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WELCOME
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First Impression
A word from the editor-in-chief
December 2020
Editorial Editor in Chief Khalid Ahmed Juman Deputy Editor in Chief Ahmed Khunji Art Director Ronald Fuentes Features Editor Tariq Khonji Editors Amy Vaya Mohammed Hassan Charlie Holding Marketing and Sales International Media Sales Director Hussain Al Zaimoor Production Production Support Venkatesan J. S IT support Digital Manager Hussain Al Anjawi
DURRAH LUXURY MAGAZINE PO Box 13990, Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain T. +973 77077777 F. +973 17226555 VOLUME 13 ISSUE 02 WINTER 2020
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As we come the end of 2020, we reflect to see what a truly defining year this has been. We not only had to cope with the effects of the global pandemic, but also had to witness the loss of one of Bahrain’s true icons. We at Durrah are extremely saddened by the passing of HRH Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa. He represented the unmistakably progressive spirit of Bahrain and was beloved by the public. His foresight and continuous involvement in all the Kingdom’s aspects helped lay the foundation for the rapid growth it enjoys today in its economic, health, education, and other sectors. We pay tribute to an unforgettable pioneer as we look back on his landmark achievements and milestones. But while we show our respect to the departed, we also look towards a bright future with our new Prime Minister, the Crown Prince, HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa. HRH has been an immense figure in the development of the Kingdom over the past two decades. His contributions helped elevate the Kingdom to new levels and take its rightful position as pioneer in certain fields. We are confident that HRH will bring further prosperity to the Kingdom in his new capacity as Prime Minister.
Perhaps it’s fitting that such a defining year is accompanied by a defining issue of our magazine. This is the 50th issue of Durrah. Yes, we have arrived at our very special golden issue! It has been a long journey, challenging at times and rewarding at others, but we are immensely proud of what we have achieved so far. In my view, Durrah now sets the standard of what a luxury magazine should be. With the support of our loyal readers, we aim to accomplish even more in the future. Staying true to our form, we have curated content from the luxury world befitting this milestone issue. Interviews with the crème-de-la-crème of luxury brands, and our curated picks offering the best and latest in fashion, fragrances, designer bags and shoes, and much more are in store for our dear readers. 50 issues down and many more to come. This is only the beginning!
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COVER IMAGE Velaa Spa - Exterior View DURRAH is a premium quarterly English-language luxury lifestyle magazine, covering topics including VIP interviews, fashion, yachting, architecture, art and culture, jewellery and travel, Durrah’s quality is unsurpassed. Durrah, in Arabic, translates to ‘Pearl’, and focuses on luxury that is based on substance and lifestyle with intellect, rather than excess. On contemporary living that evolves from deepset roots, rather than globalization, ensuring an inherently authentic flavour for a globally travelled audience. With a core focus on the colourful fusion of both traditional and modern elements that make up the Arabian identity, Durrah aims to promote and preserve all of the elements that make the Arabian Gulf so unique. Durrah adopts international standards, however also remains closely connected to Middle Eastern heritage, culture and achievements, all of which are prominently featured.
Enjoy your read! ISSN 2210-1322
Khalid Ahmed Juman Editor in Chief
DURRAHMAGAZINE
www.durrah.bh e.mail: info@durrah.bh
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CONTENTS
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CONTENTS Volume 13 Issue 02
December 2020
Winter 2020
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022 018
064
012
034
056
Editor’s Letter
Interviews with entrepreneurs supported by Tamkeen
Interview with Garrard Head of Design, Claire Scott
First Impression
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True Visionary
The Crown Prince and Prime Minister, HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa
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In Memoriam
Tamkeen Programs
042
Luxury Pioneer
Interview with Al Hawaj General Manager, Abdulwahab Al Hawaj
046
The Artist of Royalty
HRH Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa (1970-2020)
Interview with artist Pavel Sokov
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050
BAB celebrates 100 years of the Kingdom’s banking sector
Bahrain’s Banking Sector: 100 Years of Challenges and Achievements
Centennial Celebrations
Century of Achievements
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052
Tamkeen’s Business Continuity Support Program
Interview with The Merchant House General Manager, Justin Kim
Supporting the Economy
The Art of Service
Everlasting Elegance
060
From Figuration to Abstraction
[Sur]Naturel, the new High Jewellery collection by Cartier
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Pride and Prestige
Asia Jewellers and Faberge’s new collection celebrates Bahrain National Day
066
Jeweller to the Stars
Chopard participates in the film, Rebecca
068
Tudor Royal
The sport-chic watch par excellence
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078 094
106
072
084
099
Audemars Piguet reveals two new takes on the Code 11.59
Perfumes for men
The latest in men’s fashion
An Air of Clear Night Sky
076
Beautiful in Blue
OMEGA’s 29mm Constellation models
078
Stunning Depth
Hublot’ three new High Jewellery models
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A Romantic Odyssey
Amouage reveals its Renaissance Collection
082
Scent of Royalty K by Dolce&Gabbana
Fresh and Bold
Season Essentials
086
100
Perfumes for women
The latest in women’s fashion
Alluring Fragrances
Chic Couture
088
104
Unisex perfumes
The latest in bridal fashion
Sophisticated Scents
Wedding Trends
090
106
The latest in luxury cosmetics
Expo 2020 Dubai
Beauty Trends
A Better Tomorrow
094
108
Ferretti celebrates the close ties between Riva and the silver screen
The latest in ladies’ brand name bags
Riva in the Movie
Exquisite Style
CONTENTS
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December 2020
146
118 166 122
112
138
166
The latest in designer brand women’s shoes
Officine Gullo barbecues
Reviews of the latest luxury brands in the automotive industry
Stepping in Style
Grilling In Style
116
140
Hästens and Ferris Rafauli launch Grand Vividus Collection
The best hotels in the world
Timeless Craftsmanship
118
Unbridled Ambition
Interview with artist Hamad Al-Humaidhan, ‘the Young Picasso’
122
An Architectural Marvel The Museum of the Future
126
Boutique Experience
Luxurious shopping destinations
Redefining Hospitality
Driving In Style
180
Must Haves for Men
146
Luxury items for men
The best spas in the world
Must Haves for Women
Serene Treatments
154
Gastronomic Delights
Interview with Chef Gaushan de Silva
158
Refined Taste Top dining locations
186
Luxury items for women
192
Paul Smith
British fashion icon
194
Unforgettable Journey
The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express
197
Final Pearl
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SPECIAL FEATURE
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December 2020
TRUE Visionary A beloved national figure, HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa has been serving as the Kingdom’s Crown Prince since 1999, following his father HM King Hamad bin Salman Al Khalifa’s accession to the throne. On 11th November 2020, he was appointed Prime Minister, taking over the duties of the late HRH Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa. With a progressive and patriotic mindset, HRH is already hard at work shaping the Kingdom’s vision for the future.
HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa was born on 21st October 1969, the eldest son of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa. He received his education in Bahrain and at the American University in Washington, DC, where he graduated with a BA in Public Administration. He later earned a master’s in philosophy and history from the University of Cambridge. In 1995, he took on the key role of Undersecretary of Defense and was later appointed Chairman of the Bahrain Center for Studies and Research until he became Crown Prince and Commander-in-Chief of the Bahrain Defense Force in 1999. Playing a pivotal role in HM King Hamad’s reform program, Prince Salman was appointed Chairman of the Committee for Implementation of the National Charter in 2001. The Charter, which provided a comprehensive blueprint for
Bahrain’s future development, based on principles of transparency, co-operation, and popular participation, rendered Bahrain a constitutional monarchy, and established a Constitutional Court, an independent judiciary, and a bicameral parliamentary system. Prince Salman was then appointed Chairman of the Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB) in 2002, which formulates and oversees the national economic development strategy and attracts Foreign Direct Investment into the Kingdom. Through that post, HRH initiated a wide range of policy initiatives aimed at broadening Bahrain’s economy, enhancing business competitiveness, and improving education and skills training. He played a fundamental role in positioning Bahrain as the region’s pioneer for motorsport, delivering its first Formula One track, launched to critical acclaim in 2004. The annual event has been a major success over the past 16 years, drawing tourists from all over the world to be part
of its unique and thrilling experience. In 2006, Bahrain’s Labor Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) and Labor Fund (Tamkeen), which fall under the leadership of Prince Salman, were established by royal decree. The LMRA, which offers a number of services and facilities to Bahrain’s citizens, is part of an initiative to advance a national labor market for the Kingdom. In 2008, under the chairmanship of Prince Salman, the EDB launched Bahrain’s Economic Vision 2030, a comprehensive strategy for the Kingdom’s economic development which aims to enhance the standard of living of all Bahrain’s citizens and further diversify the economy. As Chairman of the EDB, he implemented a clear vision for the development of education, providing future generations with the qualifications and skills needed to face today’s global economy. At the heart of the National Strategy for Higher Education are a range of programs aimed at further developing Bahrain’s schools, enhancing professional education
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01 The Crown Prince and Prime Minister, HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa 02 HRH the Crown Prince, Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa with HM King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, King of Bahrain 03 HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa in royal traditional attire at an event in the United Kingdom
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and training, and improving students’ performance. These efforts resulted in the establishment of the Education and Training Quality Authority alongside the Bahrain Teachers College. HM the King appointed Prince Salman as the Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces in 2008, and then as First Deputy Prime Minister in 2013, a post that enabled him to play an even greater role in promoting the Kingdom’s development and supporting the advancement of economic, education, and health services. Soon after his appointment, Prince Salman devised and implemented a series of policies and programs to enhance coordination among ministries and ensure the effective implementation of the government’s development plan. In 2018, HRH was appointed by royal decree (50/2018) as Chairman of the Civil Service Council, where he led efforts to further streamline the public sector through effective resource allocation, including the appointment of directors across government directorates and entities.
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December 2020
“Prince Salman devised and implemented a series of
policies and programs to enhance coordination among ministries and ensure the effective implementation of the government’s development plan.”
04 HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa with the late Prime Minister, HRH Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa 05 HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa attending the Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2020
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On 11 November 2020, His Royal Highness was appointed by His Majesty the King as Prime Minister, a role in which he will undoubtedly have a lasting impact. Throughout his various posts and roles, HRH has helped the Kingdom achieve enormous strides in many areas. He also helped provide greater opportunities and skills development for Bahrain’s youth, establishing the Crown Prince International Scholarship Program (CPISP) in 1999. He was also instrumental in the Kingdom’s fight against the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), providing effective leadership throughout the ongoing crisis and playing a key role in enacting policies that lep infections at low levels. Public confidence in his abilities is helping the Kingdom overcome the ongoing challenges of the pandemic. With numerous achievements under his name, and a long-term vision for the Kingdom’s development, HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa is set to bring further accomplishments and support the rebound in its economic growth.
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December 2020
“He was a visionary, a statesman, and a leader
whose passion for taking the Kingdom to new heights endeared him to citizens and residents alike. ”
01 HRH Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa at a wheatfield, circa 1959
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In Memoriam
HRH PRINCE KHALIFA BIN SALMAN AL KHALIFA
(1935 – 2020)
There are few who possess the qualities of the late Prime Minister, HRH Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa. With an incomparable vision and a determination that persisted over decades, his contributions to the development of the Kingdom of Bahrain will forever remain unparalleled. Durrah remembers the groundbreaking achievements of the beloved pioneer and celebrates the legacy of the longest serving Prime Minister in history. Starting his journey of national development in the 1950’s, he demonstrated early on a penchant for leadership by overseeing progress in the Kingdom’s fundamental sectors for two decades through a variety of official posts, which included President of the Education Council in 1957, Acting Secretary of the Government of Bahrain in 1958, and Mayor of Manama in 1962. His foresight allowed the Kingdom to possess the infrastructure necessary for it to develop in years to come. He In 1971, following Bahrain’s independence from British rule, he became Prime Minister and led concentrated efforts to gradually steer the national economy away from its dependence on oil in favor of tourism. He is widely regarded as
the key architect behind establishing Bahrain as a financial hub in the region. In 1973, he became further involved in the Kingdom’s security affairs as Chairman of the Supreme Defense Council, a role he assumed for the next 26 years. The 1980’s marked another era of rapid development for the Kingdom and its citizens, whose lives were improved by the nationwide economic progress. His commitment to developing all aspects of the Kingdom remained firm as he became Chairman of the Supreme Council of Oil in 1980, and Chairman of both the Civil Service Council and the Water Resources Council in 1982. In 1995, he became Chairman of the Supreme Council of Civil Aviation, overseeing a period of growth in the Kingdom’s travel and tourism
SPECIAL FEATURE
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02 HRH Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa at the opening of Abu Sa’fah oil field, circa 1966 03 HRH Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa at the official opening ceremony of a clinic in Sitra, circa 1964
sectors and preceding his role as Chairman of the Supreme Council for Economic Development in 2000. Throughout his life, he has received numerous significant honors, including Member 1st Class of the Order of Khalifa in 1976, Order of the Collar of the Order of Khalifa in 1979, and Member Exceptional Class of the Order of Shaikh Isa bin Salman al-Khalifa and Member 1st Class of the King Hamad Order of the Renaissance in 2009. He was also respected by his peers in international governments having bestowed upon him many honors such as Denmark’s Commander 1st Class of the Order of the Dannebrog in 1957, Spain’s Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic in 1981, Malaysia’s Honorary Grand Commander of the Order of the Defender of the Realm in 2001, and France’s Grand Officer of the Legion of Honor in 2004. Honoring the late Prime Minister’s landmark achievements and valuable contributions, HM King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa launched ‘Khalifa Town’ in 2017, in a ceremony that was attended by the Crown Prince, HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa. The milestone, which combines the Southern Town housing projects to link Askar, Jau, Al-Dur, and their suburbs, will accommodate 54,000 people once completed. HRH the late Prime Minister remained steadfast in his support for the Kingdom’s development until his final days, with one of his last directives issued in late 2020 to announce the annual celebration of Bahraini Doctors’ Day on the first Wednesday of every November, and the launch of the $200,000 ‘Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa Award for Bahraini Doctor’, which honors outstanding Bahraini doctors in the medical, clinical, and treatment fields. He was a visionary, a statesman, and a leader whose passion for taking the Kingdom to new heights endeared him to citizens and residents alike. His legacy will forever remain as one of the key motivators behind the widespread development that helped the Kingdom of Bahrain 03 become the vibrant economic hub it is today.
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December 2020
04 HRH Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, circa 1957 05 HRH with the Khalifa bin Salman Basketball Cup Championship trophy 05, 06 HRH Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa with the late Amir of Bahrain, HH Shaikh Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa
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December 2020
Centennial Celebrations Under the patronage of the late Prime Minister, HRH Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, the Bahrain Association of Banks (BAB) organized a grand ceremony celebrating the centennial of the first bank established in the Kingdom, marking the occasion with the unveiling of a special monument and the launch of a commemorative book.
The unveiled monument depicts the glorious history of the sector, which has achieved great strides since its inception, becoming a pillar of the national strategy to diversify sources of revenue and expand the economy. The celebration also paid tribute to the late Premier’s pivotal role as the architect of modern Bahrain. Bahrain now hosts 385 financial institutions, including retail, wholesale, and offshore banks. The Kingdom was in the vanguard of countries pioneering Islamic banking. It became the first Islamic banking hub in the Arab world with 11 Islamic banks out of more than 60 listed large Islamic banks. The Kingdom is also a leader in introducing digital financial technology, culminating in the launch of Bahrain Fintech Bay in 2018. HH Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa attended the celebration marking the centennial of the banking sector. The ceremony was organized by BAB in the main building of Bahrain Financial Harbor, in the presence of senior officials and leading personalities from across the financial and banking sector. Shaikh Salman conveyed the greetings and
congratulations of the late Premier to all participants at the event, which celebrated the role of the financial and banking sector as a main contributor to economic growth and development in the Kingdom. He stressed the major strides made by Bahrain thanks to the directives of HM King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. He also pointed out the paramount importance accorded by the government to the financial and banking sector by providing it with legal, organizational, and logistical requirements that enabled Bahrain to become a financial hub attracting prominent financial and banking institutions. HH Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa paid tribute to the late Prime Minister for his unflinching support to the financial and banking sector, which enjoys international respect thanks to the commitment of the Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB) and the banks it regulates. He said that celebrating the centenary of the financial and banking sector comes at a time when the global economy is witnessing major challenges as a result of the spread of the novel coronavirus. He also reaffirmed Bahrain’s ability to brave those challenges
competently and efficiently. HH Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa expressed his sincere congratulations to the honorees, describing them as a source of pride. He thanked them for their dedication and diligence in serving the nation and wished the financial and banking sector further success. CBB Governor Rashid Al Meraj expressed his heartfelt thanks to the late Prime Minister for his unwavering support to the financial and banking sector, which has witnessed continuous growth over the past century and especially over the past five decades. Al Meraj added that the baking sector’s march towards progress has gained momentum thanks to the continuous support of the country’s leadership. He expressed thanks to HM King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, and the late Premier for their support and directives to continuously develop the sector. The CBB Governor paid tribute to all participants in the financial and banking sector for their contributions. He also expressed his thanks to the
“Bahrain now hosts 385 financial institutions,
including retail, wholesale, and offshore banks. ”
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Ministry of Finance and National Economy, led by Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, as well as the Economic Development Board and all relevant government institutions for their roles, alongside CBB, in supporting these accomplishments. For his part, Board Chairman of Bahrain Association of Banks Adnan Ahmed Yusef hailed the late Premier and his pioneering role in the development of the financial and banking sector. He underlined the numerous achievements made over the past century which have boosted the Kingdom’s status on the world map as one of the key financial and banking hubs. A video was shown on the development of the financial and banking sector in Bahrain over the past century and its role in supporting the national economy and the Kingdom’s development. The video shed light on the efforts of HRH the Prime Minister to boost the Kingdom’s regional and international status. Following this, the names of the sector’s pioneers, who were honored by HRH the Premier, were announced. HH Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa inaugurated the memorial which embodies the glorious history of the financial and banking sector. The memorial was created by BAB especially for the occasion and installed permanently at the main entry of Bahrain Financial Harbor. The CBB Governor and BAB Chairman presented copies of the book marking the occasion, titled ‘Bahrain’s Banking Sector: 100 Years of Challenges and Achievements’, and a commemorative stamp and model to HH Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa. banksbahrain.org
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December 2020
01 The monument depicts the glorious history of the banking sector
03 The commemorative book being presented to HH Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa
02 Attendees were shown a video on the development of the financial and banking sector in Bahrain
04 Attendees at the grand ceremony
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SPECIAL FEATURE
01 The 2019 Tamkeen Consultation Forum 02 Tamkeen Chief Executive, Dr. Ebrahim Mohammed Janahi
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December 2020
SUPPORTING the Economy 02
Following the Royal Directive of HM King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa to unite the national efforts combating the repercussions of COVID-19, and the impact it had caused on economic levels, Tamkeen launched the Business Continuity Support Program, which has so far offered BD54 million to 16,000 affected businesses. This financial support comes as part of the economic stimulus packages announced by the Government of Bahrain. In response to these directives, Tamkeen programs have been redirected and a budget has been allocated to the Business Continuity Support Program, which will support small and micro enterprises by providing financial grants that cover part of the operating expenses of the affected institutions during this pandemic Through the support packages provided in accordance with the royal directives of HM the King, Tamkeen aims to achieve a number of objectives, which include facilitating financial support opportunities for affected micro and small enterprises, reducing repercussions of current conditions on jobs as much as possible by supporting employment, expanding the circle of package beneficiaries to include support for taxi and bus drivers; driving instructors; and
kindergarten workers, and supporting the largest possible number of those affected. Most of the financial support was given to sports clubs, gyms, beauty salons, restaurants, cafes, training institutes, and travel and tourism offices. The support amount for each business depends on the size of the organization in terms of the number of employees, and it includes covering part of the operating expenses of small and micro enterprises in order to benefit the largest segment. Support dues are paid for three consecutive months, with each entity completing the requirements for each monthly payment by entering the electronic portal and attaching a receipt for the expenses on a monthly basis. A key part of the evaluation process is determining the extent of damage and its
SPECIAL FEATURE
impact on the entity. Tamkeen also works on expediting the payment process, particularly for businesses in sectors that are most affected by the precautionary measures introduced by the Kingdom, such as the services sector. Going forward, Tamkeen plans to encourage businesses on researching and studying possible alternative solutions and fields that ensure their continuity, such as activating digital and technological tools. It will also conduct studies and market research to develop plans for reintroducing Tamkeen programs in a format that is suitable to the needs of the next stage, and to maintain sustainable growth of the private sector.
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03, 04 Dr. Janahi meeting with local entrepreneurs
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December 2020
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SPECIAL FEATURE
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Ambition and Dedication Starting her entrepreneurial journey as a young Bahraini designer at the age of 17, Aysha Abdulmalek launched Aisha Jewels in 2014. The brand grew steadily over time, becoming a GCC-wide provider of custom made, high-end jewelry pieces that are crafted to high standards by top goldsmiths in the region, and winning several awards.
IN WHAT WAY DID TAMKEEN SUPPORT YOUR BUSINESS? Since early childhood I have always been fascinated by the ability to capture and communicate feelings through art. While I always wanted to remain an artist, I never thought that this could turn into my life passion. This was until I was advised by one of my dear teachers to participate in Tamkeen’s Mashro3i competition for young entrepreneurs in its 2013-14 cycle. There, I was intrigued by the structured approach applied through businesses in turning simple aspirations into financially viable ventures. By the end of the Mashro3i program, Aisha Jewels was born. I never looked back since then.
WHAT WERE THE OBJECTIVES YOU HAD IN MIND WHEN YOU FIRST STARTED AISHA JEWELS? Two things were clear from the beginning: beautiful art alone does not create a successful business but hard work, coupled with a sound and well thought business approach does. Also, surviving in the real world of business is not for the faint hearted. Therefore, I set up Aisha Jewels with high standards of artistic and quality values where my role as the Creative Director of the company is to act as the guardian of these values in the
face of business challenges that force many talented participants in the industry to compromise design and quality in favor of short term success. In parallel, and as the company grew and operational complexities grew with it, we assembled a small but highly effective team of business professionals to ensure that the creation of beauty and quality is not interrupted by the clutter of day to day business challenges.
CAN YOU TELL US A BIT ABOUT THE COLLECTIONS ON OFFER AT AISHA JEWELS? As of now, we have four collections or families. We have Tala’ed, which is a play of the Arabic words Taleed for deep rooted wealth and Qla’ed for precious necklaces. These are magnificent pieces of 22 karat gold inlaid with different stones in breathtaking designs based on our deep regional heritage. We also have We’haj, which has our products of 18 karat gold and highest quality diamonds. We call it “We’haj” a name from the Arabic word Wahj which is used to describe the brilliance of diamonds and the heat emanating from molten pure solid objects like our gold. The third collection is called Traneem, and it is an explosion of color and happiness in 22 karat gold with carefully selected precious stones.
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December 2020
“My designs are made up of collections, what we
internally refer to as families, each with its own theme and story.” 01 Aysha Abdulmalek 02,03 Exquisite creations by Aisha Jewels
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Taraneem reflect the essence of simple elegance designed for the daily use. The last one is Jawa, which is a word that means love in Arabic. It features a collection of 22 karat gold and natural stones that are full of beauty, happiness, and hope.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE CLIENTELE AT AISHA JEWELS? WHO MAKES A CONNECTION THE MOST WITH YOUR PIECES?
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Aisha Jewels prides itself for being able to cater for a broad spectrum of tastes. Since childhood, I have always felt that artwork should be another way to celebrate the wonderment of life. Therefore, my jewelry collections are colorful, vibrant, and modern. The underlying designs endeavor to reflect the happy and daring personalities of the young and the young at heart. At the same time, they dive deep into the rich and versatile history and culture of the region. My designs are made up of collections, what we internally refer to as families, each with its own theme and story. It usually starts with a master design that embodies all what I am trying to communicate. These master designs, or Haute Joaillerie if you want, are all too detailed and valuable to be mass produced so they are reserved for our Aisha Abdulmalik
Studio clients who have very decerning taste. From that masterpiece, and over at least 5 years, a number of design ideas are created, each emphasizing a certain aspect of it. For example, the Wehaj Intense design is the master design for all our Wehaj products since 2018, and it continues to add new ideas to the collection. I expect it to do so for at least the next 5 years.
WHAT ARE YOUR LONG-TERM PLANS FOR AISHA JEWELS? My aspiration for Aisha Jewels is that, one day, it will be recognized as a leading, Bahraini based, global brand of luxury products. This has been my intention from the beginning and it is why the company is called Aisha Jewels and not Aisha Jewelry. This allows for a multipronged product offering strategy extending beyond jewelry. We also aspire to have our own manufacturing workshop where the founder, with a highly competent team of goldsmiths, do what they do best, which is producing breathtaking jewelry pieces. In this regard, one of my most coveted personal aspirations is that, one day, these goldsmiths, or at least some of them, will be local talents trained by me. aishajewels.com
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01, 03 Almerriyah’s unique jewellery 02 Jassim Mohammed
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Dazzling Success
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Offering unique and breathtaking creations, Almerriyah is a cut above many when it comes to jewellery. Armed with an extensive knowledge of Bahrain’s gold market, and motivated by the love of the Kingdom’s rich history, owner Jassim Mohammed continues to carve out a dedicated customer base amid tough competition. WHAT MOTIVATED YOU TO LAUNCH ALMERRIYAH JEWELLERY? The magic of the original Bahraini gold, which Bahrain was known for since the time of pearl diving and coral extraction, and the way it was formulated into jewellery prompted me to know more about the creative process behind. I had the opportunity to work in this field with one of my relatives selling jewellery. As I gained more experience in dealing with customers, and understood more about their preferences, I decided to be the owner of my own jewellery store. Together with my father, we opened our first branch in the famous Jidhafs gold market.
CAN YOU TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOUR COLLECTIONS? HOW MANY DO YOU HAVE AND WHICH ONES ARE THE MOST POPULAR?
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My love of Bahrain is what made me commit to specializing in 21 carat Bahraini gold forging and selling. We form traditional Bahraini shapes that are known for their charm and beauty. Among the most famous Bahraini gold pieces are the Kursi Jaber, Al Baidana, Al Merriyah, Al Yasmina and many others.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO CREATE YOUR JEWELLERY PIECES? WHAT KIND OF MATERIAL DOES IT INCLUDE? Each piece of gold differs from the other at the time of forging. Some of them take a week of meticulous work, and others take a month. It differs according to the precision of the work that needs to go into it. Bahraini gold is known as 21 carat, and some Bahraini pearls and some precious stones are added to it to add more to the aesthetic.
WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES FACING YOU AS A LOCAL JEWELLERY BUSINESS? The difficulties of working in the formulation and sale of jewelry are many. For example, there is the fluctuation of gold prices, especially when the prices increase in times of crisis. Usually, gold is considered a money-saving haven for investors around the world. Also, there is stiff competition between the jewelry store owners, which may push you to sell at less than the original cost on many occasions, as the added value on this type of trade and the reluctance of people to it has weakened it greatly. instagram.com/almerriyah_jewellery
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Wearable Art
Founded in 2005 by Bahraini artist Yasmin Salahuddin, Yazi a women’s accessories brand that has successfully created a signature look combining elegance and youthful charm. Synonymous with bold graphic print scarves, Yazi items are the perfect addition to any wardrobe as they can be worn with effortless style across many seasons. 01
CAN YOU TELL US A BIT ABOUT YAZI’S AUTUMN/WINTER 2020 COLLECITON? Yazi Autumn/Winter 2020 collection is inspired by the beauty of the Middle East with intertwined prints of colourful palm trees, Arabesque patterns inspired by Morocco, and Hamsa Eyes famously known to ward off negative vibes. Our scarves are made from finely spun lightweight wool weaved into jewel toned backgrounds of Malachite Green, Ruby Red and Sapphire Blue. The collection also pays tribute to our Kingdom with two pieces dedicated to my late grandfather, Bahraini architectural pioneer Salahuddin. He was a visionary architect who designed and built some of the most iconic landmarks in the Kingdom in the early 20th century, such as Bab Al Bahrain and the modern Manama skyline documenting the flourishing of the island.
Being a graphic artist, I usually draw inspiration from the world around me with elements that intrigue me. I then translate these inspirations and elements such as jewels, gems, feathers, animals and others to be intertwined in an art piece that tells a story.
WHICH OF YAZI’S PIECES IS THE CLOSEST TO YOUR HEART? ONE YOU FEEL SUMS UP WHAT THE YAZI BRAND STANDS FOR? All of my designs are very special to me and I have put so much love and passion into them. However, if I had to choose, I would say the ‘Bab Al Bahrain’ scarf. I cherish that one in particular because it was a tribute to Bahrain’s pioneer architect, my grandfather, Salahuddin. It commemorated his life and his work on the historic Bab Al Bahrain in 1949, when he worked in what was known then as the Public Works Department.
WHAT KIND OF STATEMENT DO YAZI FASHION PIECES TRY TO MAKE?
WHAT SHOULD WE EXPECT NEXT FROM YAZI?
My scarf designs are wearable pieces of art that are made to be a fashion statement that says “let the scarves do the talking”.
Currently, we are designing new pieces that will be added to the scarf collection. Travelers will also be closer to our brand, as Yazi will soon be available at Bahrain International Airport.
YAZI MIXES ART AND FASHION. CAN YOU TELL US MORE ABOUT YOUR DESIGNS?
yazibahrain.com
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01 Yasmin Salahuddin 02 Arabesque Scarf 03 Multieyes Scarf
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December 2020
Unique Flavor A new coffee shop with a distinctive philosophy, FOS Café invites patrons to join them in a world of delectable joys. Founder Sayed Ahmed Al Mosawi reveals what made him go on a journey of finding the perfect brew, and his future ambition for the Bahrain-based business.
WHEN DID YOUR ENTREPRENEURIAL JOURNEY BEGIN? AND WHAT MADE YOU FALL IN LOVE WITH COFFEE IN PARTICULAR? I established FOS Cafe in April 2019. We offer a range of food and beverages. My journey with coffee began with discovering the world through my tours of various places where coffee and tasty desserts and sandwiches are served. I was looking for that special cup of coffee, which can bring me intoxicating enjoyment and happiness. The one that can satisfy my tastes and please my heart at the same time. After several years of research, certain coffee shops became my focus and the center of my interests. It was where I used to meet and communicate with my friends, acquaintances, and brothers. Coffee became my favorite hobby, which prompted me to learn more about the secrets of these grains.
WHAT ARE THE MOST POPULAR ITEMS ON THE FOS CAFE MENU SO FAR? Although we serve a wide variety of food and beverages, our customers have fallen in love with
our Cinnabon Roll, Saffron Cake, Brownies, and our Spanish latte.
WHAT TYPE OF CUSTOMERS DO YOU USUALLY ATTRACT? FOS is not limited to a specific category of people. Our food is suitable for all ages. After all, who doesn’t enjoy drinking a cup of coffee and eating croissant or a fresh sandwich on a bright morning? We provide high-quality coffee, food, and beverages. We also support and develop innovative and beneficial social and environmental programs. It’s our way of adding value to people’s lives. Our philosophy is built on respecting all people, and honoring honesty in everything we do, while remaining professional in our thoughts, feelings, and actions. We love our guests, we love our products, we love our work, and we love our lives as members of the team.
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make up coffee and desserts are vegan, the way in which they are processed also align with a vegan philosophy. And since being vegan is a lifestyle, we can use all vegan ingredients in a cup or a plate, to serve tasty drinks and food which everyone can enjoy.
HOW DID TAMKEEN SUPPORT YOUR BUSINESS?
DOES FOS CAFÉ CATER TO VEGAN CUSTOMERS?
Tamkeen continues to provide excellent support for individuals and businesses. With their financial and moral support, I was able to achieve a goal I always dreamed of. This is in addition to their sound advice regarding the current market and how to survive the competition in Bahrain. Our ambition has no limits. We are in a country rich with great and promising opportunities, and we must join our government to ensure the success of Economic Vision 2030 by pushing our business to be a model for ambitious Bahraini companies. I hope to see FOS in the ranks of international coffee shops in every country. Considering the concerted efforts happening at all levels, I believe that it can happen.
Can vegans drink coffee or dessert? The short answer is: Yes! Not only are our ingredients that
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01 Sayed Ahmed Al Mosawi 02, 03 Delectable items from FOS Cafe
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December 2020
Luxury Pioneer For customers in the Kingdom and the GCC, Al Hawaj is a name synonymous with prestigious perfumes. Launched in 1942, the Bahraini brand continues to be a formidable leader in an ever-changing market. General Manager, Abdulwahab Al Hawaj reveals the secret behind the long-lasting success and resilience of one of the Kingdom’s most reputable brands.
YOU CARRY SEVERAL BRANDS UNDER AL HAWAJ GROUP. CAN YOU TELL US A BIT ABOUT THEM? Al Hawaj has been well-established within the perfumery and cosmetics market for many years. It’s a very well-known and beloved name in this field. We carry a lot of brands, mainly groups of perfumes that fall under a wider umbrella. For example, we represent L’Oréal, Lancôme, De la Roche and many other extremely popular brands. We also have been representing several independent brands that don’t belong to a group for decades. We are happy that all our clients are satisfied with our work and level of professionalism.
WHAT KIND OF TRENDS ARE YOU NOTICING IN THE PERFUME WORLD THESE DAYS? DOES BAHRAIN’S MARKET FOLLOW THOSE TRENDS? When it comes to perfumes, there was one trend that began around 15 years ago and still is en vogue today, and that’s the use of traditional Arabic scents. You will find this even globally, for example with European
customers. This is why many of the international perfumes now incorporate oud. French, English, and American suppliers have a large number of oud-scented perfumes. It’s also a scent that requires know-how. There are some who try to incorporate oud in their products and it simply fails. We don’t have that problem because we only represent the biggest clients. We test all products before importing it into the Kingdom. They often come to us for advice because they know we have extensive knowledge on its use. Oud is currently used in perfumes worldwide, but you’ll still find it used more here in Bahrain and the Middle East.
WHEN IT COMES TO PERFUMES, HOW HAVE CUSTOMER PROFILES OR PREFERENCES CHANGED OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS? They have definitely changed. Customers nowadays are savvier. They are offered many more choices than before. Plus, they have access to information, which means their decisions are more calculated. They are very smart shoppers. This is the case worldwide. We, as a company, try to keep up with these changes. Although it isn’t as easy as it was 20 years ago, as
the range was smaller, we still realize the necessity of adapting. I believe that to cater to a smart customer, you need to be a smart businessman.
BAHRAIN’S MARKET IS INCREASINGLY EMBRACING INTERNATIONAL BRANDS. HAS THIS AFFECTED THE PERFORMANCE OF YOUR LOCAL PRODUCTS? Every country has local products and imports. Although it’s understandable why most locals would be more interested in trying the imported international brands, it doesn’t mean that they will stop buying local. You have to also factor in the rapid improvement of our local products here in Bahrain. For example, we have two or three companies that manufacture Arabic perfumes. Customers would trust buying from them more because they have been in business for a very long time and understand their tastes and requirements.
WHAT ARE THE MAJOR CHALLENGES YOU FACE TODAY? I would say that one challenge might be that shoppers are presented with too many brands or have to keep
01 Al Hawaj Group General Manager, Abdulwahab Al Hawaj
up with too many fads that it becomes confusing for them. We avoid that problem by being very selective with which brands to represent. The vast experience we’ve accumulated over the decades helps us navigate through issues like those. Our customers have become loyal to our brand, to the point where some would feel comfortable buying blandly from us. They know we will only have the best. I’m immensely proud of that achievement.
BUSINESSES ARE EMBRACING THE DIGITAL WORLD NOW MORE THAN EVER BEFORE. WHAT PLANS DOES AL HAWAJ HAVE TO INCREASE ITS ONLINE PRESENCE?
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The world is indeed changing. Online businesses are rapidly increasing, especially in 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic. It gave room for other competitors to enter the perfumery and cosmetics world. We acknowledge those changes and the need for us to adapt. We have been working hard since the beginning of this year on our newest store, Niche Garden. It’s an innovative concept that will carry only the most exclusive products in the world, the kind 01
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that you would only find at the most highly reputed stores such as Harrods. When GCC customers visit, they are hugely impressed by the concept and they end up buying a lot of items. Our official launch has been postponed to the beginning of 2021, however, Niche Garden is already catering to online customers. This is one of the measures we took to adapt to the rise of digital purchases. We are also working on further developing the Al Hawaj website. One of the biggest moves we took to embrace online shopping was launching our Hotline service, which allows you to view and order our products via WhatsApp. Our trained staff receive your order and then deliver on the same day or by the next day the latest.
WHAT SHOULD WE EXPECT FROM AL HAWAJ IN 2021? ANY MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENTS YOU CAN SHARE WITH US? Although we have to be careful because the pandemic
has caused the market to shrink a bit, we still try to be as active as possible in launching new ventures. We don’t plan on stopping anytime soon. Right now, we are still studying new products that we plan to import to Bahrain. We’ve already made the necessary reservations for locations and we will have more to share very soon. Other than the planned Niche Garden launch, we also have some other major projects in the works. For example, we will be part of the upcoming Marassi Galleria, which is a mega shopping mall project in Muharraq. There will be a new road there that leads from Marassi Al Bahrain to Manama in only 6 to 7 minutes as it won’t be affected by the traffic. In 2021, we will also open a boutique exclusive for Montale Parfums products. It will be the first of its kind in the Kingdom. Once the situation improves a bit, we will be announcing it in a big way! alhawaj.com
02 The late Prime Minister, HRH Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa with Mr. Al Hawaj
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The Artist of Royalty Moscow-born artist Pavel Sokov has mastered the Realism Art. Having left the marketing world behind to dedicate himself to being a full-time professional artist, he went from strength to strength, eventually landing the coveted opportunity to paint an illustration for a runner-up of Time magazine’s Person of the Year cover. Now renowned as the go-to artist for royal families in the Middle East, commissioned to paint portraits of the region’s leading figures, Durrah delves into the world of the well-traveled artist to find out more about his creative process and future aspirations.
IT WOULD NOT BE AN OVERSTATEMENT TO SAY ONE HAS TO LOOK TWICE AT YOUR PAINTINGS TO REALIZE THEY ARE NOT PHOTOGRAPHS. HOW DO YOU ACHIEVE THAT DEEP LEVEL OF REALISM IN YOUR PAINTINGS? IS IT ALL ABOUT THE COLORS OR IS IT SOMETHING ELSE? Most people assume color is the most important aspect in the impressions that paintings make. In my view, it is actually the least. There are many convincing and beautiful monochrome drawings and paintings that exist, although the relationships between the colors on my canvas do convey a great deal. I would say the biggest factors in accomplishing uncompromising realism is a mastery of great draftsmanship (drawing correctly), values (controlling the relationships between how dark or light things are in a subtle way), and edges (how soft or sharp the contours and borders of brush strokes are). Cameras are amazing tools, but they capture everything with a high level of detail in a way that our eyes do not. It is up to the artist to adjust the edges between things to simulate the blur we have in our vision, as the human eye can only see a small focal point in full sharpness. If the artist can control the
point of focus, it is possible to make something look more real than a photo.
YOUR PORTRAIT OF RACHID THE MOROCCAN MERCHANT IS A TRULY FASCINATING WORK OF ART. WHAT’S THE STORY BEHIND IT? The Moroccan merchant is one of my favorite works of mine. Rachid is a Berber merchant I met in the ancient and history-rich city of Fez. He drew me in with his open-hearted attitude and look of deep contemplation. When I saw him, I knew I had to paint him, so I approached him and talked to him about it. Luckily, he was pleased by the idea and we set out to depict him in front of his stall. On his neck is a necklace I bought from him and still have. On his lap are his ancestral beads, which were passed down to him from generations. I felt them to be important to him, so I had to include them in the painting. He is seen drinking his morning coffee. I hope I was able to capture the depth of his personality in this work. I went on to hire a craftsman to build a one-of-akind frame for this painting with the designs of his necklace in the corners, to complete the traditional Moroccan impression I was after.
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01 Self Portrait called Conquer. 18x24 inches. Oil on linen 02 Shaikh Isa Bin Ali Al Khalifa. 36x36 inches. Oil on linen
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historical significance brings deep pleasure to me.” 03 His Highness Sheikh Sir Hamad bin ‘Isa al-Khalifa 1932 to 1942. 40x30 inches. Oil on linen 04 King Abdulaziz meeting with Roosevelt. 40x30 inches. Oil on linen 05 The Moroccan Merchant. 36x24 inches. Oil on linen
WHAT WAS THE MOST DEMANDING PAINTING YOU HAVE EVER DONE? THE ONE WITH THE MOST CHALLENGING DETAILS? I have done several extremely challenging pieces. One of the first very difficult undertakings was producing a large-scale work of the historical scene of the meeting between King Abdulaziz and US President Franklin Roosevelt on a ship. There were 8 people to paint, the color in the historical photograph was very weak, and the people’s legs were blocked by a table that I needed to remove in my mind, and invent the legs behind it. I have also done a family portrait painting with 5 family members and 2 dogs, all of which had to be posed correctly in relation to each other. Assembling a pleasant composition out of so many elements was particularly challenging. More recently, painting the history of Bahrain from very small and black and white photos with missing details has been challenging. A lot of research was involved in tracking down historical garments, swords, and even famous buildings in order to understand the true colors and textures of things. All the missing details had to be re-imagined in full detail and color from museum pieces, antique auctions, and consulting with experts. After a deep dive into historical research, I believe my depictions are entirely historically accurate, which I am most proud of.
WHEN DID ROYAL FAMILIES START CONTACTING YOU FOR COMMISSIONS? AND WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE SPARKED THEIR INTEREST IN YOUR ART? They contacted me in the first year of my career after the Time Magazine Illustration and after an article was written about me on the front page of their newspaper. I believe what attracted them to me is
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my dedication to high realism and for doing things the hard, traditional way. I don’t seek to convey any deep philosophical ideas through my work, as much as I seek to bring the highest level of mastery to the table in order to make paintings whose quality is readily visible and requires no explanation. This way, anyone, from any culture, from any time, could perceive quality in them. I have been making Middle Eastern paintings for 6 years now, and am only getting deeper and deeper into it. I plan on doing many more. Painting various traditional cultures with historical significance brings deep pleasure to me. It’s the reason why I travel the globe, capturing the rich textures, colors, and characters to be found.
HOW DO YOU SEE THE ART WORLD EVOLVING DURING THE DIGITAL AGE? DO YOU THINK ARTISTS WILL EMBRACE IT FULLY OR WILL THEIR LOVE ALWAYS BE FOR THE PHYSICAL GALLERY EXPERIENCE?
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You know, I am fairly uncertain about the future of gallery spaces. I also collect art and always buy it from artists directly online through Instagram, having only seen a picture of the work, and not in real life. I am very comfortable with that, and my clients are comfortable with it too. They reach out to me through
my website or even more often through my Instagram. We speak directly through these online mediums. The unfortunate truth is that oil paintings are always best seen in person. No matter how carefully I photograph my works, they never look as good as in real life. I do wish everyone could see them in person, but I do foresee this becoming more and more rare.
WHAT IS THE NEXT BIG PROJECT FOR PAVEL SOKOV? ANYTHING YOU CAN SHARE WITH OUR READERS? I have 3 upcoming historical Bahrain paintings to do, and I am constantly at work on my collection of portraits of my heroes in science. I have painted 6 so far. They can be seen on my website. I also have the Gravitas collection, where the goal is to paint contemporary living scientists whose works impact our lives positively every day. I feel that science and its heroes are highly under-appreciated nowadays, so I love paying my respects to their accomplishments. They are the great problem solvers, wrestling with the most challenging questions. I respect them greatly and hope that comes through in my work. pavelsokov.com
BOOK REVIEW
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Century of Achievements Launched by the Bahrain Association of Banks (BAB) during a grand ceremony, the book ‘Bahrain’s Banking Sector: 100 Years of Challenges and Achievements’ commemorates a true milestone for the Kingdom, celebrating the centennial of the first bank established on its land.
Written by Obaidly Al-Obaidly and Saleh Hussain, and published by Miracle, the book details the evolution of the Kingdom’s banking sector from 1919 to 2019. The authors’ in-depth information on the topic shows the banking sector’s importance for the Kingdom over the decades, going as far back as before the 1920s of the last century. The book is an excellent resource to learn more about the sector, which is one of the pillars of Bahrain’s strategy to diversify its revenue sources and broaden its scope of economic activities. The book starts with a foreword by the late Prime Minister, HRH Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, who patronized the ceremony, as well as forewords by Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB) Chairman, Rasheed Al Maraj, BAB Chairman, Adnan Ahmed Yousif, and BAB CEO, Dr. Waheed Al Qassim. The book attributes the Kingdom’s progressive banking sector to the ambitious vision of its wise leadership, and its hardworking population which has put Bahrain on the map in that field. Bolstered by a great selection of photographs taken at key moments in Bahrain’s history, the book takes us on a journey of history and accomplishments, weaving together information collected from interviews and financial institutions with historical facts, creating a captivating story about the rise of a modern nation.
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“The authors’ in-depth information on the topic
shows the banking sector’s importance for the Kingdom over the decades, going as far back as before the 1920s of the last century.”
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The Art of Service Justin Kim, General Manager of The Merchant House, reveals the winning philosophy behind Bahrain’s first 5-Star luxury boutique hotel and its plans to further embrace the Kingdom’s local talents.
WHAT IS THE MERCHANT HOUSE’S PHILOSOPHY WHEN IT COMES TO HOSPITALITY? Our service philosophy is Everything Matters. Rather than focusing or stressing on certain elements, we utilize a holistic approach in everything we do to make the experiences of our travelsavvy guests special and memorable. Starting from aesthetic and practical efforts in architecture and interior design to detailed and endless exercises in procuring the right furniture, fixture, fabrics, operational equipment and a series of arts, and most importantly to building a team which could provide personalized and intuitive service with the right personality and attitude. In line with a number of recent changes in the industry, our intelligently attentive service style by well-trained team members. We respect guests’ private zones and providing social distance where necessary to assure the most comforting and relaxing ambience.
CAN YOU TELL US A BIT ABOUT THE ARCHITECTURE AND INTERIORS OF THE MERCHANT HOUSE?
The Merchant House opened its doors in February of 2019, after a series of restoration projects that took place over the span of a few years. We converted this antiquated 10-storey building from 1967, and gave it a complete facelift, to unveil this exquisite 5-star boutique hotel. Every aspect of The Merchant House has been designed under the eye of Mr. Gordon Campbell Gray, who played a role in bringing vibrant colors to the space with a selection of various hand-made fabrics to complement the hotel’s interior spaces. He also personally curated the wide-ranging artworks in the entire hotel. We have invested quite heavily in fine materials, such as timber, stone, solid oak, terrazzo and rare handmade tiles, as well as in all furniture that has been specially designed and made for this hotel.
HOW DOES THE MERCHANT HOUSE DIFFERENTIATE ITSELF FROM THE COMPETITION? As Bahrain’s first 5-star boutique hotel, the charming 10-story building blends modern classics and understated luxury, with specially curated 46 light-filled suites, each featuring a kitchenette,
dining area and open plan living room. The hotel also offers a 1000-book library, chlorine-free rooftop pool, and a locally sourced natural-productdriven SPA, along with personalized intelligent service. This makes The Merchant House the perfect place to stay for both business and leisure travelers. Appealing to all five senses, The Merchant House indeed imposed its mark since its opening in 2019. It is known not only for being the only first 5-star luxury boutique hotel in Bahrain, but also reputed for its unique design, service, and sense of artistry across every corner of the hotel capturing the Bahraini essence. The art collection at The Merchant House has been put together over two years and consists of up-and-coming and very wellestablished Bahraini talents as well as internationally celebrated artists. The work of local favorites such as Omar Rashid, Jamal A. Rahim, Ebrahim Sharif, Mariam Fakhro, and Abbas Al Mosawi are displayed alongside the works of Andy Warhol, Damien Hirst, Pablo Picasso, and numerous others.
WHAT TYPE OF CLIENTELE DOES THE MERCHANT HOUSE USUALLY ATTRACT?
We aim to cater to all culturally discerning individuals, couples, and families on a local, regional, and international level, whether they are here on business or leisure. However, considering the cultural location next to Bab Al Bahrain and Manama Souq and a number of collaborations with various local talents so far, we would like to connect and build a stronger relationship with the local communities to be the favorite place not only for themselves, but also for visits by their friends, relatives, and business partners to the kingdom.
WHAT MEASURES DID THE MERCHANT HOUSE TAKE TO ENHANCE HEALTH AND SAFETY THIS YEAR? In light of COVID-19, we’ve heightened our already strict hygiene protocols in all areas. This was the top priority. However, we did not neglect our attention to the well-being of the environment and our employees. The hotel has incorporated the ROX Machine, which is a new chemical-free approach to cleaning and sanitizing food, kitchen equipment, guest luggage, and areas around the hotel such as the lobby, guest rooms and food and beverage venues. Since the ROX machine requires a limited amount of standard tap water supply to wash away the germs and keep the areas sanitized and clean, water consumption at the property has been reduced. Along with the property’s ongoing efforts to minimize plastic usage and to try to use biodegradable and compostable grade plastic if necessary, we have further incorporated REN face and body care for the hotel’s bathroom amenities. This brand has been chosen specifically by the hotel due to its environmental approach of using sustainable sources and packages globally. We have launched big bottles made with ocean plastic and tubes from recycled plastic sourced by TerraCycle®, to raise awareness of a larger climate waste problem to the kingdom. For our employees, we have introduced two online learning portals to stay home safely and to develop further themselves, which enhanced their health and safety during this challenging time.
HOW WOULD YOU COMPARE YOUR BAHRAIN EXPERIENCE TO THE ONE YOU HAD IN DUBAI? WHAT ARE THE MAJOR DIFFERENCES YOU FIND IN THEIR TOURISM INDUSTRY? Bahrain has a unique environment where the tourism industry heavily relies on visitors from KSA as the biggest feeder market. There is no doubt that having a strong feeder market is exceptionally beneficial, however, just like our personal investments, to diversify the sources would be much safer and less risk-taking for apparent reasons. Having said that, it has been delightful to see that BTEA makes many efforts in this regard through their international offices. Working closely with them has been a blessing! On another note, working with so many Bahrainis in all tourism segments have made the experience special and would be one of the significant yet pleasant differences from Dubai.
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WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES YOU FACED WHEN YOU TOOK OVER THIS ROLE?
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It has been an incredible journey so far. Just like any other openings, I have had lots of great experiences here in Bahrain. One challenge, yet the most significant opportunity for the hotel and also for the city, would be the location. As we all know, revamping the whole Manama Souq district to be the social and cultural hot spot again is an ongoing subject. Having said that, I am overly optimistic that this could be the case in the near future.
WHAT SHOULD PATRONS EXPECT FROM THE MERCHANT HOUSE IN 2021? ARE THERE ANY PROJECTS OR PROMOTIONS THEY CAN LOOK FORWARD TO? The hospitality industry is constantly evolving, and each property is trying to stand out innovatively from its competitors and adapt to external triggers. While we have already set the bar and standards in the competitive Bahraini market, we are still a new hotel that needs to strengthen its relationship with its audience. We believe that our continuous hard work, creativity, and passion will reap into the aimed reputation and success. A number of social events supporting Bahraini talents, such as artists, musicians, fashion designers, and community social influencers, will continue to be our focal points in 2021 and also several promotions targeted Bahrain locals and residents will be launched seasonally. So, stay tuned! campbellgrayhotels.com
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01 The Merchant House General Manager, Justin Kim 02 The Merchant House bursts with exciting work by well-established Bahraini and international artists 03 Uniquely designed and elegant interior
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Everlasting Elegance Catering to private clients across the Middle East and the world, the House of Garrard has been crafting exquisite jewellery creations for 285 years. It has a prestigious reputation that continues to defy the test of time. We talk to Head of Design, Claire Scott to find out more about the creative direction of the oldest jewellery house in the world.
YOU CREATED THE DESIGN FOR THE WINNER’S TROPHY FOR BAHRAIN’S PREMIER HORSE RACING EVENT. WHAT KIND OF WORK GOES INTO MAKING A TROPHY OF THIS CALIBER? When starting work on a design, I take time to research Garrard’s extensive archives, ensuring a heritage element is woven into each new creation. I then put pen to paper to sketch a line drawing and from there, the creative concept comes to life. For the Bahrain International Trophy, it was also important to capture the essence of Bahrain’s rich history within the finished piece.
WHAT QUALITIES MUST JEWELLERY PIECES HAVE TO MEET THE STANDARD OF A GARRARD CREATION? Working closely with Garrard’s Creative Director, Sara Prentice, I believe we have built a strong design aesthetic. Each piece balances
signature motifs from the House’s history with wearability and timeless design. Garrard is also known for the quality of its stones and the team works tirelessly to ensure that only the very finest diamonds and gemstones are incorporated into each jewellery creation.
HOW HAVE TASTES CHANGED FOR GARRARD’S CLIENTELE? IS THE NEWER GENERATION LOOKING FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT FROM THE PREVIOUS ONE? I truly believe that Garrard jewellery is timeless. We create pieces to be worn now and treasured forever. Many of the motifs and silhouettes that have come to define Garrard’s most iconic pieces are reinterpreted within every new design, whether that is a collection piece or a unique jewel, with a freshness and lightness that speaks to the modern woman of today.
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01 The Bahrain International Trophy 2020, created by Garrard 02 Garrard Head of Design, Claire Scott
“I truly believe that Garrard
jewellery is timeless. We create pieces to be worn now and treasured forever. ”
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UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL
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03 The Bahrain International Trophy 2020 in action 04 Winners pose with the trophy
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GARRARD REMAINS THE CHOICE OF CRAFTSMANSHIP FOR PRESTIGIOUS NAMES AROUND THE WORLD. WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE GIVES IT THAT QUALITY? Since the House was founded in 1735, some of the world’s most celebrated stones have been brought to life in Garrard’s workshop. From the legendary setting of the Cullinan I diamond, the world’s largest cut and colorless diamond, to glittering tiaras worn at state occasions, this unparalleled legacy continues to inform the design of each new creation. As a design team, we work closely alongside Garrard’s gemmologists and craftspeople as we continue to be entrusted with extraordinary new designs. In this way, the same artisans who make these masterpieces are also responsible for creating the much-loved jewels in Garrard’s collections, each of which bears the quintessential British hallmarks of heritage and
handcraftsmanship. I believe this is what sets Garrard apart.
WHICH OF GARRARD’S HISTORIC PIECES ARE YOUR FAVORITES? ONES THAT YOU FEEL TRULY CAPTURED THE HOUSE’S ESSENCE OR VALUES? For me it would have to be the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland tiara. Originally commissioned in 1893 it was later given to Princess Elizabeth, now the Queen, as a wedding gift from her grandmother in 1947. The tiara incorporates Garrard’s classic Windsor motif around the base, an element which has been woven into many new jewellery designs, including the hugely popular Fanfare and Albemarle collections. The tiara is a piece that is still worn by the Queen to this day. garrard.com
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December 2020
JEWELLERY
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December 2020
From Figuration to Abstraction [Sur]Naturel, the new High Jewellery collection by Cartier, reveals a nature that is more real than nature itself, freed from reality’s constraints. The starting point for this collection reveals a creative path linking figuration with abstraction: Water, flora and fauna as part of the supernatural.
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On one side, water, plants and animals. On the other, creations which emanate from these sources but retain only their spirit, stylising this primary energy in a multitude of details. The roundness of a plant form bursting with flavour, coloured spots coming together to form an unreal animal coat or a series of glistening ice crystals. As with every High Jewellery collection, Cartier showcases the most precious, archaic, beautiful and mysterious stones. The jewellers intensify the stones’ evocative powers, blending wilderness with fantasy. Diamonds, emeralds and sapphires are combined with opal and kunzite, coral and aquamarine, beryl and quartz. The stones show off their transparency and effects of depth. Going beyond the real and reinventing it. Through the richness of its style and the refinement of its
expertise, Cartier paves the way to a transfigured, supernatural beauty. The collection features Hemis Necklace, which reinterprets panther fur around a lattice in kunzite, opals and diamonds, and Panthère Tropicale, which combines gadrooned coral, panther spots, and fine, precious stones. The collection also includes the Gharial Necklace, which features a dazzling array of diamonds and emeralds in the abstract shape of a crocodile, the Orpheis Necklace, featuring diamonds and an emerald that evoke the shape of a snake, the Sinope Necklace, with sapphire and diamond representing the organic shape and movement of water, and the Tillandsia Necklace, which features two stunning beryls that create an imaginary and sublime flower. cartier.com
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01 Panthere Tropicale Wristwatch, yellow gold, two octagonal aquamarines totalling 12.71 carats, two octagonal blue tourmalines totalling 20.58 carats, coral, onyx, brilliant-cut diamonds, quartz movement 02 Cartier Sinope Earrings, white gold, sapphires, diamonds 03 Hemis Necklace, platinum, one 71.08-carat cushionshaped kunzite, opals, pink and white brilliant-cut diamonds 04 The Sinope Ring from Cartier’s (Sur)Naturel 2020 high jewellery collection
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JEWELLERY
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05 Tillandsia Necklace, white gold, two oval-shaped green beryls totalling 163.97 carats, one 0.55-carat fancy yellow pearshaped diamond, one 0.53-carat fancy dark orangebrown pear-shaped diamond, rutilated quartz, brown pearshaped diamonds, yellow rosecut diamonds, yellow and white brilliant-cut diamonds 06 The Panthere Tropicale ring from Cartier
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07 Sinope Necklace, white gold, five oval-shaped sapphires from Madagascar totalling 39.22 carats, lapis lazuli, brilliant‑cut diamonds 08 Gharial Necklace, Platinum, five octagonal emeralds from Zambia totalling 11.31 carats, fifteen octagonal emeralds from Zambia totalling 4.13 carats, two F VS1/VS2 tapered diamonds totalling 6.90 carats, tapered diamonds, squareshaped diamonds, brilliant-cut diamonds
December 2020
“As with every High Jewellery collection, Cartier showcases the most precious, archaic, beautiful and mysterious stones.”
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JEWELLERY
064
December 2020
“Founded in 1842, Fabergé has been the most revered
name in jewellery ever since Peter Carl Fabergé became official goldsmith to the Russian Imperial Court.” 01
01, 02 The limited edition collection contain egg pendants crafted from 18k white gold and set with striking Gemfields Mozambican rubies on the bail and the button, with 18k white gold Bahrain flags inside
Pride and Prestige In celebration of Bahrain National Day 2020, Asia Jewellers has partnered with FABERGÉ to introduce a new limited-edition collection of six Essence White Gold Lockets with a Bahrain Flag Surprise.
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Launching in time for the special day on the 16th December 2020, these delightful egg pendants are crafted from 18k white gold and set with striking Gemfields Mozambican rubies on the bail and the button. The egg opens to reveal a surprise in the form of the Bahrain flag, crafted from 18k white gold and decorated with white and red lacquer. Fabergé, the world’s most iconic artist jeweler, creates extraordinary jewellery, timepieces and objets d’art, as well as bespoke commissions for a discerning international clientele. Founded in 1842, Fabergé has been the most revered name in jewellery ever since Peter Carl Fabergé became official goldsmith to the Russian Imperial Court. The house created exquisite jewels and objects, including the legendary series of lavish and ingenious Imperial Easter Eggs. Today, Fabergé takes inspiration from its storied past to create eternally original pieces that, when worn, convey breath-taking individuality. By painting with the world’s finest colored gemstones, Fabergé explores a life in color through creations which are designed to become future heirlooms. Fabergé holds a special relationship with Asia Jewellers, a Bahrain-based luxury retailer with a truly individual personality, and a commitment to
enticing customers with some of the world’s most prestigious watch and jewellery brands. Mr. Mohammed Jaffar, Asia Jewellers Chairman, comments: “We are thrilled to launch this special collaboration with Fabergé. It is the first time that s bespoke egg is created in tribute of the Kingdom’s national day celebration and we are delighted to see this project has come to life.” Founded by the late Mr. Mahmood Jaffar in 1962, Asia Jewellers has grown and expanded with six Asia Jewellers boutiques in Bahrain Locations extend from City Centre Bahrain, Al Aali and Seef malls to boutiques in the Ritz Carlton Hotel and Bahrain’s luxury shopping landmark Moda Mall. Prestigious dedicated boutiques include Cartier, Audemars Piguet, Van Cleef & Arpels, IWC Schaffhausen, Officine Panerai, and Messika. The Fabergé Essence White Gold Bahrain Flag Surprise Locket is a limited-edition of just six pieces, valued at BD 2,300 each. The collection is available to view at Asia Jewellers boutique in Moda Mall - Bahrain World Trade Center. Enquiries can be directed via WhatsApp number +973 39773835 or via telephone +973 17535344. asiajewellers.com
JEWELLERY
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December 2020
Jeweller to the Stars Chopard’s participation in the film Rebecca, directed by Ben Wheatley and available since October 21st, 2020 on Netflix, reaffirms the Maison’s decades-long love of cinema and all the emotions it arouses. 01 Necklace from Chopard Temptations Collection 02 Armie Hammer & Keeley Hawes wearing Chopard in Ben Wheatley’s ‘Rebecca’
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In this adaptation of the eponymous novel written in 1938 by Daphne de Maurier, Chopard watch and jewellery creations adorn the characters played by Lily James, Keeley Hawes and Armie Hammer. After a whirlwind romance in Monte Carlo with handsome widower Maxim de Winter (Armie Hammer), a newly married young woman (Lily James) arrives at Manderley, her new husband’s imposing family estate on a windswept English coast. Naive and inexperienced, she begins to settle into the trappings of her new life, but finds herself battling the shadow of Maxim’s first wife, the elegant and urbane Rebecca, whose haunting legacy is kept alive by Manderley’s sinister housekeeper Mrs. Danvers (Kristin Scott Thomas). Directed by Ben Wheatley (High Rise, Free Fire) and produced by Working Title Films (Emma, Darkest Hour), Rebecca is a mesmerizing and gorgeously rendered psychological thriller based on Daphne du Maurier’s beloved 1938 gothic novel. The film has been available to stream exclusively on Netflix since October 21st, 2020.
In one of the most dramatic scenes of the plot, actresses Lily James and Keeley Hawes honor the jewellery creations loaned by Chopard. The former appears with a rose gold necklace and matching earrings from the Temptations Collection, set with rubellites and pink sapphires; while the latter wears a rich tanzanite, aquamarine and garnet necklace from the Red Carpet Collection along with a pair of amethyst and pink sapphire earrings from the Temptations Collection. In addition, during the same scene, actor Armie Hammer wears the L.U.C Heritage Grand Cru timepiece. Carefully crafted by the best artisans in the Maison’s Haute Joaillerie and Haute Horlogerie workshops, these creations, together with the film’s rich costumes, form a meticulous composition reviving the atmosphere of the Roaring Twenties that Ben Wheatley has sought to recreate to make Rebecca a work that is both captivating and highly aesthetic. chopard.com 02
03, 04, 05 Earrings and necklace from Chopard Temptations Collection
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WATCHES
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068
December 2020
TUDOR ROYAL The Sport-Chic Watch Par Excellence! With its integrated bracelet, notched bezel and automatic movement, the new TUDOR Royal range is both versatile and affordable for people who like quality.
01 TUDOR Royal ref. M28600-0005
Royal is a name first used by TUDOR in the 1950s to emphasize the superior quality of its watches. The TUDOR Royal range is part of this heritage in that it offers automatic sportchic watches with integrated bracelets that are as affordable as they are uncompromising. Cuttingedge technical performance and refined aesthetic are characteristic of this range, which sits at the crossroads between classic and sports watches and comes in stainless steel or stainless steel and gold and is offered in 4 sizes with 9 possible dials. Since its creation in 1926, TUDOR has endeavored to produce the best possible watches at the best possible price. This daring mission, both then and now, derives from the vision of Hans Wilsdorf, the founder of the brand. Inventor of the cornerstones of modern watchmaking: precision for a wristwatch, waterproofness and a self-winding mechanical movement – he dared to dream of a timepiece that would be both technically perfect and affordable and created the TUDOR brand to make it. The TUDOR Royal range is a key example of this uncompromising heritage and promises its
future owner nothing less than the best possible quality at the best possible price. Produced in Switzerland from a block of 316L stainless steel, one of the most robust in existence, the case of the TUDOR Royal models is waterproof in any situation and to a depth 100 meters below the surface of the ocean thanks to its screw-down winding crown and back. Although it is invisible, its movement, the epitome of Swiss expertise in micro-mechanics, is finely decorated and regulated according to the best chronometric standards of the watchmaking industry. Its dial and hands have been crafted in Switzerland by the most meticulous watchmaking professionals in the field, with applied hour markers with Swiss Super-LumiNova® luminescent material. And lastly, without fuss or noise, its “five-link” bracelet is distinguished by the quality of its design, manufacture and finish. The new Tudor Royal range is available in Bahrain at Modern Art Studio. tudorwatch.com
WATCHES
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December 2020
02 TUDOR Royal ref. M28603-0003 03 TUDOR Brand Ambassador David Beckham 04 TUDOR Royal ref. M28600-0005 05 TUDOR Royal ref. M28303-0007 06 TUDOR Royal ref. M28300-0004
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WATCHES
072
December 2020
An Air of Clear Night Sky Swiss Haute Horlogerie manufacturer Audemars Piguet reveals two new takes on the Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon. Their new dial design combines the refinement of enamel with the shimmering of aventurine glass for a unique effect of star-lit sky.
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01 The constellation of mineral particles adorning the black aventurine enamel dial finds echo in the luminous 18-carat pink gold case 02 The two-tone flying tourbillon cage at 6 o’clock reveals the watch’s beating heart 03 Calibre 2950, the first calibre at Audemars Piguet to combine a flying tourbillon with a central rotor
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“The Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet
represents the Manufacture’s second collection to host this prestigious mechanism.”
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To complement the collection’s complex architecture and countless details, the Manufacture’s dial makers have covered the timepiece’s gold dial with a blend of crushed aventurine glass and “Grand Feu” enamel for an expressive touch of creativity. Each “Grand Feu” enamel dial is unique due to the organic nature of its materials, as well as the hand manufacturing technique and distinctive cooking time. A very thin layer of glass sand mixed with water is applied by hand on the crushed aventurine glass, before being heated at more than 800°C in a dedicated oven. The procedure is repeated multiple times to achieve remarkable transparency, depth and light. Each cooking session necessitates different temperatures and times. The first new model, featuring a black aventurine enamel dial serving as backdrop to hand-finished 18-carat pink gold hour-markers, Arabic numerals and hands, is illuminated by an 18-carat pink gold case. The flying tourbillon cage located at 6 o’clock also presents a subtle pink gold-toned touch. The
complex double curved sapphire crystal, which perfectly integrates the curvature of the extrathin bezel, magnifies the dial’s night sky effect by adding a mesmerising play of light. The collection’s dedicated openworked oscillating weight, visible through the sapphire caseback, is honed from 22-carat pink gold and echoes the case’s color. The second variation of the new Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon unites a blue aventurine enamel dial with a case, hour-markers, Arabic numerals and hands in 18-carat white gold, entirely hand-finished throughout. The dial is further endowed with a smoked effect for added depth and refinement. This gradation is achieved by incorporating blue and black aventurine glass into the enamel. The rhodium-toned flying tourbillon cage at 6 o’clock echoes the bright tonality of the watch’s white gold case. To further match with the case’s color, the openworked oscillating weight, visible through the sapphire caseback, is made in rhodium-toned 22-carat pink gold.
WATCHES
074
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04 The 18-carat white gold case, hand-finished with satinbrushing and polished chamfers, is embellished with a smoked blue aventurine enamel dial 05 The sapphire caseback reveals the back of the flying tourbillon cage, part of the gear train as well as the dedicated rhodiumtoned 22-carat oscillating weight 06 Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon
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December 2020
The two models’ gold cases are adorned with an alternation of satin-brushed and polished surfaces highlighting the watch’s multifaceted architecture. Only a small team of finishing experts have the necessary experience to decorate the collection’s complex case that weaves together an extra-thin bezel, an octagonal middle case, a round caseback and highly stylized lugs. The two new takes on the Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon are powered by Selfwinding Manufacture caliber 2950, which combines a flying tourbillon with a central rotor. Since it was developed in the 1920s, the flying tourbillon has been a symbol of watchmaking excellence and art. Today, Audemars Piguet is amongst the few watchmakers trained to perfect this mechanism. Audemars Piguet’s first flying tourbillon wristwatch made its appearance in 2018 in the Royal Oak Concept collection. The Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet represents the Manufacture’s second collection to host this prestigious mechanism. audemarspiguet.com 06
WATCHES
076
Beautiful in Blue
The timepiece named after a cluster of stars now comes with its own little corner of the sky.
OMEGA’s 29mm Constellation models embrace the seductive appeal of sparkling blue glass, with striking Aventurine dials that recall a star-filled sky. Not only is each Aventurine dial totally unique in its appearance, but the bold shade contrasts beautifully with the luxurious case and bracelet materials: a choice of stainless steel, 18K Sedna™ gold, yellow gold, or blends of steel and gold. The bezels circling the sky-blue dials are brushed with Roman numerals or polished and diamondset. Each timepiece features a round date window at 6 o’clock and 11 diamond hour markers, fixed in place with holders made from yellow, white or 18K Sedna™ gold – depending on the model. For consistency of style, the hands of each timepiece are fashioned from the same material as the diamond holders. As always, OMEGA has stayed true to the Constellation’s enduring design, with its distinctive claws and mono-rang bracelet. Keeping a steady beat behind the blue dials are exceptional Master Chronometer calibers (8700/8701). Sky-inspired and tested at the industry’s highest level, OMEGA’s 29mm Constellation watches with Aventurine dials are the perfect choice for those drawn to brilliant designs and bold colors. omegawatches.com
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December 2020
“As always, OMEGA has stayed true to the
Constellation’s enduring design, with its distinctive claws and mono-rang bracelet.”
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01, 02, 03, 04 The OMEGA Constellation Collection
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WATCHES
078
December 2020
Stunning Depth Made for those who appreciate the infinite preciousness of time, Hublot’ three new High Jewellery models marry the technical performance of the manufacture movements, the sophisticated beauty of diamonds, and the expertise of master watchmakers.
From Haute Horlogerie to Haute Joaillerie (fine jewellery), the quality of the setting work is crucial in showcasing the splendor of precious stones. This highly specialized craft, performed within the bounds of strict predefined constraints, must be subtly executed to allow the brilliance of the stones to take center stage. The radiance of precious stones is the result of the stone-setter’s painstaking craftsmanship. Three new Hublot models The Big Bang Unico High Jewellery (334 baguette-cut diamonds, 12.5 carats) is arranged in close rows in invisible closed settings on an 18-karat white gold background. 243 diamonds (8.6 carats) adorn the 42 mm case and the bezel, while 61 stones (1.3 carats) impart a contemporary opulence to the dial of the latest flyback chronograph movement. Its beating heart is the HUB1280 caliber, the Unico 2 manufacture movement featuring brand new architecture and innovations including
an oscillating second clutch and an adjustable ballbearing chronograph friction system. Four patent applications have been filed for this technological wonder, which is paired with an alligator strap featuring a deployant buckle set with 30 diamonds (2.6 carats). The Spirit of Big Bang High Jewellery (346 baguette-cut diamonds, 13.1 carats) features the Hublot HUB4700 movement, which aficionados consider to be one of the finest Swiss chronographs ever created. Its design is directly inspired by the Big Bang, a unique case construction that allows for an infinite combination of materials. In the High Jewellery version, 178 diamonds (8.1 carats) adorn the silhouette of its tonneau case, while 113 more (2.1 carats) are set around the edges of the indices and the minute disc at 3 o’clock, the hour disc at 6 o’clock and the second disc at 9 o’clock. The elegant strap, in alligator leather sewn onto natural rubber
with a buckle set with 55 baguette-cut diamonds (2.9 carats), completes this precious piece. The Classic Fusion High Jewellery (427 baguette-cut diamonds, 20.8 carats) features an invisible closed setting that allows the merest glimpse of 18-karat white gold, with no fewer than 391 diamonds (18.6 carats) encrusting the elegantly contemporary Classic Fusion High Jewellery in its entirety, producing a hypnotic shimmering effect. The indices and hours are built into a circle around the hands, creating an impression of height. A composition of rectangular and trapeze-cut stones covers the entire surface of the dial, converging in the center beneath which beats the HUB1710 self-winding movement. The buckle on the alligator leather and natural rubber strap is also set with 36 diamonds (2.2 carats). hublot.com
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03 01 Spirit of Big Bang High Jewellery, 346 baguette-cut diamonds,13.1 carats 02 Big Bang Unico High Jewellery, 334 baguette-cut diamonds,12.5 carats 03 Classic Fusion High Jewellery, 427 baguette-cut diamonds, 20.8 carats 01
FRAGRANCES
080
A Romantic Odyssey Marking the birth of a new era in the company’s history, Amouage has revealed its Renaissance Collection, narrating a key chapter in the brand’s odyssey to paradise.
The collection features four alluring fragrances, Enclave, Crimson Rocks, Ashore and Meander, each depicting Amouage’s romantic interpretation of encountering pure joy. Drawing inspiration from its home country, the Sultanate of Oman, these sophisticated blends of exquisitely contrasting scents are a liberating force of imagination created by internationally renowned perfumers including Domitille Michalon-Bertier (Crimson Rocks), Mackenzie Reilly (Ashore and Meander) and Julien Rasquinet (Enclave). The Renaissance Collection arouses a surging emotion of inner connectivity drawn from the Sultanate’s breathtaking nature, evoking its picturesque contours, colors and essence. The unique experiential aesthetic of the fragrances is further accentuated by beautifully colored translucent bottles and artistic boxes, presenting their owners with a work of art. As the last sun rays bid farewell to the fjords of Musandam, Enclave sophisticatedly portrays the freshness trapped inside a rich, earthy warm hideaway where land meets the sea. Blue and green notes of Spearmint and Cardamom Oils transcend the fragrance stages, giving it a freshness that lasts forever, while the pleasantly surprising Amber, Labdanum, Cinnamon Oil and Saffiano together with earthy Vetiver capture the surrounding hot mountains at that precise moment in time. Crimson Rocks conjures the majesty of Al Hajar mountains in all their glory at dusk. Standing tall at the top, one is engulfed by a sweet sense of peace. For this fragrance, Amouage brought to life
an intense Rose, one that is resilient to withstand extreme weather yet gentle, welcoming and just like the mountains it calls home, rooted to stand the test of time. Texturing the Rose are red notes of Cinnamon and an earthy Jujube Honey Accord which along with Oakwood and Cedarwood paint the Al Hajar mountains in deep crimson hues. On the coast of Ras Al Jinz, mid-summer, when the sun is in the middle of the sky, Ashore, depicts a mirage of the senses. As one’s eyes are saturated with light, a surreal brightness blends all that is around them, leaving only the wind that carries the scent of spices from the East. This intoxicatingly white floral fragrance of Jasmine, Ambergris and Sandalwood offers an olfactive interpretation of the union of the sun, the sand and waves while the Cardamom and Turmeric recall the scent of spices from India. Meander explores the exhilarating feeling of happiness in a land of fog, lush green mountains and running streams. Drawing inspiration from the Sultanate’s southernmost Governorate during the monsoon (Khareef) season, Amouage creatively translated the surreal fog using Frankincense and smoky Vetiver, the rich greens with Cypriol and Jonquille, while its caramel-coloured mud is brought to life with earthy Sandalwood, Carrot Heart and Orris root notes. The Renaissance Collection is available in all Amouage boutiques and distributors worldwide. amouage.com
December 2020
“The Renaissance Collection arouses a surging emotion of inner connectivity drawn from the Sultanate’s breathtaking nature, evoking its picturesque contours, colors and essence.”
FRAGRANCES
082
Scent of Royalty A captivating fragrance, K by Dolce&Gabbana tells the story of an authentic and modern man. Seductive, generous and charismatic, he is the king of his everyday life - a natural leader who cherishes his loved ones and inspires everyone around him.
Now Dolce&Gabbana Beauty reveals new facets of his personality with K by Dolce&Gabbana Eau de Parfum, a new fragrance that offers an intimate glimpse into the heart of a modern king. Intense, magnetic, and sensual, the Eau de Parfum now unveils the full depths of his passions. Balancing strength with a heart that is always kind, he proves that he was born not only to wear his crown, but also to truly own it. K by Dolce&Gabbana Eau de Parfum builds on the legacy of the Eau de Toilette with a sensual new scent that embodies the spirit of a man who chooses his destiny with passion and confidence. Inspired by the earthy, rugged landscape of Tuscany, renowned perfumers Daphné Bugey and Nathalie Lorson have reinterpreted the original fragrance to evoke the intense and magnetic sides of this king of everyday life. While the Eau de Toilette created a crescendo of citruses, ignited by fiery aromatics and underpinned by noble woods, K by Dolce&Gabbana Eau de Parfum now reveals a new spiciness, a more sensual heart, and a stronger woody base.
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December 2020
“K by Dolce&Gabbana Eau de Parfum now reveals a new spiciness, a more sensual heart, and a stronger woody base.” 01 K By Dolce&Gabbana Eau de Parfum 02 Eau de Toilette and Eau de Parfum 03 A new fragrance for a modern king 02
The Eau de Parfum opens with an invigorating fusion of zesty citruses, sparkling blood orange mingling with lemon torchio essence to create an effervescent opening accord. Sharpened by the fresh tang of juniper berry, these citruses are enlivened by a new spicy note of cardamom, which kindles a spark of pimento essence to ignite the heart of the fragrance and magnify its passionate intensity. Crisp geranium blended with calming clary sage and energizing lavandin are given a new sensuality by the addition of a fig milk accord, which lends a smooth creamy touch that melds with the lingering warmth of spices. The fragrance then unfurls to a seductive base of sensual cedarwood, smoldering patchouli and earthy vetiver, strengthened and amplified by a vibrant new note of smoky nagarmotha wood. Powerfully magnetic and irresistibly sensual, the scent perfectly reflects the passionate intensity of a king of today. dolcegabbanabeauty.com 03
FRAGRANCES - MEN
084
FRESH and Bold
December 2020
An eclectic mix of stimulating fragrances and intoxicating aromas guaranteed to make a statement. For men.
Cartier Pasha de Cartier Perfume Launched in 1992, the Pasha de Cartier Eau de Toilette became the symbol of an era, with a hedonistic trail that explores all the facets of lavender: aromatic, mineral, ozonic. A sophisticated, sensual fougère accord, this new edition of the Pasha de Cartier fragrance features depth and warmth from the addition of amber. The fullness emerges and the heat spreads, woody like a crackling fire, smooth with sandalwood notes. A scent in keeping with today’s generation, a talented community who owes its success to bold choices. Their creative and expansive vision of the world allows this exceptional pairing. A great classic, the Pasha de Cartier perfume, is partnered with an utterly contemporary and off-beat allure. cartier.com
Rasasi La Yuqawam Tobacco Blaze EDP 75 ML The La Yuqawam (meaning ‘irresistible’ in Arabic) series extends a classic yet modern feel full of elegance, refinement, and prestige to oriental perfumery. The series, which includes six fragrances, has become a classic that never goes out of fashion. The love for this series transcends beyond the originally targeted Arab nationalities to international connoisseurs of perfumes, looking for a sophisticated and modern exhilarating oriental experience. In Tobacco Blaze, the signature leather accord of the LaYuqawam masculine series melts with audacious aldehydic notes, fashioning a perfume that pays ultimate homage to the warm, dark, intense yet sophisticated sensuality of the contemporary man. rasasi.com
Acqua Di Parma Colonia Futura Eau De Cologne Colonia Futura is Acqua di Parma’s declaration of love for nature where a vibrant explosion of wonderfully combined yet individually distinct natural ingredients brings a transparent essence that is vibrantly alive. The fragrance opens with a luminous spark of bergamot, grapefruit, and lemon with touches of pink pepper. A dynamic opening that softens in the heart where the herbaceous freshness of Lavender duets with the aromatic Clary Sage. A harmony that concludes perfectly with a base where the Vetiver brings its woody touch through earthy and textured accents. acquadiparma.com
Emporio Armani Stronger with You Leather Limited Edition In 2017, Emporio Armani unveiled STRONGER WITH YOU for him, a fragrance celebrating unconditional love and the strength of togetherness, alongside BECAUSE IT’S YOU for her. In 2020, Emporio Armani unfolds a new olfactory chapter in limited edition as a tribute to the Orient with the introduction of a precious and sophisticated masculine fragrance, distinctively warm and leathery: STRONGER WITH YOU LEATHER. A real concentrate of addiction and sensuality, STRONGER WITH YOU LEATHER Limited Edition is a Fougere Oriental Leathery fragrance that captures the richness of the leather scent, the most sensual and sophisticated ingredient. armani.com
Jean Paul Gaultier Le Male Le Parfum The latest men’s fragrance by Jean Paul Gaultier, Le Male Le Parfum, is about to set sail! Dressed in a black and gold officer’s jacket, this intense Eau de Parfum is taking leadership of the Le Male range with great style and strength. An elegant woody oriental trail capturing the charisma and power of a leader. Attention sailors! The captain has arrived and we’re about to set sail. The bottle is dressed head-to-toe in black, wearing an officer’s uniform trimmed with gold, the new intense Le Male Le Parfum Eau de Parfum commands respect in matte and shiny sailor stripes. Of course, the charm of this leader also has the potential to make waves. jeanpaulgaultier.com
Guerlain L’Homme Idéal Extrême Eau de Parfum Almond, the olfactory seal of l’Homme Idéal, is accompanied at the top by the effervescence of Bergamot mixed with pink pepper. In the heart, cinnamon and plum notes escort the heliotrope, a floral note with elegant almond accents. Finally, the charm of a woody patchouli and cedar end note is adorned with tobacco and an intense leather note. guerlain.com
FRAGRANCES - WOMEN
086
Alluring Fragrances
December 2020
An eclectic mix of stimulating fragrances and intoxicating aromas guaranteed to make a statement. For women.
Giorgio Armani My Way Armani Beauty introduces the newly launched fragrance MY WAY, a new captivating chapter unfolds within the Giorgio Armani fragrance world. Its ethos is “I am what I live”, as it is one’s experiences and encounters that shape a truly unique self. A fragrance for a new generation, MY WAY encapsulates curiosity and connections, incarnated by a woman looking for experiences that challenge her preconceptions, and take her into new, unchartered territory. She seeks out meaningful, authentic ways of bonding with others, rather than making superficial acquaintances. Through truly learning from others, she reinvents and finds herself. More than a name, MY WAY reflects how life’s journeys, whether they are geographical or emotional, create one’s character. armanibeauty.com
Rasasi la Yuqawam Jasmine Wisp Jasmine Wisp, women fragrance of LaYuqawam edition III, true to the DNA of the series celebrates confidence, irresistibility and timeless elegance through a highly distinguishing olfactory signature. The perfume pays homage to the famed Middle Eastern tradition of elegant intoxicating fragrant trail; a la scent signature that announces a wearer much before the arrival while leaving behind a mysteriously lingering aura. A distinctive white floral vanilla scent laced with generous ambry pear juice and hints of citrus along with appetizing notes of Bourbon vanilla, coumarine and maltol giving the scent a gourmand touch. The accentuated note of amber with strawberry imparts it an irresistible young, vivacious and feisty signature while the sweetness of Anjou infused with overwhelming floral scent of the Starkrimson pear gives it a sensuous appeal. rasasi.com
Cartier La Panthère Perfume Created in 2014, La Panthère fragrance dared to revisit the legendary chypre with an innovative feline-floral accord born out of pure, mesmerizing gardenia and sensual notes of musk. The panther awaits within, the sensual heroine of a solar sillage, floral yet feral, like a love trap set by the most irresistible of creatures. Greats such as Theophrastus and Dante celebrated its scent, the most seductive in the animal kingdom. The fragrance, designed by Mathilde Laurent, is a new addition to La Panthère olfactory repertoire, intensifying the feline, floral accord of the original Eau de Parfum. A wave of added warmth enhances the aura of this radiant icon. The velvety gardenia with its musky sensuality is diffused and amplified with a note of apricot-coloured osmanthus. cartier.com
CHANEL N°5 Over The Moon Discover the new chapter in the legendary journey of the most famous fragrance in the world, N°5. Thomas du Pré de Saint Maur, CHANEL Head of Global Creative Resources Fragrance and Beauty, chose Marion Cotillard as new brand ambassador and Johan Renck as film director. This is the first time that the Oscar-winning actress, whose relationship with the CHANEL House dates back to the beginning of her career, is the face of a fragrance. And thus continues the lineage of great feminine figures who have previously been the face of this olfactory icon. The director, Johan Renck, decided to take N°5 over the moon. More than a simple piece of decor, the moon is a character in its own right in this new N°5 chapter. Combined with the holiday spirit, it invites to reverie, by marrying the real with the imaginary. chanel.com
Lancôme Idôle l’Intense More powerful, more compelling; Idôle l’Intense has been created to leave a unique trail. Layered with captivating textures, it is both instantly recognizable – and completely unforgettable. Based on three pillars, Idôle l’Intense amplifies the natural beauty of flowers. The rose – an iconic symbol for Lancôme – plays out through the deliciously honeyed Grasse rose absolute and fresh green scent of Isparta rose petal essence. A jasmine trio adds a velvety texture and light fruit accents. The musky “Clean and Glow” accord surrounds the fragrance’s generous floral heart with an intense yet pure radiance. Finally, the white chypre base enhances the sophisticated woody notes. Two exceptional patchouli scents are paired with lively inflections of cedar and the creamy richness of a sandalwood accord, to create a modern and vibrant trail, rounded out by the amber touch of a Madagascar Bourbon vanilla infusion. lancome.com
Narciso Rodriguez Patchouli Musc Eau de Parfum Intense Introducing Narciso Rodriguez’s patchouli musc eau de parfum intense, a unique alchemy of modern and classic. Two iconic notes meet in the newest chapter of musc collection to produce one addictive fragrance that transforms sensuality and transcends gender and time. A synthesis of Narciso Rodriguez’s sublime musc and a rare patchouli is further enhanced by a radiant floral bouquet and vivid woody notes, creating a fragrance of supreme beauty and depth. Rich and opulent yet enigmatic and refined, patchouli musc eau de parfum intense is a luxurious experience to be shared by all. narcisorodriguez.com
FRAGRANCES - UNISEX
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Sophisticated Scents
December 2020
A scintillating selection of unisex fragrances that captivate the senses and make a lasting impression.
Guerlain Eau de Fleurs de Cédrat 100th Anniversary Edition Eau de Fleurs de Cédrat celebrates its 100th anniversary with an exceptional edition. An ode to the richness of the Mediterranean, this Eau de Cologne exalts the aromas of the region in its composition. Palladium gilding has been chosen to adorn the Bee Bottle. A new encounter involving a unique artistic craft: gilding on plants. Artist Anne Brun has composed a glittering bouquet of the iconic plants that are so characteristic of the Riviera. This wonderful way of reinterpreting Guerlain’s iconic heritage invites you to rediscover the Eaux de Cologne, a genuine tradition within the House. This Eau de Cologne was born of a journey along the Riviera made by Jacques Guerlain at the start of the 20th century, during which the idea came to him to compose an Eau de Cologne inspired by the beauty of the landscapes and the olfactory charm of the citrus scents all around. Thus, Eau de Fleurs de Cédrat came to be. guerlain.com
Dolce&Gabbana Velvet Mughetto This new scent has been imagined as an allegory of the Sicilian spring: the mild temperatures awakening the island’s landscape and its delicate yet colourful blossoms. Century after century, the temples of Sicily have borne witness to the eternal rhythms of nature’s renaissance, the green plants bringing freshness, while the golden rays of the sun warm the gentle air and illuminate the bountiful fields of wild flowers. Under the caress of the spring heat, Velvet Mughetto reveals an intricate olfactory embroidery with the enveloping, smooth floral Lily of the Valley at its heart. Perfumer Sidonie Lancesseur has created an Eau de Parfum of depth and character, inspired by the Sicilian land – a floral fruity scent with a generous, blooming bouquet that blends sparkling citrus notes with fiery floral accords and milky, sensual woods. dolcegabbana.com
Henry Jacques Les Toupies 3 With the recent launch of Les Toupies 3, Haute Parfumerie Henry Jacques completed its trilogy of masterpieces. A highly limited collection of three ‘couples’ enveloped in romance, Les Toupies represent the quintessence of the Maison’s art of Great Perfumery, rare and delicate essences presented in flacons worthy of holding only the most precious fragrances. Fanfan & Galileo are the third and final perfumes in the limited edition Les Toupies series, the most curved and rounded Toupies of them all, and perhaps the most playful of all as well! There is a certain swing to their personality, a natural marriage of exuberance and intimate emotions, a dreamt romance. Galileo is filled with strength and poetry, European with a yearning for the many pleasures of life; Fanfan is soft, with a rare intensity and complex layers, a Parisian perfume by nature, as graceful as it is unpretentious. parfumshenryjacques.com
Memo Paris Sintra Eau de Parfum A reminiscence of childhood thanks to its marshmallow note brought by the Orange Blossom Absolute, the petitgrain and the Madagascar Vanilla Absolute. Both mellow and airy, thanks to the presence of musks, it has a very round, floral, and fruity sweetness. Deliciously light, resolutely addictive. At the bend of a palace, an unexpected rainforest. The heart of an orange absolute. A succession of azulejos, the spiral of a hidden staircase, petitgrain after petitgrain after petitgrain after petitgrain? Welcoming visions everywhere. The glow of a vanilla absolute. A fountain murmurs, a turret smiles, a garden greets you with its hand. A castle does a peacock wheel. A soft and colorful walk, a stop soon and the surprise of a sweet marshmallow confectionery. The present of childhood. Musks. Getting lost. memoparis.com
Armani/Prive Cuir Zerzura The fragrance opens on the sparkling freshness of Mandarin supported by the vibrant brightness of Elemi and the refined Violet leaf accord. While the heart offers a sumptuous floral bouquet composed of a fresh petally Rose duo and precious Iris, the noble Cedar wood and the richness of Vanilla infusion bring depth, texturize the drydown with a veil of intense sensuality, and enhance the spellbinding nature of the composition. The Vanilla bourbon premium infusion blended in CUIR ZERURA is sourced in the protected area of Loky Manambato in Madagascar in collaboration with a local NGO, one of Giorgio Armani’s initiatives part of its environmental and social program. armanibeauty.com
MAKEUP
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December 2020
BEAUTY TRENDS The latest cosmetics from the most luxurious brands for that perfect pout. Bourjois Rouge Velvet Ink With its latest launch, Rouge Velvet Ink, Bourjois pushes the boundaries yet again. First, with the formula – a liquid lip color that offers intense shades, ultimate wear and comfort. Boosted with ink-like pigments, it delivers a flawless, ultra-matte finish in a palette of 18super-saturated colors, including such must-haves as Rose me tender (03), a pale-pink tribute to the city of romance, Utaupie (14), a timelessly elegant taupe, and – of course – Rouge à rêves (09), the perfect Parisian red. Always lightweight and comfortable on the lips, the formula provides touch-proof, transfer-proof and kiss-proof color for up to 24 hours! bourjois.com
Chanel Les Chaînes d’or de Chanel This year, Chanel Global Creative Makeup and Color Designer, Lucia Pica, who is as adept at paradoxes as Gabrielle Chanel was, turns to one of the iconic symbols of CHANEL: golden chains. CHANEL modernized this classic ornament by interlacing it with a simple yet chic strip of leather. Both precious and bold, this inspired Lucia Pica to create a sophisticated collection with a graphic contrast between black and gold as its common thread. Thus, Lucia Pica joins Gabrielle Chanel, who singularized an allure by adding a golden chain strap to a handbag, enhancing the essential simplicity of a little black dress while freeing women’s hands. Lucia Pica expresses this singularity in a palette of rich, deep shades steeped in sparkling, antique rose or white gold. A unique and elegant way to light up every face. Far from seeming flashy or superficial, the powerful gold of the chains symbolizes sumptuousness and luxury, purity and divine light. chanel.com
Dolce&Gabbana Mysterious Baroque Palette Dolce&Gabbana Beauty presents the new Mysterious Baroque Make Up Essential Palette. When East meets West: this limited Palette is inspired by the fascinating atmosphere of the Middle East, bringing to life colors and motifs of intriguing elegance. Outside, this all-in-one premium palette is dressed in a golden and intense blue damask motif, inspired by the sumptuous Baroque tradition. Like a precious jewel box, the palette opens to reveal deep shades of blue, amethyst and dahlia, each one an invitation to embark on a vibrant journey. dolcegabbana.com
iS Clinical Youth Body Serum The Youth Body Serum by iS CLINICAL provides the ultimate hydration and moisture, effectively protecting the skin by strengthening the barrier against environmental free radicals. The lightweight formula sinks into your skin effortlessly and not only improves and nourishes dry and dehydrated texture, but is also perfectly cooling, which helps to soothe the skin after prolonged sun exposure. Quick to absorb into the skin, this miracle product caters to all skin types and acts as a suit of armor for your skin. isclinical.com
Fenty Glow Trio Face, Lip, & Body Set Spark it up from head to toe in “Fenty Glow” with this face, lip & body set featuring the iconic universal rose nude shade. This trio includes the bestselling Gloss Bomb Universal Lip Luminizer, and for the first time, Cheeks Out Free-style Cream Blush and Diamond Bomb All-Over Diamond Veil in Fenty Glow! Diamond Bomb takes glitter to a whole new extreme in a shimmering 3D formula that’ll leave your body crystal-coated. For an effortless wash of color, Cheeks Out Cream Blush instantly melts into cheeks for a no-fuss flush, giving life to all skin tones with a light-as-air, non-greasy formula. Complete the look with bestselling Gloss Bomb Universal Lip Luminizer, the ultimate gotta-have-it lip gloss with explosive shine that’s brilliantly non-sticky. fentybeauty.com
MAKEUP
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Guerlain Kintsugi Orchidée Impériale Black Cream In 2016, Orchidée Impériale Black Cream introduced a new chapter in Guerlain’s history in the art of skincare. A first opus within a full skincare range, it took a previously unexplored direction in anti-ageing by harnessing the extraordinary power of black orchid extract on the “cellular immunity” of the skin, reinforcing its selfdefense capacities. In 2020, Guerlain is presenting a limited-edition Kintsugi Orchidée Impériale Black Cream. Discover this creation inspired by a traditional Japanese art form and dedicated to an exceptional skin cream and flower, the Black Orchid. guerlain.fr
Vichy Laboratoires Mineral 89 serum The key ingredient to this brand lies in the preserved region of Auvergne Volcanoes in France; naturally found Vichy volcanic water. Rich in 15 minerals including calcium, potassium and magnesium, this unique and natural water has the ability to strengthen the natural defense of the skin. To this marvel of nature, the brand brought the most advanced science, making Vichy skincare products the most effective of their time, creating a revolution in skincare. The groundbreaking formula of Mineral 89, is enriched with Vichy’s highest concentration of 89% Vichy Volcanic Water with Hyaluronic Acid that strengthens the skin’s barrier, and protects it from daily aggressors such as pollution. Mineral 89 is the first daily booster suitable for all skin types, designed to simply strengthen your skin’s natural defenses. vichy-me.com
Lancome Lash Revitalizing Serum As the global mascara authority since 1967, Lancôme knows that women love to enhance the look of their lashes. More and more, women are now using lash extensions, lifts, tints, false lashes or even curlers. Yet, over time, these procedures - as well as natural aging - are known to compromise the length, thickness and density of lashes. Lancôme is excited to propose a repairing 4-week cure to women with its New Lash Revitalizing Serum. Inspired by pioneering keratin science, the serum harnesses Lancôme’s decades of lash expertise in a super innovative formulation to condition, revitalize and fortify lashes. Stronger, denser-looking, thicker-looking lash–fringe in just four weeks. lancome.com
December 2020
Natalie Beauty Coffee Collection Natalie Beauty’s first product line is an exquisite collection of contour and highlighter sticks dubbed the Coffee Collection. Inspired by all the skin-like shades of coffee, from vanilla to mocha, as well as her well-known passion for morning routines, the Coffee Collection is truly unique. Through a wide range of tones, multiple uses, practical application and a natural smooth finish, Natalie Beauty aims to cater to every skin type and color. Featuring the Coffee Contour Sticks that shape the face by accentuating every woman’s beautiful features and the Syrup Spark Sticks that add a highlight shimmer to bring out her inner glow, the Coffee Collection is designed to blend perfectly while simultaneously boldly intensifying everything that distinguishes a woman. nataliebeautyworld.com
Sukin A-Beauty A-Beauty (or Australian Beauty) reflects the Australian way of life. Hardworking yet laid-back, and with an inherent affinity for the natural environment. A-Beauty is all about simple, naturally beautiful products featuring powerful ingredients that do what they claim to do. A-Beauty perfectly ties into current trends of transparency, simplicity, & the expectation of efficacious ingredients. With Australia’s #1 Natural Skincare brand; Sukin, leading the way. sukinnaturals.com
BOOK REVIEW
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Riva
IN THE MOVIE Ferretti Group celebrates the close ties between Riva and the silver screen with a book featuring words and pictures that present 39 films from a range of eras.
December 2020
Over more than 60 years, numerous stunning, spellbinding Riva vessels have made appearances on cinema and television screens all over the world: from auteur films to the biggest blockbusters and huge national hits. With breath-taking photos and unmissable reviews, “RIVA IN THE MOVIE” tells the stories of the numerous films in which Riva creations have played important roles, in many cases taking center stage next to nationally and internationally renowned stars. This fascinating cultural and publishing project features 300 pages, 39 films with their original posters, 300 pictures of scenes and life backstage, 77 actresses and 110 actors. They all come together in an exquisite, enchanting book whose words and pictures masterfully intertwine the stories of cinema and modern yachting. Every film is accompanied by a summary of events from the year it was released and an overview of a Riva model from the time. This helps to paint a detailed picture of society and the world as a whole in the period in question. The films were shot in some spectacular locations, including the French Riviera, Venice, the Costa Smeralda, Lake Como, Ischia, Capri, Lake Maggiore, Forte dei Marmi, Cannes and Nice. The many A-Listers that can be seen on board Riva yachts include Sophia Loren, Brigitte Bardot, Clark Gable, Pierce Brosnan, Liam Neeson, George Clooney, Matt Damon, and Vincent Cassel. ferrettigroup.com
FASHION
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Utility and Elegance Dunhill’s Spring Summer 2021 Men’s Collection experiments with construction and deconstruction, revealing the traditional codes and materials of men’s tailoring– quite literally. With a view akin to that of Richard Roger’s architecture, the secrets of traditional construction are exposed and celebrated, their utility becoming a new form of elegance, the inside shown on the outside. This recontextualizing of fabrics and formal techniques, of knowing the rules and to know how to break them, is a testament to the skills of the dunhill tailoring workshop at Bourdon House and the foundations of dunhill as one of the first and few true global, luxury businesses, based here in Britain. In the collection, chest canvas and shoulder canvas, foundational fabrics that are usually reserved for internal reinforcements, become prized for their purity and naturalness and used as a focus rather than an aside. Linen Holland – a glazed linen – most often found strengthening and building pockets, is featured throughout. There is a notion of the amplification of craft and the amplification of these materials in their own right, combined with more traditional luxury fabrications such as tumbled satins and super-fine bonded leathers. A stratification of history is presented through the motif of layering in the collection, a very British route from traditional pomp to something more pop. Here, fluidity and construction meet with precision to emanate raw-edged ease, finding form in an evolution of the peg trouser, voluminous wrap jacket, and waterproof silk outerwear, all amplified from earlier dunhill collections and finding their most elegant iteration here. dunhill.com
December 2020
FASHION
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Unforgettable Moments Paul Smith looks back on dreamlike holidays from the past, turning to cherished holiday photo albums and precious adventures shared with Pauline for its Spring Summer 2021 Men’s Collection.
Photographs with colors faded, and styles from the 70’s serve to inform the collection. Relaxed elegance and a color palette of earthy tones, pale sky blues and sun-bleached holiday colors imbue the mood of the collection. Lightweight summer fabrics including seersucker, organic cotton and 100% linen provide graceful ease of movement, re-imagining tailoring for a new era. The construction of traditional tailoring is broken down, trousers are looser and drawstring waists prevail as the wearer dictates comfort at the fore. Delving into the archive, a series of joyful floral prints emerge to feature across men’s and women’s, bringing positivity throughout. paulsmith.com
December 2020
FASHION
Cosmopolitan and Independent Roi du Lac’s Autumn/Winter 20/21 Women’s Collection celebrates the Roi du Lac woman, playing with magic and mystery to dress elegantly, but with touches of irony and caprice.
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December 2020
Through Aleksandr Puškin’s writing and Ivan Bilibin’s illustrations, Roi du Lac explores the world of Russian fairy tales- archetype of the epic poems from Slav tradition. The prints on the textiles, all drawn by hand by Marco Kinloch, are freely inspired by the firebird, the horses and knights, the magic animals and the bizarre characters that populate these tales. The image of the man who struggles against the dark, savage side of himself so that the supreme good may win, is celebrated through the use of precious materials and a sophisticated combination of designs and colors. Roi du Lac’s products are cut and finished by hand in the brand’s workshop near Cremona by the skilled hands of its dressmakers and modelists. All Roi du Lac’s textiles are realized in
Italy, the Jacquard and silk prints in Como, the embroidery in Apulia, the cashmere in Biella, the lining in Piedmont. Among the highlights in this collection are the sequins, for which the figures are astonishing: 54 hours of CAD, 36 hours of uninterrupted machine embroidery, 9 million stitches, 2.5 million sequins for just 3.87 meters of textile. Roi du Lac’s company philosophy is a respect for Italian craftsmanship, which is shown by the way the prints are translated. The colors, which vary from warm shades of brown, a reminder of the earth ensuring autumnal elegance, to the various shades of blue from navy blue to the shade which identifies the brand, help recreate the fairy tale atmosphere. roidulac.com
FASHION
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TIMELESS SIMPLICITY Tory Burch looks to her own personal memories to find inspiration for the brand’s Spring Summer 2021 Women’s Collection.
The purposeful craftsmanship of classrooms in her Quaker elementary school; woven baskets hanging in the mud room on their farm in Valley Forge; handmade quilts from Pennsylvania Dutch shops that she used to visit in Reading, and handcrafted details from the places around the world she has been to and hopes to see again. Beauty rests in utility. A Shaker maxim that reflects the mindset she and her team were in while designing this collection. They worked through the challenges of uncertainty, isolation, and distance, using their imaginations to travel in their minds and to find new ways to connect. They emerged with a renewed interest in restraint, simplicity, and creativity, translated through timeless, uncomplicated clothing that defines classic sportswear. It feels right and what women are looking for in a world
compressed by seismic cultural changes. The focus was on layering, mixing-andmatching, and comfort. Unfussy silhouettes, feminine prints and patterns, and materials that feel luxurious to wear. Easy caftans, dresses and tunics, poplin blouses with removable lace collars, sweaters with a retro vibe, softly tailored suits and trousers in crepe, cotton and lightweight wool, some with pull-up waists and cinched ankles. Handbags and shoes are classic and artisanal - macramé, crochet and rattan are mixed with the softest leathers and suede. Roomy, collapsible leather totes, basketweave shoulder bags, tassel clutches, a new take on a Capri sandal and gathered suede slides add a bit of effortless and chic elegance. toryburch.com
December 2020
FASHION
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Ode to Romance Oscar de la Renta’s Bridal Spring 2021 Collection celebrates eternal bliss and undying vows in the luxury brand’s trademark fashion.
Love endures, despite of all obstacles. It is with this in mind that Oscar de la Renta created the Bridal Spring 2021 collection, which emphasizes the quintessential dress for the modern bride. From ceremony to reception, romance abounds. Flowing layers of elegant hand embroidery impart a delicate, feminine touch. Short, draped hemlines juxtapose the bold architectural statement of a voluminous silk-faille gown. A simple, fitted bodice dips to meet a hi-low profusion of feathers, while an off-the-shoulder shawl of cascading flowers makes a thoroughly modern statement. Created for the uncompromising bride who knows what she loves, the collection acknowledges and embraces an everlasting commitment to love, beauty, and optimism. oscardelarenta.com
December 2020
SPECIAL FEATURE
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A Better Tomorrow
01
With Expo 2020 Dubai opening on 1 October 2021, organizers are committed to convening the global community in a spirit of collaboration and innovation to build a strong, sustainable future for everyone.
Releasing new images that show the advanced state of readiness across site, Expo 2020 is fully prepared to host a global celebration of humanity’s resilience, creativity, culture and innovation – a tribute to the resilience of humanity, its ability to innovate, and pursuit of optimism in the face of adversity. Her Excellency Reem Al Hashimy, UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation, Director General of Expo 2020 Dubai Bureau, said: “Our leadership has spared no effort, guided us, and provided all resources to ensure that our World Expo will be a true expression of the UAE’s values, reflecting its ambition to build a better future for us, the region and the world – a future of which coming generations will be proud. Our World Expo has a mission to inspire hope, and in the coming weeks we will begin to share new details and ideas about space, health and wellness, travel and connectivity and other subjects that sit at the heart of this Expo. We hope that people will join us to achieve our objectives to bring the world together and put humanity and the planet on the
right path towards dignity for all. As we mark a year to go until we open, I want to thank all those who work so hard and so passionately to deliver an exceptional Expo. From international participants, to government entities to the Expo tribe that has worked diligently and remained committed to bringing the event to fruition. The journey has been worth it, and in 365 days we will share our excitement and our passion with millions.” Progress on the Expo site has continued at pace, with more than 210 million work hours completed to date. Work in 2020 has focused on landscaping and fit-out of Expo-owned buildings, with the construction of Country Pavilions to be finalized by the end of the year. The first World Expo in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region runs from 1 October 2021 until 31 March 2022 and will bring together more than 190 countries to explore new ideas, form new connections and collectively tackle some of the greatest global challenges of our time. expo2020dubai.com
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December 2020
01 Al Wasl Dome 02 Expo 2020 is fully prepared to host a global celebration 03 Expo 2020 Dubai Metro station
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BAGS
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December 2020
EXQUISITE STYLE Gorgeous designer hand bags to add a touch of class to your look. Dolce&Gabbana DG Girls Bag in Floral Lamé Brocade Inspired by the Power Pastel theme, this elegant and versatile DG Girls shoulder bag comes in floral lamé brocade and nappa leather with the baroque DG logo in vintage gold-plated metal and enameled ABS. It features a front flap with hidden magnetic fastenings, chain loop in vintage brass-plated metal, and comes with a branded dust bag that matches the item’s theme. dolcegabbana.com
Oscar de la Renta White Leather Tro Bag Quintessentially Oscar, this classic Tro bag is constructed from timeless white leather with a metal-edged gardenia flower and chain strap. Made in Italy, it measures 21cm in length, 6.5cm in width, and 13.5cm in height. It’s made of 100% leather. oscardelarenta.com
Lana Marks Princess Diana Electric Blue Alligator The LANA MARKS Princess Diana Handbag is a tophandle design for the late Diana, Princess of Wales, her only namesake product. The Princess Diana Hangbag is regal, transcending time with its ladylike and fashionable silhouette. The inside of the handbag is lined with the finest calf leather, while the handbag’s tophandle has exotic leather on both sides and is interchangeable with an additional shoulder strap. lanamarks.com
Dior Medium Lady Dior Bag Cloud Blue Patent Cannage Calfskin The Lady Dior bag epitomizes Dior’s vision of elegance and beauty. Refined and sophisticated, the timeless yet relevant style is crafted in cloud blue patent calfskin with Cannage stitching, creating the instantly recognizable quilted texture. Tonal enamel ‘D.I.O.R.’ charms further complete the silhouette, and the medium bag features a removable chain shoulder strap. dior.com
BAGS
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December 2020
Tod’s Hollyworld Tod’s “Hollyworld” is a dreamlike journey that showcases artist Andrea Tarella’s illustrations juxtaposed to Tod’s handmade tradition. A surreal animated story which tells of all other essential steps that go into crafting a Holly bag. Through the illustrator’s sketches, this journey of the imagination starts with the choice of a perfect piece of leather, which turns into a kite and sets off on a flight of fancy among a forest of flowers and butterflies, that seamlessly mimic the stitching process. www.tods.com
Louis Vuitton LV Moon Alma Introduced by Nicolas Ghesquière for Cruise 2020, the LV Moon Alma reinterprets Louis Vuitton’s historic Alma model with a stylish, ultra-thin shape. The House’s emblematic Monogram canvas and natural cowhide leather are enhanced with eye-catching signature touches like a new V-shaped zipper and a braided leather-chain strap. A trendy, modern revamp of a timeless bag. louisvuitton.com
YSL Jamie Medium “Carré Rive Gauche” In Jersey This Saint Laurent monogram bag comes with a front flap and pivoting metal YSL closure, decorated with “carré rive gauche” quilted overstitching, and features a convertible chain strap that can be worn crossbody or doubled for shoulder carry. ysl.com
Gucci Dionysus small shoulder bag The Dionysus shoulder bag is presented in a white leather. The now defining tiger head closure—a unique detail referencing the Greek god Dionysus, who in myth is said to have crossed the river Tigris on a tiger sent to him by Zeus—is further enhanced with electric blue enamel. The sliding chain strap can be worn multiple ways, changing between a shoulder and a top handle bag. gucci.com
SHOES
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Stepping in Style
December 2020
Add iconic style to your luxury collection with the latest and most sought-after designer women’s shoes.
Sofia Webster Rosalind Hourglass Sofia Webster’s signature Rosalind, with a funky twist. She’s set on a super comfortable chunky 85mm hourlglass heel and crafted in natural and red snake printed and embossed leather. sophiawebster.com
Kurt Geiger London Duke rainbow Kurt Geiger London’s Duke heel gets a new season rainbow make-over. The black suede mule is adorned with rainbow-hued jeweled fringing and features a stiletto 100mm heel. kurtgeiger.com
Manolo Blahnik Mudar Dark Brown Suede Ankle Boots Abstract and irregular shapes feature heavily in this collection with fluid patterns that almost mimic an optical illusion. These shapes derive from Manolo’s love of the American sculptor Alexander Calder, especially his innovative 1930s mobiles. manoloblahnik.com
Amina Muaddi Henson Chain Sandal The Henson sandal is the perfect evening shoe, versatile enough to take you from weddings to glitzy nights out. Resting upon Amina Muaddi’s signature geometric martini-style heel, the sandal is decorated a gold chain front and ankle strap. Pair with matching gold-toned jewellery and a red lip for a timeless look. aminamuaddi.com
SHOES
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Christian Louboutin Rose Amelie The Rose Amelie sandal features Christian’s new iconic cross heel, first seen on the Agneska pump, on this model it measures 100 mm. Atop this vertiginous heel sits, a pretty peep-toe style with a luxurious ankle tie that wraps elegantly around the ankle, finishing with a stunning large bow. This delicate sandal is crafted in ultra-feminine Soupir veau velours.
Oscar de la Renta Black Leather Ange Sandals Crafted in Italy from smooth black leather, the endlessly versatile two-strap ange sandals will be the hardest-working pair in your wardrobe. oscardelarenta.com
Dior J’adior Slingback Pump Black and Blue Check’n’dior Embroidered Cotton The J’Adior slingback pump presents an elegant and sophisticated aesthetic. Crafted from black and blue check embroidered cotton, the low-cut upper combines with a 10 cm comma heel to create a strong silhouette. Signature Dior details adorn this emblematic style with a two-tone ‘J’Adior’ embroidered cotton ribbon slingback strap and flat knot bow. Each pair is a veritable homage to the Christian Dior couture savoir-faire. dior.com
christianlouboutin.com
December 2020
Dolce&Gabbana Floral Brocade Pumps with Bejeweled Embellishment Inspired by the Power Pastel theme, these floral brocade Cardinale pumps come in shades of pink and gold with a grosgrain trim. Embellished by pink bejeweled embroidery, they are sublime for pairing with dresses featuring a camellia print, a flower that symbolizes the eternal devotion of lovers. dolcegabbana.com
Alexander Wang Grace Velvet Slingback This Grace Slingback Pump comes in velvet with asymmetrical crystal logo hardware on straps. It features shaped heel with ring hardware detail, leather lining, 72% viscose and 28% silk, and leather outsole. alexanderwang.com
Celine Claude Ankle Boot in Calfskin Made from 100% calfskin, this shoe features chunky stacked leather heel, elongated almond toe shape, Celine triomphe signature, lateral zip, leather insole and outsole. celine.com
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TIMELESS Craftmanship Hästens has teamed up with world renowned designer Ferris Rafauli to launch an exclusive collaboration, the brand’s most elevated and evolved introduction to date – the Grand Vividus, which presents a new level of comfort, craftmanship and luxury drawing on 168 years of expertise.
Rafauli, known in the design world for his innovative projects and luxury home creation for elite clients around the world, took inspiration from Hästens’ heritage and long history as bed and saddle manufacturers to create the Grand Vividus. The result is a continental bed combining a timeless and classic design with Rafauli’s unique style. The Grand Vividus exudes luxury, quality and design without compromise to become a work of art for the bedroom. Entirely built by hand by Hästens’ most esteemed craftsmen, in the factory in Köping, Sweden. Rafauli wanted to enhance the blueprint of the world’s most comfortable bed and design a piece of architectural furniture that will transform a bedroom into a magnificent, opulent space. During the creative process, he worked with the same materials used in saddle manufacturing: various layers of burnished leather, suede and metal. These materials are often the essentials of interior architecture and haute couture fashion, areas that inspire Rafauli’s work. Rafauli spent countless hours searching for the right fabrics and materials for this collaboration before even sketching the design. The resulting collaboration is a bed that not only celebrates
Hästens’ heritage but has also undoubtedly earned its place as some of the world’s most lavish interior design. Unlike most beds that are currently on the market, Grand Vividus, with its fine leather, polished wood, suede and brass adornments, along with its elegant architectural lines, functions as a piece of art and a majestic centerpiece for the bedroom. Grand Vividus represents a new level of craftsmanship at Hästens, with the Vividus team in Köping undertaking new a training program from a Swedish master saddle-maker to create the exquisite details with absolute precision. Each Grand Vividus contains more luxurious Hästens horse tail hair, wool, cotton and flax, and slowgrowing Swedish pine, than has ever gone into a Hästens bed before, giving it an impressive mass of 530 kilograms. Ferris Rafauli has infused his unique sense of finesse and style into Hästens Grand Vividus, resulting in a handcrafted masterpiece that exudes a strong personality through the unique combination of leathers and golden brass, immense size and sublime comfort. hastens.com
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“Rafauli spent countless hours
searching for the right fabrics and materials for this collaboration before even sketching the design.”
01 Designer Ferris Rafauli 02 The Grand Vividus draws on 168 years of expertise
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“I try to use colorful, happy colors as
much as I can to keep the viewer happy and paint a smile on their face.”
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UNBRIDLED Ambition Dubbed ‘the Young Picasso’ by the BBC as a child, Kuwaiti born artist Hamad Al-Humaidhan encapsulates the meaning of natural talent. Building on a passion for painting that sparked when he was just 7 years old, he went on to become a full-fledged artist with a unique style that captured the interest of audiences in the East and the West, and has several international exhibitions and sold out shows to his name.
01, 02 Artist Hamad Al Humaidhan 03 One of the artist’s exquisite works
LOOKING BACK AT WHEN YOU FIRST STARTED, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS THAT CHANGED IN YOUR ARTISTIC METHOD? I think my artistic method developed naturally by looking at more art and understanding it in depth. My method remains the same, but as I grew up, I started to understand many thing that surround the art world. A main feature was the broad use of colors in my paintings and outstanding abstracted figures that flow within.
CUBISM IS ALL ABOUT THE ANGLES. HOW DO YOU APPROACH THE USE OF ANGLES IN YOUR WORK? IS THERE A SCIENCE TO IT OR IS IT MORE ABOUT THE FLOW OF EMOTIONS AS IT COMES TO YOU? I love Cubism. It’s very interesting how this style of art came about. In most of my paintings, I usually let all the elements flow naturally, allowing different angles to show different perspectives and point of views. Angles create excitement to the eyes and cause a slight
confusion to the mind. Eye-play engages the viewer to look more and try to find what the painting is actually trying to tell and show. With the use of angles, this creates difficulty and challenges the viewer to look straight, which is why I mix my emotions with the angles.
ARE THERE THEMES OR SUBJECTS YOU KEEP REVISITING IN YOUR WORK? AN EXPRESSION OR EMOTION THAT YOU’RE ALWAYS DRAWN BACK TO? Yes, I tend to revisit the element water a lot in my paintings. Simply because I personally think that water is such a powerful and beautiful liquid. The shades, tones, and hues in blue are incredible. I use blue a lot because of water and my favorite place, the beach. A theme that I like to keep a flow is positivity and happiness. I try to use colorful, happy colors as much as I can to keep the viewer happy and paint a smile on their face.
YOU’VE BEEN SELLING YOUR ART TO INTERESTED BUYERS SINCE YOU WERE
A CHILD. IS THERE ONE PAINTING THAT YOU’RE PROUD OF THE MOST? ONE THAT YOU FEEL CLOSEST TO? The truth is that as much as I love and feel so close to my paintings, my dream is to spread them all around the world. I am proud of all my works and love them all equally. But the one that I am most proud of is my largest painting up to date. Titled “Stay Together” size 6 meters x 2 meters painted live at The Avenues Mall. I worked on it for 7 days. I consider it to be my masterpiece.
OTHER THAN PICASSO, WHAT ARTISTS HAD THE BIGGEST INFLUENCE ON YOU? After Picasso, definitely comes the great Salvador Dali, Max Ernst, Vincent Van Gogh, and Henri Matisse. They all influenced me in some way, whether it was color, imagination, surrealism, or confusion.
THE ONLINE WORLD KEEPS GROWING AND ATTRACTING MORE ARTISTS. DO YOU FEEL DIGITAL EXHIBITIONS WILL PLAY A
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BIGGER ROLE FOR ARTISTS SOON? OR IS THERE TOO MUCH LOVE FOR THE PHYSICAL GALLERY EXPERIENCE? I definitely think so and I’m already starting to see it happen. Personally, I find the physical gallery experience is like no other. I will always love attending and going to art shows physically and that will never change for me.
DO YOU BELIEVE ARTISTS SHOULD EXPLAIN THEIR ART TO THE PUBLIC? OR SHOULD THEY INTERPRET ON THEIR OWN? I think artist should let the public see and make up their own story to paintings. It’s more fun for them that way. As artists, people will never get or understand fully what we are showing or trying to say. Instead of giving yourself a headache, I would suggest to just let their imagination flow and let them ride the boat!
HOW WOULD YOU COMPARE THE ART SCENE IN THE WEST WITH THE ONE IN OUR REGION? WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES THAT STAND OUT TO YOU? I don’t like comparing, as both regions have their own background and experiences, but I’m definitely seeing a huge positive change in the art scene as younger artists rise and show their talents. That’s always wonderful. It makes me feel proud and happy knowing we have such amazing talents and ambition.
WHAT’S THE CRAZIEST PART OF BEING AN ARTIST? All parts of being an artist is crazy. I love it! I get to create and do whatever I wish to do. With art, comes freedom. No one can tell you what’s right or wrong. You do as you wish with recklessness and beauty. youngpicasso.com
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An Architectural Marvel A 7-story, 177-meter tall pillarless building with a façade comprising 1024 robot-made pieces, The Museum of the Future is considered an engineering miracle. Situated in a strategic location in the heart of Dubai, this visionary cultural institution is set to become a showplace for a new era. 01 HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum standing in front of the museum
The building consists of seven floors and characterized by the absence of columns inside, making its design a milestone in urban engineering. The Museum is also linked by two bridges, the first extending to Jumeirah Emirates Towers, with a length of 69 meters, and the second linking it to the Emirates Towers metro station, with a length of 212 meters. The building is powered by 4,000 Mega Watts of electricity produced through solar energy by a new station connected to the Museum. The station was built in collaboration with Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (DEWA), making the Museum upon completion, the first Museum in the Middle East to obtain a Platinum certification from LEED, the highest rating for green buildings in the world. The park surrounding the Museum of the Future contains 80 species of plants, equipped with a state-of-the-art intelligent and automatic irrigation system. The facade of the Museum consists of 1,024 pieces entirely manufactured by robots. The
facade panels are produced using automated robotic arms. Each plate consists of four layers, and each layer has been created after following 16 process steps. The installation period of the external facade lasted for more than 18 months, and each of the panels installed separately. The facade area is 17,600 square meters. The facade, which extends over more than 17 thousand square meters, is illuminated by 14 thousand meters of lighting calligraphy. The writings are inspiring quotes of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai in Arabic calligraphy. The Arabic calligraphy was designed by the Emirati artist Mattar Bin Lahej. The Museum of the Future is considered an unparalleled urban icon around the world. It won the Tikla International Building Award as a unique architectural model. There is no other building in the world constructed on superior technologies, thereby distinguishing it from other landmarks.
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“The Museum of the Future is a real
engineering miracle, as is evident after the completion of its external façade.”
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02 The Museum of the Future’s design is considered a milestone in urban engineering 03, 04 HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum at the museum
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Autodesk Design Software stated that the Museum of the Future is one of the most innovative buildings in the world. The building was designed by Engineer Sean Keila to offer visitors an interactive experience that is the first of its kind. The Museum of the Future is a real engineering miracle, as is evident after the completion of its external façade. It floats without foundations, pillars, or columns, thanks to the use of the latest technologies. In the design of its iconic exterior, meticulous engineering calculations were used through advanced software on giant computers with ultra-fast processors to calculate the best, most durable, and responsive curve formulas to design its foundations, solid metal structure, and its unique external interface. Contrary to the usual concept of traditional museums based behind closed windows displaying eras of the past, masterpieces, and encounters, the Museum of the Future is distinguished by being an incubator for innovative ideas, technology, and future projects. It is a global destination for inventors and entrepreneurs. The Museum also provides its patrons with a set of immersive experiences. It enables them to learn about future technology that will change people’s lives. 03
The Museum’s design is a model of sustainability in future creative design. Its exterior façade was designed from advanced glass manufactured with new technologies to improve the quality of interior lighting and external thermal insulation. The use of energy-saving LED light bulbs extending into the exterior panels of 14 km long gives the facade of the Museum of the Future an attractive appearance, even more so at night. The Museum also provides an integrated infrastructure to supply electric vehicles with clean energy. The building generates its renewable energy from sunlight through an independent station for the Museum to collect solar energy. The lighting systems can be fully controlled, adding an aesthetic touch to the Arabic calligraphy design and enhancing the splendor of the exterior design from various sides. With complete fluidity and unprecedented advanced technology, the structure of the Museum of the Future is unique in a whole flow in which the glass facades, thermal, air, and water insulation systems and the metal structure merge as a single homogeneous mass like a giant shiny drop of the metal mercury. dubaifuture.gov.ae
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UNMATCHED EXPERIENCE Designed to celebrate Arabian heritage, the Modern Art Studio and Rolex boutique marks yet another milestone in the exclusivity of the prestigious Swiss watchmaker. Located in Bahrain City Center, it continues the tradition of serving its discerning clientele in inimitable style.
Featuring an exclusive VIP suite for private viewings, the boutique offers an exceptional experience for visitors. An impressive collection of 800 Rolex watches are displayed in exquisitely crafted walnut showcases that adorn the walls. Customers can admire the exquisite interior design, created in collaboration with Rolex Interior Design Specialists using the highest quality materials. The wall panels were manufactured in Switzerland, and the Murano chandelier in Italy. The atmosphere illustrates the world of Rolex and offers privacy and professional advice, with many staff who have been with Modern Art Studio for over 30 years. In addition to being the largest one in the Middle East, it is also one of the largest Rolex boutiques in the world.
The story of Modern Art Studio dates back to 1936, when its founder Naji Murad had his original shop in Government Avenue, Manama. By 1940, history was made when the founder of Rolex Geneva, Hans Wilsdorf, officially appointed Modern Art Studio as the first and only Rolex agent in the Gulf. Operating from his store on Government Avenue, Murad promoted and sold watches in Bahrain, as well as to his sub agents in other GCC countries. He later recommended them to Rolex to become official agents, many of whom are still distributors of Rolex today. Another milestone was reached in 1978, when Modern Art Studio’s new Rolex showroom was opened by Mr. André Heiniger CEO of Rolex. Genuinely impressed by Modern Art
Studio at the time, Heiniger proclaimed it “one of the best Rolex shops in the world.” One of its notable showcases was a display of the exclusive watches cleverly arranged into individual letters to spell the name ROLEX. Today, Modern Art Studio maintains its legacy as a family business as it continues to operate under the wise leadership of Richard and David, the sons of Naji Murad. In 1946, Hans Wilsdorf founded Tudor watches. In 2014, Modern Art Studio opened the first Tudor Boutique in Bahrain and the Gulf, continuing the tradition of being the leaders in promoting Rolex and Tudor watches in the GCC to this day. masbahrain.com
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01 The Modern Art Studio and Rolex boutique at Bahrain City Center 02 The largest Rolex boutique in the Middle East
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ARCHITECTURE
03, 04, 05 The boutique offers an exceptional experience for visitors
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“The story of Modern Art Studio dates back
to 1936, when its founder Naji Murad had his original shop in Government Avenue, Manama.”
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BOUTIQUE Experience
The most luxurious shopping destinations from around the world.
A. LANGE & SÖHNE DUBAI A. Lange & Söhne, the eminent watch manufactory from Saxony, Germany, has opened its second Dubai boutique in the Mall of the Emirates. The new boutique located on the first level of Mall of the Emirates, one of the world’s most luxurious shopping destinations, marks a further step in the company’s retail strategy in the Middle East. The new A. Lange & Söhne Boutique in Mall of the Emirates invites customers to a warm and welcoming space of refined and sophisticated ambiance. Just like the brand’s flagship boutique in Dubai Mall, the location features Lange’s unique interior-design concept, which is characterized by authentic materials and elaborate surface treatments that pay tribute to the type of craftsmanship the watchmakers from Saxony adhere to. It is inspired by a long-standing tradition, which began 175 years ago. Back then, in December 1845, Dresden watchmaker Ferdinand Adolph Lange moved to Glashütte and opened a pocket watch workshop with the ambition to “craft the world’s finest watches”, thus laying the cornerstone for fine watchmaking in Saxony. An extensive range of A. Lange & Söhne timepieces will be available in the new boutique, including highlights from the 2020 collection, like the “Homage to F.A. Lange” edition celebrating the 175th anniversary of Saxon fine watchmaking, the new LANGE 1 TIME ZONE and the ODYSSEUS. lagne-soehne.ae
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ARCHITECTURE
CHOPARD MALAYSIA In July 2020, Chopard opened its new boutique at Suria KLCC in the heart of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Located within the Petronas Twin Towers, the famous city landmark which still holds the record for the tallest twin buildings in the world, Suria KLCC is Malaysia’s most iconic shopping destination. The highlight of this newly renovated boutique is the inclusion of a “green and sustainable” feature wall as part of its design. Conceptualized from an idea suggested by Caroline and KarlFriedrich Scheufele and the first of its kind in the region, this unusual characteristic symbolizes Chopard and its link with Nature. Concerned about the loss of green spaces in cities, the Maison has decided to introduce live plants to a large 8m tall by 17m wide steel façade so that clients can enjoy shopping in a destination that invokes a feeling of calmness and nature. Chopard has been using 100% Ethical Gold in its jewellery and watch creations since 2018 as part of its pioneering Journey to Sustainable Luxury. The “green and sustainable” wall represents the Maison’s dedication to nature and the continuation of this vision. chopard.com
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December 2020
“The store’s façade is distinguished by a green
awning and orange lacquer doors– signature Tory Burch design details.”
TORY BURCH KSA Tory Burch opened a new boutique at Mode Al Faisaliah Mall, a luxury shopping center in Riyadh. The new store further extends the brand’s footprint in Saudi Arabia, complementing its boutiques in Jeddah, Al Khobar and Riyadh. It’s the 24th Tory Burch location in the Middle East since launching in Dubai in 2011. A wide assortment of the Tory Burch collection will be available at the new boutique including ready-towear, shoes, handbags, and accessories. The store’s façade is distinguished by a green awning and orange lacquer doors– signature Tory Burch design details. In keeping with all Tory Burch retail locations, the interior has an inviting, residential feel. Oak panel walls, cane tables and aged brass étagères offer a neutral backdrop for a sophisticated mix of furnishings, including a blue bamboo-pattern wall covering, mocha-striped drapes and couches inspired by ones in Tory’s home in New York. toryburch.com
ARCHITECTURE
FINE BLOOMS DUBAI A bespoke floral design studio based in Dubai, Fine Blooms’ flagship boutique in Box Park is an exercise in chic designed by Universal Design Studio, with striking modernity and innovation uniting the space. Inspired by the natural beauty and landscape of the UAE, they thrive off using seasonal blooms to create arrangements, installations and events that complement the surroundings and environment. Fine Blooms are led by bold, refined and elegant florals that leave a lasting impression and founded on the belief that flowers have the power to transform architecture and radically impact our emotions. They conceptualize unique proposals with client’s vision and ideas, as seen on the cover of Harper’s Bazaar Arabia, Esquire Middle East, in GQ Middle East, Emirates Woman and many more. fineblooms.ae
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GRILLING in Style Perfect for outdoor cooking enthusiasts who prefer to grill with the utmost convenience, Officine Gullo presents a collection of barbecues that displays a wealth of expertise in cooking systems. 01
Officine Gullo gas barbecues stand out because of the professional quality of the cooking systems and their exclusive design. Crafted in stainless steel, the barbecues can be painted in any colour in the RAL range as well as in custom shades available on request. A variety of finishes for the brass details are also on hand. Every BBQ can be uniquely personalized. The barbecues are available in three sizes: 80 (BBQ80), 100 (BBQ100) and 140 (BBQ140) cm wide. Built-in versions are also an option for all three sizes. The OG BBQ80 Barbecue has 6 highperformance 23 kW burners and sturdy thick stainless-steel grills. The perfect nonstick surfaces allow excellent results to be achieved, even for the most delicate dishes. The distinctive wave structure is the hallmark of the products exclusivity. The OG BBQ100 Barbecue, with a 2,920 cm² cooking area, has 8 high-performance 31 kW burners and sturdy 9.5 mm thick stainless-steel grills. The perfect nonstick surfaces allow excellent
results to be achieved, even for the most delicate dishes. The distinctive wave structure is the hallmark of the product’s exclusivity. The OG BBQ140 BUILT IN Barbecue vaunts an impressive cooking surface measuring 3,543 cm² and a total of 9 high performance burners at 39.2 kW. The cooking area consists of two units: the first has sturdy stainless-steel grills, 9.5 mm thick and measuring 72 x 46 cm. The perfect nonstick surfaces allow excellent results to be achieved, even for the most delicate dishes. The distinctive wave structure is the hallmark of the product’s exclusivity. The second unit consists of the infrared cooking area, 47×46 cm. This is a high-temperature cooking surface, which reaches 980° due to the ceramic cooking top. In direct contact with an intense source of heat, similar to charcoal, meats brown rapidly, ensuring tender and succulent results. officinegullo.com
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01 Officine Gullo offers 4 unique barbecues 02 Professional quality cooking systems and exclusive design 03 Officine Gullo’s built-in barbecues 04 Perfect nonstick surfaces allow for excellent results
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HOTELS
Redefining Hospitality Discover the true meaning of hospitality and experience the ultimate in luxury at these global destinations.
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01 The garden offers an intimate private world of escape
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02, 04, 05 The interior evokes memory with the hoots of night owls, nostalgic aromas of home-baked bread in the kitchen, and roses in the garden 03 Le Grand Jardin was a wedding gift for the daughter of the neighboring estate
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LE GRAND JARDIN CAPE TOWN A private estate in the heart of the historic Stellenbosch (est.1679) Winelands, Le Grand Jardin is the signature residence of Wonderland Escapes, 50 km away from the city of Cape Town. Le Grand Jardin was a wedding gift for the daughter of the neighboring estate and was designed by a student of Sir Herbert Baker- the most notable architect working in South Africa in the 1900s. Rooted in enchanting environments – from the Cape and Argentinean Winelands to the Swiss Alps and Africa’s pristine southern coastline – it offers a sense of space and wonder, where bold mountain peaks of the Helderberg in the heart of the colorchanging vineyards, gentle rolling waves, secret gardens, glistening bodies of water and golden sunsets are gifts we delight in sharing. The inspiration behind this project draws on the restorative qualities of the expansive garden and surrounding vineyards. The garden served as an inspiration for the home’s interior aesthetic.
The walls of the double-volume entrance hall, covered in De Gournay ‘Amazonia’ wallpaper, act as an exuberant welcome and invitation to enjoy the garden that offers an intimate private world of escape. Artistry exists in the interplay of timeless heirlooms and sensual textures of copper, leather, and velvet, set against the playful use of color and craft. The manor house offers a more stately option with 3 en-suite bedrooms and extensive entertainment areas, including the formal dining room, sexy blue gin bar, tasting room/cellar, drawing room/library/study, and media room. The pool pavilion with 3 en-suite bedrooms opens onto the solar-heated pool area with summer room. When we walk through the home, the design immediately evokes memory with the hoots of night owls, nostalgic aromas of home-baked bread in the kitchen, and roses in the garden. You can see the
influence of local materials as well as the use of arts and crafts. Kids have curious minds and they like to be entertained during vacations. To make them explore and learn at the same time, Le Grand Jardin created a special room just for them that screams fun times. Rocky Rocket makes a grand entrance in this room and promises to let kids explore their imagination and take them to the moon. With a RGB light and speakers, it was built using topquality materials such as wood, being robust in design, and dreamy on the interiors, due to its red velvet upholstered walls and cushioned flooring. Parents can enjoy a chilled glass of wine on the outdoor pizza deck while kids explore their newfound freedom as they forget about screens for a while. lejardin.co.za
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HARD ROCK HOTEL MALDIVES Located within Emboodhoo Lagoon, the first integrated resort destination in the Maldives and a 20-minute boat ride away from Velana International Airport (MLE), Hard Rock Hotel Maldives boasts 178 spacious guest rooms including family suites, beach villas and one and two-bedroom overwater villas, exclusively on a beautiful island. Inspired by local culture, tropical architecture is infused with contemporary design features, alongside regionally-inspired authentic music memorabilia. Guests are able to enjoy exclusive brand offerings and amenities including The Sound of Your Stay music program, offering complimentary use of Fender guitars and Crosley record players for in-room jam sessions, as well as a renowned full-service Rock Spa®, a Rock Shop® selling all brand merchandise, Roxity Kids Club® and Teen Spirit® Club. Guests can also treat their taste buds to delectable on-site food and beverage options, ranging from a Pool Bar and all-day dining, to a Pan-Latin restaurant and in-villa dining experiences, or to enjoy authentic American cuisine amidst the ultimate rock atmosphere at Hard Rock Café Maldives just steps from the hotel. This iconic property also offers vacationers direct access to The Marina@CROSSROADS Maldives, which
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locates a rich combination of world-class offerings including entertainment, boutique stores, restaurants, bars and leisure activities. Hard Rock Hotel Maldives is at 20-minute speed boat ride from Velana International Airport. At the arrival area, counter 9A and 9B are dedicated forguests arriving to Crossroads and to Hard Rock Hotel Maldives. Our Airport Representatives will greet arriving guests upon exiting the Arrival Terminal. An air-conditioned ferry awaits for a quick trip to Crossroads Marina. Guests will get off at the Arrival Pavilion for arrival health screening. From there, you will be taken to our Reception to complete the check in process. Located only 500 meters across a footbridge from Hard Rock Hotel Maldives, the Marina@ CROSSROADS Maldives is an 800-meter lifestyle venue with a great selection of leisure outlets, restaurants and entertainment. Enjoy authentic American cuisine at Hard Rock Café Maldives with exclusive beach access, or The Beach Club. At The Marina@CROSSROADS, leisure and entertainment activities are endless. In addition to a variety of shops and dining outlets, CROSSROADS features a diverse collection of
attractions and activities including Maldives Discovery Centre, Marine Discovery Centre, The Event Hall@ CROSSROADS and The Koimala & Maalimi’s Junior Beach Club and CAMP. Rock Spa® is more than a spa. It is a different state of being. An escape. Picture this, waves crashing against seashells on the ocean shore, Rock Spa® Maldives is your own slice of paradise. It’s a transformative realm of unapologetic indulgence. Experience a musical twist on classic spa treatments in one of four private ocean front treatment rooms, nestled in the Zen beach of Hard Rock Hotel Maldives. Their Signature Rhythm and Motion treatments take you on a rhythmical massage journey. Bass vibrations ripple through the massage table as the treble beats come from above, wrapping you in music, sending pulses through the body and leaving you feeling energized and invigorated. Along with the Rhythm and Motion services, the spa also offers an extensive menu, from its modern twist on traditional massages, body scrubs and wraps, facials and children’s treatments, there’s something on the menu for everyone. hrhmaldives.com
07 09 06 The Hard Rock Hotel Maldives is the first integrated resort destination in the Maldives 07 Tropical architecture is infused with contemporary design features 08 The Rock Star Lounge offers breathtaking views 09 Hard Rock Hotel Maldives boasts 178 spacious guest rooms
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10 The SAii Lagoon Maldives is a playful destination getaway 11, 12, 13 The interior features boho-chic aesthetics
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SAII LAGOON MALDIVES The tropical, vibrant SAii Lagoon Maldives is a cerulean bolt hole created for couples, families, and friends in search of a playful destination getaway. SAii experiences put the destination front and center. Whether you prefer your adventures in the air, on the land, or under the sea, you can try something new and learn something too. SAii rooms and villas are designed with cheerful explorers in mind with a boho-chic aesthetic that subtly reflects the destination’s maritime heritage. Natural textures and marine-inspired hues mirror the views, while bespoke bathroom amenities can be blended at the aroma bar, or selected from the natural touch fruit and floral collections. Playful inclusions like handcrafted puzzles and ‘creature comfort’ pillows bring a smile to the stay. When you stay the SAii way, you are offered a cool combination of delights, sensations, and inspirations. Whether you seek comfort food, creative tastes, inspired mixology or a good reason to party, SAii treats blend an exciting mix of culinary and lifestyle trends to offer experiences that stick to your soul and make your holiday whole. Food, drinks and diversity come to life with the meal packages at SAii lagoon Maldives. Savor a wide array of multicultural cuisines, with the sound
and warm breeze of the Indian Ocean. A playful eatery, Miss Olive Oyl takes its inspiration from the fresh familiar flavors of the Mediterranean with distinct dining spaces set by the pool just a few bare footsteps from the beach. Mr. Tomyam offers hallmark Thai cuisine meets European favorites in surroundings tastefully influenced by the playful features of an Italian pizzeria and the bold palettes of old-school Thai dining spots. Lèn Be Well Spa, the first free-standing double storey spa and wellness complex in the Maldives, features quick and easy foot and neck massages and more elaborate treatments. An innovative wellness concept, it embraces extraordinary new levels of relaxation, spa treatments, holistic activities and culinary delights. Indulge in some ultimate pampering and a full journey of wellbeing, rejuvenate the senses with a signature health treatment and allow the atmosphere of calm and bliss to wash over you. The Koimala & Maalimi’s Junior Beach Club and Camp is an exciting, energetic hub of activity. An imaginative center designed to be an innovative edutainment concept that encourages children aged 4-15 to embrace their spirit of creativity in an engaging and dynamic environment. Aspects
of Maldives culture are present throughout and provide a stimulating and charming backdrop to a wide variety of fun and educational activities. The primary ethos focuses on two characters from Maldivian folklore: Koimala, the wise turtle prince, and Maalimi, the mythical black marlin, the fastest fish in the ocean. These characters’ stories are rich and colorful and serve to interest children in the local wildlife and culture. Get hitched, get creative, or get a team together in the most inspiring natural surroundings with the help of some well thought-out packages and programs. SAii Live adds sparkle to your celebrations, brings energy to your ideas and turns events into milestones. Choose the ideal venue to bring out the best in you and your guests then make it happen at SAii Lagoon Maldives. If you can drag yourself away from the joys of SAii, then you’ll find CROSSROADS Island just a stroll away – a destination within a destination offering yet more choices for fab food, divine drinks, and more than a few tempting retail diversions to browse – before, after or in between indulgences. saiiresorts.com
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SERENE TREATMENTS Take your body and mind on a journey of relaxation with these worldwide destinations of tranquility. AWAY SPA DUBAI W Dubai - The Palm is encouraging the men of Dubai to hit ESCAPE from the city and experience a range of relaxing and rejuvenating treatments, available at the hotel’s hugely popular AWAY Spa. Bending spa rules and transforming the traditional treatment experience into an amped-up social scene, men who visit W Dubai – The Palm’s AWAY Spa can choose from an impressive selection of specialist treatments, including the DETOX Facial, a deep cleansing treatment that detoxes the skin from pollutions, or the GO DEEP massage, which is designed to target deeper muscle layers and release tension. To complete a day of pampering and relaxation, men can grab a bevvie or two at urban playground for adults, SoBe. Renowned for its artisanal cocktails and unobstructed views of the iconic Palm Jumeirah, Arabian Gulf, and Dubai Marina, SoBe is the ideal spot for simmering sunset rituals and late nights. The AWAY Spa’s Top Treatments for Men includes DETOX Facial, where you can detox the skin from pollution and treat impurities and imperfections with a deep cleansing treatment that is suited for all skin types, and GO DEEP, which is designed to target deeper muscle layers, release tension, and boost energy. The ultimate destination to hit DETOX RETOX REPEAT, the AWAY Spa is located on the ground floor of W Dubai – The Palm, boasting 11 treatment rooms (5 male and 5 female), and an Experiential Shower, Whirlpool, Steam Room, Hammam and a Sauna. 01
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01 AWAY Spa transforms the traditional treatment experience into an amped-up social scene 02, 03, 04 The spa is the perfect place for pampering and relaxation
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05, 06, 07, 08 Clinique La Prairie combines world-class medical expertise, state-of-the-art technology, and a holistic spa 09 Breathtaking location between the snow-capped peaks of Swiss Alps and Lake Geneva
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CLINIQUE LA PRAIRIE SWITZERLAND Breathtakingly located between the snow-capped peaks of Swiss Alps and Lake Geneva, Clinique La Prairie offers the perfect setting to experience a luxury wellness retreat combining world-class medical expertise and state-of-the-art technology with a holistic spa. All of the programs are rooted in Clinique La Prairie’s commitment to helping people live longer, healthier and better lives and are built around its four pillars for holistic living - Medical, Well-being, Nutrition and Movement. Immunity is one of the first priorities these days and with the guidance of Clinique La Prairie, this newly launched and exclusive Immunity Boost program helps enhance and improve your immune system, while helping the body reach its peak potential, thus strengthening one’s general state
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of physical and mental performance. The five-day, four-night program includes a targeted health checkup, as well as immune-focused sessions which allow guests to strengthen the body and mind. Keeping in mind the balance of body and mind, Clinique La Prairie’s has introduced the new pure wellness package for guests to relax, recharge and feel younger. The program offers exclusive treatments in the world-renowned spa and will be given IV drip and vitamin complex as precious allies to sustain their wellbeing. Supervised by trusted medical specialists, the blends will contain a carefully selected combination of essential vitamins, minerals and antioxidants to target individual needs, while promoting antiaging and whole-body health. cliniquelaprairie.com
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SOFITEL SPA DUBAI Step out of the hustle and bustle of the city and into a sanctuary of bliss at Sofitel SPA with L’OCCITANE; the ultimate wellbeing experience for the body and mind, harmoniously combining worldwide ancient, rejuvenating traditions with therapies and treatments using the latest in French cosmetology. Joining forces with renowned French brand L’OCCITANE en Provence, Sofitel SPA is the only location in Dubai to provide L’OCCITANE products and invites guests to a Provencal retreat, inspired by the Mediterranean art-de-vivre. This sanctuary enables guests to indulge in inner peace while surrounded by beautiful, calming marble and Art Deco lines. A multi-sensory experience, from the moment you enter the spa, fragrances transport you to Provence and you will feel re-energized with a selection of all-natural health and beauty
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treatments that will dissipate the stress and strain of daily life and enhance your sublime, natural glow. Beauty is more than skin deep and at Sofitel SPA with L’OCCITANE taking care of yourself is a lifestyle. Thanks to spa experts with the right savoir-faire, the team will make sure you look – as well as feel – your absolute best. Located on the sixth floor of Sofitel Dubai The Obelisk, the spa includes eight treatment rooms, including a couple’s room, hammam facilities, female and male relaxation rooms. Choose from Body Massages and Face Treatments to specialty Packages combining an array of treatments into one program, provided by trained L’OCCITANE experts offering a unique and unrivaled experience. sofitel-dubai-theobelisk.com
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10, 11, 12 Sofitel SPA offers the ultimate wellbeing experience for your body and mind
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13, 14, 16 Velaa Spa, Maldives offers guests true relaxation and complete rejuvenation 15 A spa experience in the ultimate island escape
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VELAA SPA MALDIVES Velaa Spa at Velaa Private Island Maldives has developed a comprehensive and personalized wellness program starting with a health consultation including InBody analysis and skilled advice, followed by targeted treatments. Offering you the ultimate energizing experience, their program is uniquely designed for your personal needs, creating a harmonious balance between spa treatments, mindfulness, fitness and nutrition. Guided by expert therapists and fitness trainers, this holistic approach aims to energize your body and relax your mind. Based on the consultation and your body type, a healthy meal plan will be created by a wellness expert and a personal fitness program will be suggested by a trainer. The program will combine exercise to improve your physical condition as well as meditation and yoga. Massage will be combined
and coincide with your goals and fun activities such as water sports and boat cruises will be included to further enhance this energizing experience in beautiful Maldives. The program consists of three parts: The Consultation, which is an individual, comprehensive and effective tailor-made wellness and energizing program based on InBody analysis and created by a wellness expert, The Experience, which is a programme to achieve measurable goals and targets – whether it be weight management, power building, flexibility, or mind and body balance, and Post-stay, which offers an extensive review of the achieved goals followed by a post-stay program including active communication with the wellness expert. velaaprivateisland.com
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BON APPÉTIT
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Gastronomic Delights A master of innovative and authentic cuisines, Executive Chef Gaushan de Silva combines classical culinary techniques with contemporary ideas to create a unique experience for patrons at Velaa Private Island Maldives. Heading the kitchen in its fine dining outlet, Aragu, his innovation adds an unmistakable flavor to the island.
TELL US ABOUT THE MENU AT ARAGU. WHAT SHOULD PATRONS EXPECT? Sustainability, creativity, and a pleasantly surprising taste! Our vision for our guests is for them to enjoy a journey with a variety of flavors in different seasonal and classic dishes from the 14 multinational chefs. We only use the finest imported and local ingredients to serve a global menu of authentic, homestyle food.
WHICH CUISINE IS CLOSEST TO YOUR HEART? Although all cuisines have something unique to offer patrons, I would say that the one that resonates with me the most is contemporary European cuisine.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR CULINARY APPROACH?
We source our ingredients both locally and from worldwide destinations. We draw from the wealth of the ocean, which is where I source some of my fresh seafood. I’m lucky in that I am able to import almost any product from anywhere on the planet. Most hotels do not have this luxury.
WHAT WAS YOUR PROUDEST MOMENT IN THE KITCHEN? I am always most proud when all the hard work is done at the end of the day. The look on the guests’ faces when you can see that they are completely satisfied with their meals is what I always look forward to.
ARE THERE ANY CHEFS THAT LEFT A LASTING IMPACT ON YOU?
Whenever I’m in the kitchen, I adopt a style that focuses on being exciting and surprising, yet still retains overall simplicity.
I would say that’s The French Laundry in New York by Chef Thomas Keller. They serve a French cuisine with American influences. I thoroughly enjoyed his book!
WHERE DO YOU SOURCE YOUR INGREDIENTS FROM?
WHAT’S THE MOST CHALLENGING ASPECT OF BEING A CHEF?
Hardest part is maintaining the consistency of the product and the logistics. In a country like the Maldives, where very few things are grown, running a resort with a fine dining restaurant is not an easy task. Getting the goods down to the capital city Male’ via air freight or sea freight, and the transportation of goods from Male’ ports to the final destination has always been a major issue. Distance is not the only issue in our logistics challenges. By the time we receive the goods, they are in inacceptable conditions when it comes to keeping the food fresh. However, our commitment to food safety standards and the implementation according to international ISO 22000: HACCP best practice helps to overcome this challenge.
WHAT SHOULD WE EXPECT NEXT FOR ARAGU? Next step: be recognized as a Michelin starred restaurant! velaaprivateisland.com
Japanese Bluefin Tuna Daikon And Pickled Ginger INGREDIENTS
• 600 g bluefin tuna loin • 160 g daikon radish (julienne cut) • 40 g spring onion green part same length as daikon radish • 4 grated egg yolk • 80 g yuzu aioli
Method Cut the bluefin tuna loin into 04 x 02 inches steaks. And wrap with the baking paper, leave in the freezer for 10 to 15 minutes. Do not freeze into a solid. Once the steak comes out of the freezer, it will have firmed up and been a lot more manageable. Using a sharp knife slice into a crossway to rectangle slices. Place the tuna sheets on a board. Spread yuzu aioli on one half of the tuna and top of aioli spoon some grated egg yolk. Then put the daikon Julian and the green onion on one end of the tuna. Roll them up to an even size roll. For the Yuzu Aioli • 1 clove garlic, minced • Large pinch coarse sea or kosher salt, plus more for seasoning • 1 egg yolk, at room temperature • 1 tablespoon yuzu juice • 2/3 cup canola oil • Salt • Freshly ground black pepper Method Place the garlic and salt in a food processor fitted with a metal blade, or in a blender. Pulse once or twice. Add the egg yolk and yuzu juice, and pulse until blended. With the machine running, begin adding the canola oil in a thin stream. If it becomes too thick, thin it out with some room-temperature water and continue adding oil until you’ve used it all. Add salt and pepper to taste.
BON APPÉTIT
Chicken from Bresse, White Asparagus And Morel Mushrooms INGREDIENTS • Chicken • 4x poularde de bresse breast • Clarified butter • Salt & pepper Method Line a cling film, arrange chicken breast in a single layer on a prepared cling film. Season with salt and pepper. Beginning at the narrow end of chicken roll up to 2 tight roulades. Vacuum seal, cook in sous vide at 65°c for 20 minutes. Black vinegar reduction • 300 ml black vinegar • 150 ml water • 10 g ginger • 50 g palm sugar or brown sugar Method Combine all the ingredients and bring to boil, reduce the heat and simmer for 30 minutes. Thicken with corn flour. Mix with cold butter before serving. Shaoxing sauce • 300 ml Shaoxing wine • 15 g ginger • 100 ml cream • 10 g butter • 1 tsp dark soy • 1 tsp Shaoxing wine • 1 tap corn starch • 1 pinch sugar • 70 ml chicken stock • 1 tbsp. fen chew wine • Soaked morel Method Bring 300ml Shaoxing, chicken stock, and ginger to boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 30 minutes. Add the cream and reduce for another 10 minutes, thicken with corn flour, and add the rest of the ingredients. Mix the morel last minute.
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Island Coconut Gazpacho, White River Shrimps, Chervil Cress INGREDIENTS Coconut • • • • • • • • • • •
gazpacho 20 g flax seeds 100 ml good quality extra virgin olive oil 70g raw almond butter 50 ml apple cider vinegar 20 ml agave honey Salt to taste 200 ml coconut milk 300 ml coconut water (from a young coconut) 5O g coconut flesh (young coconut) 1 garlic clove 1 pinch tabasco
Method Put all the ingredients into a food processor or blender and blend until mostly smooth. Pass through a fine chinois, and season with salt. Transfer the soup to an airtight container and chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour. Pickle shrimps • 200 ml white vinegar • 200 ml water • 50 g white sugar • 1 tsp. coriander seeds • 1 tsp. peppercorn 1/2 • tsp whole clove 1/2 • tsp red pepper flakes • 15 no’s Japanese pink prawn (peeled and deveined) • 5 sprigs cilantro Method In a saucepan, combine the vinegar, water, coriander seeds, peppercorns, clove, sugar, and red pepper flakes. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat. Add the prawn and then immediately remove the pan from the heat and cover with a lid or aluminum foil. Set aside for 5minutes or until prawn are pink. Drain the shrimp.
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REFINED TASTE
Experience a culinary journey with award-winning and critically acclaimed restaurants from around the world.
CLAY BAHRAIN Food Fund International’s latest restaurant, Clay, has opened its doors in Manama, Bahrain. A journey of culture and flavor, Clay offers an encounter with Nikkei, a Japanese-Peruvian cuisine sweeping food capitals across the world. Head Chef Jolbi Huacho and his eclectic team combine classic ingredients and techniques from both distinct cultures to create dishes diverse and intriguing, familiar yet unknown. With an extensive wine list of the Old and New World, and cocktails that infuse tastes from Tokyo to Lima, Clay celebrates creation and its forever muse, collaboration. Set against the Manama sky, you will find Clay on the highest floor of the iconic, undulating Terminal. Rich, marbled tones, warm textures, gold finishes and
handmade ceramics bring together Peruvian terra and Japanese delicacy to inform an environment that is inspired by the beginning (the open dining area), and the after (the bar). At once contemporary and elegant, comforting and electric. What to expect? Instagram-worthy dishes that celebrate the incomparable potential of food to connect us. Attention to detail to feast your eyes upon. FFI’s international team, dedicated to experience, pleasure and family. The glitter of Bahrain’s nightlights as the sun sets. And happy hour and brunch, of course. claybahrain.com
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01, 02, 05 Some of the delectable items on Clay’s menu 03, 04 Contemporary and elegant interior
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06, 10 Modern interpretation of classic American saloons 07, 08, 09 Exquisite creations
WESLODGE SALOON DUBAI Saying goodbye to 2020 in style Weslodge party goers will bring in the New Year to an unforgettable soundtrack of vintage vinyl favourites including Hip Hop and RnB beats spun live on the decks. Served up whilst guests enjoy a specially curated brunch banquet from the award-winning North American kitchen, the menu will include a culinary mix up of Canadian and classic festive plates, handmade cocktails, the finest Champagnes and world-class bourbons all expertly paired plate by plate. From scorched wagyu tataki straight from Weslodge’s famous hardwood & charcoal grill (the biggest in Dubai) to start. To a main of turkey with stuffing and all the trimmings, guests can finish the night with a celebratory platter of traditional treats including; black forest cup, Christmas cookies, spice bread, mince pies and yule log. Located on the 68th floor of the world’s tallest hotel, Weslodge Saloon offers the best panoramic views of Dubai’s stunning skyline and the iconic Burj Khalifa. The extremely popular venue is a modern interpretation of the classic American saloon and boasts an award-winning food program, a stylish dining room and a buzzing cocktail bar. In its sister venue in Toronto, Weslodge is known for its lively and interactive entertainment and music program and Weslodge Dubai carries on this tradition with an upbeat soundtrack of old school hip hop, 1980’s classics, rock and signature American beats. Weslodge’s cocktails are presented in the same manner as their award-winning north American dishes i.e. with passion and craft. Their house made ingredients elevate classic cocktails with innovative and exciting twists to make this world-class cocktail bar an experience not to be missed in Dubai. weslodge.ae
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11 Garlic Chili Prawn 12 Garlic Chili Crab 13 Pepper Crab 14 Curry Crab
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MINISTRY OF CRAB MALDIVES With international outposts in Shanghai, Manila and Mumbai and Bangkok Ministry of Crab opened its doors in Maldives in October 2019, as part of The Marina @ CROSSROADS, the most comprehensive and ambitious integrated leisure and entertainment development undertaken in the country. Located 15 minutes by speedboat from Velana International Airport and the Maldivian capital of Male, CROSSROADS is a multi-island project developed by the Thailand based real estate developer, Singha Estate Public Company Limited. The first international outpost to be directly owned and managed by the flagship restaurant in Colombo, Ministry of Crab Maldives is housed in a colonial style building on the waterfront facing the beautiful marina providing guests with spectacular views, breath-taking sunsets and the balmy coastal breeze. The casual fine dining restaurant is designed specifically to resemble its flagship restaurant in Colombo as evidenced by the intricate detail that has gone into creating it, from having similar flooring, to the open kitchen and even the iconic heliconia flower centerpieces which are airfreighted weekly. The interior of the restaurant consists of 48 seats placed around a long table for family style dining, while there are 24 seats outside. Ministry of Crab is committed to showcasing the best of Sri Lanka’s iconic Lagoon Crabs and its majestic King Prawns. Starring these magnificent crustaceans are the signature dishes, Pepper Crab and Garlic Chilli Prawn, which are packed full of flavour with Sri Lankan spices. Other standouts are the Original recipe: Crab Biryani the largest de-shelled crab dish on the menu containing meat of 1.5kg of Mud Crab served with a handground mint sambol, Classic Date and Onion (Malay) pickle , Crab gravy, decadent and creamy Crab Liver Pâté, the Coconut Crème Brûlée, which is a tropical take on the classic delight and the scraped-to-order Pol Sambol(side dish),a traditional Sri Lankan dish and Valhomas Chahan with a deep rooted connection to the Maldives, as it contains dried bonito flakes lovingly referred to as ‘Maldive Fish’ in Sri Lanka. ministryofcrab.com
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December 2020
Ferrari SF90 Spider Unveiled during a dedicated digital event, the SF90 Spider is not only the Prancing Horse’s first production plug-in hybrid spider, but the it also sets new benchmarks for performance, innovation and the thrill of driving for the marque’s range and the entire sports car sector. The new convertible has the same extreme supercar specification and record-breaking performance as the SF90 Stradale, yet also adds further excitement and versatility to the mix, thanks to latest iteration of Ferrari’s signature Retractable Hard Top architecture which first debuted on a mid-rear engined berlinetta in 2011. The SF90 Spider thus represents a fundamental revision of the supercar concept that makes it the ideal car for owners that demand the very pinnacle of Ferrari technology, but still want to experience the joy of open-top driving. The SF90 Spider’s plug-in hybrid system guarantees performance levels unmatched by any other production spider: the car’s 780 cv turbo-charged V8 is augmented by three electric motors, one at the rear and two on the front axle, bringing its maximum power output to a staggering 1,000 cv. This state-of-the-art system does not complicate the driving experience in any way as a
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sophisticated control logic autonomously monitors and adjust power flows to suit the conditions of use. All the driver has to do is to select one of the power unit modes (eDrive, Hybrid, Performance and Qualify) on the brand-new eManettino for a wonderfully exhilarating experience behind the wheel. Like the SF90 Stradale, the SF90 Spider also has AWD, which has raised the bar for standing starts to unparalleled new speeds: 0-100 km/h in 2.5 s and 0-200 km/h in 7.0 s. The mechanical layout adopted by the Maranello engineers has allowed them to further advance the car’s dynamic control system. The latter, now referred to as the eSSC, verifies the car’s dynamic status in real time. Based on that information, it controls vehicle stability by delivering torque independently via the front electric engines to the inside and outside wheel (Torque Vectoring), significantly improving traction coming out of corners and making it much simpler and more intuitive to drive on the limit with confidence. From an aerodynamic perspective, the result of the development process is an extreme design which, with a maximum of 390 kg of downforce at 250 km/h, sets the absolute benchmark in terms of both downforce and aerodynamic efficiency for
the road cars in the range without aerodynamic appendages. The many innovative, patented solutions adopted include most notably the shutoff Gurney, an active system at the rear of the car which adapts to driving conditions, and the forged wheels with wing profiles which recall Ferrari’s F1derived blown geometry. As is the case with the SF90 Stradale, the SF90 Spider is also available with a dedicated specification for owners that want to push its track car vocation to the extreme. The Assetto Fiorano includes a list of exclusive upgrades that set it apart from the standard car, not least Multimatic shock absorbers derived from the Prancing Horse’s GT racing experience and optimised for track use. Others include the adoption of high performance materials (such as carbon-fibre and titanium) that have shaved 21 kg off the car’s weight, a carbonfibre rear spoiler and road-homologated Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres designed to improve track performance in the dry, thanks to a softer compound and fewer grooves. Lastly, the Assetto Fiorano offers an optional two-tone livery that further underscores the car’s racing vocation. ferrari.com
03 01 The Ferrari SF90 Spider 02 The Prancing Horse’s first production plug-in hybrid spider 03 The 780 cv turbo-charged V8 is augmented by three electric motors for a maximum power output of 1,000 cv
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04 The SF90 Spider sets the absolute benchmark in terms of both downforce and aerodynamic efficiency for the road cars in the range without aerodynamic appendages 05 The SF90 Spider is also available with a dedicated specification for owners that want to push its track car vocation to the extreme
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06 The McLaren Elva and 765LT 07 The Elva’s power is delivered from a 4.0-litre twinturbocharged V8 engine to produce 815PS and 800Nm 08 McLaren’s lightest ever road car
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McLaren Elva and 765LT McLaren Automotive, the British creator of luxury, high-performance supercars, showcased its Elva and 765LT models during a private ‘McLaren Masterpieces’ event held in Bluewaters Island, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. A select group of passionate enthusiasts based in the Middle-East were given a full insight into these latest models in a truly immersive gallery setting and on individual basis. The new McLaren Elva joins the brand’s Ultimate Series as a ferociously fast open-cockpit car that heightens every sensory input to provide unparalleled driving experience on both road and track. This extreme two-seater is the lightest road car ever from McLaren Automotive, with bespoke carbon fiber chassis and body and a pioneering McLaren Active Air Management System (AAMS) that shelters occupants by manipulating air flow while retaining a strong connection to the elements. Power is delivered from a 4.0-litre, twinturbocharged V8 engine which generates 815PS and 800Nm to deliver truly breath-taking performance figures. The McLaren Elva reaches 100km/h from standstill in less than three seconds and acceleration to 200 km/h is achieved in under seven seconds. The Elva will be following in the footsteps of previous Ultimate Series vehicles in being available in strictly limited numbers – in this case just 149 will be built to customer order. UAE prices start from USD 1,788,000. Lighter, more powerful and with extreme levels of performance on both road and track, the McLaren 765LT is the latest in a line of ‘Longtail’ McLarens and joins the range as the most dynamically advanced and engaging LT model ever from McLaren Automotive. The dynamic ability
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and precision of the 765LT on both road and track is outstanding, taking circuit performance to new heights and making every road drive a joy. Driver satisfaction is guaranteed by highthe levels of engagement between driver and car, the result of absolute focus on feedback and connection. The new McLaren 765LT is the most powerful and responsive road-legal McLaren ‘Longtail’ to date. Its 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine delivers peak power of 765PS and maximum torque of 800Nm. Transmission has been optimised for acceleration, delivering virtually instant throttle response and producing benchmark acceleration of 0-100 km/h in 2.8 seconds and 0-200 km/h in just 7.2 seconds. The intense emotional connection is further heightened by the visceral soundtrack from the full-titanium, quad-exit exhaust. The carbon fiber bodywork of the new McLaren 765LT contributes to an 80kg (DIN) weight-saving over the already superlight McLaren 720S. In its lightest specification, the 765LT features a class-leading dry-weight of just 1,229 kg that delivers a power-to-weight ratio of 622PS per tonne. The unique rear wing, door blades and extended rear diffuser contribute to aerodynamic downforce 25% greater than that of a 720S, adding a further dimension to the dynamic performance of the new LT. Just 765 individually-numbered cars will be offered globally to customer order, with 2020 production fully allocated and expressions of interest now exceeding total production. The price of the vehicle in the UAE starts from AED 1,500,000. mclaren.com
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2021 Mercedes-Benz GLA The new 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLA was recently launched at the Al Haddad Motors showroom in Salmabad. The new GLA is the eighth model to join the line-up and rounds off the current compact-car generation from Mercedes-Benz. With powerful proportions, progressive lines, and a redesigned interior, the new Mercedes-Benz GLA is the ultimate companion for a versatile life. Featuring dynamic proportions, the 2021 GLA is both compact and functional. It fits in nearly any open space and yet has room for your entire life. The progressive design gives the vehicle a sense of dynamics and elegance, further boosted by the emphasis on surfaces. The interior combines a sense of space, high tech and sportiness. The design sets standards with a flowing, modern design idiom. Special touches: the free-standing Widescreen Cockpit and the illuminated air vents with sporty, progressive styling. The new GLA features a large high-resolution
media display (10.25 inches) that networks you with the car. It has a touch-sensitive screen. Symbols make operation easier and improve concentration. Aesthetic treat: the media display and expanded instrument display combine to create a Widescreen Cockpit. Equipped with MBUX, it features a Mercedes-Benz multimedia operating system that is innovative, intuitive, and intelligent, connecting you with your digital world. Activate LINGUATRONIC voice control with the talk button on the steering wheel or simply with “Hey Mercedes”. This enables you to use many offerings of MBUX without taking your hands off the steering wheel. This makes it not only safer, but also more convenient. The adaptive MULTIBEAM LED headlamps found on the new GLA employs individually controllable LEDs to react to the given traffic situation. Partial main beam masks out other road users without dazzling them. And the cornering
active light functions illuminate the field of vision optimally so that you can detect hazards sooner. Active Parking Assist with PARKTRONIC and reversing camera makes it possible to enter and leave parking spaces automatically. The system facilitates the search for and selection of a parking space as well as entering and leaving (if the vehicle was parked automatically) parallel and end-on parking spaces or garages. The new GLA also features Active Brake Assist, which in many situations is able to use autonomous braking to prevent a collision or mitigate its severity. The system is also able to brake for stationary vehicles and crossing pedestrians at typical city speeds and even to prevent collisions, depending on the situation. As part of the optional Driving Assistance Package, this is now also possible when turning off across the oncoming lane. alhaddadmotor.com
09 The new 2021 Mercedes Benz GLA 10, 11 Spacious and high-tech interior
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15 13, 14, 15 The INFINITI QX60 Monograph features a more upscale and commanding design 16 INFINITI designers imagined the QX60 Monograph as a sophisticated yet functional solution for a busy, modern family
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Infiniti QX60 Monograph Dressed in a reflective platinum hue, the INFINITI QX60 Monograph previews a more upscale and commanding design for the brand’s popular familyfocused SUV. More than a design study or concept, a “Monograph” provides a tangible insight into how INFINITI plans to transform a future model. The QX60 Monograph previews some of the proportions and design elements that will adorn the brand’s future three-row SUV. Focused solely on the exterior, INFINITI designers imagined the QX60 Monograph as a sophisticated yet functional solution for a busy, modern family. The proportions include a wide stance, sleek greenhouse, horizontal shoulder line and muscular wheel arches. The combination of which creates a commanding posture and defined SUV persona. The current QX60 is popular with families and is known for offering spacious packaging and comfortable, dedicated three-row seating. The proportions of the QX60 Monograph illustrate INFINITI’s intention to maintain these strengths while transforming the model with a more aerodynamic, muscular silhouette. Viewed from the side, the Monograph shows
off its powerful horizontal hood, muscular fenders and long wheelbase. Paired with the gentle rake of the A-pillar and tapered, teardrop-like glasshouse, the result is a long sweeping, sophisticated profile. Embossed with the INFINITI name, QX60 Monograph features large alloy wheels that fill the pronounced fenders and reinforce the performanceinspired aesthetic. At the rear, the wide body and track, paired with horizontal window line give QX60 Monograph a sense of poise and stability. The high shoulder line raises its visual center of gravity. The roof flows into a subtly integrated rear roof spoiler - also in gloss black - to further enhance the car’s aerodynamic appearance. Each of these measures create QX60 Monograph’s strong, stable stance. The black roof creates a strong contrast to the rich body color for a dramatic visual statement. The pillars, roof, front, side and rear glass all seamlessly connect - giving a panoramic feel to the cabin and promoting a sense of openness. Slim-line roof rails provide a practical counterpoint to the QX60 Monograph’s sleek, sporty proportions. The intricate folds of traditional Japanese origami were the inspiration for the inner mesh
of the signature ‘Double Arch’ INFINITI grille. The result is a two-dimensional surface that projects a sense of three-dimensional depth. The same mesh pattern is echoed in the side air intakes in the lower corners of the bumper. The wide track and the sharp lines in the bodywork combine to deliver a sense of stability and a sophisticated visual statement. A large panoramic roof features a “kimono fold” pattern. This geometric feature, a series of intricate perpendicular lines, draws inspiration from the folds of a silk kimono and the structures of Japan’s modern architecture. Intricate “Digital Piano Key” lighting at the front and rear projects a futuristic appearance and showcases INFINITI’s desire to blend human artistry with the latest technology. The inner structure of the headlamp features a shape and pattern of lines inspired by an electrical heatsink device. As a complete package, QX60 Monograph reveals a transformation in the direction that INFINITI’s designers are adopting for the next-generation QX60. The production version of the next generation QX60 is expected in 2021. infiniti.com
AUTOMOTIVE
17 The body design exudes unadulterated driving pleasure from every angle
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18 The all-new BMW 4 Series Coupe
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BMW 4 Series Coupe
19 19 The driver-focused layout of the cockpit defines premium ambience 20 The new BMW 4 Series Coupe comes with a vehicle concept that focuses on delivering dynamic driving satisfaction
Euro Motors, Bahrain’s official importer of BMW Group vehicles, has officially announced the arrival of the all-new BMW 4 Series Coupé, the next chapter in a coupé tradition shaped by numerous legendary BMW models. The makeup of the new BMW 4 Series Coupé range reflects the emphasis placed on dynamic power in the car’s conception. The latest generation of the sporty two-seater for the premium midsize segment comes with a vehicle concept that focuses on delivering dynamic driving satisfaction. A small number of crisp lines and the use of clear, generously sized surfaces feed into a body design which exudes unadulterated driving pleasure from every angle. The striking front end of the new BMW 4 Series Coupé shines the spotlight on its standalone character. The large, vertically emphasized BMW kidney grille angles forwards and extends down almost to the lower edge of the front apron. Sales begin with two model variants that both obtain two four-cylinder petrol units, including the BMW 420i Coupé, generating an output of 135 kW/184 hp and the new BMW 430i Coupé, generating an output of 190 kW/258 hp. Connected to an 8 speed steptronic transmission, it allows the BMW 430i Coupé to accelerate from 0-100 kmph in just 5.8 seconds, with a top speed of 250 kmph. Cleanly designed surfaces, high-quality materials and the driver-focused layout of the cockpit define the premium ambience and singularly performance-centric interior design of
the new BMW 4 Series Coupé. Sports seats and a newly designed sports leather steering wheel come as standard. Together with the coordinated design of the instrument panel and door panel trim, the high-set center console generates an enveloping environment for the front seat occupants. The standard acoustic glass for the windscreen further improves comfort over long distances. Customers can enjoy lift-related dampers with bespoke tuning fitted as standard. There is an optional M Sport suspension with an even firmer set-up for dampers, mounts and anti-roll bars, plus additional body struts and variable sport steering. Additional available options include an adaptive M suspension with electronically controlled dampers, M Sport brakes with a choice of blue or red brake calipers and M Sport differential with fully variable locking function in the rear differential. The BMW 4 Series Coupé has a significantly wider range of driver assistance systems than its the predecessor model including, BMW Maps, BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant, smartphone integration and a Remote Software Upgrade. When it comes to digital services, one of the standout new features for the new BMW 4 Series Coupé is BMW Maps. As well as calculating routes and arrival times with remarkable speed and precision, and updating real-time traffic data at short intervals, the new cloud-based navigation system also lets drivers enter any word when searching for a destination. bmw-bahrain.com
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Tradition in Fashion Nostalgic stories and missed experiences of growing up in Palestine that are stitched on thobes were unveiled at Abu Dhabi Art. Visitors to Manarat Al Saadiyat were able to revel in ‘A Thobe Story’ installation featuring 21st century thobes with modern aesthetics handstitched in traditional technique, crafted by UAE social enterprise 81 Designs and design studio Naqsh Collective.
Celebrating culture and heritage, the traditional garments were transformed into a new visual language to keep traditions alive. A Thobe Story tells of memories lost and memories which were never formed. Many Palestinians have to conjure up images of their homeland in their heads, basing them on the stories which have been shared with them over the years. This series covers three major Palestinian cities – Yaffa, Akka and Gaza. The thobes are handstitched by Palestinian refugee women employed by 81 Designs, using a timehonored embroidery technique called tatreez with patterns and intricate details that are passed down through generations. The collection reflects stories of missing experiences in various cities of Palestine, originally depicted in Naqsh Collective’s brass, marble and wood work, and now transferred onto textiles. The picturesque views of the city of Akka, third oldest city in the world, features its well-preserved old city walls. One of the thobes featured is ‘Leap of Faith’. As a rite of passage, boys jump from the famous cliffs of Akka to prove their manhood. In this thobe we see one young man suspended in
mid-air, a splash beneath showing another boy has taken the plunge just before him. Layer upon layer of intricate tatreez have been woven to capture the jagged rocks, giving this thobe a beautiful texture. ‘The Wait’ is a sister thobe to ‘Leap of Faith’. In this design, we see a line of boys waiting patiently, building themselves up to the leap from the cliffs. Breath-takingly captured in tatreez, there is a beautiful, dynamic quality to the boy already midjump and the cliff face is given real texture by the layers of hand-stitched thread. ‘The Akka’ thobe, stitched in bright red and gold thread, once more depicts the boys waiting their turn to leap form the cliffs in a show of masculinity. The wonderful, eclectic use of contrasting colors, styles and materials make this thobe stand out and perfectly reflect the experience of living in vibrant Akka. With its pared back design and simple colour scheme, ‘My Journey’ thobe (pictured above) is entirely focused on the mental journey of the boys about to leap from Akka’s cliffs. This is about the internal monologues which must be taking place as the boys stand waiting and contemplate the
December 2020
“ A Thobe Story tells of memories lost and memories which were never formed.”
01 One of the thobes unveiled at Abu Dhabi Art
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02, 03, 04, 05 ‘A Thobe Story’ installation featuring 21st century thobes with modern aesthetics handstitched in traditional technique
dangerous feat. To the top right there is a brass sculpture of one young man suspended in mid-air. ‘The Fishing Trip’ thobe beautifully captures old Jaffa (pronounced as Yaffa) port, once a great fishing and trade hub on the Mediterranean. The focus here is on the fishermen in their small boats, using a minimalist design in white and gold thread to really capture the beauty of the harbour. The Yaffa thobe takes a minimalist design and elevates it to something of stunning beauty. The simple black fabric is wonderfully embellished with rich gold thread, showcasing some of the most intricate tatreez work imaginable. The focus here is on the boats which used to cross to the famous trading port, and to the top right there is a solid brass vessel. Wa Mashat (So She Left) thobe imagines a world where there is complete freedom of movement. This thobe depicts a woman bearing a basket of Gazan fruit and goods on her head, taking them home to her family across the border in Jordan. On the reverse of the dress you can see a dove, the symbol of peace. The women of Gaza often turn flour and sugar sacks into embroidered garments, so this thobe is made from similar material in tribute. 81designsme.com 05
MUST HAVE - MEN
My Wish List The latest and most exclusive luxury items for men
Hublot Meca-10 Clock Hublot’s unveiling of its MECA-10 movement in January 2016 left watch enthusiasts stunned. The manufacture had reinvented the manual movement, offering peerless performance as well as a unique style inspired by the Meccano construction system. The unusual skeleton architecture gives the movement an arresting three-dimensional depth, which is clearly visible through the bridges and case back. Its exceptional 10-day power reserve – now an imperative for any decent manual caliber – is displayed on a disc that can be read on the dial. In 2020, Hublot has introduced a unique product in an oversized version. The MECA-10 has been made four times larger for use in a table clock, while fully preserving its original specifications, including its 10-day power reserve. hublot.com
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Cartier Logotype motif oval lighter This logotype motif oval lighter features black lacquer and palladium finish. Cartier has designed a small accessories collection that stands to its tradition of excellence and unique flair for fine objects. These delicately crafted pieces act as precious adornments, offering an ever-present touch of elegance. cartier.com
Montblanc Heritage Egyptomania A historic 1920s Montblanc design is reimagined as a new collection, pairing the aesthetic appeal of vintage Montblanc writing instruments with a modern writing sensation. The cap of this new version is embellished with a set of authentic hieroglyphics that translate into the word “Montblanc”. Created in partnership with an expert in Egyptology, the symbols mean “white stone mountain”, effectively describing “Montblanc”. montblanc.com
MB&F Horological Machine N°3 ‘Frog X’ 10 years after its debut, HM3 Frog makes its comeback, radiantly exposed in a sapphire crystal case, yet still with a hidden message to be discovered. Presenting Horological Machine N°3 “FrogX”. For the first time, the HM3 engine is showcased in all its glory, used here in its MegaWind iteration that trades the date display for an expanded rotor. Two paper-thin domes, milled out of aluminum to be as light as possible, indicate the hours and minutes, rotating under markers designed to resemble the lateral pupils of a frog’s eyes. Super-LumiNova accents, like the vivid colors that nature endows upon its feistiest creatures, reveal themselves in fluorescing segments under the rotor and on the timedisplay domes. mbandf.com
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Montblanc & Pirelli Montblanc x Pirelli Limited Edition Luggage Following the launch of a first capsule collection in 2019, Montblanc and Pirelli return with a new limited-edition luggage created for travelers who expect efficiency, endurance and comfort from their luggage. With its black polycarbonate shell and rubberized red leather details, the lightweight luggage features high-performance ball-bearing wheels developed with Pirelli engineers and a precision handlebar. montblanc.com
Victorinox Swiss Army Onyx Spartan Knife Indoors and out, the Spartan is an iconic pocket knife that remains as relevant as it was when it was first introduced. This version of the knife gets a sleek, glossy, black makeover using a special polispectral process. The essential tool has 12 functions — including a corkscrew, wire stripper, bottle opener, as well as a reamer, punch, and sewing awl. This monochrome black update to a classic is the perfect addition to your EDC essentials collection. victorinox.com
Master & Dynamic and BAPE MW65 Wireless ANC Headphones and MW07 PLUS True Wireless Earphones Crafted from exceptional quality porcelain, the Medusa Rhapsody line of fine tableware and decor features striking gold-tone Barocco flower motifs. The line includes a variety of items, including plates, coffee and tea sets, and home accents. masterdynamic.com
Kross X 1989 Batmobile Studio Desk Clock The independent design studio and manufacturer Kross Studio collaborated with the giant entertainment company Warner Bros. Consumer Products. The very first product born from this collaboration is dedicated to the highly inspiring Batman Universe, paying tribute to the most iconic cars in comics: The Batmobile. Kross Studio specifically chose the sleek and stunning model from the 1989 Batman movie directed by Tim Burton to embody this first-of-its-kind clock. kross-studio.ch
Bentley Men’s Graphite Golf Set with Cart Bag Expertly created to suit a wide spectrum of players, the Men’s Graphite Golf Set with Cart Bag is the full package. This complete set of clubs features handcrafted, Japanese, graphite pieces with unrivalled performance capabilities. Stocking-fillers that they will really make the most of include: a set of nine Golf Balls smartly packaged in a Bentleybranded box, the stylish Golf Umbrella and the luxurious Golf Holdall bentleymotors.com
Boca do Lobo Metamorphosis Snooker Table An extraordinary English snooker table of 10 or 12 foot playground, founded by 8 statement designed black wood legs which portray chaos of high-end materials and unexpected casted brass black bugs and gold scorpions, for an emotional experience. With renowned Ronnie O’Sullivan cues with 9mm of diameter and a professional snooker kit, this contemporary table certainly challenges the boundaries of game rooms and present day-luxe. bocadolobo.com
MUST HAVE - MEN
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December 2020
Dolce & Gabbana Panettone with Citrus and Saffron in a Tin Made by Fiasconaro, the Panettone with Citrus and Saffron in a Tin features soft wheat flour, butter, Sicilian citrus zest candied 25% (orange peel 28%, lemon zest 28%, sugar, concentrated lemon juice), sugar, fresh eggs on the ground), natural yeast ( contains wheat), Sicilian mandarin paste 2% (mandarin 52%, sugar, glucose-fructose syrup, lemon juice), Sicilian honey, invert sugar syrup, emulsifier: mono and diglycerides of fatty acids, butter cocoa, skim milk powder, salt, Sicilian saffron, natural vanilla aroma, and natural saffron flavor. It may contain traces of nuts and soya. dolcegabbana.com
Versace Barocco Holiday Ashtray Crafted from fine porcelain, this ashtray boasts a design that evokes the joyful spirit of the festive season. Characterized by an ornamental Barocco border, the ashtray features a signature crown motif surrounded by an array of heritage chains, jewels and Medusa medallions. versace.com
RIMOWA Watch Case The RIMOWA Watch Case is an ode to the brand’s storied heritage and mastery of its craft. This unique minimalist design features an engineered grooved aluminum exterior shell and a microfiber interior with subtle nods to signature features of the namesake luggage. Fashioned to easily fit within suitcases or travel bags, the RIMOWA Watch Case is designed to comfortably accommodate up to three wristwatches in a range of styles. The cylindrical design seamlessly glides open at either end to reveal three removable padded cushions and an additional top cushion layer included to ensure the careful protection of both timepiece and watch face during transport or display at home. rimowa.com
MUST HAVE - WOMEN
My Wish List The latest and most exclusive luxury items for women
Tempo Studio Fitness Machine Exercising with bad form can be more harmful than not moving at all. Tempo’s Studio Fitness Machine uses a 3D time of flight and AI to track your body’s movements during workouts, providing proper form recommendations in realtime. This same technology allows it to automatically count reps, which is great for its personalized, AI-powered training. The six-foot-tall cabinet holds a 42” screen and takes up just three square feet of space, yet holds all the included equipment, which includes dumbbells, a barbell, collars, weight plates, a heart rate monitor, mat, and foam roller. In addition, the cabinet also houses a 10th-gen Intel i5 processor and a 60W Bluetooth-enabled speaker system. tempo.fit
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Moncler and Rimowa “Reflection” Cabin Designed in collaboration with the luxury Italian fashion house, the special edition Moncler RIMOWA “Reflection” was first unveiled at Moncler Genius 2020 at Milan Fashion Week. The collaboration combines each brand’s engineering expertise and repertoire of technically advanced material for a truly statement-making piece of luggage. Exclusively available in Cabin size, the ultra-polished aluminum suitcase combines a bespoke mirrored aluminum shell accented with matte black handles, matte black riveted corners, and lined with Moncler’s signature padded nylon fabric. The limited edition also includes a set of exclusive silver packing cubes made of Moncler’s padded fabric, a dark grey luggage tag and luggage belt designed by Moncler. rimowa.com
Judith Leiber Crystal Face Mask- Black Jet Designed with comfort, protection and glamour in mind. Inspired by Judith Leiber’s signature handbags, these face masks provide comfortable coverage while offering plenty of sparkle and a dash of whimsy. Smartly crafted from a machine washable stretch jersey, they are adorned with crystal and trimmed with a comfortable elastic metallic binding. judithleiber.com
Montblanc High Artistry, Egyptomania, Limited Edition 1 Treasure Limited to just one piece worldwide, the precious edition is inspired by the treasures of the sarcophagus of the kings and queens of Egypt. This blue creation set with blue sapphires, lapis lazuli and Egyptian turquoise, features a blue lotus flower reminiscent of the lotus found in Tutankhamun’s tomb on the writing instrument. Known as the Sacred Lily of the Nile, it was a common decoration in ancient Egypt. The unmistakable blue striped pattern on the beard of Tutankhamun’s death mask covers the barrel of the writing instrument set with blue sapphires. montblanc.com
MUST HAVE - WOMEN
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Bang & Olufsen Beogram 4000c Turntable Bang & Olufsen unveiled the rebirth of an icon with the launch of its Beogram 4000c Recreated Limited Edition. This turntable, originally introduced in the early 1970s, is the first product to be released in the company’s new Classics initiative: restoring and reimagining classic products to demonstrate the timelessness of Bang & Olufsen’s capabilities within sound, design, and craftsmanship and to uncover design principles that can extend the lifespan of future products. bang-olufsen.com
Versace Medusa Gold Snow Globe A sophisticated gift idea, this snow globe features a threedimensional Medusa placed inside a snow-effect glass sphere. Crafted from exceptional porcelain, the gold-tone base boast a matte motif of the mythical woman framed with a Barocco border. versace.com
Dolce&Gabbana The Alphabet Collection Attention to detail, chromatic harmonies, craftsmanship and a pinch of playful lightness narrate a new chapter of Dolce&Gabbana Fine Jewellery: the Alphabet Collection is the new line inspired by the fascinating power of letters which, from initials of a name, can be transformed into words and messages, with endless combinations. The approximately 3,5 cm yellow gold pendants are illuminated by a veritable rainbow of natural gemstones such as topaz, garnet, amethyst, citrine, peridot and tourmaline: the shades of their colors, dominated by blue, green, purple, red, pink and yellow, evoke the warm atmospheres of Sicily. dolcegabbana.com
Fornasetti Panettone Fornasett The Fornasetti universe meets the Davide Longoni bakery and becomes a gastronomic experience. This panettone is a special project arising from the collaboration between two organizations with many common traits: from the ability to reinterpret a timehonored heritage in an innovative way, to the respect for traditional rhythms and production techniques. The recipe, a tribute to Milan, is made with sourdough starter and enriched by the knowing use of saffron and candied peaches, while the elegant packaging is an exclusive creation of the Atelier. fornasetti.com
Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H95 To celebrate 95 years of innovation in sound, design and craftmanship, Bang & Olufsen set out to create the finest wireless headphones the Danish audio specialist has ever built. The company announced the new Beoplay H95: the highest quality in sound, long lasting comfort, truly effective noise cancellation, a beautiful chassis, the highest quality materials and the most satisfying user experience in a Bang & Olufsen wireless headphone to date. bang-olufsen.com
MUST HAVE - WOMEN
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Karl K/Ikonik Metallic Water Bottle Keep hydration close at hand with this eye-catching metallic water bottle. Suitable for hot and cold drinks, this stainless-steel bottle featuring a molded KARL Ikonik graphic is an on-the-go must have. karl.com
Repossi Berbere Chromatic Ring In response to the tragic events in Beirut, Lebanon, in August, Repossi pledged its support to the non-profit organization, The Lebanese Red Cross (LRC), to come in aid to and support the Lebanese people. With their desire to come in aid to the Lebanese population and to support The Lebanese Red Cross’ mission, Repossi humbly unveiled the new Berbere Chromatic ring. All profits from the sale of this ring will be donated to The Lebanese Red Cross. repossi.com
Cartier Set of Four Panthère De Cartier Trinket Trays This set of four Panthère de Cartier trinket trays comes in a small model, in Limoges porcelain with goat suede base. The panther’s imprint has been a marker of Cartier creation from its first appearance in the form of a spotted-motif watch in 1914. She graduated from abstract to figurative representation three years later when she was depicted flanked by cypress trees on a nécessaire gifted by Louis Cartier to Jeanne Toussaint in 1917. Becoming a Maison legend, this motif runs throughout a contrasting collection of white, black, green and red. Porcelain objects, trinket tray, solitaire board, vase or paper objects, notebook, stationery, and finally a cashmere blanket. cartier.com
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BOOK REVIEW
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Paul Smith Edited by Tony Chambers with a foreword by Jonathan Ive, ‘Paul Smith’ is a new monograph that captures the unique spirit of British fashion icon Sir Paul Smith through 50 objects chosen by Sir Paul himself.
December 2020
Created in close collaboration with British design legend Sir Paul Smith, this October Phaidon will be publishing Paul Smith. This new monograph captures the unique spirit of legendary British fashion designer Sir Paul Smith. Through the lens of 50 objects, chosen by Sir Paul himself for the inspiration they have provided him over the years, the book explores everything from his very first show in Paris, his Floral Street shop in London, to the evolution of the stripe and his most recent collections and collaborations. In this way the book presents his work in a surprising and visually exciting way and shows him to be a truly dynamic and versatile designer. The 50 objects presented in the book have been carefully selected to explore not only Sir Paul’s work over the years but also his thought process and the ethos of the brand. The objects chosen range from a packet of flower seeds to personal family photographs, and each one
has had a significant influence on Sir Paul. Every object illuminates a different aspect of his incredible work as a designer and leads to discussions on subjects from breaking down the formality of wearing a suit, the importance of teamwork and the power of humor. The book provides readers with a wonderfully colorful insight into one of the most creative minds working in design today. Edited by Tony Chambers, founder and creative director of design and lifestyle consultancy TC & Friends and co-chair of Brainstorm Design, the book includes a foreword by designer Jonathan Ive and also features personal contributions – letters, drawings and photos – from a number of fashion and design heavyweights including Manolo Blahnik, James Dyson, Martin Parr, John Pawson and Alice Rawsthorn who are just a few of Paul’s friends and collaborators. paulsmith.com
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Unforgettable JOURNEY
A work of art in itself and a true art deco icon, the legendary Venice Simplon-Orient-Express train is one of the world’s most celebrated travel experiences. adventure and style are intimately bound in journeys that crisscross Europe, gliding through sublime scenery to some of the continent’s most alluring cities.
The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express cars are the original 1920s models. Each cabin has a washbasin, hot and cold water, towels, bathrobes and slippers. Choose from single and twin cabins or stretch out in a cabin suite, formed of two interconnecting twin cabins. WCs are located at either end of each sleeping carriage. For those looking for more room to relax, our three Grand Suites, complete with private ensuite facilities, offer the ultimate escape. The three restaurant cars offer a truly magical dining experience, from scenic lunches to romantic dinners. Etoile du Nord is resplendent with its wonderful floral marquetry, while Côte d’Azur features stunning Lalique glass panels and the black lacquer decoration in L’Oriental strikes an exotic note. Travelers can enjoy the evocative sound of the baby grand piano, played by the resident pianist. This is a glamorous setting for pre-dinner cocktails with your fellow guests or a nightcap before retiring to your cabin.
Passengers can indulge in new levels of luxury aboard the train by staying in one of three grand suites. interiors inspired by Paris, Venice and Istanbul embody art deco indulgence while providing every modern comfort. Each suite comes complete with either a double or twin beds and includes a living area, perfect for sipping the free-flowing champagne as you relax in style. Spacious ensuite bathrooms and impeccable cabin service complete the experience. Travelers can enjoy one-way or return train journeys between great European cities or inclusive tours with hotel accommodation included. The Belmond British Pullman train, which has day car seating, carries you in style between London and the Channel. Hosts escort you onto luxury coaches for your shuttle service before you board the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express in France. The same happens in reverse for those travelling to London. belmond.com
December 2020
“Travelers can enjoy one-way or return
train journeys between great European cities or inclusive tours with hotel accommodation included.”
01 Breahttaking interior 02 The legendary Venice SimplonOrient-Express train
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03 The restaurant cars offer a truly magical dining experience 04, 05 Breahttaking interior
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December 2020
FINAL PEARL
December 2020
#TogetherWeWin Led by the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Kingdom of Bahrain took proactive precautionary measures to mitigate the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in early 2020. Setting up The National Taskforce for Combating the Coronavirus, Bahrain saved lives by implementing numerous measures and initiatives. One of the major steps taken by the Kingdom was developing the ‘BeAware Bahrain’ app, which uses the highest standards in tracking to trace existing infected cases and prevent further infections. The Kingdom also supported individuals and businesses affected by the pandemic with a $11.4 billion economic stimulus package and other measures that included extending Bahrain’s liquidity fund initiative, interest rate reductions, loan restructuring and salary support, and rent decreases. Additional efforts included increasing the capacity of hospitals, precautionary quarantine centers, and isolation and treatment centers. It also increased the number of laboratory tests, intensive care equipment, and personal protective equipment. A complete plan was also drawn up to recruit, qualify and train the necessary manpower. The Kingdom succeeded in handling cases and improving therapeutic capacity, as demonstrated by effective treatment protocols which helped in treating many existing cases. Bahrain was the first Arab country to join a “solidarity
test” to test the first vaccine and start clinical trials of treatment with blood plasma. The comprehensive efforts helped the Kingdom not only keep the nation safe, but also gained it worldwide admiration for its swift and effective approach. Perhaps one of the most notable testimonies of the Kingdom’s success came in July from the Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who praised the efforts of the Kingdom of Bahrain in supporting the organization’s role in facing the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Dr. Tedros lauded the kingdom’s remarkable role in curbing the spread of the virus by taking effective preventive measures. He also praised Bahrain’s solidarity with the other member states of the organization in taking comprehensive measures and unifying efforts to quickly find the necessary treatment. He praised the Kingdom for adopting a comprehensive approach to handle the pandemic by taking precautionary measures in a proactive and extremely effective way to slow the spread of the virus. With the latest directive of HRH allowing all citizens and residents to receive COVID-19 vaccinations for free, the Kingdom of Bahrain has shown the world that it is ready to face any challenge, setting an example of how to counter and mitigate potential crises, while ensuring the health and safety of its population.