Design by Philippe Starck
Timelessly beautiful washing areas Many a design hit has proven nothing but a fashionable mistake in the long- term. In many years of practical application, the Starck 3 range has proven just how successful and timelessly modern its sleek, minimalist design really is – great sustainability by Philippe Starck and Duravit. The Starck 3 washbasin derives its distinctive character from the basic rectangular shape, an all-round rim and a low back panel.
Starck 3
December 2018/January FASHION
Fashion Clippings p. 22 Beauty Clippings p. 24 Feature: Kojak, Call Me Daddy p. 26 Feature: Jude Benhalim x Marie De La Roche p. 30 Feature: Creating a Dynasty p. 34 Interview: Dawn by Hagar Fattah p. 36 Feature: Marie Louis Launches FW18 Collection p. 38 Bijoux News p. 40 Bijoux: AMMANII’s Queens p. 42 Bijoux: Tiffany & Co.’s Blue Book p. 44 Feature: Michael Kors X David Downton p. 46 Review: Fashion Bazaar Showcases Egyptian talent p. 48 Wish List p. 50
LIFESTYLE
Jet Set: Ingenious Travel p. 54 Home: West Chelsea p. 56 Home: Monte Sereno p. 62 Interview: Paolo Terenzi p. 68 Flair Foodie: Le Méridien Cairo Airport’s Signature Mezzeh p. 71 Christmas Festivities p. 72
DESIGN
Art: Roeqiya Fris p. 78 Design Notes: Eco-Design p. 80 Boutique Hotel: Singita Serengeti House p. 82 Exhibitionist: Christian Dior at the V & A p. 84 Attention to Retail: Nike Flagship NYC p. 86 Coming Soon: The Tulip p. 88 Property: Aloft City Centre Deira p. 90 Rixos Rixos Hotel’s Erkan Yildirim p. 92
REGULARS Editor’s Note p. 8 Happenings p. 12 FLAIR Loves p. 18 Stylish Living p. 95
2019
LET’S PART Y AT THE PYR AMIDS... ‘20s’ ST YLE .
B E D A Z Z L E D ! W E LC O M E T H E N E W Y E A R F R O M O U R H E AT E D M A R Q U E E I N T H E G A R D E N S O P E N I N G O N TO T H E F LO O D L I T P Y R A M I D S , I N C L A S S I C ‘ G R E AT G ATS B Y R O A R I N G 2 0 S ’ ST Y L E . . . A N D I N D U LG E I N O U R F I V E- C O U R S E SET MENU. Dance to the DJ, then join Crash Boom Bang Band’s midnight countdown with belly dancer and more DJ-ing into the early hours of 2019. Can’t wait? Then don’t. Christmas Eve in 139 Restaurant has Wave Jazz Band on stage while lobster and salmon are the stars of a lavish ‘ice display’ buffet ... with a supporting cast including gourmet salads, carvery and yummy desserts. Savour exotic Christmas flavours with Asian and Indian choices for the connoisseur.
6. PYRAMIDS ROAD, P.O. BOX 12556, GIZA, CAIRO, EGYPT T: 00. 202.33.77.3222 F: 00. 202.33.76.7777
EDITOR’S NOTE
Celebrating FLAIR!
T
his end of year issue celebrates twelve years of FLAIR! From the very first issue we have strived to bring you content that would fascinate you and inspire you. Stories that simply put “have flair”. Throughout the years, a lot has shifted as new technologies and social media has changed the way we consume media forever. Still, the only constant in this change has been our dedication to bring you great content. Whether you are an avid reader of our print magazine or prefer to follow us through our website or social media platforms, we thank you for your journey with us. Here’s to many more!
Enjoy the issue,
Hind El Ramly editor@flair-magazine.com
A FE AST OF FESTI V E FUN AND FL AVOURS.
16 SARAY EL GEZIRA ST., PO BOX 33 ZAMALEK, CAIRO 11211, EGYPT. T: 00. 202.27.28.3000 CAIROMARRIOTTHOTEL.COM ARABIC.MARRIOTT.COM/CAIEG
U N T I E T H E R I B B O N O N C H R I ST M A S A N D N E W Y E A R C E L E B R AT I O N S AROUND THE PAL ACE AS EYES S P A R K L E A N D L I G H TS T W I N K L E W I T H J OY F U L D E L I G H T .
Laughter, music and the happy chatter of loved ones and dearest friends make the sweetest sounds. Ristorante Tuscany brings hints of Italy for a gourmet Christmas Eve dinner while Omar´s Café hosts Christmas lunch buffet. Spend New Year’s Eve enjoying the spectacular belly dance show and live oriental beats at Egyptian Nights and dance to the DJ at Omar´s dinner buffet ... then stay for Omar´s legendary "early bird" breakfast and the Garden Promenade “brunch“.
December/January EDITOR IN CHIEF
Ahmed I Hassan OWNER
Sherif El Chourbagy MANAGING DIRECTOR
Hind El Ramly
EDITORIAL Europe Editor Daniela Bonetto Editorial Consultant Kate Dannies Staff Writer Sarah Guirguis Staff Writer Nour Ibrahim ART DIRECTOR & VIDEO EDITOR
Tony Atia
DEGITAL MEDIA CONSULTANT
Marwa Kamel
PHOTOGRAPHER
Hassan Ibrahim
FINANCIAL OPERATIONS MANAGER
Maged Azoz
OFFICE COORDINATOR
Marina Naguib
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HAPPENINGS
Adidas Presents Statement Collection Adidas invited women around the world to join them in co-creating the future of sport and celebrating the versatility in lifestyle that the Adidas statement collection represents. The Statement Collection is a result of the ongoing collaboration with the Adidas global creator network, which has shared insights around what they need to perform their best for a fitness-fueled lifestyle. From sunrise yoga to afternoon workouts and the moments in between, the statement collection offers pieces that are designed to stand out. Shop the collection in store now.
Avon & Pink Taxi Join Forces To Empower Women Avon Egypt is collaborating on a strategic alliance with Pink Taxi, the first and only taxi service for women by women launched by the Egyptian entrepreneur, Reem Fawzi. Avon and Pink Taxi’s collaboration stems from their shared mission and vision to create a world with more empowered women by providing earning opportunities that help them achieve independence through economic advancement. The alliance includes featuring Avon brochures and samples in Pink Taxis and exploring new initiatives to further empower Egyptian women.
Marriott Egypt Hotels Celebrate Global Customer Appreciation Week This November, Cairo Marriott Hotel and Marriott Mena House, Cairo along with all other Marriott hotels in Egypt celebrated Global Customer Appreciation Week (GCAW). The week started with a kick-off event held at Le Meridian Pyramids Hotel & Spa where representatives from the sales and marketing teams of all Marriott hotels in Egypt came together and then visited Dar Al Sondos Foundation for orphans with special needs to present a donation worth 85,000 Egyptian Pounds. The highlight of the week was an unforgettable closing ceremony where guests were entertained by Nesma Mahgoub, who was later followed by a belly dancing show.
Spend your holiday at Hilton Luxor Resort & Spa for only LE 1050 for a single room & LE 1250 for a double room. Book 3 nights and get the 4th night free. Breakfast and use of spa are included. For reservations, contact us at +20 10060 01270 or reservation.luxor@hilton.com Please ask for the Christmas & New Year program details.
The rates are per room per night in standard garden view room. The rates for Egyptians only. The offer stay is valid from December 1st, 2018 to January 24th, 2019. Also, please ask for the details of family plan. Additional terms and conditions may apply.
Traditional Italian Tastes at Conrad Cairo In collaboration with Rome Cavalieri, a Waldorf Astoria Resort, Italian Chef Daniele Foscolo visited Conrad Cairo under the patronage of the Italian Culture Center. He presented Roman and regional Italian specialities for dinner at the Oak Restaurant from October 28th to November 1st, nightly starting 6 pm to 12 pm, and concluded his contribution with a splendid Italian-themed Friday Brunch on Friday, November 2nd from 1 to 5pm. The six-day culinary experience included traditional Italian favourites like Nome piatto, Caprese Cocktail, Giudia’s artichoke, red shrimp carpaccio with fennel salad and Risotto with scampi cream.
Heliopolis Towers Hotel Hosts Chefs United Brunch Heliopolis Towers Hotel introduced a new brunch concept, “Chefs United Brunch”, bringing the world’s most exquisite dishes to one table in a unique event, which took place at Aqua E Luce restaurant. The restaurant held a delightful brunch brought by Cairo’s finest wine brand Cheers, where international chefs from all corners of the world came together to present a variety of authentic delicacies. Guests enjoyed an international buffet presenting a wide variety of appetizing meals from the chefs who surprised them with a fusion of myriad tastes from Thailand, Mexico, India, France, Lebanon and much more.
Hilton Alexandria King’s Ranch Receives World Travel Award Hilton Alexandria King’s Ranch was recently recognized by the World Travel Award 2018 (WTA) as Egypt’s Leading Hotel. This is a significant achievement given the fact that it has only been open three years. During that time, the hotel has received numerous industry awards including The International Hotels & Property Designs Awards 2016, Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence 2016, Booking.com Guest Review Awards 2016, Luxury Travel Guide Award (Africa & Middle East Awards) 2017, Luxury Travel & Hospitality Award winner 2017, Luxury Travel Guide Award (Africa & Middle East Awards) 2018, and Trip Advisor Travelers’ Choice 2018.
Inertia Introduces Joulz in the Heart of West Cairo If you’ve been dreaming about escaping the smog and fast life of the city to join a luxurious sun-lit neighborhood, this is your chance. Inertia Egypt, the leading real estate developer revealed the latest updates about one of its flagship residential developments, Joulz – a neighborhood in the heart of West Cairo with a mixed-use area. Strategically located, Joulz is just 2 km away from the ring road, 7 km away from the 26th of July Corridor and 20-30 minutes away from Downtown Cairo. Consisting of 1,150 residential units, it encompasses an array of apartments, townhouses, twin houses, and stand-alone villas.
Wadi Food Celebrates Olive Harvest Festival Wadi Food, the leading Egyptian agribusiness company, celebrated Egypt’s third annual Olive Harvest Festival under the slogan “The Heart of Every Meal”, which refers to the health benefits of olive oil as a main ingredient in many delightful and healthy dishes. The festive celebration was held at Wadi Food’s Farms located at 54km on the Cairo-Alex Desert Road. Attendees included senior and executive management of Wadi Group, Wadi Food’s Mother Company, in addition to a number of top figures, media, foodies and clients, who participated in olive handpicking and visited the olive press facility for extracting the finest extra virgin olive oil.
Badya Hosts Cairo Industry Days of CIFF As part of Palm Hills Developments’ sponsorship of the Cairo International Film Festival’s 40th edition, Badya, the real estate company’s largest project yet, celebrated a major event that was held at their sales office in Palm Hills October early last week. In collaboration with the Arab Cinema Center, the event was an opening party for the Cairo Industry Days segment of the CIFF, which included a number of the largest local, regional and international experts interested in Arab cinema, as well as filmmakers from around the world.
InterContinental Hotels GroupAppoints New General Manager InterContinental Hotels Group, one of the world’s leading hotel companies, announced the appointment of Dieter O. Franke as the General Manager for InterContinental Cairo Citystars and Area General Manager for Egypt. With over 30 years of experience with InterContinental Hotels Group, Franke is a strong believer of the brand and brings hands-on skills from senior management positions at various InterContinental properties. Previously Area General Manager IHG East Africa and General Manager InterContinental Nairobi, Dieter is not a stranger to Cairo, since he formerly held a managerial Food & Beverage position at Semiramis InterContinental Cairo in 1996.
Living Yards Launches Second Phase of The Loft Living Yards Developments announced the launch of phase two of The Loft, one of the most distinctive projects in the new administrational capital. This was after the great success achieved in marketing the units of phase one with contractual sales of around 600 million EGP in three months only. With a surface area of 23 acres distributed on apartments, duplexes, and penthouses that range from 78 till 350 meters, the Loft is featured with its distinctive location near Hay El Safarat and Expo. The project has fascinating greenery, underground parking, swimming pools, lagoons, running track, children areas, and a magnificent health club.
Mercure Le Sphinx Hotel Celebrates International Day of Disabled Persons Mercure Le Sphinx Hotel held a celebration to mark the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. The event was during AccorHotel’s Solidarity Week - a program which Accor’s affiliated hotels and staff are engaged in to support their communities all over the world. Attendees included several prominent public representatives, including Giza Deputy Governor, officials of Noor Foundation, Etihad Association and a number of schools that are involved in supporting and assisting people with disabilities, in addition to approximately 150 children with special needs, who took part in many activities during the celebration.
RiseUp Summit Investment News RiseUp Summit 2018 announced that the three-day event welcomed 6,036 participants from 48 countries, including 289 investors, 298 speakers and 240 participating start-ups and 65 partner organizations. Investment news were the highlight of the closing ceremony on 9th December, where RiseUp announced opening an investment round led by Endure Capital, with Enara Ventures Kamelizer, and 500 StartUps. The investment is aimed at enhancing the growth and impact of RiseUp as an entrepreneurship ecosystem enabler in the MENA region. There are several interested parties, and the round is targeting closure by January 2019.
Mars-Wrigley Launches Skittles & Double Mint Mars-Wrigley confectionary, the number one company worldwide in confectionary, celebrated the launch of their famous Skittles, which is a chewy candy along with the iconic freshness of double mint gum. The event was organized specially for the media, the foodies and the social media bloggers who were delighted to be taken through the Mars-Wrigley history. The launch was held at the Kempinski Nile hotel in a fun and festive atmosphere, courtesy of the beautiful view of the Nile and an enchanting saxophone show.
GEN Hub To Launch in Mostakbal City In the presence of the Dr. Sahar Nasr, Egyptian Minister of Investment and International Cooperation, Tatweer Misr signed an MoU with Global Entrepreneurship Network to develop an entrepreneurship and innovation hub under the management of GEN, which will be located on the 90-acre College Campus in Bloomfields in Mostakbal City, Tatweer Misr’s latest development in Cairo. The aim is to offer direct and virtual support services to entrepreneurs as well as access to an international network of mentors, investors and entrepreneurial support organizations. GEN Hub is expected to be operational by 2021.
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FLAIR #LOVES CHRISTMAS By Daniela Bonetto
Jolly holly jolly holly Christmas! Jeez, hasn’t this holiday season really crept up on us fast? Feels like yesterday that we were contemplating which beach lounger to rest on. But no rest for the wicked (pun not intended), because Santa’s sleigh will be upon us quicker than we can say Ru.dol.ph! So get your Elves thinking cap on because its time for giving…
FOR THE HOME BODS
Holocene No.4 {€279; wastberg.com}
Omini napkin ring by Ghidini 1961 {€170; artemest.com}
Form Family Tea Set {tomdixon.net}
Mistletoe Candelabrum {€5,500; theinvisiblecollection.com}
Charlotte Armchair {€1,598; hamiltonconte.com}
FOR YOURSELF!
Apple iPhone 8 {starting from €718,99; apple. com}
Google Home {€149; store.google.come}
Miele Coffee System {€816; Amazon.it}
Macaron Ornaments {€65 for a set of 6; anthropologie.com}
FOR THE IN-LAWS Champagne set by Renzo Romagnoli {€780; artemest.com}
Jamie Cooks Italy {€26,63; Amazon.it}
Moonpig Personalised Calendar {moonpig.com}
Corallo Pitcher and Murano Glasses {€4,270; Artemest.com}
IMMAGINATION STATION
Play Kitchen {thetot.com or gltc.co.uk}
Beginner Drum Kit {€52,50; thetot.com}
Doctor on Call Toy Set {€25,97; Amazon.it}
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Fashion
P. 26 KOJAK/DAWN/AMMANII/TIFFANY & CO. 21
FASHION CLIPPINGS By Nour Ibrahim
Jazzy Glasses Now in Baraka Wyewear brand, JAZZY, just jazzed it up a notch by dropping their latest BOHO collection at Baraka Optics stores in the hottest parts of town. Jazzy is one of the first local brands to be stocked at Baraka Optics stores, including the following branches: Cairo Festival City Mall, City Stars, Point 90, Mall of Arabia, Mall of Egypt, Nile City and even at City Centre Alexandria. The collection features an array of 12 sunglasses, a combination of round shaped rims and the iconic cat eye, a Jazzy favorite. The sunglasses come in square and round shapes, with high quality polarized and mirrored lenses. The eyewear includes top-notch frame technology, providing light weight sunglasses that are both durable yet fashionable and trendy.
Museum of Women in the Arts Fashion Exhibition Washington’s National Museum of Women in Arts is the only museum in the world to exclusively exhibit creations made by women. Yet somehow, within the three decades of its opening, it is yet to host a fashion exhibition- until now. The fashion exhibit features creations by American Fashion House Rodarte. Curator Virginia Treanor highlights the importance of the exhibition by saying “Fashion is an industry that is so geared towards women, but its not an industry that’s always dominated by women at the top.. we wanted to take an opportunity to highlight women designers who are at the top of their game and their field”. Rodarte was founded in 2005 and has received a number of fashion industry awards, popularity is not their goal but professional acknowledgement and recognition. The perfect brand to feature in a museum promoting women empowerment.
Dolce & Gabbana Racism Scandal The Italian luxury house Dolce and Gabbana recently released a video campaign featuring a Chinese model struggling to eat spaghetti with a pair of chopsticks. This move was not taken well by the Chinese. Further comments by the founder Stefano Gabbana that he made on social media further fueled the angst. The result was a cancellation of their fashion show that was set to take place in China. Other stores and online shops proceeded to remove Dolce & Gabbana merchandise from their biggest shopping websites, branding the campaign and comments as racist and insensitive. Given the up and coming generation’s increasing practice of political correctness, this video was clearly not thought through, using old ideals that are now becoming evidently damaging in the world of media. Fashion brands may celebrate classic styles, but to avoid losses like this in the future, they will have to modernize their mindsets.
H&M Interactive Mirrors Retail giant H&M is now testing out their interactive facial recognition mirrors at their New York flagship store in Times Square. The mirror is voice interactive and activates with the words ‘wake up’ through facial recognition or when someone looks at it long enough. It also offers selfies, style advice and discounts through the use of QR codes. An idea straight from the future into the present. We can’t wait to try it out!
John Lewis Buying Back Clothes Clothes waste is a huge problem in the fashion industry, and it is up to the public consumer to consciously purchase, care for and fix their items to reduce this problem. However, sometimes, clothes have been worn to the point of no return, and the issue residing with what to do with those items is sadly usually to discard them. However, John Lewis is now providing an incentive to get customers to sell their old clothes, including socks and underwear, back to them to be recycled and repurposed. Customers can arrange through and app to have any of these unwanted clothes collected from their home and will be paid for each item regardless of its condition. This is an amazing move on the brands part, one we hope more brands will follow.
Louboutin Tries to Trademark Red Soles Louboutin has a line of shoes that is indeed very special, but to the point of a trademark? “The mark does not relate to a specific shape of sole for high-heeled shoes since the description of that mark explicitly states that the contour of the shoe does not form part of the mark and is intended purely to show the positioning of the red color covered by the registration,” said the judges at the Court of Justice of the European Union. After this statement, Christian Louboutin went to court in the Netherlands to prevent fashion chain Van Haren from selling their red carpet famous red soled shoes. The famous sole is definitely worth fighting for but maintaining the exclusivity of this simple design is definitely a battle they may be unable to win.
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BEAUTY CLIPPINGS By Nour Ibrahim
Tonymoly x Moschino Italian beauty meets K-beauty in this completely cute and precious line as Italian brand Moschino collaborates with the famous Korean Beauty Brand.Filled with bold and bright lip shades, this kit comes complete with a couple of iconic K-beauty compacts as well. Lip colors include multiple shades of red liquid lipsticks while the compacts come in color correcting tints as well as SPF 50 foundation. The miniature nature of the products is perfect for on the go looks and fix-ups.
Thorne by Bella Striking star Bella Thorne is all about self-expression and her new line shows it. A line made “for ALL to embrace their most wild and beautiful selves”. Packed with glossy and glittery stand out items, this line is meant to represent and be worn to any rager. Coming in a clear fanny pack, these makeup items are meant to help you embrace rather than hide your imperfections. She tells her users to not cover up their scars and pimples but embrace them with this new line- highlight them even. Kudos for Thorne for being an influencer pushing the boundaries of the definition of beauty.
CHROM: Makeup on Your Teeth The new trend in makeup on Instagram these days has been a little weird. Instead of saying ‘Oh no’ people are saying ‘I know’ to telling them that they have some lipstick on their teeth. The look is meant to create an illusion that your teeth are a different color. It can match or contrast with your lips and even comes in monochromatic tones. The polish itself is a smudge proof, tasteless and durable teeth coloring made by the company CHROM meant to embrace the creative side of beauty. It lasts up to 24 hours and comes off with toothpaste. A fashion trend of the future? Or is this trend meant to die with the end of 2018?
Vintage Mickey Mouse Makeup Disney, iconic. Mickey Mouse, iconic. 20s style red lipstick, did we mention it’s iconic? And putting them together is just a recipe for pure nostalgic completion. Made by Besame Cosmetics, this vintage styled Mickey Mouse make up kit comes with a compact mirror and two shades of lipstick, each matching the Mouse of the House. The Mickey Red Lipstick is a bright cartoonish red that would make it far in the 20s, and the second Ink and Paint Lipstick is the perfect shade of black, meant to celebrate the original coloring and source style of the cartoon. The compact mirror includes a vintage Mickey design on top, allowing you to be all dolled up in the Mouse’s color scheme whenever needed.
Sainsbury Vegan Makeup Making sure your makeup comes from companies that are cruelty free is very important and by using vegan products, you can always ensure that. However, there aren’t many brands embracing this recent vegan trend, hence it is usually hard to find such makeup at a good price. Until now. Sainsbury has released 112 own-brand vegan makeup products- one hundred and twelve. That’s twelve more than we could even need. But they supplied it, from foundations to mascaras they supplied it, as well as keeping it good quality and adding skincare benefits to their more facial centered products. A true win on their part in the beauty world
Zara Lipstick Collection Stuck on what to get for a Christmas present this year? Well, if your friend likes makeup, Zara is ready to supply you with an entire lipstick collection. The collection features a lipliner, a liquid lipstick, and a normal lipstick all in long lasting ready to wear shades. Shades include bold rich reds, juicy berries and warm browns all perfect for the holiday season. These products make the perfect gift and will most likely be used by the receiver of it almost immediately.
25
FEATURE
Kojak
Call Me Daddy
Kojak’s creations never cease to disappoint. Whether baroque-style opulent dresses or simple “Kojak” labeled white t-shirts, the young brand has mastered the essence of cool in whatever they produce. Their latest collection titled “Call Me Daddy” is no exception. Drawing inspiration from 80s and 90s trends, the theme of the collection is drawn from the “complexity of daddy issues”. That’s why don’t be surprised if you feel that the collection transports you to your childhood.
A bold collection, the Fall-Winter 2019 line offers a daring play on the father complex or what is more commonly referred to as daddy issues. Despite having been explored in film and literature, this sometimes controversial theme makes its way into fashion this time. This collection turns the classic story of the absence of a male figure on its head: what would often manifest as vulnerability and a need for validation turns into power and a self-assertive demand for attention. The collection stands for inclusion and as with Kojak collections, it is designed for a daring audience.
27
Call Me Daddy is a versatile collection that blends sportswear with couture, one that could be called on for an all-day escapade, morning to night. The collection features embellished tracksuits, melodramatic 80’s-inspired mini-dresses and a suit that’s sequined from head to toe, in addition to printed t-shirts, shirts and tracksuits. The color palette encourages a more energetic state of mind and contrasts with the pastels of previous collections. It includes vibrant fuchsia, purple, silver, teal and mint blue. The pieces mostly rely on silk-satin, lamé, cotton and tulle, conveying a sense of mischief and fluidity to go with the collection’s theme.
More importantly, the Call Me Daddy collection marks the first time where Kojak introduces original prints to his designs. All the patterns ornamenting the fabrics are custom-made for the collection in collaboration with Ink&Silk, an Egyptian brand creating specially printed and dyed fabrics. The prints mostly showcase a playground or a nursery motif, which reflect the inspiration behind the pieces.
29
FEATURE
Jude Benhalim x M a r ie De L a R o c h e
Project by: FLARE PR Photography: Olivia Ghalioungui Model: Jordan Grant Styling: Sarah Isa
To showcase her latest collection high-end jewelry designer Jude Behalim collaborated with luxury handbags designer Marie De La Roche in a joint street style shoot that took place during Paris Fashion Week and starring London based socialite, Jordan Grant as she took over the Parisian streets in her ultra chic looks styled with both designers.
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For her collection titled La Sierra, the majesty of the Saharan desert and the peaks of its golden dunes inspired Jude Benhalim, exploring the desert landscapes and its shapes. Cascading like liquid gold, it Jude created a series of pieces that mimic the desert topography. She channeled the curves found in the desert landscapes while paying tribute to her Arabian roots. The result was a collection that features asymmetric, exaggerated silhouettes where it thoughtfully mixes gold-plated brass and 925 silver with custom made resin stones, offering an artful yet wearable composition.
While the desert dunes of the Sahara is what sparked Jude’s inspiration, for handbags designer Marie De La Roche it was the majestic city of Rome and the classic film Roman Holiday that sparked her interest. Inspired by the city’s mythical creature and architectural opulence, the result of the designer’s interpretation were fresh shapes and gelato colored handbags. The collaboration merged two designers with a love for craftsmanship and a knack for creating unique handmade luxury products with the perfect feminine and vibrant touches, enlivening every woman’s day-to-day looks. The collaboration was brought to life in the iconic Parisian streets, portraying the simple elegance of both designers.
33
INTERVIEW
Creating a Dynasty Just launched, Dynasty already has caught our attention with its statement designs and “sway elegance”. Compared to what we see in the local fashion market these days, this brand definitely has a voice of its own. Founded by four AUC graduates, the masterminds behind this brand decided to stay anonymous to allow their creations to speak for itself. We sat with them to talk about their perspective and creative process. By Sarah Guirguis
How did your brand start? We’re all friends from university and we got together mid-summer to think about the potential of the industry and why not create and promote an Egyptian brand, since we have all the resources in Egypt, including the designers, the ideas, the factories and textiles. We decided to try it out and gave it one month to come up with a groundbreaking idea or some sort of edge that will add something new to the market. If not, we were going to quit. In just two weeks, we had started building the idea of our brand, which revolves around the challenges, opportunities and questions that we face as millennials and turning it into something that we can wear.
What does the brand name Dynasty stand for? The main concept we are after is to bring two things from different times that share something powerful in common, and then we thought of the people wearing our designs, that they would resemble a new dynasty altogether. Every collection we produce will be meant to resemble a new dynasty.
What stories do you hope to tell with your designs? We definitely don’t want to stick to dark stories [like art censorship, art surveillance and immigration issues]. For example, we have a design titled ‘Winged Victory of Shakur’ celebrating Tupac Shakur
as an icon and a civil rights enthusiast. At the end of the day, we don’t want our concepts to be too sophisticated or elitist for everyone to relate to and understand. We want everyone to join in the conversation and think about our ideas and develop them.
Who designs the clothing? Surprisingly, we found a lot of internationally renowned fashion houses and designers in the Egyptian market. It didn’t take time to find people to work with but we were looking for people who clicked with the concepts we wanted to portray. We decided that we, the founders, will be the ones to come up with the themes and concepts but when it comes to the artistic process, we leave it to our designers. We may give them our preferences but we don’t tell them what to do. We want to give room for artistic freedom, which is something we’re preaching already with our designs.
Tell us about the inspiration behind your first collection Our first concern was to get the best result with the designs in the sense that they would look visually appealing, feel very comfy and sophisticated, and also be thought provoking to give a strong first impression. We can’t say that there is a common theme between all the designs and that’s the diversity that we wanted. Every design has its own message and, therefore, its own inspiration, which would normally come from issues most of us deal with in life.
What are the materials used in your collection? A hundred percent Egyptian cotton. We really care about our quality being top-notch so we avoided polyester, for example, because it can cause a little skin irritation. We thought why not offer something that will not only look nice but at the same time be sustainable and feel great.
Where can people buy your clothing? Our first phase is our Instagram online store, and then second phase will be boutiques and a website that is currently under construction. Our third phase is flagship stores, hopefully.
What is your vision for this brand in the future? We want this very local brand to go international and become globally relatable.
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INTERVIEW
It’s the ‘Dawn’ of Leather Mules! Dawn by Hagar Fattah If you’re a fan of quality shoes with plenty of charm, then “Dawn” is the brand you’ve been waiting for. With their 100% percent natural leather material, the brand offers you a variety of mules that are not only very comfortable to wear but can also live for a decade without getting worn out. We sat with the founder of the ingenious brand, Hagar Fattah, 30, as she spoke to us about her vision and the challenges she faces with her newly established label. By Sarah Guirguis
How did you establish your brand Dawn? I was working in finance until I decided I wanted a career change. I was very interested in handmade products and leather material so I started making wallets and notebooks at the time. Eventually, I made some connections with people working in the same field. This is how I came across Egyptian shoemakers and then leather suppliers from abroad. I opened a studio in Downtown Cairo and have been working there for about a year. I recently just got my own production line in a factory so we can eventually start shipping abroad.
Do you have a signature shoe style? Most of our shoes so far are mules because we saw a gap in the market where no shoe brands were specializing in mules. We also ensure that the whole shoe is handmade, even when it comes to the finishing process, which allows it to last with you for more than 10 years. Our newest distinctive feature is the molded arches, which act as supporting soles and make the shoe much more stable and comfortable especially for people who stand up for most of their day or those with flat feet. Our bestseller is the Capri pointed mule.
Why did you decide to go 100% leather when it comes to material? You can find many leather-focused brands in Italy and Australia but I barely found any in Egypt. Even the Egyptian brands producing leather products don’t go a hundred percent leather like we do. Our materials are mainly Italian, premium and completely natural. We still give an option of adding rubber soles for the customers who request it.
What has been your biggest challenge so far? Egyptian artisans are very talented and can do really good work but they just don’t have the patience to sit and focus on all the little details that you care about. I had trouble at the beginning getting them to see what I wanted to do. I had to convince them that we should work based on an international quality standard and kept after them until I got the product that I wanted to sell. When they saw a lot of orders starting to come in, that’s when they started to see my vision. A minor challenge we also faced was that most people were scared to buy our mules in the winter since they are open shoes. We still plan on sticking to mules for now but we came up with an idea to add real fur lining that will make any of our shoe designs more comfortable and warm for the winter season, and thankfully people are getting convinced.
Why not opt for mass production? I believe in the concept of slow fashion. It entails a lot of attention to detail and quality. At the end of the day, the brand is a business and we want to yield a profit, but at the same time, we care a lot and we want everything done very well. One
order can take up to four or five days to be ready. It’s a time-intensive step in the process where a shoemaker makes individual decisions to decide how much the leather should be stretched with pilers without breaking the fibers. Keeping the fibers intact is what gives the leather the strength to stretch as needed when you wear it. The process we go by are very costly but very critical for any shoe brand that aims to go global. We believe that’s what sets us apart. Other manufacturers can make up to 500 pieces or more daily to garner fast profit. They are free to do whatever they want and we are not against them but we believe in something else.
Explain to us what you mean about shoe imperfections. Many people don’t understand that a completely natural and handmade product can’t come out looking perfect. Leather is a type of skin so it makes sense that it is not perfect within itself but this is also what gives the shoe a vintage touch. It’s normal for leather shoes to have spots with different shades of the same color because it just means that the oils have moved around naturally. When you see shoes that are perfectly polished and shiny, know that the material has absorbed so many chemicals for it to look like that.
From where do you draw inspiration? I find inspiration in nature. Even in clothing, I prefer natural material like cotton and linen. When it came to my footwear line, it was easy for me to decide that we will go the natural route, not only in material but also in color. Most of the colors we go for are earthy and therefore, effortlessly give off that vintage vibe.
Where can people buy your footwear? So far, we’re set up online with our Instagram account. I still haven’t found a concept store that fits my vision. In the near future, I plan to open my own store in Maadi. Of course, we care about growing in Egypt as a brand but we’re also thinking that since we are producing at an international standard, why not export as well? We’re currently looking at channels in Greece, Lebanon and Spain, and will start shipping internationally as soon as we finish the required papers.
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FEATURE
Marie Louis Launches FW18 Collection
A leading Egyptian women fashion brand since 1989, Marie Louis recently launched their latest Fall/Winter 2018 collection and it is next-level impressive. The fashion show event took place at the luxurious Manial Palace, where fans and media gathered to see what the renowned designer had been cooking for the last eight months. By Sarah Guirguis While the founder of the label, Marie Louis, had been working on the collection for so long, she told us, “Fashion is always a last-minute business. Most of the pieces that you would like or notice in the show are pieces that I added in the last 48 hours.” Believe it or not, the collection is big and diverse enough to hold three themes. The first one is inspired by old semi-precious stone colors, including fuchsia, mauve, amethyst and turquoise. The other theme is earthy colors, which entails browns, oranges, olives, brick colors and even flowery embroidery. These resemble nature during the fall season because it’s what you see in the early month of October when the tree leaves are falling. As for the last theme, Marie presented a gold and black color palette which she says takes us to an era of luxury and red carpets, festivals and movies. You’ll also see small capes, dresses that are completely made of Lurex, small jackets with zippers and very long and sleek, off-white salopettes. The lines of those wide-legged salopettes and wide capes were inspired by Pierre Cardin, a French designer in the 60s who used to create lines that were very geometrical. When asked about where she draws her inspiration from, Marie told us that anything could inspire her, whether a piece of music or nice scenery. “My eyes are very sensitive. They capture images that I keep and develop later [in a design]. The sleek lines on the new BMW car created [and displayed] in the latest fair in Geneva for automobile inspired me, for example. I kept those pictures for another collection coming out in the spring. We can get leather of the same color and do something very modern and avant-garde.”
What some people don’t know is that BTM has been a successful, thriving family business since 1960. Marie gives all the credit to her father and late mother who founded the brand and backed her throughout the whole journey, even when things weren’t going well with the economy. We asked her about how the fashion industry has changed in Egypt throughout the years and she said, “I think we are at a point in time where there is a potential for everybody to prove his/her power and sustainability. This is the key for young designer to stay in the industry. As a president of the EFDC (Egyptian Fashion & Design Council), I will announce that in 2020, we are working on creating the first fashion week for Egypt. We want the young designers to be ready to represent Egypt along the international brands.” Her daughter, Anne Marie, will be launching her own collection by the end of the first week of December. We’re excited to see what she comes up with but if you’re expecting something identical to her mother’s designs, think again. The young designer seems to have a strong identity of her own.
BIJOUX NEWS
Christmas Bling Azza Fahmy’s Christmas’19 Iconic Collection Luxury design house Azza Fahmy adds Christmas sparkle with the launch of a capsule collection designed by Amina Ghali to complement the festive wardrobe. The stylish 5-piece handcrafted collection, ideal for day or evening, includes the diamond infused18Kt Gold Necklace and Bracelet set inscribed with the word Happiness and a dainty eye charm. Continuing the theme is the18kt Gold and Sterling Silver matching necklace and bracelet with champagne diamonds and inscribed with words of love We Shall Never Part.. Extending this effortlessly chic offering is the dainty18Kt Gold ring adorned with diamonds and pearls – perfect for gifting!
Dima Jewellery’s Galaxy International Jewellery house, Dima Jewellery unveiled it’s exquisite Fall/Winter 2018-2019 collection ‘Dima’s Galaxy’ in November. While not produced specifically for Christmas, we can’t imagine a more fitting collection for the festive season. Each piece in the collection, translucent or in bright coloured stones is enhanced with 18-karat gold and adorned by twinkling diamonds. “Dima’s Galaxy” is a nod to the appreciation Dima has for nature. The celestial collection is more vibrant and playful than ever, with more unique colour combinations, charms and shapes such as Crescents and Stars. True to the Fall 2018 Pantone- with deep blue Lapis Lazuli stones to blood red Rubies, not to mention King-Size Emeralds the pieces remain vibrant to maintain the philosophy that it feels like eternal summer in Dima Jewellery. The collection ranges from dainty, delicate everyday pieces such as layered necklaces to dramatic, glamorous red carpet pieces such as chandelier statement earrings. The rich variety of pieces to be found in their many shapes and sizes ensures that there is something for every woman and her every occasion.
HUWA Collaborates with Jewelry Designer Andre Marcha For X-Mas Collection To mark the festive season HUWA teamed up with Lebanese fine jewelry designer Andre Marcha to create 5-pieces limited edition capsule collection of men’s fine Jewelry. Offering a limited edition range of glamorous and sophisticated Christmas gift ideas, these pieces make for a perfect present. Hisham, the designer and founder of HUWA was inspired by the consultation of Jewelry house Andre Marche. It was their beautiful artistic fine jewelry pieces that they custom created for Hisham that inspired him to open his own Men’s fine accessories brand. In honor of that; the first ever collaboration HUWA X Andre Marcha has launched. The limited-edition capsule collection made in 18k gold and precious stones, features four pins and one cufflink that celebrate the classic Christmas spirit. Thanks to the designer’s choice of style, they have laid out a considered jumble of styles, making each piece a perfect portrait of winter and the joyous season. The collaboration will be available for a limited period, just in time for Christmas.
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BIJOUX
With a brand born out of a desire to tell stories and unite women while transcending cultural barriers, it was no surprise that the latest collection launched by AMMANII was aptly titled Malikat (Arabic for queens). “I put a very personal part of me in this collection because I truly want women to connect together and most importantly cherish their inner queen,” said Amany Shaker, the designer behind her namesake label AMMANII. In light of the increasing women empowerment movements, AMMANII was keen to pay tribute to the ruling females of ancient Egypt by telling the stories of the inspiring work they did in governing countries, leading armies and unifying their people.
AMMANII’s Queens
Always keeping the same DNA, but with a bolder twist for the collection, Malikat features a splendid selection of earrings, necklaces, bracelets and rings that are beautifully hand-crafted in vermeil gold. By infusing historical elements with a modern approach, the attention to detail in each piece makes each one a masterpiece in its own right. Through Malikat, AMMANII strives to celebrate the glorious history of bold-spirited women who ruled the world, which is translated into the crafts and details of every design – designs that carry stories and emotions. Transcending all barriers, these pieces are a way for women to connect together and understand cultures that are not their own.
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BIJOUX
Tiffany & Co.’s Blue Book The Four Seasons It’s that time of year again for renowned high jewelry empire, Tiffany & Co., to floor every other jewelry brand there is and show off with their most impressive, experimental designs, featuring the world’s rarest and most dazzling jewels. Yes, you guessed it. It’s time for the unveiling of their 2018 Blue Book Collection: The Four Seasons of Tiffany.
In celebration of over 180 years of artistry and quality consistency since their first Blue Book in 1845, this year’s edition of Tiffany & Co.’s infamous Blue Book offers yet another bold expression of creativity, craftsmanship and innovation. Composed of five themes - winter, spring, summer, autumn and color theory. The new high jewelry collection draws inspiration from flora, fauna and the architectural complexity found in nature. One look at the Tiffany Blue Book Collection and you’ll see ingenuity in the modern and graphic shapes rendered with rare techniques and exceptional gemstones. “The Tiffany Blue Book Collection serves as a laboratory for developing groundbreaking concepts that will one day make their way into new collections,” said Reed Krakoff, chief artistic officer at Tiffany & Co.
Winter Within the winter theme is one of the most exemplary designs, the ice motif, which required the most skilled craftsmen to study the beauty of irregularity and render it in diamonds. The illusion of ice was achieved by individually cutting each diamond into jagged, unique shapes that mimic an iceberg adrift on a sea of platinum. The magnificent necklace is composed of over 91 total carats of 237 uniquely cut diamonds connected like an intricate puzzle. Krakoff explained, “The idea of ice was more a suggestion of irregularity and the seamlessness of ice when it’s cracked and broken.” Another model of contrast and irregularity is a necklace of linear diamonds set in platinum that was made to look like frost. Created with baguette and round brilliant diamonds with over 50 total carats, and rare Fancy Blue Gray and gray diamonds with over 13 total carats, this necklace is a textural display of bold geometry.
Spring On another note, the spring theme builds on the randomness and asymmetrical beauty of the natural world. The hydrangea designs reveal an intricate clustering of flowers, where groupings are off-centered and mixed-cut diamonds are juxtaposed with multi-hue sapphires, tourmalines and tanzanites to create an ombre effect.
Summer Within the summer theme, you will find soft, fluttery diamond-encrusted moths contrasting against the bold, angular links, inspired by a 1940s tank chain. An 18k yellow gold bracelet anchors different size moths that appear to be in flight or landing, allowing the natural pattern and movement of these creatures to give this classic chain a modern touch. These playful moths were created with 1,115 round brilliant diamonds of over 6 carats and 23 marquise diamonds set in platinum.
Autumn As for the autumn vibe, this category reveals a lightness and interplay of gemstone colors and cuts. Vines that sprout and blossom in tandem with nature’s cycle can be seen in a stunning necklace where overlapping chains reveal a fern motif that gently unwinds down the back. This necklace’s elegant silhouette creates a fluid line with mixed-cut diamonds set in platinum, including 9 marquise diamonds with over 5 total carats, 333 round brilliant diamonds with over 5 total carats, and 85 diamond baguettes with over 21 total carats.
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FEATURE
Art Accessorized
Michael Kors X David Downton
Michael Kors is a brand known for its cool American aesthetic, sophisticated luxury, and of course its coveted handbags. David Downtown is arguably one of the most famous and renowned fashion artists of all time. His elegant elegant drawings and portraits of the world’s most stylish women have been celebrated in publications such as Vogue, Vanity Fair, Harper’s Bazaar and The Times for over two decades. For the Fall 2018/2019 Michael Kors collaborated with David Downton on a special edition capsule collection that debuted during the Michael Kors Collection runway show at New York Fashion Week. The result was spectacular. Not only did Downtown il-
lustrate stylish figures of women that were elegantly placed on handbags, but his print also made it as a print into some of the Ready To Wear designs. “This is our first collaboration with an artist for Michael Kors Collection, and it is very personal,” says Michael. “David captures people’s essence and style without feeling the need to draw every detail about them— it’s the magic of a great illustrator.”
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REVIEW
Fashion Bazaar
Showcases Egyptian Talent By Sarah Guirguis
Hundreds of fashion enthusiasts took over City Centre Alexandria from November 18th - 21st to attend the Fall/Winter Fashion Bazaar, hosted by Majid Al Futtaim, the leading shopping mall in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. Highlighting the unique new work of emerging Egyptian fashion talent, the bazaar showcased over twenty fashion icons and their newest collections. The Fashion Bazaar was hosted in collaboration with star fashion designers, including Sarah Onsi, Maison Saédi, Vivian Moawad, Yosra El Barkouky, Shahira Lasheen, Malak El Ezzawy, Nada Akram, Meema, Mazoura, Georges Sara & Co, Alicia Arts and Nahla El Alfy, who discussed their style insights and inspiration with guests, giving attendees an exclusive preview of up and coming global fashion trends. Here are some of the designers we talked to… After pursuing his lifelong passion to work in fashion, Ahmed Saèdi started his first brand Plush and eventually developed it into the popular Maison Saèdi that we know now. Not only that, but he is also a fashion director at other brand entities. “Here, I’m showcasing a haute couture selection from my FW collection coming out this month and my latest SS collection. My style usually leans toward embroidery and the concept
of making designs that haven’t been seen before. I want my clients to feel different while wearing my dresses,” Saèdi told us. Starting her journey as a designer by studying at Marangoni, London, Vivian Moawad worked on becoming better until her first collection made it to Cairo Fashion Festival four years ago. After that, she opened a store in Alexandria first and then Cairo. “My identity as a designer hasn’t changed since day one. That was my purpose because I wanted people to notice my style, whether in terms of the cut, the structure, the symmetry or the feminine, edgy vibe,” Vivian said. Finally, we talked to the Halawany sisters, who had interestingly enough started out individually and then decided to merge into one business. Describing their style as mainly casual, they told us that their newest collection is all about sweatshirts and sweatshirt dresses in bright colours like greens and fuchsias. “It’s time to shift towards “Made in Egypt” now more than ever. We can’t afford to do fashion the same way we used to before. We have really good factories and materials in Egypt. It’s time to let Egyptian designers prove themselves and I don’t think we’ll have a problem competing with imported goods,” Maha El Halawany said.
“Egyptian fashion designers have taken the local industry to an international level in recent years, and I am really impressed with the quality, the creativity and the inspiring new collections that were exhibited here,” said stylist and fashion industry expert Ghadir Al Agabany. At the end of the day, this year’s Fall/Winter Fashion Bazaar proved to be the perfect opportunity for designers to showcase their work in a prime retail destination.
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WISH LIST
SALVATORE FERRAGAMO AMMANII
MICHAEL KORS
FLAIR Gift Guide
MANGO
MANGO
MANGO
GUERLAIN
AZZA FAHMY
GUERLAIN
ROBERTO CAVALLI
CHLOE
ROBERTO CAVALLI
BALLY VERSACE
CHLOE
DKNY
MANGO
PHILIPP PLEIN PHILIPP PLEIN
MANGO MICHAEL KORS PHILIPP PLEIN
ROBERTO CAVALLI
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Lifestyle
P. 56 WEST CHELSEA/MONTE SERENO/CHRISTMAS FESTIVITIES 53
JET SET
Ingenious Travel Travel! The solution to any twiddling thumb and even more so when you are going against the current. Whether you plan to take a trip somewhere for a memorable Christmas or random days off from work to recharge, this is the guide you’ve been looking for. Before you get sucked in the whirlwind of the holidays, make sure to explore your options and book the perfect original getaway. By Daniela Bonetto
Amsterdam I AMSTRDAM! A city which keeps on giving, Amsterdam wins for its mix of culture, history and modern eccentricities. Visit world-class museums throughout the city from the Van Goh Museum to the Anne Frank House whilst crisscrossing around its canals without a worry in the world.
Quebec City If you have been to Paris one too many times but can’t get over your Francophile inner self, how about try a European- inspired setting with über charm like Quebec City. Dotted with French-ins pired dining institutions, foodies will be spoilt for choice. Walk down the quaint cobblestone streets and pop in to the bistros which only adds to the city’s enchanting vibe. Dwell on its history at Battlefields Park, the Citadel and the Notre-Dame Basilica or stroll along the Terrasse Dufferin for a moment of tranquillity.
The Cotswolds, England This south-central region of England is really a good idea any time of year but arguably it’s at its most picturesque in the autumn when the logs start to be thrown into the fire to give off those irresistible red and yellow hues. For a little adventure and striking views take the 102-mile long Cotswold Way National Trail, which weaves past beautiful hills, quaint villages and storied churches.
Iceland The temperatures are dropping everywhere so you might as well take the plunge and hit in on the head. Iceland may not seem so practical in November, but low season means that there are dwindling crowds and some amazing deals to be had. High on the bucket list for this country is soaking in the Blue Lagoon, exploring icy glaciers and enjoying lively Reykjavik. And for a spot of magic? Catch the northern lights!
Florence, Italy Italy is always a good idea. But the smartest travellers will go when the season is low to enjoy this cultural mecca of renowned art institutions like the Uffizi Gallery without having to go elbow your way across the crowds. Without the swarms it’s also easier to score tickets to some of the most beautiful opera performances. Should time permit, a little escapade to the Chianti hills wouldn’t be a bad idea either.
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HOME
West Chelsea T H E
B I G
R E V E A L
New York, and the world, waited long and hard for the unveiling of the latest project to have the Hadid stamp. Located in West Chelsea, the triplex penthouse residence inside the revered building by the late Pritzker Prize-winning architect Zaha Hadid boasts 6,853 sq ft. worth of fabulous space. The long-awaited release of the interiors of the five-bedrooms home and halos atop the 39-unit condominium mark the final look inside 520 West 28th.
By Daniela Bonetto Photography by Scott Frances
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The home makes the most of exposures to the North, South and East and with direct resident elevator entry, as well as an in- residence elevator, for utmost privacy and ease in transition between the three levels. The home features a corner master bedroom within the lower level that comes equip with private balcony, full dressing room, and dual bathrooms. The lower level also holds three alternate bedroom suites, while the mid-floor entertaining level features a library, powder room for guests, and a 1,250 sq. ft. double-corner great room adorned with private balcony and fireplace. The fifth and final bedroom completes the home and is positioned adjacent to a spacious eat-in kitchen designed by Zaha Hadid in collaboration with Boffi, which holds a full Gaggenau appliance suite. Framed by floor to ceiling glass windows at a vast height of nearly 11 ft., the residence holds a distinguished, signature three-story internal sculptural staircase, a design by Dame Zaha Hadid herself, mirroring the project’s admired sinuous exterior façade and vast interior aesthetic.
In addition to the five bedrooms, the home boasts a fabulous exterior space, including a terraced garden and wraparound roof veranda with an outdoor kitchen. Johannes Schafelner, Project Director, Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA), commented: “Each apartment at 520 West 28th was designed with bespoke millwork at its centre that continue the geometries of the building’s facade. These hand-crafted pieces are unique to every residence, individually designed and finished for their particular location and function. Within the penthouse, this centrepiece is manifest as the sculptural staircase that extends all three floors, connecting its interior with the large outdoor terrace. An evolution of the flowing spiral staircases within Zaha Hadid’s cultural buildings, this staircase is designed with multiple perspectives that engage perception and draw the eye from the horizontal to vertical—uniting the penthouse’s three levels with the fluid design language of the building’s facade.”
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As one of the remaining looks inside the coveted interiors of 520 West 28th, the triplex penthouse residence lists for $50M, marking a momentous finale to the various sought-after homes within the West Chelsea condominium. The residential structure along the High Line vaunts a widespread offering of luxury amenities unrivalled by other residences of its calibre such as; automated valet that tends to residents’ vehicles on call, the only private IMAX theatre in New York City, private automated storage, a fully clad wellness level with a fitness centre and 75 ft. sky-lit pool, and reservable spa-suite complete with hot tub, rain showers, treatment beds, plunge pool, sauna, and steam room amongst other luxury incentives accessible to residents. The triplex penthouse joins an impressionable line-up of homes offered at 520 West 28th and is on the market for an asking price of $50M. 520w28.com
HOME
Monte
Sereno Centerstage Views By Daniela Bonetto Photography by: Wendy McEahern
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The house belongs to a couple from Dallas who wanted an escape from the heat. But they didn’t want just any escape, they wanted a retreat with the most mesmerizing view of them all. Welcome Monte Sereno! Located on the way to Santa Fe Opera House, one of the most beautiful areas in all of Santa Fe, Monte Sereno overlooks the impressive Sangre de Christo mountains. “This project has the best view of any house we have ever worked on”, says Paul Rochford from Violante & Rochford Interiors. In fact, the home faces East which means the house is flooded with morning light. At
night, when the sky turns red at sunset, the whole house is bathed in an array of colours. The location of the home being so elevated, almost looks like its caressing the side of the mountains. From the deck one can languish in all this beauty and indulge in one of the most breathtaking views. The couple acquired this project as a second, weekend and vacation home. It is the perfect place to escape the heat of Texas, especially in the summer months, when Santa Fe’s weather is delightful. Violante & Rochford, a New Mexico based interior design firm working extensively throughout the United States, worked closely with award-winning builders, Tierra Concepts Inc, to complete the project.
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The brief was simple; no antiques of any kind. The couple wanted the house to be absolutely modern, and a neutral background to highlight their very colorful art collection. Adamant in furnishing the interior to rival the exterior beauty the couple made certain that every piece of furniture in the house was either a classic icon, like the Noguchi table and the Arne Jacobsen chair in the sitting room/library, or that it was custom-made. The couple went so far as commissioning even the bed linens to be unique for their home. Rugs are also a recurrent theme throughout the home. Their function was to provide more colour to the rooms.
When determining the mood for the home, Violante & Rochford decided on a neutral palette. The warm beige tints were used throughout the rooms to evoke tranquility, creating a very zen kind of home where nature makes the prevailing statement just beyond the windows. Taking center stage are the views and they are simply divine from every room. The home was designed to be extremely adaptable. There are large, open spaces, for the couple to entertain their guests which was very important to them. Although the rest of the house is intricate it is the deck which is the main draw of the project.
vrinteriors.com
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INTERVIEW
Up Close with
Paolo Terenzi The Tiziana Terenzi brand has established itself as one of the premiere brands in the niche fragrance market. An Italian brand with a long history attached to it, the family owned-label is sought after by fragrance lovers world-wide seeking Tiziana Terenzi’s coveted creations of perfumes and scented candles. We caught up with the Tiziana Terenzi nose, and first nose to come to Egypt- the talented perfumer and owner of the brand Paolo Terenzi as he was in town to celebrate the launch of the Tiziana Terenzi brand at Fortune Stores. We speak to him about the beginnings of the brand, his passion for natural raw materials (and the art of mixing them up), as well as the launch of his products in Egypt. By Hind El Ramly
Tell us more about yourself… I come from Rimini (where Federico Fellini was born) and I’m still living there. It’s a very important and integral part of my life where I live with my family, my wife and kids and it’s the place that gives me the tranquility and inspiration to create my art. My family has a long history with making fragrances and I have worked as nose and perfumer for many famous perfume brands over the years such as Acua di Parma, Gucci, Salvatore Ferragamo, Cucinelli, and many others.
Why did you decide to start your own brand? Our brand is a family business named after my sister. In essence it’s a story of love between brother and sister. It’s a special way to thank our father for the gift that he gave us, in terms of being a role model. In 2012 we decided to start an artistic project where we removed all the limits that exist when you work for someone such as their vision, pricing, quality etc. In this new project we put all our knowledge and expertise that we have gained over the years. The
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FLAIR FOODIE
Le Méridien Cairo Airport’s Signature Mezzeh Lebanese Flavours Entering into the polished, home-style restaurant in Le Meridien Cairo Airport, we didn’t know exactly what to expect. We were happy to discover that the cuisine of Mezzeh can be described as Lebanese “with a contemporary twist”. When we asked what that entails exactly, we were told that the food would speak for itself. And so it did.
First off, we were served with a combination of hot and cold Mezzeh, including Chicken and Cheese-filled Sambousek, a delectable Tehina dip, Kobeiba, tomato stuffed with Tabouleh and vine leaves, followed by an exquisite Fattoush salad. It was followed by an ingenious creation with Halloumi cheese served on popsicle-like sticks and served to be conveinently dipped in a pool of rich tomato sauce. This marked one of the ways the kitchen expressed the Lebanese touch with a modern twist. What arrived at our table next was a dish of Koftet Dawoud Basha – which, for people who don’t know, is basically a pond of tomato sauce and meatballs with a bread topping crusted to perfection. We actually smelled the flavor before it hit our taste buds. As for the entrée, we were served a delicious ensemble of chicken, meat, Reyash and Kofta that was topped with pistachio on all sides. The diversity on this platter provided all the juicy flavors one could hope for in an Oriental dish. To conclude this Lebanese experience, we were served an irresistible dish of mixed berries and Oriental dessert. It was literally ambrosia after the fullcourse meal. On the side, we ordered coffee and fresh orange juice to go with a plate of Konafa with honey. If you’re into Lebanese cuisine and yet enjoy a modern, homey restaurant setup, this is the next lunch or dinner spot for you to hit. Definitely ask for recommendations if you can’t decide on what to order, or go for the dishes we tasted. We guarantee an excellent service to go with the exquisite tastes. The restaurant also has a rich entertainment program each week, featuring belly dance shows, live singers and musicians. Mezzeh: Le Méridien Cairo Airport Cairo International Airport - Terminal 3, Heliopolis, Cairo.
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HAPPENINGS
Christmas Festivities Tis’ The Season at Cairo Marriot This festive season, the Cairo Marriott Hotel & Omar Khayyam Casino have a lot in store for Christmas and New Year celebrations. For Christmas Eve, Ristorante Tuscany will be offering a set menu of Italian specials. A Christmas lunch buffet will be available at Omar’s Café on Christmas day. To bid farewell to 2018, go to Egyptian Nights for a mixture of Oriental and Christmas vibes where guests will enjoy a set menu with a wide variety of Cairo Marriott’s signature grills and desserts. For the Christmas treats that your heart desires, you will find Santa Claus chocolate, cookies, Christmas cake, ginger bread
New Year’s Glam at Holiday Inn and Staybridge Suites Ring in the New Year in style at Holiday Inn Cairo Citystars. You can treat yourself and the ones you love to a gala dinner at Windows, where there will be a set menu with oriental music, a belly dancer, live entertainment and a DJ. If you want to embark on a journey of authentic Indian cuisine, Indira is the place to go. Take your pick between a la carte or a New Year set menu, and enjoy a Bollywood dance show and a special gift for guests. Longer-stay guests can enjoy the holidays at the Staybridge Suites Cairo Citystars for a relaxed and private celebration. Whatever your choice will be, it is guaranteed that you will have a jolly good one.
Christmas Charm at InterContinental Citystars Cherish the joyous moments of Christmas at InterContinental Cairo Citystars. Esplanade is treating its guests to a gastronomic international buffet along with enchanting jazz tunes with a live band and Christmas songs from the 20th till the 25th of December. Don’t miss Santa’s cookie handouts starting the 22nd. For Asian food lovers, you can give your taste buds a treat with the finest selection of Japanese cuisine at Shogun or celebrate the Italian way at Maestro with fine guitar tunes and a choice between set menus or a la carte. For celebrations with an oriental taste, experience authentic Egyptian cuisine at Al Khal restaurant or some Lebanese extravaganza at Fayruz.
Seasonal Splendor at Nile Ritz-Carlton Whether you are looking for the ideal romantic getaway or traveling with family, the breathtaking Cairo views, lush gardens, and hospitality of the Nile Ritz-Carlton await you this December. Culina will offer a uniquely indulgent brunch experience with variety of proteins, rich BBQ, sushi, carving stations, seafood, seasonal salads and dessert offerings with an atmosphere filled with live jazz entertainment and Christmas spirit. The Lobby Lounge will offer Christmas chocolate snacks, drinks and kids’ activities for your loved ones. For extra pampering, there will be exclusive Christmas spa packages and activities for hotel guests and their children, including Christmas movie programs.
Christmas & New Year Highlights at Semiramis InterContinental Make sure to check the festive hotspots at Semiramis InterContinental Cairo this winter. Go to Pane Vino on Christmas Eve for an exclusive dinner dance featuring Cairo’s premier crooner Ahmed Harfoush. To get serenaded by live piano and flute music all season long, go to The Grill’s fabulous ‘Noël sur le Nile’ gala dinner on Christmas Eve and relish in an unmatched set menu, curated just for the holiday season. Café Corniche will also be offering a scrumptious takeaway selection of Christmas goodies that includes Yule logs, chocolate and gingerbread cookies. Kids can also take photos with Santa Clause on Christmas Day to capture some of their memorable Christmas moments.
Holiday Festivities at Grand Nile Tower It is the season to be jolly, and no place is more in the spirit this year than Grand Nile Tower Hotel. Guests can choose from the special set menus being served against the dramatic backdrop of the Cairo cityscape at the Revolving Restaurant or the floating indulgences aboard Marquise Yacht. Closer to the Nile, El Sakya Souk restaurant promenade will be serving up a delicious array of international cuisines to satisfy every craving whether flavourful seafood, zesty Italian favourites, rich and spicy Indian specialties, or mouth-watering Middle Eastern feasts.
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A Festive Season at Sonesta With a wide array of exciting venues and exquisite flavorful holiday treats, Sonesta Hotel, Tower & Casino Cairo has the passion to give you the most memorable holiday experience. Gather with your family at La Gondola for an elegant Christmas Eve Dinner including specially prepared flavorful turkey dishes and enjoyable live band entrainment, followed by a delightful lunch buffet on Christmas Day, featuring traditional Christmas favorites. Celebrate New Year’s Eve in a cheerful ambiance with a special dinner set menu featuring a wide assortment of traditional and oriental authentic delights, along with live entertainment and a belly dancing performance at Baalback.
New Year’s In Style at Sheraton Montazah Indulge in New Year’s activities at Sheraton Montazah Hotel Alexandria to celebrate this festive season. Full programs are prepared for couples, groups and families at Tabia ballroom, Caesar Inn and Aquarius Discotheque. They offer a variety of New Year’s parties with their specialty cuisine. Those include a gala party with a variety of entertainment shows featuring a trio band, latest Arabic and foreign hits with DJ Hassan Darwish, live songs by Alexandrian singers Fathy Meshaal and Rahma with her band in addition to a belly dancing performance. Did we mention they have fabulous New Year’s decorations?
Festive Experiences at Royal Maxim Palace Kempinski Celebrate in style with your loved ones and explore the Palace’s diverse culinary experiences for the season. You can start by enjoying the joyful Christmas carols, homemade cookies and hot chocolate during the Christmas tree lighting at the Lobby. After that, spend Christmas Eve at Lucca, where your senses go on a journey to Italy courtesy of Chef Giovanni’s special set menu. Catch that festive spirit as you enjoy a two-hour divine winter escape, featuring a Blackberry scrub and Orange wrap which will stimulate circulation, remove toxins and moisturize chapped dry skin, concluded with a Vanilla oil massage to lift your spirits and relax tired muscles.
Sparkling Festivities at Sheraton Cairo Enjoy a delicious Christmas Eve dinner with your family and friends at the first New York Italian restaurant in Egypt. Giannini’s offers delectable dishes by Chef Antonio who prepared a special set menu all for 600++ per person, along with an atmosphere of refined jazz music to set the ideal Christmas vibes. You can also celebrate Christmas Day at Studio 70 or Rawi nightspot, where you can enjoy a belly dancer show and dance the night away. Kick off the new year with a fancy dinner at Sheraton’s VIP club lounge. With an amazing view from the 26th floor, you will have an incredible New Year’s Eve full of entertainment and an extravagant set menu all for 110$.
Design
P. 82 ROEQIYA FRIS/NIKE FLAGSHIP/THE TULIP 77
ART
Bridging East & West R O E Q I Y A
F R I S
By Kate Dannies
A woman on a tree swing looking at brightly coloured sailboats meandering through a canal. Women with intricately patterned clothing leaving a mosque. Two clotheslines in a courtyard displaying vibrantly coloured linens. Characterised by colour, culture and femininity, these scenes are just a few of many bouncing around in the eccentric imagination of Dutch-Egyptian artist Roeqiya Fris.
Based in Rotterdam, Fris is the product of a marriage between an Egyptian mother and a Dutch father. While her early years were spent largely in the Netherlands, childhood trips to Egypt and Andalusia and subsequent travels to Morocco later in life cultivated in her a love for Arabic landscapes and culture. A graduate of Willem de Kooning Academy of Visual Arts in 2005, Fris worked at a fine arts teacher at a local school before starting and running her own creative workshop company, Fris Projecten, for six years. The artist has focused on creating new work for the past two years, running an Etsy shop and social media accounts that advertise prints and original works. Married to her childhood sweetheart, Fris is also the primary caregiver to their special needs son. When contemplating her large portfolio, themes related to femininity, Arab culture, travel and nature come to the forefront. Women, as individuals or in groups, are depicted in the large majority of her paintings. Fris attributes this to growing up with three sisters, and has said in interviews that the women she paints are very much inspired by them. Other strong female figures she has been inspired by include American businesswoman and fashion icon Iris Apfel, renowned Mexican artist Fri-
da Khalo and Mexican novelist, screenwriter and politician Laura Esquivel. Arabic culture is a strong theme in her work, as exemplified in depictions of mosques, camels, and desert landscapes. Making frequent trips to the seaside town of Marrakesh in her adult years, many of her scenes are distinctly Moroccan, depicting vibrantly coloured linens, courtyard scenes, and women with market baskets. Fris is also known to love Arabic cuisine, especially koushari and tajine. Other favorite subjects include nature and animals, and the use of bright, eye-catching colours and patterns. Fris uses a mix of eoline, watercolour, markers, pencils and gauche on paper to achieve colour schemes and patterns that appear to jump off the page. Many of her works feature flowers, either in nature or as patterns on clothing, along with birds, camels and horses. Overall, the works of Roeqiya Fris are a delight to not only the eyes, but the other senses as well. Her use of bold colours, playful subjects and Arabic scenery transport one to the beautiful and animated landscapes of the North African region.
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DESIGN NOTES
Eco-Design A More Sustainable 2019 From silk the strength of steel to sunglasses made of water bottles, here are the top sustainable trends coming up in 2019. By Kate Dannies
Biophilic Design While major multinational companies have made cultivating a work environment that promotes wellbeing amongst its employees a priority, biophilic design takes this concept to a new level. Based on the hypothesis that humans long for a strong connection with nature, and, without it, our health begins to suffer, biophilic design seeks to incorporate natural elements into our workspaces and homes. Green plants, direct views or pictures of natural landscapes and indoor water elements are just a few ways to incorporate biophilic design into your home or office.
Micro Gardens Micro gardens have been around for ages, and the trend is only growing as consumers become more conscious about their living environments and how they source their food. Rooftop and square foot gardens are a great way for urbanites to capitalise on their small spaces, while living plant walls succeed in purifying indoor air while appealing to the eye.
Porsche Mission E Serving as the vanguard of Porsche’s new line of electric vehicles, the Mission E is set to give the Tesla Model S a run for it’s money. With a 250-mile range after 20 minutes of charging, top of the line models will be able to reach 60 mph in 3.5 seconds. While official release dates have not been set, the Mission E is expected sometime in 2019.
Upcycling Food Waste Although millions of people go starving everyday, food waste remains at an all time high, with an estimated US$ 680 bn worth of food going to waste in industrialised countries annually. Companies are now seeking to capitalise on food products that would otherwise be destined for the dumpster. London-based company Rubies in the Rubble make relishes with surplus fruits and vegetables, while US-based Barnana produces organic chips and snacks from fruits not aesthetically pleasing enough to be sold in international markets.
Synthetic Spider Silk Stronger than steel and tougher than Kevlar, spider silk is emerging as a new super material, with applications such as improving the strength and resilience of anything from bike helmets to bullet proof vests. As harvesting the silk is neither efficient nor environmentally friendly, outfits such as Cambridge’s Centre for Natural Material Innovation have taken to the lab to create a synthetic equivalent made of hydrogel, silica and cellulose.
Plastic Fashion Ocean pollution remains of the largest issues plaguing our planet, with over 46,000 pieces of plastic per square mile of ocean. In an effort to combat plastic waste within the delicate marine ecosystems, companies have started producing goods out of post-consumer plastic. Adidas is currently developing a wide product range of sportswear made from ocean plastic, while Norton Point Sunglasses is taking a similar approach with the release of a line made from discarded ocean plastic.
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BOUTIQUE HOTEL
Where Wildlife Meets Wonder Singita Serengeti House Imagine enjoying chef prepared meals, in a private villa, while gazelles congregate at watering hole just yards away. Is this heaven? No, it is the Singita Safari House where there is no need to choose between a luxury retreat and a wilderness experience. By Kate Dannies
Refined yet luxuriously comfortable, this modern-African home offers uninterrupted views across the Serengeti’s open plains. Designed for private use, there’s a sense of relaxed freedom for families or friends to enjoy shared experiences in nature here. Casual living spaces elevate the comforts of home replete with a 25-metre lap pool, outdoor dining, and intimate interactions with a busy water hole. Private staff, including a full-time guide and dedicated vehicle, ensures an easy, flexible rhythm to each itinerary with tailor-made activities and meals. Guests who are able to tear themselves away from their luxurious accommodations will be amply rewarded. Spanning over 350,000 acres of untouched wilderness, the adjacent Singita Grumeti offers visitors a front row seat to the Great Migration as well as countless other wildlife experiences year around. With a landscape that combines grassy plains with riverine forests and thorny scrubland, the area is home to a huge variety and number of big game and other iconic African animals. Singita’s experienced guides will tailor each outing to the group providing viewing opportunities of local wildlife including elephants, lions, cheetah and wildebeest. Visitors will rest easy knowing that conservation and local development are at the core of Singita’s mission. Each day spent at this beautiful locale supports conservation initiatives to ensure that future generations will be able to enjoy pristine
wilderness areas in Africa. Through an exceptional safari experience with lodges and camps across South Africa, Tanzania and Zimbabwe, Singita is able to partially fund the protection and preservation of over a million acres of pristine land and existing wildlife populations. It is an easy choice to stay at Singita because of the expansive space and beauty of the reserves, limited guest and vehicle numbers, extraordinarily consistent game viewing and the exceptional care that is taken of each guest during their stay. Guests leave a Singita safari being transformed for a lifetime and having made a contribution to the legacy of Africa.
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EXHIBITIONIST
Designer of Dreams Christian Dior at the V & A
While iconic fashion designer Christian Dior originally hailed from a seaside town on the coast of Normandy, his love of all things British was no secret. Enamored with the country’s rich and royal history, Dior’s talents earned him status a frequent guest and entertainer of the British royal family in the post-World War II period. Paying homage to the remarkable designer and his strong connection to English culture, the Victoria and Albert Museum will kick off 2019 with the largest Dior exhibit in the country to date. By Kate Dannies
Opening in February 2019, ‘Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams’ will build on the ‘Christian Dior: Couturier du Rêve’ exhibit previously organized by the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris. Spanning the period of 1947- present, the exhibit will follow the dawn of the fashion house and impact of the original couturier, along with the six designers that succeeded him. Around half of the exhibit will be new, unseen content, much of which will be haute couture. On display will be works from Dior himself, along with creative directors Marc Bohan, Gianfranco Ferré, John Galliano, Bill Gaytten, Raf Simons and current designer, Maria Grazia Chiuri. Garments shown in the exhibit will highlight the high points of each designer throughout the 70 years of the house, with every garment a handmade original. The exhibition will comprise of 11 sections, including ‘The New Look’, which analyzes the rise of Dior’s controversial bar suit. Characterized by a curvy, flowing lower silhouette, the style was in sharp contrast to the slim, fitted styles of the World War II era that aimed to conserve fabric usage. Other installations include ‘The Dior Line’, which features the ten defining looks from Dior’s 1947-1957 tenure at the fashion house. A new section exclusive to the V&A exhibit will explore the designers fascination with all things English. After travelling to the United Kingdom at the age of 21 to perfect his English, Dior fell in love with the classic and elegant styles exemplified in the country’s royal houses, gardens and even ocean liners. Dior was said to have a thing for British women in tweed and ball gowns, and quickly became a favorite guest and designer of the British royal family. After staging his first collection at The Savoy in 1950, he invited
the Queen, Princess Margaret, Princess Marina and Princess Olga of Greece to a private showing at the French embassy. As such, a highlight of the exhibit will include a Dior dress worn by Princess Margaret for her 21st birthday. In total, over 500 related to the fashion house will be exhibited. Offerings include accessories, fashion photography, film, make-up, illustrations and Dior’s personal possessions, along with 200 haute couture ensembles, including one of Dior’s earliest bar suits, gifted by the house to the museum in 1960. Other notable highlights include a metal star found by the superstitious designer in the streets of Paris the night before a successful investor meeting, and an original 1955 Éclarate afternoon dress. Designed by Nathalie Criniére, the exhibition will follow in the footsteps of V&A’s recent slew of high-profile fashion installations, including Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty, The Glamour of Italian Fashion and Balenciaga: Shaping Fashion.
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ATTENTION TO RETAIL
New Kid on the Block Nike Flagship NYC
A new, but well-known store recently opened at 650 Fifth Avenue in Midtown, New York City. Dubbed the “House of Innovation 000”, Nike NYC capitalises on the company’s iconic brand, offering consumers a mix of past and present successes. By Kate Dannies
Boasting six stories and 68,000 square feet, Nike NYC offers visitors an interactive shopping experience that is not limited to sneakers. Acting as it’s own personal sports arena, the Nike store features an interactive soccer pitch, running track and half-court basketball area for potential buyers to test out their wares. The store features five product floors, each with it’s own unique theme. Aside from the standard men’s and women’s wear floors, Nike NYC features a
dedicated Jordan and lifestyle section. Arguably the most exciting addition is the Sneaker Lab, a full-scale outfit that allows shoppers to create a customised pair of Nike’s, choosing from one of the largest collection of Nike styles in the world. Nike NYC is all about technology, with features such as Instant Check, which allows customers to bag their purchases at checkout stations positioned throughout the store. Another aspect the flagship is the Nike Speed Shop, a dedicated floor that uses local data on community needs
to stock it’s shelves, so everyone can get exactly what they’re looking for. Another technological highlight is the Nike app, which allows customers in the store to use the ‘Scan to Try’ feature for quick fitting options. Customers also have the option to scan clothing and footwear on display for size and availability information. Shoppers who are too overwhelmed with options can also make a 1-on-1 appointment with a Nike employee, á la the Apple Genius Bar. To mark the store opening, Nike has released a customisable sneaker pack referencing important athletic moments in New York. Representing five moments that impacted the city’s sports history, the allwhile models serve as a blank canvas for customers to curate their own style. Styles include the Air Jordan 1 High model, referencing the iconic Queens subway stop jump made by BMX rider Nigel Sylvester, Maria Sharapova’s Nike Cortez model, and the Kobe Protro 1, a model celebrating Kobe Bryant’s performance at Madison Square Garden in 2009. With the décor featuring a mix of iconic Jordan models, polished glass, and steel, Nike NYC is a delightful mix of old-meetsnew. From customisable sneaker options to grab-and-go checkout services, Nike will continue to remain a pioneering classic in the sportswear industry.
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COMING SOON
In Full Bloom T H E
T U L I P
Joining the likes of the Shard, the Walkie Talkie, the Heron Tower and the Gherkin, within London’s skyline is a new proposed project that is already making waves. In mid-November, a British architect firm announced plans for a tower with a cheeky name and ambitious plans. By Kate Dannies
Foster + Partners, a London-based architectural firm, recently revealed designs for the 305-metre Tulip tower. Once built, the tower will become the second-tallest building in the capital. The Tulip is set to stand next to the Gherkin, an iconic building also designed by Foster + Partners. Aptly, construction of the building will be funded and overseen by the benefactor of the Gherkin, billionaire financier Joseph Safra. The new structure is slated to become a cultural and educational resource for the city, according to the architects. The tallstemmed building is topped by a glass bud, which will house a bar and restaurants offering a 360-degree view of the city. The bud will also feature a 360-degree observation deck connected by sky
bridges. A small park and two-story pavilion featuring a public rooftop garden are also part of the project plans. Under the proposal, photovoltaic cells will generate on-site energy, and the building will be heated and cooled using eco-friendly zero combustion energy. In addition to educational facilities for local school children that will offer 20,000 free visits annually, visitors to the building will get to experience internal slides and take rides in spinning gondola pods affixed to three sides of the building. The project is in line with local authority plans to establish a ‘Culture Mile,’ which aims to attract more visitors to London’s financial district. Despite widespread enthusiasm for the
project, the building’s height has air traffic controllers concerned. Lying just six miles from the London City Airport, technical operations coordinator for the airport has appealed to planning authorities, asking for an assessment of the project to ensure that the buildings exterior gondolas do not interfere with air traffic control systems. Additionally, local residents have voiced opposition to the project, claiming the building is unsympathetic to its surroundings. Indeed, London’s skyline is growing at a rapid pace. At 305 metres tall, the Tulip will be just a metre shorter than London’s tallest building, the Shard. Another planned Skyscraper, the 1 Undershaft, will be 304 metres tall. If all goes to plan, construction on the building could commence in 2020, with a tentative completion date of 2025.
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PROPERTY
Loft of Dreams Aloft City Centre Deira A pioneer in the retail and leisure sector across the Middle East, Africa and Asia, Majid Al Futtaim’s latest reveal showcases that the company can also conjure up dream-like properties. The group recently celebrated the grand opening of Aloft City Centre Deira at an event attended by VIPs, media and influencers from the United Arab Emirates.
Operated by Marriott International, Aloft City Centre Deira is situated in the cultural heart of Dubai and is the first hotel in the region to offer movie-themed suites, alongside a VOX Cinemas’ O screen and the Aloft brand’s signature programming. With its enviable setting and offerings, the urban hotel is a lifestyle destination catering to both leisure and business travellers. Aloft City Centre Deira delivers a fresh approach from the traditional hotel landscape with its emphasis on a lively, in-hotel social scene, modern design, innovative music programming, and thoughtful technology incorporated to enhance the guest experience. The latest offering brings together the combined synergy of Majid Al Futtaim and Marriott International to extend best in class amenities, expedited service offerings and innovative leisure and entertainment options to create unique lifestyle experience for millennial audiences and caters to the surging demand for mid-market hospitality offerings in the city. Directly connected to City Centre Deira, the hotel provides a unique integrated destination offering, that brings together award-win-
ning hospitality, shopping, leisure and entertainment lifestyle excellences to create memorable experiences.
both travellers and residents,” said Sammy Gani, General Manager, Aloft City Centre Deira.
“The team and I are excited to officially launch the Aloft City Centre Deira. Bringing a fresh vibe to this side of the city, we are redefining the traditional hotel concept, bringing urban cool on the creek to
The lucky guests staying at Aloft City Centre Deira will have access to special offers to experience some of the best leisure and entertainment attractions in the city, like Ski Dubai, iFly and Orbi.
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INTERVIEW
Rixos Hotel’s Erkan Yildirim
With over thirty years of management experience in the hospitality industry, Erkan Yildirim is an integral part of the successful Rixos chain of hotels in Egypt. A brand builder and a business savant, and visionary he is a member of the Board of Directors and the Managing Director of Rixos Hotels Egypt, and oversees the management of three world-class properties; Rixos Sharm El Sheikh, Rixos Alamein and Rixos Premium Seagate. His strategic role influences all divisions of operations, business development and marketing. We caught up with Yildirim and found out the secrets of success for Rixos Hotels and got the lowdown on his big plans for epic New Years celebrations at Rixos Sharm El Sheikh.
What defines a Rixos Property in general? A Rixos property is best known for its exceptional design, outstanding Turkish hospitality and most noteworthy- our award-winning ultra-all-inclusive concept. With the ultra-all-inclusive package, guests can enjoy a wide selection of culinary delights and a choice of over 70 international branded beverages from its restaurants and bars. Following on from the success of Rixos Hotel’s signature ultra-all-inclusive service worldwide, the resort offers guests this additional option across all its properties in Egypt. Guests can enjoy all that the resort has to offer at no additional cost in-
cluding the resort’s entertainment, leisure and fitness amenities. The upgrade also offers limitless savings through valuable discounts which can be availed at its spa and other paid facilities.
Rixos Sharm El Sheikh and Rixos Premium Seagate are famous for their New Year’s celebrations. What could we expect from the festivities this year? What do you think makes the hotel successful during this period of the year? Rixos Premium Seagate and Rixos Sharm
El Sheikh is hosting the ultimate New Years bash, set to take place on 30th & 31st of December, and will see an unprecedented lineup of entertainment, a grand gala dinner and five-star hospitality. The celebrations kick off on 30th December with a smashtastic concert from Amr Diab, and continue on 31 December with electric live performances from world renowned pop stars- Tamer Hosny, Alexandra Stan and DJ Katch. Both will be exclusive for guests staying at Rixos Premium Seagate and Rixos Sharm El Sheikh. The theatrics of the night will also be turned up a notch with spectacular Fire & Dance shows, a perfect precursor to the highly anticipated Midnight Countdown. Enhancing the allure of the night is the opulent dinner
spread that has been carefully prepared to unite the world on a single platform, serving up tantalising dishes from across the globe. There was also be an enviable dessert station, featuring the A-Z of cakes, puddings, candy and regional sweets. The success of the New Year experience lies in the exclusivity of the events. The celebrations are exclusive for guests of the hotel opting for the New Year package, making this soiree a super private event that sees the attendance of like minded guests from around the world. The Ultra All Inclusive New Years Package offers limitless savings and amazing experiences which include an extravagant three-nights stay in a luxuriant-appointed room in Rixos Sharm El Sheikh or Rixos Premium Seagate, both destinations known for its extravagant Ultra All Inclusive concept. Maximise on convenience with complimentary VIP airport transfer, a 10% discount across all treatments at Anjana Spa, and a VIP welcome in-room; complete with a fresh fruit basket and delectable desserts.
What sets the Rixos properties in Egypt apart from other Rixos properties around the world? Each Rixos property has a distinct element that gives it a character and makes it unique in its own right. In Egypt, this element is most definitely its close proximity to the Red Sea, which is most often what travelers come seeking. As an added advantage, the three resorts’ coveted location provides unmatched views of the iconic Red Sea, and offers seamless connectivity to the city’s other star attractions which includes but are not limited to the Old Market, Tiran Island, Nabq City Centre, Il Mercato Shopping Center, Naama Bay City Center and most convenient, the
Sharm El Sheikh International Airport.
What are the biggest challenges in managing a large property such as the Rixos Sharm El Sheikh? How do you tackle them? As Egypt is an emerging tourist destination, global travellers remain more or less uninformed of the adventures and experiences that the destination has to offer. In addition to the lack of awareness, the increased competition can potentially pose as a challenge. However our diligent team is able to tackle both through effective target-specific marketing campaigns, and through beneficial partnerships with leading travel and tourism organisations from around the world. On a marketing front we will harness opportunities unleashed by the digital revolution to showcase Rixos Sharm El Sheikh’s offerings, experiences and scenic attractions to local and foreign tourists. The use of digital tools is key to tap into the rapidly growing number of young and tech-savvy travellers. We plan to invest in bringing social media influencers and bloggers to put Rixos properties in Egypt on the world map. The new generation of tourists is relying on social media and online portals to book holidays and give feedback on their experience. Partnerships with the right organisations and digital personalities will enable us to fast-track digitisation, expand outreach, generate higher revenues, and will also help overseas travelers access information on our destinations. Moreover no other organization offers the ultra-all-inclusive concept that goes side by side with the Rixos brand, keeping us ahead of the competition.
Rixos Premium Seagate is a hotel that caters to many target markets.
How are you able to satisfy all the guests with their varying tastes and backgrounds? Rixos Sharm El Sheikh is a guest-centric property that is experience-based and offers a personalised luxury hotel lifestyle. Guests have a world of options to choose from; whether it’s the spa, an impressive portfolio of premium beverages to sip on, culinary options, beach facilities, wide array of motorised sports adventures, and sports and fitness facilities. Patrons of fitness will find their haven at the resort which is the only hotel with an open air sports gym and an indoor fitness center. Rixos Sharm El Sheikh also delivers a strong entertainment program for every hour of the day. Excellent beach parties, performances from renowned DJs, exciting dance shows and more, together with the magnificent nature surrounding the Red Sea, are the key to unlimited entertainment at Rixos Sharm El Sheikh. The property is also home to the world class Rixos Royal Spa that offers a wide umbrella of wellness therapies. The Rixos Royal SPA brings traditional healing wisdom to a space of serenity, sensuousness, and relaxation. Children have the Rixy Club, a 1,200 sqm fairy tale world that comprises of a dedicated kid-friendly restaurant, a playground, and kids’ cinema, along with a range of activities and events cleverly designed to entertain, engage and inspire. Rixos Sharm El Sheikh is a trailblazer with respect to global trends being the first and only hotel to serve gluten free food. Other distinct amenities include its luxuriant heated pools, limitless access to its multi functional theme park, and the five-star butler service available for all guests staying in one of the resort’s prestigious villas.
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Coming Soon POKE BOWLS hawaiian inspiration
rice bowls colorful toppings
japanese recipe
fresh fish
exquisite taste
STYLISH LIVING
DIMA JEWELLERY HOSTS SAUCE DUBAI & LAUNCHES F/W 18-19 COLLECTION The fine Jewellery magnifico, Dima Jewellery, hosted the multi-brand store “Sauce Dubai” and the vibrant ready-to-wear brand “Zayan the Label” for the first time in Egypt. The spectacular night was also embellished with the ever so colorful paintings of Esraa Zidan. The event took place on November 13th at Dima Jewellery’s Zamalek Showroom.
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STYLISH LIVING
FORTUNE STORES CELEBRATE TIZIANA TERENZI FRAGRANCE LAUNCH Fortune stores recently held a series of events and candle workshops in Citystars, Cairo Festival City, and Mall of Arabia to celebrate the launch of Italian niche fragrances brand Tiziana Terenzi. Taking part in the celebrations was none other than S.Paolo Terenzi, Tiziana Terenzi brand owner. The events were attended by Cairo’s top influencers, beauty enthusiast, and the media who expressed their joy at learning how to make their own candles.
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