1817-2017. 200 YEARS DURAVIT. YOUR FUTURE BATHROOM.
Caro. Design by Phoenix Design
When purity becomes an experience: reduced forms and a distinguishing sweeping movement make the Caro ceramic range ideal for elegant bathrooms. Caro appears as elegant as it is modern.
April 2019 FASHION
Interview: Bella Freud p. 26 Fashion Shoot: Tropical Allure p. 30 Interview: Marie Louis p. 36 Feature: Kojak Haute Couture p. 38 Feature: Sadafa’s Rise of the Orient p. 42 Interview: MITCHA p. 44 Art: Lady Dior p. 46
LIFESTYLE
Easter Celebrations p. 22 Interview: Avon GM p. 50 Home: In the Marais p. 52 Boutique Hotel: Ritz-Carlton New York p. 58 Hot Address: Beefbar, Paris p. 60 Jet Set: Safareya p. 62 Interview: Lamia Kamel p. 64
REGULARS Editor’s Note p. 8 Happenings p. 12 FLAIR Loves p. 20
On the Cover Vladislava Evtushenko Photographer: Natalie Berezina Stylist: Dace Krievina Bahmane MUA: Jekaterina Hlopova Hair: Jelena Libante /Kitchen Hair Lab Location: LU Botanic Garden
BREEZE IN FOR A WONDERFUL EASTER.
O P E N YO U R A R M S A N D E M B R A C E SPRING’S ARRIVAL IN A BLAZE O F C O LO U R U N D E R T H E P A L M S I N G E Z I R A H P A L A C E ’ S G LO R I O U S G A R D E N S A N D R E V I TA L I Z E YO U R Y E A R W I T H E A ST E R A N D S H A M E L NESSIM DELIGHTS.
Choose classics from Omar’s Café Easter lunch buffet ... catch early morning sunbeams and sample salted fish from Omar’s celebrated Sham el Nessim breakfast ... hear squeals of pleasure from egghunting, face painting young ones on the Garden Promenade as they surround the speciality treats cart. Linger over cakes and chocolate bunnies in The Bakery. Memories to treasure this Easter. 16 SARAY EL GEZIRA ST., PO BOX 33 ZAMALEK, CAIRO 11211, EGYPT. T: 00. 202.27.28.3000 CAIROMARRIOTTHOTEL.COM ARABIC.MARRIOTT.COM/CAIEG
EDITOR’S NOTE
Spring’s Fashionable Spirit
W
ith the advent of the new season, we celebrate the spring spirit with an inspiring roster of women in the field of fashion. First up Daniela Bonetto talks exclusively with Bella Freud. Since starting her label in 1990, Freud’s designs have steadily garnered a cult following over the years. Now she is known for her sought after clothes rather than solely her famous family (she is the great granddaughter of Sigmund Freud).
Here at home, Sarah Guirguis got up close to an Egyptian fashion pioneer. With her namesake label, Marie Louis Bishara’s brand became a household name. Her journey in fashion and her continuous efforts to elevate Egyptian fashion is an inspiration to us all. With a high number of Egyptian fashion brands emerging on the scene, Hilda Louca decided to found MITCHA-a marketplace dedicated to assembling Egypt’s best homegrown designers in a sleek and functional platform. We talk with the founder and CEO to find out more about her drive for local fashion and what needs to be done to help Egypt’s budding brands.
Happy Easter Everyone, Hind El Ramly editor@flair-magazine.com
MY PICKS FOR THE ISSUE
Easter Celebrations p. 22
Tropical Allure p. 30
Kojak Haute Couture p. 38
Marais Home p. 52
SPRINGTIME COMES ALIVE ALONGSIDE THE PYR AMIDS
SOFT DESERT BREEZES WHISPER BY THE PYRAMIDS, WA R M I N G O U R L A N D S C A P E D GARDENS AND SWIMMING POOL TERRACE AS SPRING B U R STS I N TO L I F E F O R A F A M I LY E A ST E R A N D S H A M EL NESSIM WEEKEND. 139 Restaurant’s water features offer a stunning setting for Easter’s traditional breakfast buffet ... Alfredo Restaurant pairs live entertainment with a barbecue and seafood lunch buffet. Relax, enjoy and ask for our packages for this special day. Magicians and Muppet shows will have the kids roaring ... and for grown-ups there’s a special sparkling cocktail of red currant in the Sultan Bar, guaranteeing family festivities will bubble with excitement this Easter.
6. PYRAMIDS ROAD, P.O. BOX 12556, GIZA, CAIRO, EGYPT T: 00. 202.33.77.3222 F: 00. 202.33.76.7777
April 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
PHOTOGRAPHER
Hassan Ibrahim
FINANCIAL OPERATIONS MANAGER
Maged Azoz
OFFICE COORDINATOR
Marina Naguib
SENIOR PR & ADVERTISING
Eman Hassan
DISTRIBUTION Distribution Officer Farid Sayed Distribution Officer Ahmed Ibrahim PRINTING |
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INTERNATIONAL PRINTING HOUSE
CONTACTS Adress: Apt. 1, 11 Bahey el Din St., Off Giza St., Giza, Egypt 0235720632 Mob. (+2) 01000493100/200/300 Fax. (+2) 0235720632 INQUIRIES
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HAPPENINGS
Accor Hotels Join Forces With Egyptian Food Bank As part of their mission to provide for those in need, Accor hotels in Egypt signed a cooperation protocol with the Egyptian Food Bank, which has also seen the implementation of cooperation protocols within the Chamber of Tourism Establishments and about 90% of luxury hotels located in the country, making it possible to provide 19 million meals to those in need so far. Aside from launching a successful food waste reduction initiative in 2006, the Egyptian Food Bank has also developed a professional operating guide in collaboration with the World Association of Chefs’ Societies on how to handle cooked meals, which is now being exported to other countries around the world.
Charms JW Ladies Society’s Fun Night at Zerzara JW Marriott Hotel Cairo pulled out all the stops hosting an impressive exclusive event for the Charms JW Ladies Society to enjoy a fun night at Zerzara. If you haven’t heard about it, Charms JW Ladies Society is an exclusive club that hosts many events that offer exciting, new ideas, designed to enhance the lifestyles of its members. Guests indulged in an evening to remember filled with drinks, conversation and culinary delights while enjoying the music of one of the top local DJs, Armin V. The evening didn’t stop there as Magdolina the belly dancer took the stage with a performance that kept the dance floor busy for the rest of the night.
Cooking Master Class with Chef Vincenzo Guglielmi at Fairmont Nile City Bringing authentic Italian flavors to Cairo through its latest restaurant, L’Uliveto, Fairmont Nile City took a group of Cairo’s top media personalities on a gastronomical journey through the Mediterranean coast as seen through the eyes of Chef Vincenzo Guglielmi. Hailing from the warm south of Italy, Chef Vincenzo demonstrated two delectable, easy-to-follow dishes starting with his signature fresh tagliatelle pasta with shrimps followed by his timeless ravioli with ricotta and spinach.
Frank Naboulsi Appointed VP of AccorHotels Operations Sami Nasser, Chief Operating Officer, Luxury Brands, Middle East, announced the promotion of Frank Naboulsi to Vice President of Operations in Egypt. In his new role, his leadership has been extended over Sofitel Winter Palace Luxor, Sofitel Taba Heights, Sofitel Cairo El Gezirah, Sofitel Legend Old Cataract, Sofitel Le Gabriel, Mövenpick Resort & Spa El Gouna, Mövenpick Hotel Cairo-Media City, Mövenpick Resort Taba, Mövenpick Resort Soma Bay, Mövenpick Resort Sharm el Sheikh, Mövenpick Resort El Sokhna, Mövenpick Resort El Quseir, Mövenpick Resort Aswan, in addition to managing Fairmont Nile City.
Explore the Marriott Mena House Spa Menu Discover the tranquility of the Mena House Spa located in the heart of the uniquely landscaped gardens of the Marriott Mena House in Cairo. At this spa, you will find a serene refuge for mind, spirit and body where guests can retreat from the hectic city routines and stress. They are pampered like royalty and emerge rejuvenated with a wide variety of treatments including body massages, facial treatments and scrubs. The massage menu has something for everyone, offering aroma massage, Swedish massage, deep tissue massage, back massage and reflexology.
InterContinental Hotels Celebrate International Women’s Day InterContinental, Holiday Inn and Staybridge Suites Cairo Citystars celebrated International Women’s Day with a series of events to acknowledge the efforts of all women working at the three hotels. In the morning, Nasser Fadly, Area Director of Human Resources, Africa and Human Resources team members paid a surprise visit to the ladies in their workplaces and presented them with homemade chocolates. Special free manicures, makeup and hairdressing sessions were also offered to all the women followed by a special party in the afternoon, in which rewarding certificates were presented to recognize their efforts and talents.
New Promotions at Sonesta Sonesta Hotel Cairo announced the promotion of Emad Bedwany to the position of Executive Assistant Manager - Operations & Human Resources. Bedwany has an extensive hotel experience of 35 years, 29 years of them being in Sonesta where he held the position of Director of Human Resources. Backed by 24 years of hospitality experience in several chains in Egypt and Dubai, and specializing in Training and Human Resources, Maha El Gayar, Sonesta’s Training Consultant, has also been promoted to the position of Director of Human Resources & Training.
Hamed El Chiaty Receives TUI Award Honoring the outstanding accomplishments in the travel and tourism industry over a 40- year timespan in the Middle East, Hamed El Chiaty, the hospitality veteran and founder of Travco Group, was recognized by TUI Deutschland and awarded this year’s exclusive TUI Lifetime Achievement Award. The prestigious and distinctive award, which is only granted to very few people around the globe, was presented by TUI Deutschland CEO Marek Andryszak, COO Stefan Baumert and Board Member David Burling during a regal ceremony in recognition of Chiaty’s merits and his exceptional contribution to the travel and tourism industry since 1979.
FLAIR REVIEW
Under the Tuscan Sun at the Cairo Marriott Hotel Italian cuisine lover? Leave it to Cairo Marriott Hotel & Omar Khayyam Casino to take you on a culinary adventure in their very own ‘Tuscany’. Their delectable Ristorante Tuscany is one of the few places to go to in the city for a truly authentic Italian food experience. Elements like the darkwood decor; the dim lighting, the Italian background music and the fountain-like structure in the middle of the restaurant all work together to set the scene so beautifully. Cordial as can be, the waiter greets you with a smile and a fresh breadbasket and proceeds to prepare you a dip comprising of olive oil, balsamic and shredded cheese. Here is what we sampled for the rest of the night, taking us on a Tuscan journey. By Sarah Guirguis
Bruschetta al Pomodoro
For the appetizer, we ordered Italy’s classic tomato and basil bruschetta with extra virgin olive oil drizzle. It was as tempting as you can imagine and paired with a yummy pesto dip.
Insalata Rucola, Gorgonzola e Pera Grigliata
A grilled pear and blue cheese salad? Why not. With mouthwatering flavors, this salad is a level above your typical rocket salad experience.
Zuppa di Mare
Following the salad, we sampled the Italian seafood soup with salmon, shrimp, calamari and chunks of more creatures from under the sea. If you’re expecting a white creamy soup like the one you find at most fish restaurants in Egypt, think again. This was a thick, flavorful tomato seafood soup. Unique and yummy!
Lasagne con Ragu di Carne e Besciamella
With no doubt, this was the most delicious
plate to land on our table. The lasagna enjoyed perfect consistency between the béchamel, grilled cheese, tomato sauce and minced meat. Not one ingredient stood out as too little or too much. It came as no surprise to us that the quality of the lasagna was superb since Tuscany restaurant creates all their pasta from scratch.
Fettucine Alfredo
You can never go wrong with this classic and delectable pasta dish. Generously portioned and oozing with a tasty white creamy sauce… You get the picture. Did we mention this pasta is also homemade?
Costine d’Agnello
When it came to the main dish, we ordered grilled lamb chops. With a succulent sauce, make sure to tackle it while it’s hot. The mashed potatoes on the side were also a great texture - almost creamy and buttery.
Scaloppine di Vitello al Vino Bianco
This dish was recommended to us as a signature Italian specialty. When we hesitated over the fact that the veal escalope
is grilled not breaded, the waiter assured us this is how they would serve it in Tuscany. Naturally, we went along with it and we’re glad that we did. The white lemon herb sauce was delicious, and the veal… splendid.
I Dolci
We asked for the waiter’s recommendation when the time came for dessert and we were in for a surprise. A few minutes later, he arrived at our table with three plates: Traditional Panna Cotta with strawberry sauce, warm-centered chocolate fudge cake with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, and the best Tiramisu we ever laid eyes/ taste buds on. Needless to say, it was as delicious as the mental image in your head. An impeccable ending to an evening well spent.
Ristorante Tuscany Cairo Marriott Hotel & Omar Khayyam Casino 16 Saray El Gezira Street, Zamalek, Cairo. Telephone: 02 27283000 ext. 4661
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Spotify Makes Mother’s Day Playlist Curated to celebrate all the extraordinary mothers out there, Spotify’s Set El Habayeb Mother’s Day playlist is a combination of both soul-stirring and nostalgic melodies that fill our hearts with love and appreciation for our mothers. As described by Rashed Al-Majed in his song Aghla Hadiya, the unconditional love and care mothers provide us with are the most valuable gifts in life. Whether it’s a golden age classic such as Shadia’s Mama ya Helwa, ballads including Oumi Thuma Oumi or nostalgic tunes such as Joe Ashkar’s Ya Omy and the infamous Shou Zghir Ya Omy El Haky by Julia Boutros, music always has a soundtrack for us to celebrate and reflect on the best moments in life.
Red Hot Chili Peppers Hit The Pyramids The iconic rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers brought their unique funkrock sound and numerous great hits to a live performance for the first time ever at the foot of the Great Pyramids of Giza. The Red Hot Chili Peppers drew a huge crowd of over ten thousand fans from 67 countries, who came especially to witness this once-in-a-lifetime performance. The crowd went wild from the moment the band’s iconic drum set was revealed, reaching a crescendo as the members of the legendary band came onto the stage. The energy was high as everyone sang along while the group performed their most popular hits, starting with favorites like Can’t Stop, Californication and Dark Necessities.
Grand Nile Tower Welcomes New Commercial Director Grand Nile Tower has announced the appointment of Sherif Medhat as its new Commercial Director. In his new role, Medhat will oversee all marketing, revenue and sales activities while developing and implementing business strategies that drive growth and exceed business objectives across all segments. Having held various key sales managerial positions in top five-star hospitality chains including Sheraton, InterContinental Hotels Group, Hilton, Rotana Hotels & Resorts, Orascom Hotels Management and Fairmont, Sherif Medhat brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise of over 22 years to Grand Nile Tower.
Fine Tackles Illiteracy In Egypt For Fine Hygienic Holding, the countries in which it operates are more than just markets. They are communities to be celebrated and empowered. In Egypt, where illiteracy is an unfortunate reality for many citizens, Fine has been conducting a literacy program known as An Egyptian Village Free from Illiteracy, in cooperation with the Adult Education Authority, in the hopes of eradicating this problem entirely. Recently, over 400 adults from three villages in the Giza Governorate took part in order to develop their literacy and numeracy skills in a nine-month program.
Mohamed Salah Becomes Brand Ambassador for ALEXBANK Manifesting their leadership in the Egyptian market, ALEXBANK - a subsidiary of the Intesa Sanpaolo Group - signed a new partnership agreement with Egyptian football icon, Mohamed Salah, to become the bank’s official ambassador. Head of Retail Banking & Small Business Sherif Lokman said, “The Liverpool Football Club Cards issued featuring Mohamed Salah have been our most successful products to date, affirming the deep love our customers have for Mohamed Salah. This partnership is pivotal in our goal to attract and engage thousands of Egyptians into the formal financial sector, contributing to a greater financial inclusion while moving towards the goal set by the Egyptian Authorities of a cashless economy.”
Hyundai Introduces Smartphone-Based Digital Key Hyundai has announced plans to introduce new digital key technology on future models, allowing drivers to unlock and start their car via smartphone apps. The system uses highly secure near field communication technology with antennas fitted in the front door handles and in a wireless charging pad inside the car. Users can unlock the car by bringing an authorized smartphone close to the door, and then start the car by placing it on the charging pad and pressing a start/stop button. The vehicle will also recognize each user’s preferred settings, such as position of mirrors, seats and the steering wheel, as well as controls for the audio, video and navigation systems and the head-up display.
British Council Celebrates UK Alumni in Egypt The British Council announced three Egyptian winners of the Study UK Alumni Awards 2018-19 at an awarding ceremony in the British Embassy in Cairo. In total, nine UK alumni in Egypt were shortlisted and recognised for their outstanding achievements as business professionals, entrepreneurs and community leaders, and for their important contribution to strengthening collaborative ties between the UK and Egypt. Following in-depth interviews with a judging panel, recipients were selected for the three award categories: Professional Achievement, Entrepreneurial, and Social Impact.
LG Is Going To InnoFest This spring, LG will be showcasing its revolutionary ThinQ technology and the power of AI to an exclusive audience at InnoFest 2019. The annual event gives distribution and retail partners as well as media the opportunity to gain hands-on experience with LG’s latest technologies. This year, LG is placing key focus on communicating the power of smart technology to make life simpler and more efficient with its array of AIequipped appliances. LG’s ThinQ technology signifies a future of greater flexibility and convenience in homes all over the region.
FLAIR #LOVES By Daniela Bonetto
EXTENDED FAMILY Swedish lighting brand Wästberg and architect David Chipperfield unveiled the extensions to the w102 chipperfield lamp in a special exhibition in collaboration with Alessi and e15 during Stockholm Design. And we are totally drooling after this family of lights and especially the floor light. (€770; wastberg.com)
CHEERS!
The difference between a beautiful table and an extraordinary table are the drinking glasses. Cristallerie de Montbronn’s Opera No.9 Champagne Flute with a gold inlay are truly a gem to drink out of. With such a beauty it will be difficult to put them down. Cheers! {€325 each; cristallerie-montbronn. com }
FURRY SEAT
The hot seat in the house has to be the Satellite Ottoman by Jean Louis Deniot for Counot Blandin. Made with Norki fur, they will be the most contested seat amongst the guests. [€2,150; counotblandin.fr]
A GARDEN AFFAIR The garden has just been braided. Kettal Bitta, designed by Rodolfo Dordoni, arm chairs have entered the scene. Characterised by a combination of aluminium frames and seats of braided polyester, the aim of the intention of the designer was to create dense braiding that would still let the air through, reminiscent of the braiding of the ropes used to moor boats (hence the name Bitta, which means ‘mooring’ in Italian), which makes the pieces look lightweight but, at the same time, they look just like cosy nests in natural colours to sit back and relax in. {€1,295; kettal.com)
ELECTRIC VIBES Nowadays electric cars don’t make a splash of news anymore but what if I told you that Danish designer Biomega was in the second design phase of the ultimate and super cool electric bad boy? Meet SIN. Designed with the city dweller in mind, SIN is an affordable and sustainable mode of urban transport (skibstedid.com)
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HAPPENINGS
Easter Celebrations
Cairo Marriott Hotel & Omar Khayyam Casino It is this time of the year where everyone is getting ready to welcome spring and bask in its nice weather. This year, the Cairo Marriott Hotel & Omar Khayyam Casino will welcome guests to celebrate Easter with family and friends at the palatial gardens of the hotel. Starting April 29th, guests can enjoy the sunrise at the palace as Omar’s Café will be serving an unmatchable Sham El Nesim breakfast with an array of salted fish and Sham El Nesim signature dishes. During lunchtime at Omar’s Café, an entertainment program will be available for kids at The Patio with face painting and special treats. The Bakery will also have a huge variety of Easter cakes, chocolate bunnies and much more.
Grand Nile Tower Grand Nile Tower hotel is inviting you to join in the Easter festivities filled with sumptuous meals and lively entertainment by the Nile. Start out your day with a delicious breakfast indoors at the Fontana Restaurant. For lunch, El Sakya Souk restaurant is the perfect place to gather with family and friends for an open buffet offering mouth-watering selections of Lebanese, Egyptian, Indian and International cuisine, while enjoying the live entertainment and a lot of activities for children including arts and crafts, clowns, magician and a Muppet show. Easter would not be complete without some traditional chocolate eggs and rabbits, which Delices Tea Lounge will be offering daily.
Le Méridien Cairo Airport Explore gleeful activities, savory cuisine and a rejuvenating atmosphere this Easter at Le Méridien Cairo Airport. Book a double room and get 50% off the second room, starting at 1000 EGP per person. The package includes Easter buffet breakfast and Easter lunch buffet at EVOO, kids giveaways and special kid’s activities to keep your little ones entertained, and early check-in and late checkout. Party the night away with friends at Live Sports Bar and enjoy a live singer and DJ performance, along with a wide range of cocktails and appetizing treats for only 250LE+++.
Nile Ritz-Carlton Spring is here and the Nile Ritz-Carlton is certainly the best destination to celebrate an Easter family vacation. This Easter, bring your loved ones to enjoy an exclusive celebration with an endless selection of family activities and events from a lavish Easter brunch at Culina restaurant to a special family day at the pool. For those who wish to celebrate Easter in style, Nox is the place to go. It will be hosting a luxurious rooftop party featuring a belly dancer and guest DJ so you can dance the night away with the finest entertainment in town.
Sonesta Hotel, Tower & Casino This year, make sure you join the festivities at Sonesta Hotel, Tower & Casino. Get together with your family, friends and the little ones for an exciting Sham el Nessim day around the pool. Enjoy the fresh air, sunny weather, delicious lunch buffet with live entertainment and exciting kids’ activities. For a splendid Easter getaway, book the Easter Accommodation Package, which has exceptionally special offers for the whole week.
Sheraton Cairo Hotel Sheraton Cairo hotel opens its doors for families and friends to welcome spring and enjoy a festive Easter with their loved ones. This Easter, you can book one of their special limited cabanas to enjoy a sunny day by the pool with an exceptional outdoor lunch, fun kid’s activities and amazing folklore entertainment. After enjoying your family day in the sun, the fun continues with a variety of options for a great night, where you can enjoy some Latin music at Studio 70 with finger food setup and refreshing drinks, outstanding oriental band music and a belly dancer at El Mawardia or a night full of surprises at the famous Rawi night spot.
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INTERVEIW
BELLA FREUD “Both my fashion collection and interiors style share key cultural references; bold colour, eclecticism and the glamour of the 1970’s” By Daniela Bonetto
Throw on a pair of jeans and one of her signature jumpers and you will be glad to know that you are wearing a cult fashion item. “Ginsberg is God” worn by Kate Moss, “Je t’aime Jane” by Alexa Chung, Rebecca Hall, Gigi Hadid and Rosie Hunington-Whiteley simply upgraded boring knitwear. Her “1970” jumper, worn by Caroline Flack and the well-heeled of SW1, is so in demand that it’s reissued every season. Bella Freud, the great-granddaughter of Sigmund and daughter of Lucian, launched her label in 1990. In 1991 her tailored creations earned her the Most Innovative Designer Award at the London Fashion Awards. Then the recession hit but eventually made her come back focusing on her cashmere word jumpers. In 2013 she launched a range of perfume and scented candles inspired by the widely recognised sweaters. In 2015 she opened a flagship store in central London. In 2018 she collaborated with Maria Speake – co-founder of design and salvage mecca Retrouvius – to apply her cool-girl chic to Helios 710, a three- bedroom penthouse in a circular Grade II-listed building in White City.
Daniela Bonetto: How would you describe your interiors style?
Bella Freud: I like the glossy against the grainy taste of the 70’s. I love the way colour suddenly invaded everything, orange, red, purple and black walls. Or everything painted white - even the floors and windows, like in the film The Knack. When you look at Hockney’s paintings it gives a good idea of interiors being glamorised by colour. I love Warhol, Francis Bacon, my father Lucian Freud, they all look great in these modern, rich settings.
DB: What did the Helios 710 project mean to you?
BF: Television Centre is an iconic part of West London’s history, which has been intertwined with my own life. It was important for myself and Maria Speake to retain the design integrity of the site, with the ease and comfort of a custom designed space that suits modern living. Helios 710 was an opportunity for myself and Maria Speake to collaborate on another project, this time to explore my fantasy home.
DB: Who do you see living in the apartment you designed?
BF: The overall aesthetic idea was to create a look and feel that was calm, sexy, elegant and spacious. The apartment has been designed to be a place where you feel as comfortable spending time alone or entertaining with a group of friends. The nice thing about the space is that you can see how you might add to it, that’s part of the concept. It shouldn’t be intimidating, and it needs to have room for other people’s ideas
DB: Why do you and Maria Speake work so well together?
BF: This is the fourth time we have collaborated. Everything Maria suggests is nothing I would have thought of but everything I wished I had. Helios 710 is definitely an extension of the other spaces we have created, we feel it’s a natural progression from the two homes and store we designed together. At the moment we are musing on what we would like to do next. It’s fun to do commercial projects that have a lot of functionality involved, I like the mixture of making things work and being of service and also investing as much beauty and charm into every nut and bolt.
27
DB: How did you get involved in the Helios 710 project?
BF: The developers Stanhope asked us to pick an apartment to transform from a selection. We looked at all the apartments and Piercy & Company’s had a nice, considered, calm quality to it.
DB: Three words to describe the interior? BF: Eclectic, glamorous, seventies.
DB: What was the inspiration?
BF: For the interiors of Helios 710 we wanted to captivate the spirit and freedom of the 1970s – vibrant block colours have been used to frame reclaimed mid-century pieces, alongside special edition rugs made in collaboration with The Rug Company and inspired by the wording on my sweaters. The material palette also echoes that of my fashion label, for instance, corduroy is a great texture and has become part of the overall signature for the interiors.
DB: How did you and Speake make decisions on the project -who had the final word?
BF: Whenever Maria and I make a decision about a room, our conversations tend to be about how wonderful a certain colour is, or about a beautiful piece of ceramics or artwork, rather than thinking about it too practically. www.televisioncentre.com
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FASHION SHOOT
Tropical Allure
Swimsuit: Slow Beachwear
Dress: Noname Atelier Earrings & rings: Dinari Jewels
Model: Vladislava Evtushenko Photographer: Natalie Berezina Stylist: Dace Krievina Bahmane MUA: Jekaterina Hlopova Hair: Jelena Libante /Kitchen Hair Lab Location: LU Botanic Garden
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Body suit: Slow Beachwear Pants: Jenny Packham Jacket: Max Mara Hat: CLYDE Earrings & necklace: Dinari Jewels
Swimsuit: Slow Beachwear Earrings: Pas de Marque
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Dress: Liga Banga
Blouse: Massimo Dutti Pants: Momot Rings & earrings: Dinari Jewels
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INTERVIEW
Marie Louis
At the Fashion Forefront Since 1989 Being the first Egyptian brand with collections regularly premiering at Paris Fashion Week, Marie Louis is undeniably the crème de la crème of the fashion industry in Egypt and a household brand name. After conquering the local and international market, the head designer and partner of her namesake label, Marie Louis Bishara, is on a mission to put Egypt on the map in the global fashion scene by launching an official Egypt Fashion Week. We sat with her to talk about her experience as a female fashion leader and what she has learned from her illustrious journey so far. By Sarah Guirguis
Who inspires you? Our chairman and leader, my father, is my inspiration. He has impacted the industry of fashion, garments and textile in Egypt since 1960 when he was only 22. He met my mother while attending business courses at AUC. They fell in love and she started learning to draw to help him in his business. She became the main designer for the printing that he was working on. Because of my parents, I learned how to separate the color of a design when I was six.
What was your dream job as a kid? I was completely engulfed in the fashion industry as a child. My summers were about helping my mother with coloring, even after school, I would go to her office in the factory. I actually learned how to ride a bike in the factory isles. She loved fashion. She would take me to her tailor to create her own beautiful garments, and we would travel together and go to fashion shows. I was exposed to luxury brands because my mother used to dress so beautifully. I wouldn’t stop sketching and doing drapes on silhouettes. This is how it started.
How did the BTM brand take off and what was your role at the beginning? When President Sadat came, they provided tax-free lands for all business investors so my father and mother decided to create the first Egyptian menswear brand. By the time I was fifteen or sixteen, I was in charge of the marketing campaign for BTM with Tarek Nour. I started to dress the models and work alongside my mother in creating the collections for the campaign.
Tell us about your studies and training in France. I was always presented with a challenge by my father in regards to doing art for art or art for industry. I was completely leaning into art for art. There were no fashion schools at that time and I was an artist deep down. I didn’t like the industrial part of fashion, like sewing machines or pattern making. I only wanted to
What advice would you give to young designers?
sketch and draw. He told me, “If you care about your country and you want to help, the way to help is by creating jobs. God has given you a creative mind. Imagine having your paintings or sketches create a regular income for two hundred families.” He appealed to the girl scout part of me that wanted to serve.
Go after your passion from a very tender age. I believe being raised up in this environment with my parents really paved the way for me. Also, when you’re in a situation where you have to make a decision, you should not be impacted by today’s state of things but look at what things could turn into in five, ten and twenty years.
In the 80s, it was unheard of that a girl would leave her country to study. When I found Esmode, a fashion school in Paris, I started to send them my sketches and they approved. My father told me that I was too young to live alone, but then he decided to pay for design classes if I were to pick a double major, in order to also learn sewing and pattern making. “No designer can ever succeed without understanding how to produce a final product,” he insisted.
What defines a great designer? Trend setting. Whether with your color scheme or the texture or geometrical design, you should create a signature for the whole line. You pick an element and you create a whole theme around it. You want to make something that is timeless and can live on for several seasons. For people who don’t have enough money to buy high-end, they think differently. They will invest in a piece that will be a great look for a couple of years.
What type of challenges did you face? I couldn’t stand living in Paris for more than half a term because it was dark, so I moved to Nice, which was sunny and on the beach. I used to watch the collection for Ivoire de Balmain, and study design in the mornings, then, go to learn pattern making and sewing until 7pm. When
What challenges have you faced as a female leader?
I went home, I would work on my design files and samples, and I would sleep at 4am to wake up at 7am and repeat the cycle. During those three years in France, I slept very little but I made it through the pressure. Only 16 students graduated from a class of 86. After I finished my first year, I took a train to spend the three months of summer at Lille, where they were making jeans for Cacharel. I wasn’t really into it but I learned a lot. I was assisting designer Lolita Lempicka and I would be the one giving her pins to work with. These were the footsteps that formed me. I later learned about marketing in Germany. I learned all aspects about the lifestyle surrounding the fashion industry. I was a backstage dresser for most of the very important brands in France and I would watch the designers work. All this experience led me to launch the ladies’ wear collection – the Marie Louis brand.
What is next on your calendar? My next meeting is with the Egyptian French Residential Council. It’s all about empowering women of the continent. The council is a mediator between Egypt and France. I represent the fashion sector and the textile and garments industry.
Time is the biggest challenge because a woman has to take care of her femininity, her inner peace, spiritual life, physical strength, and her family. If she wants to live fulfilled, she has to be in harmony with her ideologies. If she’s not satisfied in this area, she will always be in conflict with her brain.
How do you envision the future of your brand for upcoming years? Since 2007, my dream was to create the first Egyptian Fashion Week. I was invited to present my collections on the official calendar in Paris. I got in contact with them and talked to them about creating a body for fashion in Egypt that could twin with the French and Italian federation to create an Egypt Fashion Week that was world-accredited. We also want to be present in the States, in France, Italy, Germany, Milan and Asia. That will take us on a road of creating teams of collaborators to grow the brand.
How is it like working alongside your daughter? She is smart and bright, and she has stamina. I love working with her and listening to her ideas. She has a cosmopolitan way of thinking because she lived in New York for a year and in London for seven years, so she has seen and aspired to where we want to reach.
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FEATURE
Kojak Haute Couture Caught In Her Web
Whether Ready to Wear or Haute Couture, Homegrown brand Kojak churns out unique pieces that never disappoint. Following their fresh collection Call Me Daddy, Kojak strikes again with its latest haute couture collection titled Caught In Her Web. Drawing inspiration from the ancient stories of the Japanese Jorōgumo, the collection is a one-of-a-kind expression of duality, lust and beauty.
Photography: Louay Nasser Styling: Aya Negm MUA: Mai El Tarzi Hair: Heclev Hanna Models: Heba Dessouky & Tahany Gohary Location: Badie Architects
Caught In Her Web transcends time by bringing forth and visualizing, through Kojak’s perception, a story so ancient, and turning it into wearable art. Jorōgumo, according to Japanese folklore, is a 400-year-old giant spider that can shift its appearance into that of a beautiful woman. Using this skill, Jorōgumo seduces handsome young men, wraps them up in her web and eats them! The tale of Jorōgumo, which seems to be a paradox within itself, highlights the relationship between dark and light; the spider takes the form of a beautiful young woman, therefore embodying a ‘light’ being - then, the spider seduces, kills and eats her lovers, embodying a ‘dark’ being.
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Similarly, the legend of Jorōgumo influences each piece in the collection, specifically the color palette, given the light pastel colored pieces: like whites, light greys and off-whites - and dark, more concentrated colored pieces: like bright reds, blacks and rich dim greens. In addition to that, several pieces feature asymmetric cuts, dawning on the chaotic relationship between the Jorōgumo and her lovers. The embroidery and fur on some of the pieces mirror the beauty and majestic nature of the Jorōgumo.
“Each piece in the collection draws onto the Jorōgumo in its own unique way,” says Mohanad Kojak, Chief Designer of Kojak. “It is as if each piece is its own Jorōgumo with its own personal characteristics.”
FEATURE
s.a.d.a.f.a’s Rise of the Orient
Project by @flarepr Photography: @blackcreativestudios Model: @im_bogdarina MUA: @bydanakhedr Hair: @alsagheersalons Painting: @creationsbyamina Dress: @tayacouture Jewellery: @amenafarahatdesign
Inspired by oriental architecture and unique Egyptian craftsmanship, s.a.d.a.f.a, the brand known for high-end clutches and one of Fashion Trust Arabia’s 25 finalists, released a brand new collection, Rise of the Orient. Picture statement clutches that transform hand-drawn design into luxurious wearable pieces of art. Merging Egyptian heritage and contemporary design, the brand draws its name from the Arabic word for mother of pearl. Coming from the ocean with a wide range of patterns and luminous colors, each shell has its own unique shape making every s.a.d.a.f.a piece one of its kind. In a world where things are made to be disposable, the brand aims to create timeless heirlooms that can be passed from one generation to another. Like a big puzzle waiting to be solved, the artisans take up to 250 hours to create a s.a.d.a.f.a piece as they carefully hand-select and emboss the mother of pearl inlays, using different tools and hundred-year-old cutting techniques that were inherited from older generations.
Rise of the Orient presents a variety of clutches in different geometrical patterns and various colorful stones that come with detachable chain shoulder straps to match every occasion attire. Using different techniques in assembling the mother of pearl inlays, the clutches glow and change color when viewed from different angles, which gives them a glamorous unique identity. Beloved by super regional stars and actresses as the likes of Yousra, Laila Elwy, Hend Sabry and Amina Khalil, s.a.d.a.f.a clutches glam up and compliment any look with an instinctive luxurious touch.
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INTERVIEW
Meet
MITCHA
The Fashion Game-Changer by Hilda Louca MITCHA has quickly become the talk of the fashion scene in Egypt-and with good reason. Assembling the very best of Egypt’s homegrown designers, MITCHA caters to a growing community of style-savvy shoppers seeking the latest in unique, high-quality ready-to-wear, semi-couture, footwear, accessories and fine jewelry. We talked to the founder and CEO Hilda Louca to learn more about the budding brand. By Sarah Guirguis
Tell us a little bit about your background.
Describe the brand identity in three words.
I was born in Alexandria, and graduated from Alexandria University with a Bachelor’s Degree in English literature, and then I received my Master’s Degree in Business Administration with a major in Marketing. I have more than twenty years of experience in marketing and management, after working as a sales consultant and customer relations manager at Lufthansa Egypt, a sales manager for Al Ahram Beverages and also being a part of the Health Program at The World Health Organization.
Simple, elegant, modern but still in touch with our roots.
We loved your party collection video in December 2018. Tell us about the shoot. We had a lot of fun shooting this video. The overall mood was simple and upbeat at the same time, reflecting our brand personality. The campaign message, #MITCHAisYOU is all about being yourself and staying true to your identity no matter what your style is. This is reflected in our curated collections, which cater to different tastes so you can be whoever you choose to be.
What have been your biggest challenges so far? Inconsistency in product quality and stock availability is a key challenge, so is convincing designers to not only depend on their social media following for growth but to look further and dream bigger. There is a whole industry that is emerging behind the designers, and every touchpoint needs to be done right. We can say that we’re taking the first step towards change. Some barriers still exist especially when it comes to buying fashion online, as many customers still opt for what we call social e-commerce by purchasing through social media boutiques.
What are your criteria in choosing which designers to collaborate with? We select designers based on the quality of their products. That is our main criteria to be featured on the platform. We have a dedicated team of fashion-forward buyers, stylists and editors who search the fashion landscape for real talents and collaborate to bring a unique and curated shopping experience. Every single piece is carefully scanned by our dedicated quality control team, who inspect all incoming merchandise.
Why go for local designers exclusively? What do you think makes Egyptian designers stand out in the fashion world? Egyptian designers have incredible talent and creativity. Their spirit really inspired me to create MITCHA. Most of them go against the stream to create - from finding good craftsmen to buying materials and fabrics that may only be available today but not tomorrow. They deserve to shine and be seen. Our designers stand out because they draw their inspiration from our deeply rooted culture and heritage while keeping an eye on international trends. Their edge lies in mixing modernity with history and authenticity in a well-crafted final product that can potentially compete with global brands.
How do you hold the local designers to international standards? Our team ensures that only the best designers are stocked on MITCHA. Quality is our number one driver; every piece is carefully selected and goes through extensive quality and authenticity checks to be featured on the platform. We also hold sample meetings to assess young designers and even make recommendations including quality improvement and pricing.
What do you recommend for Egyptian designers to be able to grow and excel in the market? Dream, believe, start, work hard, fail, learn, do it correctly, legalize your business, and eventually you will succeed. You can’t build a brand based only on social media. My second piece of advice is a quote by Steve Jobs, “Great things in business are never done by one person. They’re done by a team of people.” Never be afraid to collaborate or share your work. Nobody can actually steal your dream or your talent.
What is your greatest aspiration for the brand? We are working towards changing the fashion game in this part of the world. Today’s customers expect a seamless, convenient high-quality experience throughout every step of the journey. Our aim as a fashion e-tailer is to bring a unique shopping experience, through aesthetics, curated content, functionality, marketing, logistics and customer service.
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ART
Art, Fashion & Feminism THE DIOR LADY We’ve seen it recently with the Michael Kors x David Downton bags and we’re seeing the treasured fusion of fashion and art again with Dior – this time with a fresh and feminist flair. After making shirts exhibiting the quote “Why have there been no great women artists?” last spring, Dior’s feminist artistic director Maria Grazia Chiuri decided to present a counter-argument. On that note, Dior debuted a limited edition of #DiorLadyArt handbags created in collaboration with some of the most remarkable female artists around the globe. Each artist had her own interpretation of the medley of the Lady Art collection. By Sarah Guirguis
Haruka Kojin Born in Hiroshima, Japan, Kojin is mainly known for her contact lens series of exhibitions, which depict flowers and feathers in unusually skewed designs. Her participation in this project is her way of accounting for the warped viewpoints of the world, while producing crystalline, glossy bags that everyone will want their hands on.
Mickalene Thomas Known for confronting issues of race, gender, and sexuality in her art, this outspoken African-American artist doesn’t stray from elegance. Her obsession with collage and mixed-art is ostensible in her beautiful Lady Art bag.
Polly Apfelbaum Born in Pennsylvania, Apfelbaum has been a constant gallery resident since the 1980’s. Inspired by Christian Dior’s past as a gallerist, the American artist went for flower-like, swirly, geometric shapes and an explosion of color on the canvas of her Lady Art bags.
Olga de Amaral An innovative abstract artist from Colombia, De Amaral, 86, is notable for creating beauty with metallic leaf and fiber, specifically identified by an obsession with golden tones. When it came to her contribution to the Lady Art project, the magical bags were no different.
Li Shurui An obvious favorite at galleries worldwide and a graduate of the Sichuan Fine Arts Institute, Shurui is actually one of the rare female Chinese artists who have regular shows of their own. She is known for exploring the impact of light and space on emotion, and this is reflected in the digitalized 3D effect on her Lady Art bag.
Lee Bul For this South Korean artist, art is based on the political ideals of feminism and justice. Her avant-garde approach led her Lady Art bag to appear as a habitual piece of nature, portrayed as a pile of green, spongy moss.
Morgane Tschiember The mastermind behind this bag is the French artist and sculptor, famous for studying the inter-dimensional relationships and balance between space, time, and beauty. Inspired by Japanese knotwork and undertones, Tschiember decided to offer a portrayal of the female form by contrasting the soft leather with the compact ropes.
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Janaina Tschäpe Founding most of her art on the theme of nature, the German artist, who was raised in Brazil, draws inspiration from the unpredictability of water and the blend of symbolism and imagination. For her Lady Art bag, she offered a colorful, organic display by presenting a visually tangible and tactile expression of a wild world.
Burçak Bingöl Known for incorporating the various themes of culture and industry – as a symbol of internationalism - to make sculptures, photos and paintings, this Turkish artist is one for the books. In that spirit, she has a hatai motif on one of her Lady Art bags, which is an adaptation of the lotus flower from the porcelain that the Ottomans inherited from Chinese art.
Isabel Cornaro This French sculptor and filmmaker’s impressive art actually made its exhibition in the Louvre and rightfully so. Cornaro drives inspiration from the buildup of certain elements, essentially Christian Dior’s obsession with collecting talismans. Her Lady Art bags not only overflow with stockpiles of random objects, but also bear the mark of the each object on the leather.
Pae White For some odd reason, green bottle flies fascinate this American artist, and this is exactly what you see in her Lady Art Bag, expressed in gleaming dichroic material. “My art has attempted to subvert the viewer’s expected relationship to an everyday object, nudging them off balance, encouraging a deeper look,” said White.
INTERVIEW
Avon’s Feminist Role in Egypt Always standing out as the brand that actually puts women first, Avon has proved to be much more than your typical cosmetics empire. For those who haven’t heard, Avon will take you on as a representative if you’re interested and empower you to the point where you can start your own personal business. We talked to Avon Egypt’s CEO, Mohamed Farouk, about Avon’s operational success and its role in women empowerment in the Middle East.
What are the core values that best describe Avon? At Avon, we hold ourselves to the highest moral standards. Our core values celebrate innovation, honesty, inclusion and beauty, and they serve as the guiding principles for all company decisions.
How do you view Avon’s role in women empowerment in the Middle East? It’s been the main mission for more than 130 years. Around the world, millions of girls are still unable to fulfill their dreams due to economic, social and political barriers. Despite this difficult reality, many are working to shatter stereotypes and stand up for their causes. In recognition of International Women’s Day, for example, Avon launched a very special global campaign called #Stand4Her, which celebrates young female change-makers through a music video in addition to a website that features the success stories and personal causes of fearless young female social entrepreneurs, writers, athletes and artists from several countries. As part of that movement, Avon will launch a beauty pack and for every pack sold, the Avon Foundation will make a donation to a new Freedom Fund to help women across the globe access learning and development opportunities to achieve their potential. Avon Egypt has also launched a new sponsorship deal with the Gazelle Rally team, in addition to the existing sponsorship with Transforma Rugby Team for Girls. This year, we also partnered with Entreprenelle, a social development and business impact organization that aims to empower local women, as the main sponsor of the famous She Can event that took place on March 8th in honor of International Women’s Day.
Tell us about Avon earning opportunities and representatives’ success stories. Our representative is her own boss with a flexible schedule and her own business goals. Avon does not only provide women with earning opportunities, but it also offers Avon Academy, which provides our representatives with training programs to equip them with the skills they need to grow their businesses and enhance their beauty knowledge, as well as, improve confidence and personal network development - both online and offline. We have endless success stories of representatives who started from square one, proved themselves and were then promoted to become leading sales managers.
How have you sustained the networking effect of empowering women to empower others over the years? First of all, our business model has a team of sales leaders and these ladies’ task is to recruit and train new representatives and support them in achieving their results. This per se is already a rather effective tool to spread our support. Secondly, in the past years, we have nurtured alliances and collaborations with notable Egyptian women like Yara Shalaby, Farida Osman, Reem Fawzy and others. We believe that sharing their stories serves well in inspiring our women.
Which Avon projects have been most powerful in battling domestic violence and breast cancer? Domestic violence has historically been a taboo subject, but in 2004, the Avon Foundation for Women set out to change that, launching the Avon Speak Out Against Domestic Violence program, which aims to bring awareness to this issue, to educate and to implement direct service programs. Since then, Avon has contributed more than $60 million USD globally to support these goals. While that is an impressive effort, there is still much more to do.
As for breast cancer, Avon has been at the forefront of the fight against breast cancer since 1992, when the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade launched in the U.K. Over the last twenty five years, Avon and the Avon Foundation for Women have donated more than $800 million USD to breast cancer causes, educated 180 million women about the disease and funded breast health screening for nearly 20 million women. This has only been possible with the support of donors, our representatives, associates and customers worldwide.
What has been the feedback on your recent live makeup tutorials? One of our videos with Yasmine Ebeid, our official makeup artist for 2018, reached over 1.5M views. That’s the power of creating relatable videos. Some of the tutorials you find online require either a lot of products or time. Our aim is to post makeup styles that are easy to replicate and enjoy.
What do you aspire for the brand in the next five years? Our company is steeped in tradition, and we are committed worldwide to empower 100 million women every year through our business model, products and social responsibility causes. Our Egyptian community knows we are not your typical cosmetic brand. This is what is giving us an extreme edge. We will always be the brand that is associated with women empowerment and growth. And what is more beautiful than a world with millions of empowered women?
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HOME
DUPLEX CHIC
IN THE MARAIS
Situated just a few steps from the Seine in the Marais quarter of Paris (rue Beautreillis), this duplex from the period of Louis XV was completely reimagined by CM Studio Paris. Rue Beautreillis was built on the ruins of the old castle of King of France Charles V. It is almost famous because it is on this street that singer Jim Morrison died.
By Daniela Bonetto
CM Studio Paris, a new agency devoted to interior decoration, founded by John Coury and Florent Maillard decided to restructure the space and redecorate the apartment in a mid-18th Century style, whilst also respecting all the attributes of modern comfort.
CM Studio Paris’s concept is to create a harmonious coherence between the interior and exterior of a space. John Coury and Florent Maillard are committed to linking each space to its immediate environment, finding the right architecture and interior decoration to match the era and the style of the time.
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The layout and the decorative choices were meticulously thought out in order to create a place that is comfortable to live in whilst also illuminating history. Initially, the two levels, situated on the third and highest floor of the building, were not connected. The communal areas were bought from the property and the 3rd floor staircase was integrated into the apartment, creating a true duplex and giving it the character of an 18th Century hotel.
During this renovation, the function of each space was completely reenvisaged by the architects, who opted for the creation of connecting rooms to magnify the space: The former kitchen became the firstfloor bathroom. The former entrance hall became the first-floor bedroom. The former living room became a kitchen with an adjoining dining room. The former bedroom became a living room. The former bathroom became the new entrance hall. On the upper floor, the former maid’s rooms became the master bedroom and an en-suite bathroom.
The apartment has a total surface area of 180 m2, 90 m2 per level excluding the staircase that links the two levels. This exquisite duplex boasts 5 rooms of which two are bedrooms, each with an en-suite bathroom. On the first floor, to re-establish the charm and character of the place, old Versailles parquets replaced the 1970s carpets that were previously in the apartment. The doors were also changed to the old 18th century doors of the Bibliothèque Polonaise (situated on the Ile Saint Louis).
Additional decorative elements were added such as the fireplace from the period of Louis 15th in the living room, as well as the 17th Century Ottoman marble sink in the guest toilet. Upstairs, John Coury and Florent Maillard were inspired by a summer palace of Pierre I of Russia by creating the atmosphere of an attic of a castle and of a Russian Datcha: 18th Century floor tiles and ancient oak parquets on the ceiling. www.cmstudioparis.com
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BOUTIQUE HOTEL
The Reawakening Renovating the Ritz-Carlton New York By Kate Dannies
As winter sweeps over Central Park, the Ritz Carlton is embarking on the next chapter of its Central Park property renovation. Dubbed the ‘reawakening,’ the renovation project will see a total transformation of the hotel, from guest rooms to club lounge, over the course of a year beginning in Spring 2018.
Headed by Parisian design team Gilles & Boissier, the first phase of renovation was completed in November 2018, while the second and final phase is set to kick off in January 2019. The first phase focused on the redesign of all the hotel’s guest rooms and suites, including the debut of two new Presidential Suites, along with the properties iconic Club Lounge and lobby lounge Featuring custom-made furniture throughout the property, the new design aesthetic celebrates historical elements of the hotel envisioned by original architect Emery Roth in 1930. Drawing inspiration from the properties iconic front garden, the renovation project aims to embody the sights, sounds and palette of Central Park, allowing visitors to feel like they are living a townhouse escape rather than a hotel room.
The hotel’s 47 suites aim to channel a park-facing penthouse, featuring Parsons tables and lounge seats in a natural palette of hazelnut and slate rock. Marble coffee tables, creamy ecru hues, custom Matisse-inlaid carpeting and Fornasetti cloud wallpaper span the rooms, evoking a classic New York City townhouse feel. Guestrooms can be characterised by a blend of Beaux Arts classicism and contemporary styles and feature an honor bar offering local and artisanal beverages and snacks.
Enhanced technology additions include Smart TV’s, bedside tables with built-in outlets and premium sound systems. The start of the New Year marked the second and final phase of the renovation project, which will see a total revamp of
the hotel’s lounge, bar and restaurant. The hotel’s Mezzanine Level will also be transformed into a new wellness and fitness centre featuring state-of-the-art equipments and on demand fitness programming.
The sprawling Club Lounge space features dark wooded paneling, accented by white Carrera marble and shades of green and beige. Additionally, the wellknown La Prairie Spa has gotten a facelift. It’s six distinct treatment rooms have been upgraded with soft wall colours, fleur-de-lis carpeting an elegant chandeliers. Black and white photography is featured throughout the hotel’s common spaces, honoring New York artists such as fashion and portrait photographer Rodney Smith.
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HOT ADDRESS
Haute Hideaway Beefbar Paris By Kate Dannies
Just steps away from the iconic Champs-Elysees, Beefbar Paris is soon to be a French icon in its own right. In a partnership between celebrated design team Emil Humbert and Christophe Poyet and renowned chef and restaurateur Ricardo Giraudi, Beefbar Paris is the seventh, and arguably most extravagant, of the wildly successful Beefbar franchise.
Teaming up with Giraudi for a second time, following the successful launch of Beefbar Monaco in 2008, interior architect team Humbert & Poyet has translated their style ethos of practical luxury and everyday elegance into a modern masterpiece. A beautiful restoration of the former Langham Hotel atrium, the Beefbar space harmoniously incorporates Art Nouveau, Art Deco, and Modern Industrial elements. The Langham Hotel atrium was originally walled in and hidden to protect the space from Nazis during World War II. Despite damage to the room, the space is considered a historical monument and some of Paris’ best artisans were called in to execute the restoration. The result is an authentically grand and impressive space that exudes a rich history despite its newly restored façade. Featuring deep green and bronze tones, marbled detailing, gold accents and industrial elements, Humbert & Poyet have certainly breathed new life into the old pre-war atrium. The beauty of the design is that there is no focal point, every element, from the mirror work to the carpet pattern, melds in a perfect symphony. Saturated colours and plush furnishings contrast with the industrial-style ceiling and minimalist exterior to create a look that is quintessentially Parisian.
Aside from the engaging atmosphere, Beefbar offers a tantalizing array of dishes largely featuring the restaurant’s namesake. In addition to starters such as beef empanadas, Kobe gyoza and Wagyu sashimi, the menu features premium cuts of local, Black Angus, Kobe and Wagyu beef. While most dishes are in the 30-euro range, a filet of Rangers Valley Australian Wagyu carries a price tag of 120 euros. For those not in the mood for red meat, options include a filet of sole with strawberry ginger glaze, and tagliolini pasta with mushrooms and black truffle. A pleasing blend of old Parisian style and classic culinary delights, Beefbar Paris is a delight for the senses. Consistently opening restaurants since 2005, Giraudi has found a formula that works and is sticking to it. With outposts in Rome, Saudi Arabia, Tulum, Luxembourg and Malta on the horizon, the restaurant conglomerate is poised for a global takeover.
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JET SET
Seeking Adventure? Go on ‘Safareya’ By Sarah Guirguis
With a passionate mission to embrace the desire for adventure and inspire Middle Easterners to go after their dreams, Safareya is clearly one of a kind. Launched by Omar Samra - the first Egyptian ever to climb Everest - and covering all topics travel-related, the online publication gives you the ultimate motivation you need to seek your next adventure.
With content quickly reaching over 3 million people through Facebook alone and everything on the website being published in both Arabic and English, Safareya aims to include everyone in this venture by capturing the unique narrative of the Middle Eastern traveler through adventurous stories and comprehensive guides and resources. This is based on the team’s vision for more Middle Easterners to experience the revolutionary power of travel. Cofounder Ahmed Fares explained, “If we can equip just five people with what they need to adventure, we’ve changed the world for the span of those five people’s lives.” Ever since its launch in August 2018, Safareya has been throwing the spotlight on stories of the region’s unconventional adventurers and discussing the practical challenges Middles Easterners usually face when it comes to travel. For example, they tackle women issues from both sides of the spectrum, so there would be an article for those who wear burkinis and another one for those who wear bikinis. We love that! We also love the fact that they have a whole page
dedicated to Middle Eastern female travelers. Beyond just sharing the inspirational tales and epic adventures of those who’ve shattered stereotypes by exploring the world’s every nook and cranny, Safareya is taking responsibility in equipping Middle Eastern women with what they need to prove to the world – and, more importantly, to themselves – that restricting cultural barriers are made to be broken.
More than that, they also cover the basic travel enquiries, including visa requirements and comprehensive experience-based travel guides. There is an interactive passport section where you are provided with detailed, up-to-date information regarding paperwork and the processes you have to go through to plan a trip somewhere, and it’s all easily accessible in image-based content that you can download straight to your phone. After that, you ought to check out your destination’s ultimate guide that walks you through every element of your trip. So far, they’ve covered Egypt, Lebanon and UAE from transportation and pro tips and authentic local experiences. For the background story, Safareya started out as a passion project of two Egyptian explorers with insatiable wanderlust, Ahmed Fares and Monica Gerges. They walked into Omar Samra’s office and pitched the idea to launch “the first online publication that not only tells the stories of Middle Eastern travelers, but tackles the obstacles they face - visa complications, finding low budget options, finding good Arabic and English travel content, etc, so they can get off the sofa and go discover their hometowns, nature, and the world”. Samra went on, “It sounded super hard to do, so I jumped in full force.”
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INTERVIEW
Lamia Kamel
On Technology, Innovation & Disruption Now more than ever, it is time to believe in the potential of our nation and its key role in promoting Africa and the Middle East. Lamia Kamel, the mastermind running the prominent PR firm CC Plus and the woman behind the recurring Narrative Summits, is all about that mission. With a strong belief in PR’s ability to connect people in the business world, she is always looking to throw the spotlight on success stories and role models that can inspire people to have a sincere sense of social responsibility and strive for quality in the Egyptian market. We sat down with her to discuss the upcoming Narrative Disruptors Event in April and the prospects of continuing the narrative‌ By Sarah Guirguis
Can you tell us the difference between the Narrative Summits held previously and the Narrative Disruptors Event held in April? Since we had the first Narrative Summit in 2016, we’ve held it annually for three consecutive years and we wanted to make sure that it’s sustainable and consistent – that it wouldn’t be just an event but more of an ongoing initiative. In order to do that, we wanted to come up with activities tying up the concept of Nation Branding with different topics. The upcoming event is about a subtopic of the narrative – innovation. Egypt is very progressive when it comes to embracing entrepreneurship and aligning with artificial intelligence. We called it ‘disruptors’ because it’s about innovation and everyone who has a stake in it. We still have the arms of the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, UN for Women, the US Embassy and Endeavor, which is one of the leading entrepreneurial institutions and NGOs working to upscale small and medium-size enterprises, such as Zooba and Solariz. So, we kept the same model but this time we are partnered with a digital solution provider – Victory Link. We’re also expecting more youth will be involved in the next summit since it’s about innovation and technology.
What are the common factors between the speakers this round? Leadership and innovation. Whenever we have a speaker, narrator or disruptor on stage, they need to possess a certain degree of capabilities regarding empowerment, leadership and ability to engage the audience. We want the audience to leave with engaging thoughts because we’re not here to give you recipes on what needs to be done but rather, recipes on how to move forward and how to think. We don’t have exact solutions but we leave you with a trail of thought that keeps you engaged and interested in the topic of making a brand out of your nation – be it in marketing, in medicine, technology or whatever field you’re in. You would know that there is a purpose in what you’re doing and you can do it with a sense of responsibility, ethics, integrity and quality because you are an ambassador to this country you’re a part of.
Which topics can we look forward to? There is artificial intelligence, culture, art, media and sustainability. It’s a very big step for us to engage a regional media platform in our work. The idea is to expand
outside the boundaries of our country and get exposed to more of those channels. This is something we are very excited about.
What challenges have you met in this journey of continuing the narrative?
What do you hope to achieve with this event?
Keeping the interest because at some point people may get bored or lose focus or think that if they’ve attended once, they don’t have to go to the next event. We need to always keep it interesting by diversifying the topics and getting different types of speakers so that you can involve different types of audiences, and this has been a challenge. We’re also hoping more people would see the purpose in what we’re doing and support funding it, so we are able to do more by inviting more international speakers, for example.
I’m hoping to shake the still water, as usual. I’m hoping to show the world what communication and PR is able to do. It’s the kind of work you do for nations and not just companies. Another mission is to actually seek leaders and get them out of their shells by putting them onstage. Some of them are famous but others are low-key. For example, Karim Shafei from Al Ismaelia company, I don’t think I’ve seen him talk anywhere, and he has an amazing story with his company. He’s taken all those Downtown buildings, renovated them completely and kept their artistic identity at the same time. He kept them economically viable by renting them out to investors and companies. Not only did he participate in restoring the Downtown area, his company is also involved in amazing activities with the youth. They hold visits every Friday where you can register your name, and then you get to go Downtown and take a tour - for free – to watch all the beautiful historic buildings and spots in that area. He brought so much content to his business and yet we don’t know the man behind all this. So part of the mission is to get those people out of hiding and show the world that we have leaders and they know what they’re doing and are willing to support you.
Where do you see this project going in upcoming years? I want the Narrative project to be the Egyptian platform that supported the branding of our country. I want it to be able to export itself to the regional and international communities. I want it to become one of the pillars in promoting the nation, so whenever there’s a good story, people would call us up to highlight it, and then we’ll also have more content to entertain our audience with. I’m hoping that eventually we can hold a Narrative event in other Arab and African countries. Because Egypt is one of the key leaders in the Middle East and Africa, I think we should be able to support the branding of those nations and I want Narrative to be a part of that.
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Ideal Standard Collaborates with Palomba Serafini Associati Ideal Standard’s Collaboration with Ludovica and Roberto Palomba builds on the company’s strong design heritage working with some of the world’s most iconic Master Designers to redefine design for modern living Ideal Standard, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of high quality residential, commercial and healthcare bathroom solution, operating across Europe, Middle East and Africa, announced in December 2018 at the Milan Triennale its collaboration with prominent Italian architects and design studio Palomba Serafini Associati. The company also declared the creation of a Design Center in Milan, where Ludovica Serafini and Roberto Palomba will work closely together with internal Ideal Standard experts and his own design team to drive Ideal Standard’s overall design philosophy. Ludovica and Robert Palomba are internationally renowned architects and designers who live and work in Milan. In 1994 they founded Palomba Serafini Associati, the studio that develops architecture and interior/industrial/exhibit design projects worldwide. They are strategic consultants and art directors for several historical design companies. Collaborating with leading international brands they have been awarded with numerous international recognitions, such as Compasso D’Oro (Italy), Australian International Design Award (Australia), Good Design Award (USA), Interior Design’s Best of the Year Award (USA), Icon Design Awards (Mexico), Wallpaper Design Award (UK), German Design Award (Germany), Red dot Award (Germany), Elle Decoration International Design Award. The new collaboration fits perfectly within Ideal Standard’s long and successful history of Innovation and Design. A history of combining cutting-edge technologies with avant-garde aesthetics to accompany society’s evolution and redefine
the role of the bathroom within it. In the 1950’s and 1970’s for example, working with Master Designers like Gio Ponti and Achille Castiglioni, Ideal Standard was instrumental in developing the bathroom from a purely functional room to a real living space that holds a prominent role in the house. Today, as society continues to evolve at incredible speeds, Ideal Standard wants to build on this heritage and challenge itself and its designers once again to imagine what’s next. To take technological innovations and design to the next level and build for the future. The long list of design masters that have already partnered with Ideal Standard have really elevated the brand into the culture of Design, leaving behind a rich heritage of drawings and design archives. Collaboration with Ludovica and Roberto Palomba will explore this heritage and translate it into the 21st Century.
Commenting on the new collaboration, Roberto Palomba said: “When done right, a well-designed project completely transcends its function and becomes timeless. Some of Ideal Standard’s designs, created by Italian icons such as Ponti and Castiglioni are perfect testimonies to this principle. I am honoured to follow in the footsteps of these Italian Masters and support Ideal Standard’s continued journey to design and develop innovations that will once again redefine not only bathroom design, but design in general.”. The first results of the new collaboration between Ideal Standard and Palomba Serafini Associati will be previewed during “ISH 2019”, the world’s leading trade fair on the responsible management of water and energy in buildings taking place in Frankfurt, Germany from 11 to 15 March 2019.
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“SEA TO TABLE” NIGHTS AT THE NILE RITZ-CARLTON The Nile Ritz-Carlton is introducing “Sea to Table” concept to the hotel’s favorite dining destination, Bab El-Sharq. Chef De Cuisine Nasib Abdo and his team present delightful seafood nights, bringing crisp experiences to the dining tables of Bab ElSharq every Tuesday and Thursday night. With a delectable spread that will tempt the palates of all seafood fans, the culinary team hosts a seafood extravaganza, where diners can pick whatever fresh fish and salt water delicacies caught from the Mediterranean Sea. The culinary team travels weekly to the famous Alexandria seafood market “Halaet El Samak” to buy fresh seafood directly from local fisherman to serve as “catch of the day”. Cooked to perfection, guests will enjoy their favorite cooking preparation method from baked, grilled to fried, that will ensure an unforgettable seafood lovers’ experience.
Featuring contemporary and classic seafood preparations that are both sophisticated and tasteful, with excellent service and a boasting open kitchen, Bab El-Sharq offers a unique and memorable dining experience in the heart of downtown Cairo. To further amplify the warm, inviting atmosphere; the outdoor dining venue enjoys a simple yet elegant ambiance, with lush gardens and opulent Egyptian museum views paired with exciting performances of renowned belly dancer “Amy Sultan”. The overall atmosphere paired with the “Sea to Table” concept, is guaranteed to create a memorable set of experiences for guests to indulge in with family and friends.