhauling your kids closets and plan new outfits, especially in Cheekee Munkee’s fall fits that are all things cute and trendy. The kid’s value fashion brand has just launched its Autumn-Winter collection across the UAE, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, and it is absolutely oh-so adorable.
With a clear mission of ‘letting kids be kids’, this new kid’s value fashion brand wants kids to be comfortable while they enjoy their playtime. And we can’t agree more. We want the little ones to enjoy exploring the world, whether they are getting messy outdoors or putting puzzles together in the living room. Best of all, Cheekee Munkee is very affordable.
As the leaves change color and we approach the cooler season, the brand has some really versatile design options that are funky and practical. Hooded
options will keep your little ones warm in style while still letting them move around freely as they explore the world.
Cheekee Munkee offers a wide range of options that to suit every child’s personality From adorable wardrobe staples such as frilly jumpsuits and whimsical dresses to elevated basics of tees, shorts and sweatshirts in vibrant hues, the collection makes for easy changing at home or while out and about.
They really have thought of everything because we really appreciate the
incredible value of the stylish multipacks for girls and boys, perfect for mess-free quick outfit changes. Parents know that spills and messes are an inevitable part of childhood and once you are prepared with extra changes of clothing, you start celebrating your child’s adventurous and curious nature.
Not only do they create playful and comfy kid fit, but the brand is also a responsible children’s fashion brand offering great quality with great value and sustainably sourced options! The clothing is crafted in
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the region, and is part of Alshaya Group’s portfolio of fashion brands.
Whether it be birthday parties, fun school days or even an activity-filled holiday, the Cheekee Munkee AW range captures the essence of childhood in this new collection. Available from newborn to 7 years of age, the collection is all about fresh designs in vivid colours and gentle fabrics. They can be easily mixedand-matched or completed with perfectly matching pieces.
Cheekee Munkee products are available across Debenhams and Mothercare stores in UAE, KSA and Kuwait. Parents who prefer the convenience of shopping online will be happy to learn that they have multiple online shopping options like Debenhams.com, Mothercare.com and Namshi.com across all three markets, as well as Tamanna.com in Kuwait.
Follow the latest updates from Cheekee Munkee on Instagram and Facebook at: Cheekee Munkee ME.
NO PLUG? NO PROBLEM.
By Jesus Diaz
Here’s a clever device that is both deceptively simple and surprisingly effective: a humidifier made of clay, inspired by the way trees absorb and evaporate water, that works without any external power whatsoever. Just physics. And 3D printing.
The device—called the Print Clay Humidifier— was created by designer Jiaming Liu as his master’s graduation project at Folkwang University of the Arts in Essen, Germany. It looks like an almost perfect exercise in smart, environmentally conscious design that brings comfort to the user thanks to traditional low-cost materials and hightech manufacturing techniques. In fact, it works because of that combination. The uniqueness of the 3D-printed shape is key for the humidifier to work, Liu says, and “it is difficult to make by hand or other production methods of injection molding.”
How it works
Liu says that his humidifier was inspired by the way trees work in nature: “The bottom water storage part is like the ground and soil. The extension curves [which are inside the water container] are like the roots of a tree absorbing water. The main part carries water upwards and radiates, like tree trunks and branches.” This evaporation process is the same as used by terracota water vessels to cool down its contents, which is what also powers the all-natural, no electricity-needed Nave AC system.
These three segments are all printed in one piece. The water storage part is a container capable of holding 500 milliliters (0.13 gallons) of water. It is glazed on the outside so it can store the liquid without it wetting the floor, your desk, or whatever surface you place the humidifier on.
The roots and the upper trunk are not glazed, however, as they needs to be in direct contact
with the water and the air to work their magic. They absorb the water in the container through the natural, microscopic network of pores in the clay. As water rises up and saturates the clay, it evaporates, increasing the humidity of the room.
After trying many different structures, he claims that its accordion-like shape is the best for water absorption and evaporation, as the ridges provide a larger contact surface with the air in the most compact footprint (much like how heatsinks and similar contraptions work). Compared with other humidifiers on the market, its unique printing structure enables it to better absorb and evaporate water, he claims. And if you are thinking that a water bowl on a heater will have the same effect, he says that the micropores in the clay are more effective at releasing water into the atmosphere: “The evaporation rate is significantly improved, absorbing more water and evaporating more water faster.”
Return to old
Liu made his Print Clay Humidifier after trying other materials. The previous model—which he fabricated two years ago, before his masters— was made of concrete. Then he started to conduct a series of tests on printing technology and recycled materials. He experimented with the ceramic 3D printer provided by the school’s ceramic workshop, where he also learned about the problem of industrial waste generated by the ceramics industry.
He found out that a clay-ceramic combination— using one third of recycled ceramic powder—
made the structure stronger while boosting its water absorption powers.
If any companies are interested in making these at scale, Liu says he’d be happy to bring it to market. The design has other uses too, he points out. There’s a smaller 1:2 scale model that works as an aroma diffuser, which will sell like hotcakes at every yoga studio and tree-hugging hippie shop on the planet.
In the middle of an energy crisis and skyrocketing electricity prices, perhaps industrial manufacturers need to pause and take a look at this and other simple, clever inventions based on traditional materials and techniques—like the Nave AC system—which could bring the comfort that people demand while not destroying the planet one watt at a time.
Photos courtesy jiamingliu.design.
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This 3D-printed humidifier doesn’t use any electricity
AlRai, The Avenues, Souq Sharq, Al-Kout, Boulevard, Promenade
SCENTS THAT MAKE YOU FEEL BETTER FROM BATH & BODY WORKS
Fall in love with the cozy scents of Fall with Bath & Body Works aromatherapy range and seasonal candles
By bazaar staff
Bath & Body Works is our go-to place for a self-care routine like no other, from fresh fragrances to soothing skin care offerings. We recently found out that something new is hitting the shelves; The NEW Aromatherapy Collection by Bath & Body Works.
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A couple of drops of essential oil can totally transform your mood. You can go from tired to focused, or stressed to relaxed. Or maybe you just need to feel a little happier and relaxed. It’s not magic, even though it sometimes feels like it – it’s aromatherapy.
There are so many ways to include using essential oils to your routine. But it used to be quite difficult to use them consistently. First you had to source high-quality oils and then learn how to blend them to get the desired effect. Sometimes even when you know which oils to mix, you didn’t get the proportions correct, so instead of happy vibes you just ended with frustrated ones.
And we haven’t even started on how you were actually going to use the actual blend. You needed a diffuser or a carrier oil. Bath & Body Works has made it so much simpler and easier. They sourced the best essential oils, came up with the blends we require in our everyday lives and mixed them into the products we actually use every day so we can just use them and go.
The Bath & Body Works aromatherapy collection uses high-quality essential oils and fragrances to rejuvenate and maintain harmony of body, mind, and spirit. In the morning, quickly raise your energy levels with the aromatherapy Energy line. Wake up with the Orange and Ginger body lotion and feel energized and refreshed. You’re now ready to conquer your day.
You just got home and kicked off your shoes? That might be a great start to the evening, but the unwind with Stress Relief can help you take it to the next level. A series of aromatherapy products from body creams to pillow mists, created with a calming blend of eucalyptus, spearmint and more. A breath of fresh air!
If you are lucky and are living an energized stress-free life, you can still create a calming and comfortable atmosphere to help you sleep better. You can choose from two sleep fragrances; vanilla and lavender-based or the cedar wood and lavender. There’s definitely a blend for every day, every mood and everyone!
The different blends are available as different products too: body wash, body cream, scrubs, bubble bath, pillow mist, body oil, and it’s also available on candles. Switch up your routine and fall in love with these mood-boosting, super soothing, skin softening favorites that we all need right now. All of Bath & Body Works aromatherapy shower gels are made with aloe and bamboo extract, a nourishing, fast-foaming body wash leaves skin feeling clean, soft and refreshed. Or you might prefer the Moisturizing Body Wash, which was clinically tested to moisturize after a single shower. It is made with coconut oil, shea butter and cocoa butter provides a rich, creamy lather. For smooth skin, try the Sugar Scrub, made with nourishing oils, such as jojoba oil and almond oil, and exfoliating sugar crystals for gently buffing your skin.
After the shower indulge in the Body Lotion. This ultra-nourishing, fast-absorbing body lotion made with vitamin E and shea butter locks in moisture all day. Some people prefer the Body Cream, which includes shea butter and vitamin E, this rich, nongreasy body cream provides deep conditioning and continuous 24-hour moisture. For a more lightweight moisturizing solution opt for the Moisturizing Body Oil, which locks in moisture for 24 hours for more nourished and hydrated skin. You can even treat your space not just your body by spritzing some Pillow Mist & Oil over your pillows and bed linens for a restful fragrance.
You can also enjoy essential oils in candles to create the ultimate atmosphere of utter relaxation at home. The Bath & Body Works Fall candles include the same high-quality essential oils to bring the cozy scents of the season into your home. Choose between Mahogany, Leaves or Pumpkin Pecan Waffles (which sound delicious and heavenly). Better yet, get all three so you can enjoy hours of the sweetest smelling chill vibes.
Join in the social conversation on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter @bathandbodyworksarabia. Find the aromatherapy range and fall candles on bathandbodyworks.com.kw or any of Bath & Body Works’ stores.
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BREAKING THE TIME RULES
By Stephanie Vozza
If you feel overscheduled and overwhelmed, the answer might not be a new productivity hack. You might want to start asking better questions—because how you spend your time is how you show your love, says Richie Norton, author of Anti-Time Management: Reclaim Your Time and Revolutionize Your Results with the Power of Time Tipping.
We’re all working, but not for work’s sake,” he says. “Ultimately, we’re working for something else.” Norton came to this realization after a string of tragedies. His 21-year-old brother-in-law, Gavin, died in his sleep. His son Gavin, named after his uncle, died at just 10 weeks of age from whooping cough. His wife had a stroke, and his 11-year-old son was hit by a car.
“I was like, ‘Does God hate me?’” he says. “So, I’ve tried to spend my time creating time. How can this job free up space? How can this job support me having more time with my family or more time to travel or more time for the things that really matter, as opposed to endlessly working toward something?”
Norton calls his philosophy Gavin’s Law, which is, “Live to start. Start to live.”
Rethinking Time Management
Norton was a mentee of Stephen Covey, the time management icon and author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. “Stephen said to ‘begin with the end in mind,’” says Norton. “But he never said begin with means in mind. I think, in many ways, we’ve turned goals and habits into ends unto themselves, when in reality, all these things we’re doing are meant for us to live in a different way.”
Traditional time management tools are designed to measure every drop of blood, sweat, and tears from workers, explains Norton. “[They were] never designed for freedom,” he says. “The question is, ‘Who manages my time under time management?’ Traditionally, it is about control. Your employer controls your time. They create your schedule. They tell you what to do when and where. And, if you want to get crazy, they determine that you only have two weeks out of the year for vacation and when you get to retire.”
Norton suggests embracing “anti-time management.” Instead of being the opposite or the reverse, it’s a different level of thinking. “You control your time,” says Norton. “You decide what you want to do, when and where. You decide if you want to create space or not.”
To practice anti-time management, start by identifying “final causes.” “It’s a term from Aristotle,” says Norton. “The idea is [that] an acorn becomes an oak tree. But in real life, a lot of us are planting seeds thinking they’re going to be an oak, when they never will. Why not just plant an oak tree from the start?”
“Final cause” is the sake for which something
is done. It’s not the goal; it’s the success that comes from achieving the goal. “Once you realize the final cause, you can change the decision tree around who you want to be and what you really want to do and set up from the dream instead of working endlessly toward it,” says Norton.
For example, you may want to create a table. You might make a design, hire a contractor, and build a table. “That’s great if the goal is to have an heirloom table, but what if the purpose was just to have dinner?” says Norton. “What does success look like after success? Once you understand that, you might realize you could have gotten UberEATS or gone to a food truck. In that process, steps disappear, and you get your time back because the steps weren’t necessary at all.”
“Tip” Time Instead of Managing It Norton calls the process “time tipping”—rescuing your dream from the end of a timeline and putting it front and center. To tip time and get to the real goal of your goal, you need to get clear on the four Ps of purpose: personal, professional, people, and play.
Your personal purpose relates to the priorities that are just for you, such as health or spirituality. Professional purpose relates to your career, such as promotions or recognition. Your people purpose relates to those around you who are important in your life, such as your family. And your play purpose relates to activities that make you feel energized. Make a list of your Ps, and whenever you have a choice, ask yourself if it fits your purpose priorities.
“They become your North Star,” says Norton. “Does the action bring you closer to or fulfill one of these four goals or not?”
Stop managing time and start prioritizing attention, says Norton. “Pay attention to what you really want, then fast forward the model, going from purpose to priorities to projects,” he says. “The way you’re paid should be in alignment with what you want to be doing. Change the way you work. Change how you’re paid. Change your life. The work you choose determines your lifestyle.”
Photo by Luis Villasmil on Unsplash.
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How (and why) you should practice ‘anti-time management’
Treat Yourself Choconut Latte هيتلا تنوكوش Gingerbread Frappé هيبارف ديربرجنج @CostaKuwait Featured products contains hazelnut DOWNLOAD THE COSTA COFFEE CLUB ME APP
YOUR DREAM HOME CAN NOW BE ‘MADE TO ORDER’ WITH POTTERY BARN, WEST ELM AND WILLIAM SONOMA
The family of brands offer beautiful, custom fabrics to create bespoke pieces for your home, now within 12 weeks only
By bazaar staff
Your home is a haven and a sanctuary from the outside world. It’s where you take deep breaths, let your hair down and relax so you can recharge your mental and emotional energy. And to do that, your home needs to be designed to fit your aesthetic, style and vibe. The family of home furniture brands Pottery Barn, West Elm and Williams Sonoma can make that a reality now. Found the perfect couch, but you’re not a fan of the fabric? No problem! With a stunning range of home accessories, furniture and signature pieces, Pottery Barn, West Elm and Williams Sonoma stores across Kuwait offer their ‘Made to Order’ service, that is now even faster.
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Bring signature style to your home with exclusive upholstered furnishings and choose from a wide variety of custom fabrics to make statement chairs and stylish sofas your own. Crafted with meticulous attention to quality and design, the family of brands elevate personalization in the home, curating pieces that are designed by you, made for you, within 12 weeks. Whether a minimalistic hue, or a bold, signature living space take your preference, you can add personality to your home to make your setting your own.
Known for designs that reflect a variety of styles mixing clean lines, natural textures and global accents, Pottery Barn, West Elm and Williams Sonoma create authentic, affordable, and approachable designs for modern living. Their talented designers work closely each season with local and global artisans and independent collaborators to develop exclusive products that won’t be found anywhere else; there is even a dedicated ‘Design Crew’ on hand in-store to tailor any project, big or small as a complimentary service to enhance the shopping experience.
A team of Design Service Specialists can help you visualize fabric choices, decide between light or dark palettes, and refine textures such as brushed cotton, velvet or leather.
To explore the exciting ‘Made to Order’ services, visit West Elm at Al Kout Mall and Pottery Barn, West Elm and Williams Sonoma at The Avenues Mall. Follow @PotteryBarnMena, @WestElmMena, and @WilliamsSonomaHomeMena on Instagram for inspiration and updates.
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APPLE DOLLARS
Apple is becoming more and more like a bank
By Chris Morris
It’s no longer fair to say Apple is dipping its toes into the financial services waters. It’s going for a full swim. The tech company announced Thursday that holders of its Apple Card will soon be able to utilize a high-yield savings account through Goldman Sachs. And while interest rates weren’t disclosed, a typical Goldman savings account is currently paying an annual percentage yield of more than 2%, compared to 0.04% at Bank of America.
Users can automatically transfer their Daily Cash (an incentive of up to 3% cash back on select purchases) on the card to the account. And, of course, Apple will allow them to transfer funds from other traditional banking accounts.
“Savings enables Apple Card users to grow their Daily Cash rewards over time while also saving for the future,” said Jennifer Bailey, Apple’s vice president of internet services, which includes Apple Pay and Apple Wallet, in a statement. “[It’s] another easy-to-use tool designed to help users lead healthier financial lives.”
With no fees, no minimum balance requirements, and no minimum deposits, the Apple/Goldman partnership could well be an appealing alternative for consumers as they look for ways to combat inflation and make more off their money. It’s a shrewd move by Apple as concerns grow about a possible looming recession, but it’s hardly the company’s first.
Last month’s release of iOS 16 brought new features to the wallet app, including a “buy now pay later” option designed to attract more users to Apple Pay. That put Apple in direct competition with FinTech companies, such as PayPal and Affirm.
The feature lets people split a purchase into four payments over six weeks—with zero interest or fees—on any in-app or online purchase that uses Apple Pay at checkout.
Meanwhile, Apple is also targeting Square with its new payment system that lets you send money to someone by tapping your iPhone to theirs. Wallet, meanwhile, will let you track online orders that you’ve made with Apple Pay.
And in March, the company sparked more speculation about its FinTech ambitions when it bought fintech startup Credit Kudos, which develops software that is supposed to make credit checks on loan applications more informed.
The moves, so far at least, seem less about making money for Apple and more about locking people firmly into the Apple ecosystem as Google and other competitors look to chip away at Apple’s dominance in the mobile wallet space. That’s an area that, in the grand scheme, is still a fairly small part of the financial services industry but is growing as people become more and more attached to their phones.
Apple, at present, has a commanding lead among mobile wallet companies, controlling nearly half of all transactions. Google Pay, by comparison, makes up 17% of the market. Samsung, PayPal,
and Walmart are competitors with significantly smaller market shares.
Ultimately, of course, Apple wants its digital wallet to replace your physical one, holding everything from your finances to your driver’s license and even a digital version of your car key.
But with Thursday’s announcement, it might have expanded its ambitions, looking to add people’s bank accounts to their iPhone as well.
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Photo by zhang kaiyv on Unsplash.
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We get so excited when local Kuwaiti concepts expand into the Gulf region and beyond! And that is just what KLC Virtual Restaurants is taking their virtual brands to Dubai as it sets its sights on greater expansion.
Earlier this year, KLC Virtual Restaurants launched One Eatery in Kuwait, transforming the food delivery scene. One Eatery is a virtual food hall concept that caters to a selection of tastes from a cloud kitchen while prioritizing taste and quality. KLC’s concept power lies in utilizing fresh ingredients, prepped to order, with around the clock delivery, so you can get your favorite meals at any time of the day.
The reason we find One Eatery to be unique and convenient is because of the range of cuisines and the diverse offerings it brings under one roof. Currently, KLC has over 60 virtual brands which include 15 different types of cuisines, some of which include: Junkyard, Pasta Di Risotto Italia, Taco Eataco, Pancake Rush, Egg Squared, The Kitchen, Thrive Salads, Generation Acai, Chubby Balls, Minime, and Project Pasta. You would be hard pressed not to find something that tickles your taste buds.
KLCs’ success originates from having identified a growing appetite for quality food at reasonable prices in the delivery market early on. KLC knows how to strategically fill market gaps and satisfy the online market demand by operating a vertically integrated cloud kitchen business model. This has enabled KLC to efficiently target ever-changing consumer behavior which is useful in targeting both the UAE and Qatar market.
The Dubai market is one that isn’t always easy to break into, the country offers a greater variety of cuisines compared to others in the region, offering fine dining and street food options. KLC Virtual Restaurants is replicating and adapting its success story in Kuwait to the UAE and has already been present there for two years. With their cloud kitchens, and a delicious selection of recipes, the brand is well placed to achieve great success in the UAE. Dubai was chosen as the first expansion outside of Kuwait
because the UAE market sets the bar high, and customers expect high quality foods that are incredibly delicious, at the best price points.
The taste buds in Dubai are vast and varied, and that is why the One Eatery Concept is a great fit for UAE audiences. Since the establishment of One Eatery by KLC Virtual Restaurants, there have been over four million successful orders across the region, indicating they are on the right track and aren’t slowing down anytime soon. This year, KLC has more than doubled the number of brands on offer in Dubai.
Starting with only three kitchens, KLC has been serving multiple areas in Dubai, and serving over 1,000 orders daily across these kitchens. Strategically located in Dubai’s busiest and most frequented ‘Hot Zones’. KLC Virtual Restaurant’s biggest cloud kitchens are in Business Bay and Media City, which have the capacity to deliver over 60 brands from their locations. These new kitchens have a larger capacity than the current kitchens, and this was a strategic decision since demand in Dubai is so fast growing, and with hopes to triple the
number of orders served within the next six to nine months.
With the focus always on high standards, KLC continues to send trained chefs to Dubai from Kuwait to oversee the operations and ensure that the same quality and flavors as Kuwait are replicated. Additionally, due to the UAE’s diverse population; KLC Virtual Restaurants can deliver a variety of brands and offer endless choices of cuisines to suit any taste. In Dubai, the brands are available on the most popular online delivery platforms such as Deliveroo, Talabat, Zomato, Careem, and Noon. KLC Virtual Kitchens are also working on being able to serve all of Dubai with the launch of the new kitchens.
Fortunately for Qatar food lovers, KLC Virtual Restaurants have launched in Doha just in time! The World Cup being around the corner will allow KLC to cater to the very diverse market and satisfy all customer cravings! Qatar is a smaller yet similar market to Kuwait, allowing KLC to be confident in providing variety and quality of food to the local Qatari market!
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You read it here first: KLC Virtual Restaurant’s One Eatery is now making waves in Dubai and Qatar
By Bazaar Staff
KLC Virtual Restaurants continues to grow and innovate the brands it offers through the One Eatery concept in Kuwait, Dubai and Qatar, and is continually evolving to match the taste buds of its customers. The idea of using Dubai and Qatar as steppingstones for more growth, KLC Virtual Restaurants is eyeing further expansion, starting with Abu Dhabi in 2023 and soon thereafter into KSA and Bahrain, and we are just so excited to follow this journey!
KLC Virtual Restaurants continues to grow and innovate the brands it offers through the One Eatery concept in Kuwait, Dubai and Qatar, and is continually evolving to match the taste buds of its customers. The idea of using Dubai and Qatar as steppingstones for more growth, KLC Virtual Restaurants is eyeing further expansion, starting with Abu Dhabi in 2023 and soon thereafter into KSA and Bahrain, and we are just so excited to follow this journey!
Follow @KLCvirtual on Instagram to stay updated on KLC Virtual Restaurants’ expansion of One Eatery across the region and follow @OneEatery to learn more about this unique virtual food hall. You can order online in Dubai through Deliveroo, Talabat, Zomato, Careem or Noon, and if you are in Kuwait, head on down to Al Hamra’s food hall to experience the variety of appetizing cuisines available at One Eatery. Qatar food lover: Get your fix by ordering through Talabat, Carriage, Snoonu and Rafeeq.
Follow @KLCvirtual on Instagram to stay updated on KLC Virtual Restaurants’ expansion of One Eatery across the region and follow @OneEatery to learn more about this unique virtual food hall. You can order online in Dubai through Deliveroo, Talabat, Zomato, Careem or Noon, and if you are in Kuwait, head on down to Al Hamra’s food hall to experience the variety of appetizing cuisines available at One Eatery. Qatar food lover: Get your fix by ordering through Talabat, Carriage, Snoonu and Rafeeq.
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more...
BEFORE YOU TRASH IT
5 tips to give a second life to your old laptop
By Richard Baguley
If you’re like me, there’s an old laptop stuffed in a drawer somewhere that you don’t use anymore. Maybe you upgraded, or got a new one through work. Whatever the case, don’t let your tech asset go to waste: There are plenty of cool things that you can do with a spare laptop, no matter how old and bashed up it might be. If it still boots up, it’s still got value.
One thing to note here is that you should reset the laptop and remove all your data. Doing so will ensure that your old photos or web browsing habits won’t suddenly reappear.
Turn it into a media server
How would you like to have your music, movies, and photos available wherever you are? Take your old laptop, copy all your media to an external hard drive and install the app Plex, which runs as a server on the laptop and streams your media to anyone and any device in the house that can run the free client. You can control who (and what they) can watch, and Plex automatically compresses the media, allowing content to stream over any bandwidth—even on slow connections and on low-end devices.
Turn it into a kid’s computer
Google Chromebooks are great for your kids: They can browse the web, run Android apps, and perform most of the same functions as a Windows or Mac computer, but with limits that a parent can control. You don’t have to buy a new Chromebook to use the Chrome OS they run, though: Google recently released a version of its Chrome OS, called Flex, that can run on many old laptops. Google has tested it on over 400 older computers, including iMacs from 2010 and Dell laptops from 2014. I’ve installed it on a few old laptops, and it has worked without issues on some that were even older.
Set up a family calendar
Want to see where all of the family are at a glance? Set up an old laptop so that it shows your shared Google Calendar, then stick it in the hall so everyone can see what is going on that day. The trick is called Kiosk mode, where a computer is set to run a single app automatically whenever it starts up. (This is the feature that companies use when they display a certain advert or webpage on a laptop in a store.)
You’ll need Windows 10 or later installed and running to set up Kiosk mode. Press Windows and the S key, then type Settings. That will show you the settings app. Go into that and look for Accounts, and select Other Users on Windows 11 or Family and Other Users on Windows 10. Then click the Kiosk option and follow the instructions. This will create a new user who can only access one program you specify. When it asks you which program, select Microsoft Edge in full-screen
mode, and tell it to go to calendar.google.com. Log into your Google account, and you are good to go.
Build a network file and backup server
A network attached storage (NAS) device gives you a central place to put your media, files, backups, and other information. You don’t need to buy an expensive device to get one of these— just attach an external hard drive or two to your old laptop and install TrueNAS Core. This opensource operating system creates a network share that you can easily control and configure. It can automatically duplicate your important data on multiple drives, backup your laptop, backup your media to the cloud, or do fancy stuff like automatically back up all the data you store on Google. That way, if Google goes bust, you’ll still have a copy of your documents.
Make a magic mirror Magic mirrors (aka, smart mirrors) use a one-way mirror combined with an old laptop to show you information on a mirrored screen. It’s a great way to combine checking your outfit with checking the weather or brushing your teeth with browsing the news headlines.
You can build one of these by mounting the laptop screen behind a one-way mirror, a special mirror that reflects light from the front but also lets light in from behind. So, it works like a normal mirror, but whatever is on the computer screen is also visible. If you stick an old laptop behind one of these mirrors, you can see both yourself and the info on the screen.
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Photo by bert b on Unsplash.
www.roomserviceq8.com 65 88 22 88 ORDER NOW
#XCITED FOR WORLD CUP 2022
If you can’t be in the stadium, then we can help you create an experience that’s just as awesome at home!
By bazaar staff
The FIFA World Cup brings together everyone from die-hard fans to casual soccer fans who enjoy watching the odd game. We love rooting for our country, booing our opponents and cheering so hard that we lose our voices. So, if you’re not lucky enough to be heading to Qatar this month, then it’s time to start making plans for maximizing the experience. We found everything we needed to kick off the soccer season at X-cite and you can too!
BIGGER IS BETTER
If you have the space, then you need the Samsung 75” NEO QLED 4K TV. It’s the pinnacle of design. With accurate light control, you can enjoy great detail in both the darkest and brightest scenes. Every nuance and detail comes to life with rich, accurate color and deeper contrast. The dynamic tone mapping of HDR10+ shifts color and contrast scene by scene, allowing you to appreciate even minor details.
BUT SMALLER CAN BE JUST AS GOOD
Just because you don’t have the space, doesn’t mean you can’t fully enjoy the games. See glorious 4K pictures on this SONY Smart Android TV, rich with real-world detail and texture. The sound quality on this TV is amazing thanks to the X-Balanced Speaker drives, you will hear everything as if you were watching the game in real life. The Android operating system comes with so many fun bells and whistles that will make your watching experience just as fun.
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SOUND MATTERS
Sound can totally transform your viewing experience. If you want a fully immersive experience, then the Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Dolby Atmos is just what you need. You will be adding a layer of realism no other soundbar can duplicate, so when you hear that elusive “GOAL!” you will feel like you’re right in the middle of all of the exciting action. Exclusive Bose technologies elevate all content by separating instruments, dialogue, and effects, and placing them in discrete parts of a room — far left, far right, overhead — for immersion like you’ve never felt before.
BE PART OF THE GAME
What do you do in between games? Challenge your friends to FIFA matches on the PlayStation 5, of course. X-cite currently has a wonderful bundle that includes accessories and games to keep yourselves entertained while you wait for the next match.
THE MAGIC OF LIGHTING
If you really want to get in the stadium mood, then think about lighting. Harsh overhead lights are so last year. We love using the Nanoleaf hexagon light panels behind the TV and on side walls to create the perfect ambiance for cheering our favorite team.
FRESH SNACKS TO POWER THE ACTION
Nothing beats spicy street food and stadium snacks, except for freshly popped popcorn. The Princess Popcorn maker makes the tastiest popcorn from kernels in under 3 minutes. Just add some salt or any flavoring of your choosing, and you’re good to go!
Stay updated on the latest events, monthly promotions and offers by subscribing to the monthly newsletter on xcite.com, follow X-cite’s social media channels on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok and Snapchat, @xcitealghanim or Facebook at XcitebyAlghanim and win prizes with contests, or visit the online store at www.xcite.com.
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LAZINESS IS GOOD
By Art Markman
When you think of laziness, most of the connotations are bad. Hard work is a virtue in our culture. Much as we talk about work-life balance, we don’t expect people to shirk their work responsibilities—just not to overwork.
Even the concept of “quiet quitting,” in which people put in the minimum effort to fulfill their job responsibilities, is looked at with some skepticism. We’ll grant people a lazy weekend, perhaps, but not a lazy Wednesday.
Yet, if you are going to be effective at work, you need to harness the power of laziness.
In the past, I have written about the dangers of putting in too much effort on tasks. The most successful people manage what authors John Payne, Jim Bettman, and Eric Johnson called the “effort-accuracy trade-off.” That is, in general, the quality of your work gets better the more time you put in on that task. So the trick in life is to put in exactly as much effort as a given project needs to be acceptable and no more. Otherwise, you’re spending more effort on something than is needed.
That’s where laziness comes in.
If you have never done a poor job on a project because you put in too little effort, then chances are you’re spending too much time on everything, because you haven’t tested the boundary to find out whether you could have gotten away with less effort and still done acceptable work.
If you’re lucky, you have been testing these boundaries since you were a kid—dashing through some school assignments and getting bad grades so that you could learn which kinds of things required your best effort. But if you’re new to finding the efficient frontier of the effortaccuracy trade-off, there are a few things to keep in mind.
First, you need to find safe ways to be lazy. Don’t just dash off a presentation or report and see what happens. Ask knowledgeable people. Talk to your supervisor about your desire to get more efficient and ask questions about how much effort you ought to put into particular projects you’re working on rather than guessing.
Second, learn from the people around you. You probably aren’t the only one searching for the ideal way to trade off effort and accuracy. Your colleagues may also be figuring this out. Watch what they’re doing. There will be times when they do less work than you think they should and “get away with it.” Learn that. It means you’re probably working too hard. Of course, you may see them put in too little effort and get burned. Pay attention to that, too.
Third, when it doubt, aim for a B-minus. A lot of people have a tendency toward perfectionism. They don’t want to release something to their boss or to a customer or client until it is perfect. That
can lead you to continue to polish projects long after you have ceased to make them noticeably better.
Tell yourself that you’re just trying to get a B (or perhaps a B-minus)—nothing that will shatter your work GPA, but something good enough to get a conversation going.
One reason why shooting for a B-minus is great is that you often put in effort perfecting aspects of a project nobody cares about but fail to consider something that a client, customer, or
supervisor thinks is crucial. As a result, you have put in too much effort—and most of it was spent on elements that were not crucial.
By sending out your B-minus work, you’re getting feedback on which aspects your intended audience really cares about. Then, you can revise and fix what actually matters and turn that initial effort into an A.
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Here’s when you should embrace your lazy side
Photo by David Clode on Unsplash.
GOING RETRO WITH WESTINGHOUSE
Old school retro styled high-tech kitchen appliances are now available in Kuwait!
By bazaar staff
Very few brands in the world can rival Westinghouse’s history. The American manufacturing company was founded by George Westinghouse in 1886, and has since been a source of innovative, reliable, high-quality products and customer service. And today, Westinghouse appliances are making a giant splash in Kuwait for their incomparable quality and stylish aesthetic.
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One of the world’s most trusted brands, Westinghouse combines groundbreaking technology and rock-solid dependability to stay ahead of everyone else. When you buy a Westinghouse appliance you know it will serve you for life and that you are getting a product packed with features that make your life easier, while still being easy to use. Experts and engineers poured all of their thoughts, knowledge, and ideas to create a product that provides you with years of value. Decades before customer-centric companies were a thing, Westinghouse had been putting their customer first. And they’re still doing it today.
The latest range; the Westinghouse Retro series, merges the appeal of vintage and retro design with the innovation and technology of the future. Beautifully designed and aesthetically pleasing appliances that will add character and whimsy to your kitchen while still being modern workhorses that will get the job done. The range includes a toaster, a kettle, and a hand blender. Necessary items in any household and kitchen.
Retro 4 Slice Toaster
The look is a real plus point of this toaster. It fits perfectly with other Westinghouse retro devices. Also functional, the device has a lot to offer. Variable browning control allows you to select the level of doneness from 1 (light) to 6 (dark). The desired duration of toasting can also be adjusted via the retro style wheel. Two slots with self-centering allows for loading slices of any thickness, and still get them evenly toasted. Ideal when the whole family wants to enjoy fresh toast in the morning. The toaster is equipped with an attachment that serves to keep warm or can also be used as a bread roll. It can be easily folded and unfolded. There are clear and easy to use buttons that allow you to defrost, reheat, apply bagel mode and cancel. The Indicator Lights display the operation’s status so you don’t have to guess. And don’t worry about cleaning and storage it because it comes with a detachable crumb tray for easy cleaning and a power cord storage space to keep the electric connection safe.
Retro Kettle
This beautifully designed kettle in retro style not only fulfills its function, but is also a real eye-catcher
in the kitchen. It fits with other Westinghouse retro devices. The kettle is vintage in design, but is full of modern technology. The temperature and water level indicator are particularly practical. It is equipped with overheating protection and the handle does not get warm. This keeps the operation safe at all times. The kettle can boil 1.7 liters of water per pass. This is more than enough for cooking, tea, hot water bottles or even to heat the pasta water quickly. The integrated limescale filter extends the life of the device and ensures that no limescale gets into the water. The kettle is simply rinsed out for cleaning.
Retro Hand Blender
This is a stylish retro hand blender with a powerful 600W motor that provides consistent results every time you use it. It offers various speeds and
a turbo mode for blending a range of ingredients into creamy, smooth textures. What is a blender without its blades? This retro hand blender is fitted with the highest quality stainless-steel blades that will never dull and ensure durability and performance. It is also pretty compact and needs minimal storage space. Finally, you know you will save time cleaning it because of the detachable blender foot.
Add some flavor to your home by shopping for Westinghouse products online at roomserviceq8.com and in stores. Follow @westinghousehomeware_kw on Instagram and Westinghouse Homeware Kuwait on Facebook to stay up-to-date with Westinghouse’s latest news.
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IS GAMING READY FOR ITS NETFLIX MOMENT?
Logitech is betting on it
By Max Ufberg
Logitech, the $5 billion company best known for its workaday keyboards and mice, has a bold new product that’s worlds away from its basic computer peripherals. Today, the company is announcing the G Cloud, a handheld gaming device created specifically for playing cloud-based video games. Retailing for $349, the device will begin shipping in October.
The global market for portable gaming devices was $32 billion in 2020, according to one analysis, and it is expected to reach more than $50 billion by 2027, with established players like Nintendo and Xbox driving growth. Logitech’s Ujesh Desai, who led the G Cloud’s development, says gaming is about to have its Netflix moment, in which cloud-based games will be instantly accessible through a platform subscription, no expensive game console or cartridges required. “The infrastructure is there,” he says. Logitech is hoping to cash in on the momentum.
To that end, the G Cloud has an unfussy form factor, with a white plastic shell, more than a dozen buttons and controls, and a seven-inch, multi-touch screen. Designed to be comfortable to play for extended periods of time and for hands of various sizes, the device is lighter than others on the market and less bogged down by internal hardware. For the gaming equivalent of Netflix browsing and binging, the G Cloud is trying to make starting and playing a game as easy as possible. “We support the Microsofts, the Googles, the Apples of the world. We respect where their strengths are, and our job is to fill in areas where we think we can add greater value,” Desai says. For its partnership with Microsoft specifically, Logitech is framing the G Cloud as a natural companion to the Xbox Game Pass subscription service.
Logitech is already familiar to gamers for Logitech G, its video game-focused line of products, including headsets, controllers, genre-specific devices like steering wheels for racing games, and heavy equipment controls for farm simulator games. G Cloud is its first standalone device, and its first with a screen.
Logitech is not the only company entering into the rapidly evolving handheld gaming space. With a growing number of games accessible on mobile phones and through device-specific subscription services, handheld gaming has made leaps from the 8-bit Nintendo Game Boy of the 1990s. Nintendo’s latest handheld, the Switch, has its own subscription service, and Nvidia’s GeForce NOW service makes PC games accessible on a wide range of devices a player has in their home or pocket. There’s also a range of add-on gear that can turn a regular smartphone into an adaptable, if slightly clunky, gaming device. And Steam Deck is a new handheld device that may be the
closest direct competitor to Logitech’s G Cloud, with the ability to stream subscription service PC games, as well as games stored internally.
Logitech hopes consumers see its new device as a more accessible version of those alternatives. By focusing specifically on cloudbased gaming, the G Cloud is smaller and lighter than the Steam Deck, and more straightforward to use than the add-on gear made for turning smartphones into gaming devices.
“Very, very early on we said this is a cloud gaming handheld,” Desai says. “And it might not seem like that’s a big deal, but by anchoring ourselves first and foremost that this is a cloud handheld, it’s really informed a lot of the design decisions that we made.”
Without the need for heavy internal central and graphics processing units and the fans they require, the G Cloud has a slim profile that makes it fit more easily in hands of various sizes. The designers paid special attention to the long-term feel and weight of the device, given that some gamers are likely to use it for hours at a time. This focus, and the lighter hardware requirements, make the G Cloud a particularly light gaming handheld, weighing 463 grams, or about 1 pound. By comparison, the Steam Deck weighs 669 grams, about a half a pound heavier.
Ingve Holmung, Logitech’s head of design, says the concept behind the device was “defined softness”; an emphasis on ergonomic
comfort, simplicity, and accessibility. “Going into a new space you don’t necessarily want to just draft off the things that you’re doing everywhere else,” Holmung says. “We were very much trying to create something fresh that felt like a Logitech G product. But it is a handheld device with a screen. It’s very different from the other things that we’re doing.”
With its mostly white body, the G Cloud looks a bit different from most of the techforward and gadget-proud video game hardware on the market, including that made by Logitech itself. “We didn’t want this to just be another black lump of plastic,” Holmung says.
Desai says the decision between the established gaming aesthetic and the softer approach was like a fork in the road for the design team. “We stayed at the center of that fork for a while. We really debated it a lot,” he says.
In the end, the team opted for a design that felt more open, and less restricted to the hardcore gamer segment of the market. Desai, a gamer himself, says the design is intended to appeal equally to gamers and non-gamers.
“What we think the future that folks like Microsoft and Nvidia are trying to paint is they want to make these game subscriptions accessible to everyone,” Desai says. A basic handheld device, with Netflix-like simplicity, could be a way for these cloud-based gaming services to reach more people. “We think this is just a new way to play,” Desai says.
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Order & enjoy the Family Meal and enter the weekly draw to win receiver with one-year subscription + FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Bundle. 4 Draws, 8 Winners ORDER & GET A CHANCE TO WIN 18.950صاــــخشأ4ـلFOR4Enough @mais 2 go
ALL ABOARD AL BOOM
The beloved Al Boom deck at The Radisson Blu has re-opened its doors, promising diners a one-of-a-kind experience!
By Engy Ali
It’s our favorite time of year in Kuwait when that cold breeze is back and you can finally dine outdoors, and to celebrate the change of the winds, we decided to visit the renowned Al Boom Steak & Seafood Restaurant at The Radisson Blu Kuwait for its reopening, and it is not one to miss! From an exquisite menu to a fancy ambiance aboard the iconic Dhow boat, you are promised a one-of-a-kind pampering experience! Here’s everything you need to know.
As we set foot on the gorgeous boat, we couldn’t help but marvel at being in the presence of history. We were greeted and seated by the welcoming staff of Al Boom Restaurant, and our table was located right at the edge of the ship, where we could properly enjoy the dazzling skyline of Kuwait and appreciate the subtle wind lightly caressing our skin. We skimmed through the menu, a true portal to a foodie’s paradise: The steaks, the seafood, the salads, the desserts, it had it all!
It was hard to decide, but we settled on the Signature Date Flatbread, Smoked Burrata with Heirloom Tomatoes, Wood Fired Flat Bread for appetizers, the famous Whole Zubaidi and Striploin
As we were appreciating the beautiful weather, immaculate vibes, and glittering views, the appetizers stealthily arrived to delight our senses. We started with the Signature Date Flatbread and immediately fell in love, the soft bread and unique flavors joined with olive tapenade and butter, we couldn’t get enough. Followed by the Smoked Burrata with Heirloom Tomatoes, that’s when we knew that presentation was just as important as taste for the expert chefs at Al Boom Restaurant, as the salad was aesthetically decorated and drizzled in glistening pesto sauce and matured balsamic, the
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Steak for the main courses, and the Baked Cheesecake for dessert.
flavors perfectly blended and enticed our senses. Finally, we moved on to the Wood Fired Flatbreads, the colorful plate included beetroot, carrot, creamy hummus, crisp rocket leaves, cracked falafel, confit garlic, and topped with pomegranate arils, the fusion of flavors and textures was a dream!
The main courses were swiftly followed after, where they gloriously graced our table bringing along a mix of aromas that had us impatiently waiting to devour them. The Striploin Steak’s meltin-your mouth texture and juicy bites had us elated, it was everything you expect from a steak and more – tender, and flavorful, and paired with the creamy mushroom sauce proved the perfect combination. The Whole Zubaidi fish, a much-loved local favorite, was spiced to perfection with a slight warm kick and tasted absolutely divine. Even if you don’t consider yourself to be a seafood lover, this buttery soft texture of the fish in this dish will absolutely change your mind; it was easy to understand why this was one of Al Boom’s bestselling dishes and renowned specialties.
And because there’s always room for dessert, especially when the sunset marked the start of a glorious evening, the Baked Cheesecake made its entrance. The slow cooked dessert is both crunchy on the top like a crème brûlée, and creamy inside, with a hint of orange and peach flavors. While you would typically expect a cheesecake too be quite simplistic, Al Boom’s version was beautifully complex yet subtle. We were left speechless, enjoying the flavors in silence, taking in all the tastes, and enjoying the delightful, evening sea breeze. If, and when you decide to visit Al Boom Restaurant, make sure you do not miss out on this dessert.
Al Boom is located in the Radisson Blu Hotel. For more reservations call 2567 3000, visit the website radissonhotels.com/blu or follow @radissonblukuwait on Instagram for more information. Images courtesy of Radisson Blu.
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THANK THE FISH
By Adele Peters
When she was in seventh grade, Jacqueline Prawira launched a five-year project to design a bio-based alternative to plastic, eventually using upcycled fish-scale waste to make it. Last year, before she became a high school senior, she started using the same material to tackle another problem: how to clean up heavy metals in wastewater.
She discovered that the collagen and calcium salts in the scales can act like a magnet for heavy metal pollution, capturing it so it can later be recycled. “Nature already has the components that are primed to react and essentially bond with heavy metals, and can remove those heavy metals from water in the environment,” she says. Right now, wastewater treatment plants may not necessarily take out heavy metals before dumping water in rivers (the EPA doesn’t require this, though states sometimes do), despite the fact that the contamination can be toxic in drinking water.
Prawira, now 17 and beginning her freshman year at MIT, is one of 100 winners of the second cohort of Rise, a program from Schmidt Futures and Rhodes Trust designed to support young students not just early in their careers, but potentially for the rest of their lives. “Human beings are hardwired to get excited about instant results,” says Eric Braverman, CEO of Schmidt Futures, a philanthropic venture cofounded by Schmidt (former CEO of Google) and his wife, Wendy Schmidt. “But
our hard problems in science and society are not going to get solved overnight.” The program offers scholarships to students whose tuition isn’t covered by financial aid, along with a three-week summit, and courses like human-centered design. The students also will receive ongoing mentorship and funding opportunities later in their careers.
The list of winners includes a student from Vietnam who used microfluidics to build a prototype of a cancer-detecting toothbrush; another American student who built a brain-computer interface to help stroke victims recover; and a student from Nigeria who designed a program to help train educators to better teach computer science in Nigerian schools.
The program aims to find brilliant problem solvers who might need an extra hand to keep working on global challenges. “I think we’re living in a moment of real contrast: We have more tools than ever to solve hard problems . . . but we have problems that are bigger and more complex than ever,” Braverman says. “Economic disparities are rising. The planet seems to be burning. And so
the question is, What is it going to take to solve these hard problems? Our view is that it’s going to take human ingenuity, like it always has. But the most important thing we can do to ensure that people can solve the problems that are important to the world is to get everyone to the table. And then keep them there.”
Prawira, for example, could apply later for funding from Schmidt Futures to help continue her research and make her product, Cyclo.Cloud, a reality at wastewater treatment plants or in households in developing countries. Her research has found that the solution she creates from fish scales can absorb up to 82% of heavy metals from water. That increases to 91% if the treatment is combined with electrolysis. A kilogram of her product, at a cost of 23 cents, can clean up 1,000 liters of water contaminated with heavy metals. “It would be a dream come true for my invention to become a reality,” she says.
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This 17-year-old is using fish waste to clean up heavy metal pollution
Photo by Worachat Sodsri on Unsplash.
LET’S MEET AT MADELEINE
The chic, breakfast and brunch-only bistro that stole our hearts
By bazaar staff
This is our ode to le petit déjeuner. Breakfast or brunch, but served with the utmost flair and thought. While many choose to chase after trendy spots, we at bazaar enjoy a place that does a smaller, well-curated menu, executed to perfection. This is precisely what we discovered at the beautifully unassuming Madeleine. Tucked away in the elevator lobby of famed Japanese tapas joint Ora, we were in for quite a morning of epicurean discovery that will be truly hard to forget.
Cozy, pristine, and elegant, Madeleine’s might arrives in its menu. The location is not hard to find, and for busy mornings in Kuwait City, it is the perfect recluse. You will find a melange of city professionals taking a morning meeting here or even smaller groups of women looking to start their city errands at Madeleine. And with the weather beautifully turning, there’s the option of cozy, outdoor seating which is perfect to catch that early morning breeze. Inside, french paneled walls in neutral tones are instantly calming, and the white-table cloth-covered tables present an air of quiet elegance. The decor at Madeleine is obviously setting the scene for the main event: The food. We are firstly greeted with their in-house, signature madeleines, baked to perfection, and oh-so-fluffy, a small amuse bouche, if you may, for the amazing flavors to come.
With an easy-to-scan, digital menu, our eyes quickly perused the offerings. And once again, we were impressed by how well-curated the menu was. This fabulously curated menu first came together as a result of co-owner Fatma Razzouqi’s culinary creations. You will not get lost in the abyss of too many offerings, as Madeleine likes to do things well. Since we were there for brunch, we opted for the Kale Salad, Salmon Carpaccio, Truffle French Toast (we were so intrigued by this flavor pairing!), Crispy Cheese, Egg Tacos, Short
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Rib Hash, and Truffle Scrambled Eggs. We know that this reads like we just ordered a feast, but some of the dishes at Madeleine are designed as small plates. If you’re arriving in a large group, we advise you to double up on this list, trust us, it’s worth it.
While we waited, we were served some inventive, refreshing mocktails, The Blooming Lychee and Rosemary Passion. We loved how the Rosemary is set alight at the table to release such an appetizing aroma, it offered an amazing infusion to the tropical flavors of the passion fruit. Both Mocktails were fresh, and zesty and offered the perfect start for our brunch experience.
As soon as our savory dishes began to arrive, we were blown away by Madeleine’s attention
to presentation. Everything looked absolutely spectacular, from the Kale Salad’s vibrant colors to the popping shades of red from the beet-cured Salmon Carpaccio, we were so ready to dive in.
The Carpaccio’s ginger miso dressing paired extremely well with the richness of the salmon, and we loved every bite of the textural Kale Salad. Served with Parmesan cheese shavings, candied walnuts, and the citrus yuzu dressing elevated this entire dish.
The Truffle French Toast was the best surprise, as biting into the Parmesan-crusted Brioche, cut to an exacting size, we must add, revealed the deepest, richest, melt-in-your-mouth cream cheese. Pair this with the delectable Truffle shavings, and you’ve got yourself true indulgence
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on a plate! As for the Crispy Cheese, Egg Tacos, and Short Rib Hash, these plates might be small, but they pack quite a flavorful punch. We appreciated how the Egg Tacos delivered a fragrant, bite-sized taste of Mexico, and loved the spicy kick brought on by the Jalapeno covered Crispy Cheese rounds, with crisped-up parmesan artfully offering up beautifully scrambled eggs.
If our savory forway wasn’t enough, dessert at Madeleine brought it home for us. It is absolutely an affair to remember, and we couldn’t get over the thoughtful flavor combinations offered in Madeleine’s desserts. First things first, our full attention has to be given to the Apricot Brie, where flawlessly symmetrical, gorgeously presented French Toast Bites are topped with salted caramel, melted Brie, fresh nectarine pieces, apricot jam, and walnut. These flavor pairings sang with notes of sweetness, with the savory undertone of Brie taming the sweetness, and the fresh nectarines balancing out this dish perfectly. To the good people of Madeleine, two pieces are not enough.
We also adored the indulgence of the Pain Perdu Brulee, as this dish gives you everything you could ask for in a dessert, torched sugar, whipped cream (that wasn’t sweet, we have to add, so needed to offset the richness of this dish), berries and the most scintillating maple butter. If that wasn’t enough, we were also presented with a decadent pistachio-topped baked round of Brie. Served with a generous drizzle of honey, this warm, sweet, and savory dish was also a firm favorite of ours. We can’t wait to stop by when the weather gets cooler to dive into it again for some much-needed cozy vibes.
If you’re in the mood for an uplifting brunch experience this season, then you should look no farther than Madeleine. Immaculate vibes, a savory menu bursting with inventive flavor pairings with an unforgettable dessert menu to match, you’ll be spoiled for choice at Madeleine.
Madeleine is located in Wafra Downtown Tower on Ahmad Al Jaber Street in Kuwait City. For more information, follow them on Instagram @Madeleine.kw. Breakfast and brunch is served from 8:30 am - 3:00 pm, with desserts and coffee being served until 6 pm. You can now get to Madeleine easily without worrying about parking with Rove! Use code ‘Madeleine’ valid through Monday-Thursday from 8 am- 2pm and get 10% off your ride!
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www.roomserviceq8.com 65 88 22 88 ORDER NOW
MAKI'S NEW LOOK AT BURJ JASIM IS A GAME CHANGER
Calling all sushi-fanatics, this one’s for you!
By Engy Ali
If you didn’t already know, Maki has recently rebranded to a new design concept – and their iconic location in Burj Jasim is their second rollout of that concept. So, if you’re a fan of sushi, aesthetic interiors, and a minimalist experience but a maximalist when it comes to flavors, keep reading – you won’t be disappointed.
Maki’s new design concept is far more than just beautiful aesthetics, it’s a way of being. The design invites Maki fans to living with humility, be one with nature, and accept the full cycle of life, flaws and all. How does that relate to a restaurant, you may ask? Because Maki delivers a culinary experience that awakens all your senses.
Once we stepped into Maki, we instantly felt a little more at ease. The combination of neutral colors, soothing décor, and the lush greenery of the plants prepared us for the best part of the visit: The food.
We sipped on water as we chose from the rich variety of dishes, and decided to go for the Vegan Crispy Salad, Hana Truffle Sushi, Miso Truffle Sushi, the Golden Uni, the Crispy Olive Gunkan, and the Chocolate Bomb (yes, we came ready and hungry).
We started our meal with the OG Vegan Crispy Salad. This salad earns double points in our books for being vegan friendly. If you haven’t already tried this salad, you definitely should. It’s light, it’s a little spicy, and absolutely delicious. The kale, rocket, avocado, crispy harusame, wasabi and Maki’s special vegan sauce offers a mixture of fresh flavors, saporous sauce, and crunchy texture that got us ready and excited for what was to come. Before we finished, the waiters began to come with our main dishes (yay for quick service!) and we couldn’t wait to start digging in.
We started with Hana Truffle Sushi, it was a seafood lover’s dream combining rich, bluefin tuna, salmon, whitefish, and scallop. The result is an aesthetically pleasing, hunger satisfying showstopper. The best part? The sauce combining white truffle oil and aioli, it truly brought all the different flavors and textures together and created a delectable experience.
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Next was Miso Truffle Sushi, though showcasing slightly similar components to the previous dish, the different sauce makes changes the entire flavor. The honey and sesame oil resulted in a fresher tasting dish, and all we could say about is: if you love sushi and enjoy a vibrant taste on the palate, you will love this.
Our third dish was the Golden Uni Maki, this dish was definitely a sight for sore eyes. As the waiter slowly lifted the smokey glass dome, he exposed eight beautifully decorated pieces of Maki in- and brace yourselves here- edible gold, giving you an effortlessly elevated experience. The mixture of sea urchin, fresh wasabi, salmon, and tempura flakes made our tastebuds sing!
As for the vegans, we have good news: Maki has a vegan menu! Other than the delicious Vegan Crispy Salad, we also tried the Crispy Olive Gunkan. The sweet potato, beetroot, green chilli, yuzu flakes, and caviaroli goodness wrapped in an olive and zaatar (yes, zaatar. You read the correctly) wrap resulted in an explosion of flavors mixing the best of Japanese and Mediterranean cuisines.
Just when we thought we were done, there came dessert: Maki’s glorious Chocolate Bomb. The chocolate mousse with vanilla ice-cream and hazelnut definitely hit the sweet spot, and this dessert is a sight to behold!
This Maki experience was no joke, so whether you’re a sushi-lover or not, we highly recommend paying Maki a visit this weekend. Come for the vibes, stay for the food, and go home with a happy, uplifted heart.
Maki has three locations in Kuwait – The M2 in Salhiya (6625 4138); Marina Waves (6625 4600) and Burj Jasim, (6625 4361). Visit www.olivermaki.com for more information, call 182 3080 for delivery. Watch the innovation on Instagram and Twitter @Makirest and Facebook at MakiRestaurant. Photography by Romeo Studios.
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PLOT TWIST!
By Christopher Zara
With all the snark we’ve seen lately about Mark Zuckerberg’s questionable attempts to rule a metaverse that doesn’t quite exist, it would be easy to conclude that Meta Platforms, the company formerly known as Facebook Inc., is a complete failure from a brand perspective.
Not so, according to the latest FutureBrand Index, which ranks the world’s top 100 companies, based on their global perception. Meta is No. 5 on the list this year, up a staggering 44 places compared to 2021, when the company ranked at No. 49 under its former name. Whatever else you can say about the rebrand—and people have said a lot—it was clearly an improvement by some measurable attributes. Meta may be the butt of jokes for its hazy product roadmaps, legless avatars, and thinly veiled attempts to turn its core social media platforms into TikTok, but from a purely brand-oriented standpoint, Meta has one big thing in its favor: It’s not Facebook.
Perhaps the rise in ranking shouldn’t be a surprise. Facebook, a controversial company from its very inception, had been caught up in a dizzying cyclone of scandals and negative
press in the years leading up to its abrupt name change. If it wasn’t sowing discord and aiding brutal military regimes around the world, it was spreading election misinformation and ruining the self-esteem of teenage girls right here at home. So damaged had the Facebook brand become by late last year that people were comparing it to Big Tobacco.
Of course, a new name can only do so much, and Meta’s rebrand will by no means insulate or absolve it from past, present, and future harms unleashed by its core services. But if FutureBrand’s ranking is any indication, the company’s move to align its corporate identity with VR instead of social media could be working. According to its analysis, Meta scored particularly well this year in part because survey participants saw it as looking toward the future, as opposed to being stuck in the past.
Interestingly, according to FutureBrand, past Big Tech rebrands did not generate the same type of positive effect. Google, for instance, dropped significantly on the index when its parent company rebranded as Alphabet.
FutureBrand, now in its eighth year, says it uses a broad range of indicators to determine its perception rankings, including “the views of a highly informed and highly professional group of specialists.” The 100 companies on its list are based on market cap as determined by PwC. Another interesting thing about this year’s list is that most of the top 10 are not what you would consider household brand names from a consumer-facing standpoint.
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Facebook changing its name to Meta was good for the brand
Photo by Dima Solomin on Unsplash.
DINE OUTDOORS WITH AUTHENTIC KUWAITI VIBES AT AMITI NOURA’S SABAH AL SALEM BRANCH
Discover the flavors of home with Amiti Noura’s signature offerings
by Engy Ali
Do you miss the experience of eating out, but you also prefer homemade food? We get it. Now that the weather is finally getting cooler, it’s time to start eating out, especially in restaurants with incredible outdoor seating! For a restaurant that offers you both the eating-out experience and authentic, homemade food, you’ll love eating at Amiti Noura’s Sabah Al Salem branch.
One of the many things Kuwait is famous for is its food experiences. With its ambiance, service, varied cuisines, and unique taste, the Kuwait food experience is unlike anywhere else in the world. That being said, there’s a certain charm to eating homemade food in your family home - food that even the best restaurants cannot match. Not at Amiti Noura!
Just like its authentic name, Amiti Noura’s dining experience feels like you’re eating at your favorite aunt’s house - the aunt that cooks
the best food and always wants to make sure everyone is fed and full. And because we want to be fed and full, too - we paid Amiti Noura a visit!
We arrived hungry - and ready to feast! From the moment we stepped foot inside - our senses awoke. From the cozy interiors with elements of authentic Kuwaiti home decor, to the strong aromas and sizzling sounds of hot dishes served, we knew we were in for a delicious treat.
Going through the menu was no easy taskevery dish looked delicious! We chose to order the Stuffed Vine Leaves, Lentil Soup, Hot Mezza Platter and the Quinoa Salad for our starters, the Machbous Chicken and Mixed Grilled Platter for our main course, and the Brownie a La Mode and Lgaimat for dessert.
The Stuffed Vine Leaves steamed in pomegranate molasses were incredibly tasty and cooked to perfection, they melted in our mouths! The Lentil Soup with toasted cumin seeds was the
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best choice for the cooler weather - every sip was packed with flavor. The soup paired well with the Quinoa Salad! The combination of black quinoa, jareesh, pomegranate molasses, and bhujai was a hit. The zesty salad was vibrant, and distinctively flavored, it tasted like a Tabouleh with a twist. The Hot Mezza Platter offered a selection of cheese and vegetable sambusa, meat and potato kubbah with our personal favorite, khobz eroug, we were hooked; the sizzling platter was slightly spicy and exceptionally authentic.
We quickly devoured the starters, savoring in every bite, but knowing that the main dishes were soon to come. Soon after, we were served the Machbous Chicken and daqous - and it instantly felt like home. The fragrant and glossy rice topped with caramelized onion, split chickpeas, and raisin hashou was delicious, and the chicken? Succulent. One bite of chicken and rice with the daqous sauce will have you reminisce those days, sitting at the dinner table with all your family. The Mixed Grilled Platter came soon after, with a selection of lamb chops, lamb kabab, and shish taouk served with garlic sauce and fries. The lip-smacking platter was perfectly spiced, juicy, and tender.
We were full, but we knew we didn’t want to stop, because no family evening is complete without dessert. The Lgaimat reminded us of Ramadan nights with its strong saffron taste and crunchy texture. As for the Brownie a La Mode - we were surprised with how well a scoop of vanilla ice-cream and pistachio garnish complimented the ultra-soft and decadent brownie. The blend of textures, tastes, and contrasting temperatures made it the perfect ending to a divine feast.
You can find Amiti Noura in Sabah Al Salem and The Souk in The Avenues. To stay up to date with their news, follow them on Instagram and Facebook @AmitiNoura.
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FORGET WEIGHTED BLANKETS
You need a weighted pillow
By Elizabeth Segran
Step aside, weighted blankets. There’s a new stress-relieving tool to place on top of you (or, in this case, to place yourself around).
Bearaby, a three-year-old startup famous for its knit weighted blankets, is on a mission to develop products that will promote relaxation. It has just launched a collection of heavy pillows shaped like knots that are designed to be like enormous stress balls, allowing you to hug and squeeze away tension throughout the day. In keeping with the brand’s commitment to sustainability, it has developed its own proprietary material known as Melofoam, made from rubber tree sap that can be molded into all kinds of shapes.
Kathrin Hamm began her career as a World Bank economist who traveled the world. With her hectic travel schedule and perpetual jet lag, she developed insomnia, but nothing she tried helped her until she came across a weighted blanket; she feel asleep instantly under its heaviness and slept for hours. She was surprised that something as simple and drug-free would induce so much sleep, but after reading up about it, she discovered that there was a lot of scientific research–particularly around children with sensory issues–that feeling pressure on the body reduces the stress hormone cortisol and releases the relaxation hormone serotonin.
Bearaby’s weighted blankets, known as the Napper, have become iconic for their knit design. But now, Hamm is interested in exploring what other products might support people in their quest for a good night of sleep. The new pillows, which the brand has dubbed Huggets, are also inspired by research from child therapists.
Experts who work with children with autism or anxiety give their patients large balls which they can squeeze in order to soothe their senses. Hugging them creates the same sensation as hugging a person, promoting relaxation, and a knotted design on the exterior also encourages fidgeting, which can also reduce stress. “These products exist on the market, but they aren’t made with sustainability or design in mind,” says Hamm. “My thought was that by making them beautiful and eco-friendly, more people would want to use them, and they would promote relaxation and sleep.”
Bearaby’s Huggets are an elevated take on these “cuddle balls.” The brand has made them in three sizes (priced between $29 and $129) for different functions. The smallest one works like a stress ball, which you can squeeze with your hand when you’re tense; the largest one is a pillow that you can wrap your entire body around. Bearaby has also just launched a full-body pillow called a Cuddler, that costs $199, designed to
wrap around your body while you’re sleeping. It’s like spooning, but without being woken up by your partner’s movements. “We discovered that we could create different molds for the Melofoam, which opened up a wide range of possibilities,” Hamm says.
Many sleep-related products on the market use a lot of plastic. Most weighted blankets are packed with plastic beads, and many cuddle balls and body pillows are made with synthetic latex (sometimes called styrene-butadiene rubber), which is also plastic. These materials will ultimately end up in a landfill where they won’t biodegrade, but break into tiny particles called microplastics that will pollute our environment. These materials are cheap, but they’re also unsustainable. Bearaby’s products, on the other hand, are at the higher, more expensive end of the market, but Hamm has found that they appeal to eco-friendly consumers.
Bearaby wants to stand out in the market by creating eco-friendly, plant-based products that will biodegrade. (Its blankets are made from cotton or bamboo based Tencel.) And the main ingredient of Melofoam, which makes up 97% of the material, is rubber tree sap that is collected in coconut shells and then gently steamed until it becomes solid.
The rubber trees that Bearaby uses are not cut down during harvest, and as a result they continue to absorb carbon from the atmosphere. The other 3% of the material consists of natural minerals which help thicken the sap into a foam that can be molded.
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Photo by Snowy Vin on Unsplash.
WORKING IS EXPENSIVE
By Sam Becker
More than two and a half years after the onset of the pandemic, many companies are doing their best to incentivize workers who were able to do their jobs remotely to pile back into offices and other on-site facilities. But among the 70 million or so U.S. workers who can do their jobs remotely, which amounts to roughly 56% of full-time employees across the country according to Gallup, workers are even more resistant to coming back on-site now than they were a year ago.
Earlier this year, 59% of Americans with the ability to work remotely were doing so most or all of the time, up considerably from the 23% who did so before the pandemic, per data from Pew Research. And while some companies have embraced remote work, others are still trying to find ways to get employees back at their desks.
But there’s a good reason so many people are still evidently resistant of returning to the office: Coming into work every day isn’t cheap.
In fact, in-person work costs workers approximately $45 per day when accounting for commuting and meals, according to survey data released last week by Owl Labs, a company that makes hybrid workspace tools. Owl Labs’ data, sourced from a survey of 2,300 fulltime U.S. workers, also finds that the extra daily costs of in-person work add up to $863 per month, twice as much as the $432 per month spent working remotely.
Rising prices in recent months have also inflated costs, making it even more expensive for workers to make the trek back into offices or physical workspaces. The survey data shows that the major daily expenses include nearly $15 in commuting costs per day, plus another $30 for meals. While there may be ways for some workers to blunt those costs (packing a lunch, etc.), there is a clear financial incentive for remote workers to continue doing their jobs from their homes or other places of their choosing. Simply put: The costs of in-person work really add up.
Those costs are likely one of the driving forces behind many workers’ evident willingness to quit their jobs if forced back into the office every day. Almost one-third of workers said they’d leave their employer if they’re made to return to in-office work every day, per a 2021 study from McKinsey.
For workers trying to make the case to their employers that they should remain remote, there are some salient points to be argued: Remote jobs give employers access to a larger talent pool, for one, and the ability to potentially cut costs by not having to provide a physical workspace for employees. In that sense, remote work can reduce costs for both employers and employees.
Whether employees enjoy working remotely
or in-person, it’s hard to ignore the financial realities of the increasing price of commuting. Given that the median salary in the United States during the second quarter of 2022 was a little more than $54,000 per year, the ongoing tug-of-war between employers and remote
workers may have a lot less to do with the ability to stay in one’s pajamas all day and a lot more to do with the hefty costs of returning to the office.
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Remote workers returning to the office are feeling the pain of pricey commutes and lunches
Photo by Liam Burnett-Blue on Unsplash.
PIZZAEXPRESS IS NOW SERVING YOU PIZZA FROM ALL AROUND THE WORLD
Get ready for a journey of flavors!
by Engy Ali
We don’t know about you, but one of our favorite parts of traveling is the food – the herbs and spices, the flavors, the aroma… so much goes into a country’s cuisine that makes for such an unforgettable experience. PizzaExpress understood the assignmentand launched their newest Pizzas from All Around the World! Serving you six pizzas from six different countries, each pizza offers a variety of smells, flavors, spices - and essentially - a slice of the country for you to enjoy!
Since we love everything food and travel related - we couldn’t wait to give the Pizzas a taste. That’s right, buckle up readers - because we’re taking you on a trip to Italy, Mexico, Brazil, USA, India, and the Middle East.
ITALY – Surf ‘n’ Turf:
You know we had to kick-start with the hometown of Pizza! Served with prawns, nduja sausages, sweet & chili peppers and garnished with parsley, this Surf ‘n’ Turf Pizza did not disappoint. The prawns added a surprising twist to the overall taste; the
nduja sausage, however, was definitely the star of this dish! Up the flavor factor and squeeze a few drops of lime for a *chef’s kiss* experience.
MEXICO – Cilantro Chicken Pizza: Hola from Mexico, with the sizzling Cilantro Chicken Pizza! This mouthwatering pizza offers a fun, Mexican twist on a classic pesto sauce, Cajunflavored chicken, chili peppers, kalamata olives AND avocado mayonnaise – What. A. Mix! Nothing about this pizza is subtle - with a soft dough and fresh ingredients, this pizza offers a powerful mix
of flavors working together to create a delicious dish.
BRAZIL – Barbacoa Pizza: We got down and spicy with the Barbacoa Pizza from Brazil, which was one of our personal favorites. Once we took that first bite, we grinned ear-to-ear. The taste of the smoked and juicy barbacoa beef, the spicy chipotle sauce, fresh tomatoes and coriander hit our tongues right away. The Brazilian taste comforted our starving belly, and we enjoyed it until the very last bite.
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USA - Burnt Ends Pizza:
When we landed in the USA, we tried their Burnt Ends Pizza and definitely the most unique looking one from the bunch. This pizza was served with slow cooked beef, a hint of chipotle, roasted tomatoes and parsley - and was topped with a smokey barbecue sauce. The list alone is enough to make you drool, right? Each slice was spicy and full of flavor - it had our taste buds singing and dancing!
INDIA – Butter Chicken Pizza:
Do you love Indian cuisine? Strong flavors? Spicy
food? Then you’re going to love the Butter Chicken Pizza. The mixture of butter chicken sauce, creamy chicken, and green chili was indescribable, every bite was a taste of India, and we savored every moment of it.
THE MIDDLE EAST – Chicken Shawarma Pizza:
After the world tour, we landed back in the Middle East with the Chicken Shawarma Pizza. For those looking for a lighter option, you will love this Chicken Shawarma Pizza served with buttery garlic sauce and topped with tangy pickled
chili. This pizza feels like a giant, cozy, Arab hug welcoming us back home after a long trip!
The Pizza Around the World Limited Time Menu will only be available in all PizzaExpress branches for a limited period of time, so grab your friends and family and hurry up! Trust us, you don’t want to miss out on this experience! For more information, follow @PizzaExpressMiddleEast on Instagram and Facebook.
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SOLVING CLIMATE CHANGE
By eddie hamilton
It has been a year of unprecedented food crises. Record heat waves across the Northern Hemisphere have caused extraordinary droughts and wildfires. Grain stuck in war-torn Ukraine has led to extreme food shortages. Inflation and a cost-of-living crisis has forced restaurants to close and families to skip meals just to make ends meet. Even before the events of this year, 10% of the global population went hungry.
So far, much of the conversation has been centered on altering what we eat . . . but what about how we eat? Food needs a rethink, and it’s not an easy task. When it comes to the sustainability challenges, the most privileged are the ones most significantly contributing to the problem. The U.S. tops the global food waste ranking, with roughly 30%-40% of the national food supply wasted annually. But with such privilege comes the ability to explore new technologies and interventions. Innovators are now exploring these challenges at a systems level, looking to find the right leverage point to create a scalable difference.
The Future of Your Kitchen
At this year’s Milan Design Week, Swedish appliance brand Electrolux presented GRO: a conceptual future kitchen, helping users cook food that’s optimized for sustainability and nutrition. The science behind the project comes from the EAT-Lancet report, a global collaboration of world-leading researchers in nutrition, health, sustainability, and policy.
The report proposes the ideal diet, which balances planetary and human health and involves “doubling the consumption of healthy foods, such as fruits, vegetables and nuts and a greater than 50% reduction…of less healthy foods, such as added sugars and red meat.” Considering this is a huge shift in eating habits, the way we cook will have to change, which is exactly what innovations like GRO are helping to achieve.
The kitchen is comprised of nine different modular appliances, including some for fermentation, smoking, and algae production. The point of these appliances is to introduce new cooking processes to the home chef, where users can turn humble vegetables into eco-friendly meals with a depth of flavor; specifically, we are told, umami. A “Jewelry Box” refrigerator module showcases resource-intense ingredients, such as meat and cheese, in an aim to nudge users to buy high-quality proteins in smaller volumes.
We interviewed Tove Chevalley, head of innovation at Electrolux, who described how they use a behavioral science approach, like nudge theory, combined with collaboration from top chefs and users, in an effort to make “healthy and sustainable eating the preferred choice.” She explained how the project isn’t necessarily about new technology, but more about positively influencing behavior through
designed interventions. Although this is currently a conceptual project, the work is already influencing real commercial products in their pipeline. For instance, the nordic smoker would transform plant-based food prep. Current options are largely only available in professional kitchens, or through fairly complicated devices. The Electrolux concept proposes a countertop option which, in an effort to elevate plant-based cooking, may be an upcoming product innovation.
Looking beyond the plate
Berlin-based “How We Eat” is an educational design project that hosts interactive dining experiences, with the goal of educating participants on complex food systems. Diners enjoy a five-course meal, with each round designed to make a food-based concept tangible. The first course of bread and butter, for example, demonstrates the degenerative nature of the wheat and dairy industries.
As participants work their way through the meal, the courses and related discussions cover everything from organic farming to GMO, demystifying the jargon with tangible evidence on the plate, as they progress. Users learn of food systems, ranging from “degenerative” to “green” to the holy grail of “regenerative”—techniques that actively improve the ecosystems they depend upon.
For many people, these topics exist in obscurity, somewhere beyond the supermarket. But crises such as the war in Ukraine and climate change are bringing new attention, as they have a very real impact on our lives. Ashley Scarborough, one of the designers of the experience, told us that the project isn’t “pushing an agenda or finger wagging”; it’s quite literally laying it out on the table for an informed discussion. As they scale up, the ultimate goal is to develop a database that links people seeking more sustainable diets to recipes, suppliers, and education. The designers have documented their approach so that others can follow the format of the dinners and host their own, spreading the educational messages far and wide.
Reducing Waste
As mentioned earlier, the United States discards more food than any other country. This represents a colossal environmental toll and the economics are eye-watering, with $218 billion worth of food wasted each year.
Winnow is bringing AI to the trash can, with a smart food waste system. They’ve developed AI-based tools to track food waste in restaurant kitchens. This consists of a touch screen, mounted above a weight sensing bin, with some smarts in the cloud connecting it all up. The theory is that by accurately understanding the food waste leaving a kitchen, chefs can make better decisions to stop it becoming waste in the first place. It’s working—with the help of Winnow, IKEA UK saved the equivalent of 1.2 million meals in 2020, and Hilton Dubai saved $65,000 through reducing food waste.
When it comes to food waste at home, we’re seeing an increasing number of solutions that compost food waste in 24 hours, so you can feed your plants and garden with nutrient rich material. The exciting thing about devices such as Nomi is that you can also compost bioplastics in the devices—a feature which is not currently widely available.
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It’s not only what we eat, but how we eat
Photo by Mariana Medvedeva on Unsplash.
THE METAVERSE IS ‘REALLY DANGEROUS’
Especially when it comes to privacy, attorney Jay Edelson says
By Jessica Bursztynsky
The metaverse has risen to become one of tech’s biggest focuses for the next decade. Just look at Facebook, which was renamed Meta last year as part of CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s vision for the immersive technology.
But the rise in the metaverse also coincides with an increased focus on consumer privacy. Users and lawmakers have become more concerned with how their data is being used, tracked, and sold. Having people work, play, and live in a virtual world that users enter through a type of headset is likely going to be a disaster when it comes to data collection, argues attorney Jay Edelson, who has brought previous privacy suits against Google and Facebook.
Headset devices are able to record things like a person’s movements, facial attributes, blinking, surroundings, and their activities when they’re in the metaverse. “The metaverse is really dangerous on privacy because if the idea is that we’re going to be wearing stuff that is tracking everything from our heartbeat to where we go and who we talk to, it is just gold for data companies,” Edelson told the
audience at the Fast Company Innovation Festival on Thursday.
That’s where the importance of privacy laws come in, he said. Proponents of data privacy are pushing for companies to either share their data collection practices with consumers because they want to or because they’re compelled to by law.
“The key thing is for companies to actually talk about publicly and disclose what they’re collecting,” Edelson said. “I’m not looking to sue everyone. I’d rather they just change their behavior. If there’s a reason you’re not willing to say it in your contracts or on stage or anywhere else, maybe that’s because it’s stuff that you shouldn’t be doing. That’s a key thing with the metaverse.”
It’s still the early days of the metaverse. The ability to transition seamlessly from the digital world to the physical is still unrealized. But it’s
clear that many believe it to be one of the biggest growth opportunities in the next decade.
In just the first five months of 2022, companies and venture capital and private equity firms have invested more than $120 billion in the metaverse, according to a report from McKinsey & Company. That’s more than double what was invested in all of 2021. The investments come with good reason: McKinsey anticipates that the metaverse could generate up to $5 trillion in impact by 2030.
“It’s fine to innovate. It’s fine to do kind of cool things,” Edelson said, “but you’ve got to tell people what actually you’re collecting, who you’re giving it to, and what’s going to happen with the data. It’s about disclosures and consent, to me.”
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Photo by Marija Zaric on Unsplash.
CRAVING CANE’S ON-THE-GO?
For Caniacs who are always on the go, come thru Raising Cane’s Drive-Thru!
By bazaar staff
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Raising Cane’s has been preparing 24-hour marinated premium chicken tenderloins to perfection for 25 years. We love gathering our nearest and dearest to dine-in at Raising Cane’s, but the easiest and fastest way you can get your hands on those tasty chicken fingers, sides, and combo meals while you’re on the go is via the Drive Thru, of course!
Drive-thru’s are always a fun experience, simply because they are quick and convenient. Combine speed and convenience with everyone’s favorite destination for delectable Chicken Fingers, Raising Cane’s Drive Thru outlets are always busy, and for many good reasons, too. Everyone, from busy moms with little hangry ones in the car to hungry college students and office-dwellers trying to make the most of their lunch break are patrons of the trusted Raising Cane’s Drive Thru service. You don’t need to worry about parking or getting out of the car. You don’t even need to change out of your Pajamas if you suddenly get a Raising Cane’s craving late at night. Just drive to your nearest drive-thru location and enjoy your delicious chicken fingers in the privacy and comfort of your own car. Or maybe this is just your sign to call your besties, jump in the car, pick them up and blast your favorite tunes for an impromptu car dance party with a side of Texas toast, crinkle-cut fries and coleslaw and indulging in Raising Cane’s chicken fingers or combo meals while you’re on the go!
With two Drive Thru destinations that are Kuwait-city centric, the Raising Cane’s Drive Thru in Da’iya Co-op and Raising Cane’s waterfront location, located on the seaside by Bneid al Gar have become one of our most visited destinations. Nothing completes a good cruise down Kuwait’s Gulf Road like a large Caniac combo (with an extra order of Cane’s Sauce, of course!) to seal the deal. The Drive Thru is super quick and convenient, and you’ll be feeling the famous Raising Cane’s ONE LOVE vibe from the moment you pull up your car at the easy access
point to place and pick up your order. All you have to do is simply drive up to your preferred Raising Cane’s Drive Thru location, and let the friendly staff take your order. The Raising Cane’s menu is also presented in very well-lit boards placed alongside the Drive Thru queue to tantalize your taste buds while you wait in line for your dose of ONE LOVE.
With so many cars queuing up to get their hands on Raising Cane’s delicious goodies, how can you trust that your order gets to you on time?
To make sure the kitchens prepare your meal as soon as you’ve ordered it, an order sequence system and dedicated ONE LOVE crew members are there to deliver you with the best customer service, whether you’re dining in or picking up via a Raising Cane’s Drive Thru!
Visit raisingcanesme.com to learn more about Raising Cane’s, and follow their Instagram account @raisingcanesme for their latest updates.
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DETECTIVE KNIGHT: ROGUE
Release Date: 27 October
Genre: Action, Thriller
Cast: Bruce Willis, Lochlyn Munro
Synopsis: Bruce Willis stars as Detective James Knight, dedicated to navigating the demanding streets of Los Angeles, in this thrilling first of a trilogy of films. As the city prepares for Halloween, mask-wearing armed robbers critically wound Knight’s partner.
PREY FOR THE DEVIL
Release Date: 27 October
Genre: Horror, Thriller Cast: Virginia Madsen, Jacqueline Byers, Colin Salmon Synopsis: A nun prepares to perform an exorcism and comes face to face with a demonic force with mysterious ties to her past.
SUMMIT FEVER
Release Date: 27 October
Genre: Drama, Thriller Cast: Sigourney Weaver, Kevin Kline Synopsis: A daring dream to scale the world’s most challenging trio of mountains soon turns into a terrifying nightmare for a group of friends when a deadly storm traps the climbers near the summit and cuts off all hope of rescue.
ONE WAY
Release Date: 3 November
Genre: Horror Cast: Travis Fimmel, Kevin Bacon, Colson Baker Synopsis: Freddy, a petty criminal, is on the run with a bag full of cash and coke. He’s way over his head and hurt bad. With a bullet in his guts he’s running out of time.
WAKANDA FOREVER
Release Date: 10 October
Genre: Action, Adventure Cast: Martin Freeman, Angela Bassett Synopsis: The nation of Wakanda is pitted against intervening world powers as they mourn the loss of their king T’Challa.
THE MENU
Release Date: 17 November
Genre: Comedy, Thriller Cast: Ralph Fiennes,Anya Taylor-Joy Synopsis: A young couple travel to a remote island to eat at an exclusive restaurant where the chef has prepared a lavish menu, with some shocking surprises.
Source: cinescape.com.kw
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November Movies
bazaar movie night
DJI AVATA
DJI has released its latest version of this technology known as the DJI Avata. It is made to be more durable, and ready for any unfortunate crashes. You can pilot it via a controller or a joystick which mimics the movements of your hand. It also comes with plenty of clever features like the ability to use custom routes, follow a person or vehicle, and return to the starting point if it goes too far away.
DJI Osmo Mobile 6
When it comes to camera equipment, DJI has spread itself across the whole industry making a load of action cameras, drones and accessories. One of their latest devices is the DJI Osmo Mobile 6, a gimbal that you can use with your smartphone. This will balance out your movement when you are filming, allowing you to take smooth video even when you are running, driving or otherwise throwing yourself about.
Amazon Kindle Scribe
Amazon has come a long way since its first Kindle device, but a feature that they have been slow to take up is the stylus. Now, with the Kindle Scribe, you can scribble notes on the book you are reading, make handwritten notes, and generally get more out of your Kindle. The device also features one of Kindle’s best displays, meaning you can continue to read in bright lighting. There is also a warm light setting for when you want to wind down and get ready for bed.
Marshall Acton III speaker
While it is best known for its towering amps on stage, Marshall has also been building an array of Bluetooth speakers over the years. Now it has launched its third edition of the Acton, Stanmore and Woburn speakers. The Acton is the cheapest of the three new speakers from Marshall. Like the Stanmore and Woburn, the Acton is made using a sustainable design of 70% recycled plastic and vegan materials. Through the use of Placement Compensation technology, this speaker optimizes the equalization (EQ) based on its surroundings. This means it will adapt and correct for nearby reflective surfaces which could affect the sound quality.
Therabody Wave Roller
The Therabody Wave Roller takes the traditional model of a foam roller and throws a bunch of tech into it. Through the use of vibration therapy and a wave-style texture, this roller helps to work out all of your aches and pains. It comes with an app that can guide you through a rolling routine, five customizable vibration frequencies and can be used anywhere on the body that needs working out.
LEGO App-controlled TransformationVehicle
When it comes to LEGO, there is a lot of choice. However, this new LEGO Technic set has a unique feature to help it stand out - the ability to control it via an app. With the app, you can drive the vehicle around, and when you flip the car over (or hit a wall), it will reveal a completely different car below. Because the LEGO car features suspension, you can even drive it over uneven surfaces.
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bazaar techno Source: bestproducts.com
WE ALL WANT IMPOSSIBLE THINGS
by Catherine Newmang, Fiction
For lovers of Meg Wolitzer, Maria Semple, and Jenny Offill comes this raucous, poignant celebration of life, love, and friendship at its imperfect and radiant best. This is the ultimate story of friendship as Edith and Ashley reminisce on 42 years of friendship. Edi is dying of ovarian cancer and Ash is struggling with her imperfection as a friend, wife, and parent.
THE WILDERWOMEN
Nora Wilder disappeared leaving her daughters to wonder where she went. Zadie, the oldest, should have seen it coming because she has psychic abilities. Finn cannot see into the future but she has a perfect memory. She cannot only see her own memories but the echoes that other people have left behind. When Finn wakes up alone in an aviary with no idea how she got there, she realizes she has followed her mother’s memory. Now the two sisters must try and find their mother but how far are they willing to go?
A WORLD OF CURIOSITIES by Louise Penny, Mystery
Described as The Secret History meets Ninth House, this Fantasy Dark Academia looks like a must-read. When Ann is assigned to work with The Cloisters during her summer program she discovers a hidden deck of tarot cards that might hold the key to predicting the future.
Frankie and Ezra were college sweethearts seeing each other for the first time since their breakup ten years ago. They are at the wedding of mutual friends and both have moved on. When they wake up the next morning with Ezra’s grandmother’s diamond on Frankie’s finger, they have to figure out what happened and if they got it wrong the first time around.
Bestselling author, Louise Penny, is back with book number 18 in the chief inspector Gamache series. Facebook takes place in three pines. Gamache and Beauvoir are reminded of an old case that has hunted them for years. Now, they discover a bricked-up attic in the village of three pines that brings more questions than answers.
The authors combine years of research with wonderful writing to tell the story of Akhenaten and Nefertiti, rulers more than three thousand years ago. These revolutionary rulers transformed the world we live in by combining religion and politics in one.
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bazaar books
by Ruth Emmie Lang, Magical Realism
THE REWIND by Alison Winn Scotch, Romance
THE CLOISTERS by Katy Hays, Fantasy
EGYPT’S GOLDEN COUPLE by Colleen and John Darnell, Non Fiction
Source: Goodreads.com
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FLOCKR
Flockr was born to be the OS for pets, creating tools and technology for pet owners and vets to better care for pets’ health. With a simple and easy-to-use experience, it’s possible to manage pets’ entire life: Health Records, Food, Reminders, and more.
KNOW MY MEDS
Make better informed decisions regarding your medications. The app provides you with access to information in order to educate yourself, and the information is taken from a reputable source, such as hospitals and doctors.
CUBOX
Cubox is a cross-platform app for collecting, reading and researching your daily information. With Cubox, you can effortlessly organize everything that matters to you, cut out the noise, and focus on less but better content.
MOCKER
Mocker is an app where it’s legit to be toxic to your coworkers. Create a group with your team, upload each other’s photos and make hilarious collages of them.
SOOTLY
No ads. No subscriptions. No daily limits or payto-play. Just a devilishly difficult word game—as much of it as you can handle. Available now on iOS and Android.
PLASEES
A fun way to find places of interest near you using Augmented Reality. PlaSees allows you to not only search for a specific type of a place but to explore and discover places based on your mood at any point in time!
play.google.com itunes.apple.com
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bazaar Apps
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OCEAN’S PRIDE IS BRINGING US THE FINEST COD FISH IN KUWAIT
Alyasra Foods joins forces with Norwegian seafood exporter Norsk Sjømat Stranda AS and the Norwegian Seafood Council to bring us the best Cod
By bazaar staff
Alyasra Foods announced a new joint campaign with the Norwegian seafood exporter Norsk Sjømat Stranda AS and the Norwegian Seafood Council to introduce the finest quality of wildly caught Norwegian Cod fish in Kuwait under the brand name, Ocean’s Pride.
Ocean’s Pride is one of the leading seafood brands in Kuwait, offering quality shrimp, salmon, zubaidi fish, and most recently Cod fish and is today the first brand to introduce the famed Norwegian Cod fish in Kuwait. The Cod fish is known for its unique flavor as it grows in deep cold waters in the polar seas. It is also a rich source of healthy nutrients such as omega 3, vitamin A, vitamin B12, selenium, iodine and protein.
We’ve been huge Ocean’s Pride fans since the brand was launched. We love being able to find the highest quality seafood all year round. Packaged and frozen safely and cleanly so we can enjoy our favorite seafood dishes. We love our fish and shrimps, but we always had an issue with making sure we were purchasing good quality fish or being able to consistently find it. That all changed when Ocean’s Pride entered the scene and now we know we can always find our cod, salmon or zubaidi at Makani, online and across all supermarkets and co-ops in Kuwait.
Frozen seafood has a long shelf-life and does not need to be air freighted, so the carbon footprint is lower making it better for the environment and with all the health benefits, better for you and your family. You will also be more likely to eat more seafood if it is more convenient, the way Ocean’s Pride makes it.
The Norwegian Seafood Council (NSC) is a marketing communications organization who works together with the Norwegian seafood industry to increase the value of Norwegian seafood in new and established markets. The “Seafood from Norway”- trademark is used to add value to Norwegian seafood products, and is a guarantee of the Norwegian origin to consumers all over the world.
Alyasra Foods is a leader in selling, marketing and distributing food products in Kuwait, carrying international brands such as Sadia, Lamb Weston, Al Safi Danone, Kellogg’s, Pringles and many more. The company will be providing the
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Norwegian Cod fish in all Cooperative Societies and supermarkets in Kuwait under Ocean’s Pride, and you can get yours at your nearest supermarket today!
Visit @Oceanspride.me on Instagram to learn more about Ocean’s Pride frozen seafood. You can also find Ocean’s Pride products across all supermarkets and co-ops in Kuwait.
Origin Matters
THE NEW H&M ESSENTIALS CORE COLLECTION IS HERE TO STAY H&M MOVE TEAMS UP WITH ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC TO GET THE WORLD MOVING
It is with great excitement that H&M Move is welcoming Zlatan Ibrahimović to their team. The well-known Swedish football player will join the brand in their mission to get the whole world and everybody moving through democratizing sport. Zlatan will start his long-term commitment as global Brand Mover for H&M Move with a campaign in spring 2023.
Zlatan Ibrahimović is one of the greatest strikers of all time and has played in the world’s biggest leagues. More than twenty years into his football career, Zlatan still plays up front for AC Milan and is Sweden’s all-time leading goal-scorer. He is also a father, a hiker, speaks five languages and has a passion for taekwondo. Zlatan is the ultimate multimover.
“I often felt like I was judged or excluded from moving growing up. Boys and girls growing up like I did should be able to wear what the professional athletes wear. That is what H&M Move stands for. I strongly believe in the brand mission of giving everybody the chance to move. Because moving has changed my life 100%.” Zlatan Ibrahimović, Professional Footballer and Multimover In keeping with H&M Move and Zlatan’s mission to get the whole world and everybody moving, earlier this month the brand welcomed Diana Amini as Head of the Move Community Program. She brings with her extensive experience from the non-profit sector, including 7 years as Global Manager of the H&M Foundation. Diana will build a global initiative that works closely with communities facing some of the largest obstacles to opportunities to move. She will work with a team of experts and thought leaders - including our global Brand Movers - who will each bring invaluable expertise from their fields.
THE NEW H&M ESSENTIALS CORE COLLECTION IS HERE TO STAY
Timeless design. High quality. Excellent fit. These are the key components that make up the H&M ESSENTIALS line of elevated wardrobe staples. It’s about slowing down. Creating garments that stand the test of time. Garments that have a story to tell. Garments that you’ll want to keep forever.
The H&M ESSENTIALS concept was founded on the idea of longevity in fashion and manifests as a collection of timeless, expertly cut designs made with more sustainable, high- quality materials. Pieces you’ll return to over and over that make up the foundation of an enduring and always-relevant wardrobe. By creating a long-lived style platform for the menswear customer, garments like the T-shirt, jeans, and shirt will always be readily available. It also shifts part of H&M’s business model into a slower cycle of trends. When launching, the collection carries a total of 12 individually numbered styles and will never feature more than 20 unique products at the same time. First out are everyday must- haves like the tailored coat, T-shirt, hoodie, sweatshirt, Oxford shirt, shirt, jeans, light knit jumper, heavy knit jumper, blazer, slacks, and chinos. All are made with more sustainable materials, including RWS (Responsible Wool Standard) wool, recycled Melton wool, and recycled polyester. The color palette is a mix of classic neutrals and select seasonal tones.
To offer more transparency around the collection, H&M is introducing a behindthe-scenes series called “The Making”, which tells the tale of the design process, development, styling, materials, and creatives behind the garments. By giving the customers a way to deepen their relationship with the clothes they wear every day, they’ll have an even greater reason to take care of, repair, and recycle these garments. Longevity, and circularity, can only be attained when a brand and its customers work together.
The curated range of men’s styles will launch in store and online on kw.hm. com on October 20 with prices starting from 6.99 KD.
H&M Move is a movement brand. Visit hm.com/move or follow @hm_move for more inspiration.
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SCORPIO OCT 23 – NOV 22
November will be full of ups and downs for the Scorpio natives. The beginning of the month could be weak, but the latter half will be favorable for you in many aspects. You will have to pay attention to your health. Married natives might feel a lack of marital happiness this month which may increase their stress. There are chances of short trips, but you need to be careful during these outings.
SAGITTARIUS NOV 23 - DEC 21
There will be an increase in your income and you will be promoted, and family life will also be blissful. However, there could be some problems in your personal life, yet, this month will be fruitful for you in many aspects, so you should be prepared. If you want to go abroad then the latter half of the month will give you this opportunity.
CAPRICORN DEC 22 – JAN 19
You will have a good flow of income which will help you fulfil your desires. Your ambitions will also be accomplished. An old long-held wish can also be fulfilled, due to which you will be very happy this month. However, you will also remain in deep contemplation and will move forward on the path of spirituality and meditation. You might get distracted from family turbulence. You can also consider making donations to any organization. You will come out to be stronger than your opponents.
AQUARIUS JAN 20 – FEB 18
This is a good month for you, but you will specifically have to take care of two things- your health and your house. These two areas can be weak this month, due to which you might have to face some challenges. However, your luck will favor you this month, and you will get successful results even in matters that have long been awaited. Your stuck money will be recovered, and you will take a sigh of relief due to the good family condition.
PISCES FEB 19 – MAR 19
November will be full of ups and downs for the you. Your health will deteriorate at the beginning but will improve later. You will benefit if you pay more attention to your income than your expenses. You should actively participate in family and religious activities. This will help you feel good, and you will enjoy the month wholeheartedly.
ARIES MAR 20 – APR 19
There will be fluctuations in your career as well as your financial life. So, you need to be careful and pay attention to your actions to avoid any losses and maintain a good position in your career. Read the horoscope in detail to know what the month of November has in store for you in terms of family life, career, health, love and married life, etc.
TAURUS APR 20 – MAY 20
This month will be weak at the beginning but fruitful after that for you. You need to take care of your budget as it might get disturbed, and if you manage your budget well, you will also be able to enjoy your financial situation. You might even travel somewhere this month.
GEMINI MAY 21 – JUN 21
This month will treat you well career-wise, but there will be ups and downs in other strata of life. You will have to pay heed to your health as it can be troublesome this month. This period will help you get rid of your financial problems and help you move ahead in life. There are chances of you going abroad as well.
CANCER JUN 22 – JUL 22
There will be good chances of you going abroad, but you will also have more expenses. But you will have nothing to worry about as there will be no lack in your income. You will earn and spend in abundance this month and enjoy your life. Family life could be stressful, but good luck will help you out of every difficult situation.
LEO JUL 23 – AUG 22
The ruling lord of your sign will be in the third house in the first half of the month, and in the fourth house in the latter half of the month, therefore, the first half will be more favorable for you than the second. You will have spiritual activities on your mind, will actively participate in religious activities, and might even go on a pilgrimage. Your risk-taking tendency will increase this month as you will be full of courage and might. You should avoid overestimating your physical abilities.
VIRGO AUG 23 – SEP 22
Career-wise, it will be a time of hard work. In terms of finance, this month will give you two-fold results. Children-related matters might give you mental stress. The family atmosphere will be favorable. However, you will have to pay heed to your health.
LIBRA SEP 23 – OCT 22
You should expect to get favorable outcomes from some important aspects of your life. But you need to pay attention to your health and family life as these will be among the weaker sections of your life during this time, and ignoring them can lead to stress and major problems. Try to stay away from mental stress as much as possible and drive your vehicle carefully.
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bazaar scopes Source: wisehoroscope.org
NISSAN PATROL KEEP CONQUERING Terms And Conditions Apply Years Warranty Years Roadside Assistance 3 Years Service*5 5 *or 60,000 km whichever comes first/On V8 models only