FLAIR 9/10-2018 by FLAIR Magazine

bre athtaking

architec t ure

Design by Phoenix Design

The rounded corners and unmistakeable PuraVida lines also feature in the toilet area. The toilet and bidet are available both in the 36 x 54 cm wallmounted version and in the 36 x 63 cm floor-standing version with visible cistern. Once again, the parts appear to float and communicate the typical PuraVida lightness. All toilet seats feature the silent SoftClose lowering mechanism. The free-standing PuraVida bathtubs features simple, uninterrupted lines. The collection of PuraVida baths comprises one free-standing, one console and three built-in versions.

PURAVIDA

Launches with New Technology SAVE W A T E R SAVE ENERGY SAVE MONEY

Ideal Standard’s New Collection features modern, timeless, efficient, and unique designs that continue to deliver the company’s objectives of high quality and value through performance. It combines new ceramic products range featuring new AquaBladeTM technology with contemporary and elegant design along with new range of ﬁttings having water saving feature to work across basins, bidets, showers as well as bathtubs. Ideal standard also offers a various range of new acrylic bathtubs which guarantee safety and elegance to your bathroom.

September-October 2018 FASHION

Fashion Clippings p. 34 Beauty Clippings p. 36 Interview: Gaia p. 38 Fashion Shoot: Very Valentino p. 40 Bijoux News p. 46 Feature: Tiffany Covent Garden p. 48

LIFESTYLE

Person of FLAIR: Shimaa Saber p. 52 Design Notes: Cairopolitan p. 56 Coming soon:

Grand Egyptian Museum p. 58 Art: Engy Al Garf p. 60 Interview: Lamia Kamel p. 64 Flair Foodie: Sass Restaurant & Bar p. 66 Jet Set: Luxe Private Jets p. 68 Home: No 12 at Gasholders p. 70 Driven: Aston Martin Vantage p. 72

REGULARS Editorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Note p. 8 Happenings p. 14 FLAIR Loves p. 28

On the Cover Shimaa Saber Styling & Art Direction: Salma Hesham Photography: Sarah Lasheen Hairdresser: Mina (Instyle Beauty Salon Makeup: Mohamed Reda (Morshed Makeup Studio) Production: Aspire ME Dress by Maison Zein

From Farm to Table to You.

Savor only the freshest, most delectable, locally-sourced ingredients, lovingly prepared by our talented chefs. And embark on a remarkable culinary journey that begins right on your own doorstep. ritzcarlton.com/cairo. ÂŠ2018 The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C.

EDITOR’S NOTE

Looking Ahead

he fall season is always one characterized by new beginnings and fresh starts, so for our fall issue we dedicate it to looking ahead at the latest happenings taking place in Cairo and beyond. Stuck in an under-construction phase for years, the Grand Egyptian museum is finally starting to become a reality. The long awaited Grand Egyptian Museum is scheduled to open its doors at the end of this year (or more realistically early next year!) Regardless of the timing of its opening, we are sure it will be worth the wait. We feature the architectural masterminds behind the new architectural marvel, heneghan peng architects to find out what to expect from the billion-dollar museum. While the new museum will undoubtedly become a new icon of Cairo, we can’t help but feel nostalgic over Cairopolitan’s interpretation of our beloved city. A hybrid art shop and gallery, the recently launched Cairopolitan design and sell products inspired by iconic Cairene urban life. Through their everyday products, they are redefining the meaning of iconic. In their own words, “iconic isn’t the pyramids or Qasr Al Nile Bridge…It’s more of things that anyone who lives in Cairo will relate to, like baladi bread or red bricks”. Speaking of shiny new things, make sure to read a review of the latest Aston Martin Vantage model. A beauty from every angle, the impressive sports luxury car has just landed in Cairo. Just don’t ask us about the price tag! Gracing our issue’s cover is the sports anchor Shimaa Saber. Dubbed as the “soccer presenter”, you might have not recognized her without her signature sporty look. We get up close and personal with the former professional swimmer and speak to her about shattering stereotypes in a male-dominated field. Enjoy the issue, Hind El Ramly editor@flair-magazine.com

MY PICKS FOR THE ISSUE

Very Valentino Pre-Fall p. 40

Latest Bijoux News p. 46

Interview with Engy Al Garf p. 60

Aston Martin Vantage p. 78

THERE I S A RENA I SSANCE AT R I STOR A NTE TUSCAN Y.

ELEGANT ‘BELLE EPOQUE’ AND A WELCOMING RUSTIC WARMTH… BOTH CAPTURE THE ESSENCE OF THIS ITALIAN REGION WHERE SIMPLE, WHOLESOME FOOD IS PART OF THE HERITAGE. Allow the aromas, tastes and textures of our antipasti lead you to our authentic dishes. The genius of Tuscan cuisine is its simplicity. Ristorante Tuscany… simply exquisite. Daily for dinner from 6:00 P.M. till midnight.

16 SARAY EL GEZIRA ST., PO BOX 33 ZAMALEK, CAIRO 11211, EGYPT. T: 00. 202.27.28.3000 CAIROMARRIOTTHOTEL.COM ARABIC.MARRIOTT.COM/CAIEG

September / October EDITOR IN CHIEF

Ahmed I Hassan CEO

Sherif El Chourbagy MANAGING DIRECTOR

Hind El Ramly

EDITORIAL UK Editor Daniela Bonetto Editorial Consultant Kate Dannies Staff Writer Sarah Guirguis Staff Writer Nour Ibrahim ART DIRECTOR & VIDEO EDITOR

Tony Atia

PR & SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER

Bashayer Alridi

DEGITAL MEDIA CONSULTANT

Marwa Kamel

PHOTOGRAPHER

Hassan Ibrahim

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Maged Azoz

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Marina Naguib

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SIMPLY BE..

*FULL OF HAPPINESS CHINOIX SALUTES ASIAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S MOST DESIRABLE CUISINE. INSPIRED BY CHINESE TRADITION, DISCOVER DISHES THAT FEEL LIKE A WARM, DELICIOUS HUG.

VALUE, FAMILY-STYLE MENUS PRIVATE DINING ROOM TO BE RESERVED IN ADVANCE

RENAISSANCE CAIRO MIRAGE CITY HOTEL RING ROAD, MIRAGE CIT Y, HELIOPOLIS CAIRO 11757 EGYPT T: +2 (02) 24063304 - CHINOIX.RHICAIRO@MARRIOT T.COM RENAISSANCECAIRO

DANIELA BONETTO A psychology graduate who probably needed a therapist herself, Daniela decided that her form of expression was writing. Curiosity, tenacity and just enough vanity has brought her to desire ‘all things beautiful’ which she extends to in her lifestyle blog, “theinkedition.com” Excited about the world, her greatest pleasure is traveling and discovering new things.

FLAIR TEAM TONY ATIA NOUR IBRAHIM Student. Loves Star Wars, Harry Potter, and Comic books. Bakes for unhealthy amount of time.

BASHAYER ALRIDI

SARAH GUIRGUIS

An advertising and public relations graduate, Bashayer is incredibly passionate about movies. The social media enthusiast also has a knack for photography and is a makeup addict!

For as long as she can remember, Sarah has had a passion for creative writing. Being on the lookout for inspiration anywhere she goes, she also has a knack for photography. She lives by the quote, “What is done in love is done well,” and believes that everyone’s potential is endless and worth being explored.

“Don’t just make an eye catching design; create ideas to change minds.” With a passion for drawing and art, Tony started to design graphics at the age of 15. He loves the guitar ,the violin and the cello as well as reading and playing sports.

KATE DANNIES Kate is a writer an editor with a penchant for luxury, history, and politics, which she has found to surprisingly compatible. An adopted Cairene for six years, Kate currently lives in exile in Washington DC.

MAGED AZOZ Incredibly dedicated to his work, Maged’s passion is unmeasurable! Flair Magazine truly is his baby.

Marina Naguib Our new office coordinator is enamoured with all things Italian. With a love for travel, she is at her happiest when she speaks Italian. Her favorite quote is: il silenzio e una risposta intelligente

HAPPENINGS

President of Marriott International Visits Cairo Marriott Hotel & Marriott Mena House Cairo Marriott Hotel and Marriott Mena House, Cairo had the pleasure of welcoming President and Chief Executive Officer of Marriott International, Arne Sorenson, on his second visit to Egypt. During his stay at the Cairo Marriott, he met with Minister of Tourism, Dr. Rania Al-Mashat and Minister of Public Enterprise Sector, Mr. Hesham Tawfik. In the evening, a cocktail reception was held at the Eugenie Salon at the Cairo Marriott Hotel where Mr. Sorenson met general managers and owners of Marriott hotels in Egypt. Upon his arrival at Marriott Mena House, he was welcomed by Verdi’s Opera Aida triumphal march performed by a troop of musicians dressed in colorful pharaonic costumes against the mesmerising backdrop of the Giza Pyramids.

Castle Landmark Unveiled at Dusit Thani Lake View During a launch ceremony held at Dusit Thani Lakeview in New Cairo, Castle Development and renowned El Makassa, unveiled Castle Landmark, an upscale smart residential compound located at the New Administrative Capital. With a built-up area of 41.5 acres, Castle Landmark will be developed at a total of 5 billion EGP to be delivered by 2022. Attendees included public figures such as former Minister of Youth & Sports, Taher Abouzeid, Hazem Imam, Ramy Rabia, Hisham Abbas, Mai Selim, Bayoumi Fouad, who all enjoyed listening to hits by Nicole Saba throughout the night.

Indira Restaurant Wins Cairo360 Editor’s Choice Award For the third consecutive year, the online city guide, Cairo 360, has chosen Indira Indian restaurant as one of the winners of the annual Cairo 360 Editor’s Choice Awards – a stamp of appreciation reserved for only the best venues Egypt’s capital has to offer. Located in Holiday Inn Cairo Citystars with direct access from City Stars mall, Indira serves the best Indian cuisine in a true authentic atmosphere, which reflects the real essence of India’s charming culture. Indian cuisine lovers would enjoy the tasty food and the warm welcome of Chef Vikram, the guardian of Indira’s cuisine.

OPPO Launches F9 VOOC Flash Charge & Gradient Colors OPPO launched the all-new F9 smartphone -the sixth generation of the F series- in the Egyptian market. The F9 marks a new stage in OPPO’s transformative journey, in addition to the excellent selfie function, the F9 has made breakthroughs in fast charging, dual rear cameras, and gradient color design, F9 comes with a price 5,790 EGP for the 4GB edition. To keep up with the fast pace of modern life, OPPO F9 now introduces the VOOC Flash Charging tech in this price segment, which can provide 2 hours talk in 5-minute charge. This technology features a low voltage charging at 5V/4A, which provides a charging speed 4 times faster than the standard 5V/1A, which saves time and helps the user not to miss out on the fun.

TATWEER MISR’S FOUKA BAY AWARDED TOP MEDITERRANEAN RESORT BY ‘THE MEDITERRANEAN RESORT & HOTEL REAL-ESTATE FORUM’

solution and untraditional approach that is such a trademark of Tatweer Misr. As Shalaby points out “At Tatweer Misr, our mission is to offer our residents and guests an exceptional quality of life and a state-of-the-art residential environment, combined with fully integrated sustainable solutions that encapsulate our vision of building value. The value goes beyond building houses and units to building a life by providing all that is necessary to ensure that those options be they for leisure or business are made available through the different services and facilities we provide”.

Cairo, September 13, 2018: Tatweer Misr was awarded Top Mediterranean Resort under development by The Mediterranean Resort & Hotel Real Estate Forum. The award recognizes outstanding mixed-use resorts and developments showcasing dedication, innovation and expertise in tourism and hospitality across the Mediterranean region. The shortlisted finalists are judged by some of the most respected and experienced names in the industry and the winner is selected through public vote. A nomination is a recognition of the nominee’s dedication to furthering tourism across the Mediterranean through industry leading design, guest amenities and services. Tatweer Misr is the first Egyptian Developer to achieve this award which was granted last year to Club Med in Marbella, Spain. Commenting on the award Dr. Shalaby, Tatweer Misr CEO and Managing Director said “We are extremely proud to be recognized for the pioneering work we are currently undertaking in Fouka Bay. Being recognized as best in class, amongst such an illustrious group in the Mediterranean region, is an incredible achievement and we are delighted to have achieved this recognition. “ Notable is that this recognition follows Tatweer Misr’s impressive performance at the Cityscape Awards, where it won the best in class in the category Residential Low Rise Future projects in all the emerging markets for its flagship

project IL Monte Galala in Sokhna. The MR&H awards recognize outstanding mixed-use resorts and developments across the Mediterranean region in two categories under development and operating. Part of the International Hotel Investment Forum (IHIF) , the Mediterranean Resort & Hotel Real Estate Forum is an annual conference and networking event dedicated to facilitating investment and development in hospitality real estate in the Mediterranean. IHIF is the industry’s leading hotel investment conference, bringing together over 2,400 senior figures involved in all aspects of the hospitality and tourism value chain with a focus on the Mediterranean market which includes the markets of Southern Europe (including the key markets of Spain, Portugal, France and Italy), South-Eastern Europe (Adriatic, Greece), North Africa (from Morocco to Egypt), the Eastern Mediterranean (Turkey and the Levant) and island markets. Fouka Bay is another milestone project of Tatweer Misr, located on the North Coast with an extended one-kilometer long coastal front. The project, launched in 2015, is a mixed used touristic development spread over one million m2, incorporating residential and recreational aspects including , the recently launched and soon to open range of Kerten boutique hotels including Cloud7 and The House and Residence Hotels which represent a new concept

With its unique masterplan that ensures low building density and a water front for every house, Fouka Bay has set a new standard of expectations in architectural design and lifestyle options. Like its counterpart in Sokhna, Fouka Bay exhibits a number of amenities and life style options that are a trademark of Tatweer Misr offerings. Building value beyond housing this project includes a diverse range of lifestyle activities be it on or off the beach and finally a diverse array of F and B outlets in addition to Wellness, Fitness and spa options. Phase I of Fouka Bay is projected for delivery at the end of 2018.

Carmen Soliman Hosts Concert at The District Mall The District’s “Summer Hits” entertainment program hosted a spectacular concert for singer Carmen Soliman who performed a collection of her most popular songs before a huge crowd of her fans. The program will continue to feature new activations, including a huge Street Festival in October, showcasing a variety of entertainments and activations appealing to all family members. Owned by Wadi Degla City, The District is ideally located within Sheraton district in Heliopolis at the crossroads from Nozha, Nasr City and New Cairo.

Jaz Collection Is Now Jaz Hotel Group Egypt’s largest hospitality chain is reinforcing its presence with the new brand name “Jaz Hotel Group” and a modernized logo as part of the ongoing development. The new identity leverages the powerful, brand equity of the Jaz brand name to drive more awareness in the marketplace, increase marketing efficiency and expand the range of experiences offered to customers. The new identity offers a strong, consistent and focused brand identity that will quickly broaden the position of the brand.

Renaissance Cairo Mirage City Hotel Appoints New GM Renaissance Cairo Mirage City hotel is pleased to announce that Ashraf Michel has been promoted as the hotel’s general manager. After beginning his career in 1986 at Sonesta Hotel Cairo, Michel held several positions in the Sales, Operations, Rooms and Revenue departments in Concorde El Salam, Sonesta Hotel Tower and Casino, Radisson Blu Hotel Cairo and Alexandria. He joined Renaissance Cairo Mirage City hotel when it opened in 2012 as Resident Manager, and has ever since demonstrated leadership and effective management in all aspects of the hotel’s operations.

Marriott International Launches Tahseen Hospitality Training Program Marriott International reinforces its commitment to Egypt with the launch of Tahseen, a unique hospitality training program developed in response to a growing need for talent within the industry. Created in partnership with Helwan University and Professional Development Foundation (PDF), the program is focused on fast-tracking the next generation of hospitality leaders in Egypt by providing them with firsthand experience and a springboard to launch successful careers in the industry. The company today unveiled the program at a signing ceremony graced by Khalid Atef Abdul Ghaffar, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Egypt.

Le Meridien Pyramids Introduces New Sushi Chef Le Meridien Pyramids introduces a new Filipino Sushi Chef at the Latest Recipe Restaurant. Chef Laurence Lising has many years of experience and has worked at a lot of five-star hotels such as Grand Hotel and Smitty’s Family Hotel in Alberta, Canada. He’s famous for his great Asian food and sushi. He is extinguished by his outstanding methods of culinary technics and interesting live cooking show guaranteeing a unique experience that all restaurant guests will enjoy.

Radisson Blu Hotel Appoints New GM Radisson Blu Hotel, Cairo – Heliopolis has announced the appointment of Yousry Ali to the position of general manager. His career spans over 30 years in the hospitality industry. Prior to joining Radisson Blu Hotel, he served as General Manager at Movenpick Hotel & Resort in several destinations in Egypt. He also had a great experience working with several international chains all over Egypt beginning from Aswan to Alexandria.

Four Editor’s Choice Awards for Sofitel Cairo El Gezirah La Palmeraie Moroccan restaurant, Kebabgy, Manipuri Indian Restaurant and So SPA at Sofitel Cairo El Gezirah were all chosen among the absolute best venues & SPA in an exclusive list of winners across 30 categories in Cairo 360 online city guide in Egypt. Cairo 360 the leading online city guide, has announced the winners of the annual Editor’s Choice Awards for 2018. The Editor’s Choice Awards is an exclusive seal of approval recognizing the best of the best in Cairo, Egypt.

Steigenberger Hotel El Tahrir Receives 5 Prestigious Awards Steigenberger Hotel El Tahrir has once again been recognized as a top performing hotel based on guest reviews as it received the Guest Review and Excellence Awards 2018 from Booking. com, TripAdvisor , Orbitz, Holiday Check and Expedia, the 5 top world leaders in booking accommodations online. These awards are given out to hospitality properties throughout the world on an annual basis in recognition of their outstanding achievements over the past year and exemplifying the consistently high level of service and hospitality provided by the property.

FLAIR FOODIE

Sonesta’s La Gondola

ITALIAN RESTAURANT As we entered the dim lit, quiet Italian restaurant La Gondola and looked around, we saw bamboo chairs, red tablecloths and large windows overlooking tasteful hotel décor of golden rice lighting. Our verdict? La Gondola is the perfect spot for a romantic date or a cozy birthday dinner. Of course, if you go for an early lunch, you will be in for a sunny experience. If you favor a more intimate setting, make sure to go around 8pm when the live band begins to play. By Sarah Guirguis

Our first impression of their cuisine was the miscellany of bread rolls and sticks with side dips of shaved Parmesan cheese, creamy cheese with herbs and anchovies, black olive paste and tomato bruschetta with pesto sauce. A clear hint of restaurant refinement and quality, backed up by the accommodating service we were receiving. For appetizers, we had a Chicken Caesar and Caprese Salad prepared for us by our friendly waiter, Mohamed El Sebaay, on a side cart, which made our experience more exciting. The Caprese Salad was on point and the Caesar dressing was a good type of savory. For the sake of variety, we ordered two dishes for the main course, Beef Flambé and Seafood Mix. The beef fillet arrived medium well as we requested (not to mention it being impeccably medium well and a smooth cut with the knife) and was drenched in front of us in delicious pepper sauce just to tip off our smelling senses and taste buds concerning what’s to come. It was then served with a side of homemade Fettuccini, made from scratch by Chef Hesham El Salakny. Both were sumptuous to say the least. This is what the Seafood Mix entailed: A diverse plate of sea bass topped with garlic lemon sauce and calamari, shrimp and mushroom risotto. Sounds like a lot of flavors, right? Here is our ruling. The risotto and calamari were up to the mark. The star of the seafood ensemble was the sea bass mainly because of its perfect fusion with the mouth-watering garlic lemon sauce. For dessert, we asked for the waiter’s recommendation and he brought us a blend of meringue and strawberry, chocolate and vanilla ice cream flavors. The presentation was impressive and we could never turn down ice cream! However, if you consider this dessert, we recommend you order it minus the teeny pieces of dried fruit. At least, that’s what we would have preferred. If you don’t opt for ice cream, we recommend the Tiramisu. La Gondola is an Italian restaurant after all and what better dessert to try than their famous Tiramisu to end a lovely Italian dining experience? La Gondola: Sonesta Hotel Tower & Casino - Cairo 3 El Tayaran St., Nasr City 02.2264.1111 Sonesta.com

AccorHotels Management Visits the Egyptian Food Bank AccorHotels’ management team visited the Egyptian Food Bank, as part of its strategy to encourage its employees to play an active role in the community development activities, enhance their commitment towards their social responsibility and strengthen the internal interactivity among AccorHotels across Egypt. The visit included a field tour around the food bank premises showcasing the operating process of the diverse programs they offer, such as the daily feeding packages and the roof planting, which aims at increasing family incomes especially women through cultivating vegetation and plants on buildings’ roofs to produce healthy organic vegetables and save up to 60% of irrigation water.

Conrad Cairo Hotel Appoints New Commercial Director Wolfgang Maier, General Manager at Conrad Cairo, announces the appointment of Noura Ragheb as the hotel’s new commercial director. Noura enjoys an extensive operational experience of over 10 years in the hospitality industry, eight of them with Hilton. Having graduated from Gilon Institute of Higher Education with a BBA in Hotel Management from Switzerland, Noura held several prominent managerial positions in the field of Sales. Her most recent position was director of sales at Ramses Hilton.

Sushi Time at Shogun in InterContinental Cairo Citystars Head for Shogun and enjoy the new promotion launched. You will find the best of sushi creations on their finest sushi menus, and more magical Japanese creations on the main menu. At Shogun, Sushi, Teppanyaki, Sashimi, as well as many other mouth-watering appetizers could be enjoyed while seated on one of the Japanese live-cooking tables, or at the Sushi Bar. Enjoy a family or a friends gathering and choose from the assorted combination of sashimi, nigari sushi and maki rolls either 50 pieces at EGP 550 or 100 pieces at EGP 999 non-inclusive of taxes and service charge.

Lebanese Evenings at JW Marriott Cairo’s Ahlein Restaurant Ahlein, which translates to “a very warm welcome” in Levantine Arabic, has been sharing its delicious Lebanese cuisine, warm hospitality, and atmospheric live entertainment with guests for more than a decade. The tradition of shared dining is strongly encouraged at Ahlein, so the menu offers an abundance of authentic Lebanese specialties, including hot and cold mezze, appetizers, soups, salads, traditional dishes, breads baked fresh onsite, and charcoal grilled meat, chicken and seafood. The talented chefs at Ahlein work hard to deliver authentic taste sensations direct to your table using the freshest produce available and recipes handed down through the generations.

FLAIR REVIEW

Bab El Sharq Authentic Arabian Dining

Arabian flavors arrive to The Nile Ritz-Carlton with the relaunch of the hotelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Arabian outlet and the fully renovated Bab El Sharq Restaurant

Set amid lush gardens with a view of the Egyptian Museum, the outdoor restaurant offers a traditional dining experience in the heart of Cairo. The guests will experience their first glimpse of the restaurant through a stunning entry way that leads to a lavishly laid out dining outdoor area featuring boasting marvelous views of the famous Egyptian museum and garden city. Bab El Sharq guests will witness a new revitalizing atmosphere in an Arabian open air dining concept, the new restaurant will offer a new contemporary look and feel with traditional comfortable seating areas that matches with the ambience. The restaurant will bring a world of mouthwatering authentic flavors, a gastronomic destination with a traditional Arabian fare. Chef Nassib the qualified Syrian chef has designed a tantalizing authentic menu of classic oriental dishes from all over the

Middle East, served in our lush gardens with spectacular views of the Egyptian museum. Bab El-Sharq, recreates traditional Arabic cuisines including signature grills and savory baked dishes. With a traditional wood-fired oven the restaurant plates up perennial classics that offers a pleasant and cheerful venue to relish the culinary mastery of the dishes. Guests will not only be dining in a sophisticated yet relaxed ambience but will experience a gourmet menu with outstanding dishes such as, Mashawee Meshakala, a traditional mixed grill platter combining kebab, koftas, chicken and lamb chops marinated in Arabic spices. This is in addition to the tastiest selection of hot and cold mezzeh, soups and salads allowing

guests to indulge in a symphony of flavors. Enhancing the dining experience at Bab El-Sharq are many Oriental touches, such as the popular flavored shisha, the rich entertainment schedule that includes an extravagant belly dance program as well as Egyptian and Khaleeji singers and musicians and an enormous screen to watch live matches on. The entire atmosphere ensures that the culinary experience stands out for its flavors, ambience and live entertainment. Bab El Sharq opens the gate to the orient in both taste and experience. Opens from 4 PM to 2 AM. For more information and reservations, please contact 002 (02) 25778899.

Marriott International’s Loyalty Programs Merge Into One A new era has just begun for more than 110 million members of Marriott International’s loyalty programs – Marriott Rewards, The Ritz-Carlton Rewards and Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG). For the first time since Marriott International acquired Starwood Hotels and Resorts in 2016, the three programs that used to run simultaneously are now combined into a single Loyalty Program. Members can now earn and redeem points across a full portfolio of properties, consisting of 29 brands and more than 6,700 participating hotels in 130 countries and territories. The merge was highly celebrated at Cairo Marriott Hotel & Omar Khayaam Casino.

Majid Al Futtaim Shopping Mall Launches Heart Health Campaign Majid Al Futtaim, leading shopping mall across the Middle East, Africa and Asia, launched its 10th regional health awareness campaign, Feel the Beat, offering complimentary cardio-health screening for women in its shopping malls in the UAE, Bahrain, Egypt, Lebanon and Oman. The campaign made its debut at Mall of Egypt this year in collaboration with Dar Al Fouad Hospital and the American Heart Association. The month-long campaign, which started on the first week of September, offered by fitness specialists HIT and Rahet Bally, aims to spread awareness of cardiovascular disease, prevention and the importance of early detection and regular exercise.

Sheraton Montazah Celebrates Launch of Global Reward Program In a joyful and cheerful atmosphere, Sheraton Montazah Hotel Alexandria celebrated the launch of the new global loyalty program that combines Ritz Carlton Rewards, Marriott Rewards and Starwood Preferred Guest “SPG” into one loyalty program. Members in any of these 3 reward programs can earn the same merit points across 6,500 hotels and 29 brands worldwide. The celebration took place at Nelson Meeting Room overlooking the blue azure of Mediterranean Sea and Montazah Parks. The Department Heads, leaders and some supervisors enjoyed a morning cocktail reception to celebrate the launch.

Culinary Award at Le Méridien Cairo Airport The mastermind and talent behind Le Méridien Cairo Airport savory pastries, Chef Sedhom, recently won two esteemed awards. First, he won the Egyptian Pastry Cup and then was announced as the Silver Medal Winner of Africa Pastry World Championship of 2018. He is known at the hotel as the chef who is always exploring new flavors and preparing signature creations that make his pastry another level of exceptional.

Asten College Schools Set To Launch in 2020 In a step towards achieving a breakthrough in international education in Egypt, Asten College is brought as a result of a collaboration between BalancED and Palm Hills Developments. The EGP300 million in school investments and EGP 135 million in land that is set to launch by 2020, is built on 60,000 square meters of land located in Palm Hills Developments’ prestigious compound, The Crown, in Sheikh Zayed City and accommodating approximately 2,800 students. Asten College will also be the first flagship school sponsored by Microsoft in the Middle East among 17 selected schools worldwide.

Atfal Misr Hospital Launches First Hemophilia Treatment Center The General Authority for Health Insurance and Novo Nordisk, the world’s leading manufacturer of insulin and hemophilia treatment, opened today the first Center of Excellence for the treatment of hemophilia patients at Atfal Misr Health Insurance Hospital in El Sayeda Zeinab. The opening ceremony was attended by Dr. Ahmed Mohy, Assistant to the Minister of Health, Dr. Soheir Abd El Hameed, the Head of General Authority for Health Insurance, Hassan Fahmi, Novo Nordisk Egypt General Manager, Dr. Naglaa Shahin, Head of Hematology Department at Atfal Misr Hospital, Dr. Ahmed Soror, Head of Business Development at Novo Nordisk Egypt. The total cost of the new center is approximately EGP 2 million including all medical equipment, furniture, construction and renovations.

Sofitel Legends Can Host Your Ideal Wedding Whether by day or dusk, the stunning views and unique outdoor locations at Sofitel Legend Old Cataract in Aswan and Sofitel Winter Palace in Luxor offer you the best wedding venues and a top choice for romantic honeymoon destinations and anniversaries worldwide. Hardly anything can beat a real palace as the place to start a marriage with an unforgettable celebration and everything thought out and planned by the wedding planners, from flowers to music, from stages to fireworks to tailor-made menus to the wedding cake.

PACT Secures Loan for Flagship Project White Bay Egyptian developer, PACT for Real Estate, has recently acquired a loan from The Arab Investment Bank, with a total value of 120 million EGP. Through this strategic alliance, the company will be able to maintain construction progress of its North Coast project, White Bay in Sidi Heneish, and ensure on-time delivery of all 4 phases. In its efforts to support the real estate industry, The Arab Investment Bank is financing the development of major projects that primarily focus on introducing smart, premium quality solutions to the market. Featuring a variety of villas, twin houses, and chalets that range from 120-550 m2, White Bay’s progressive community offers 660 residential units, on an area of 80 acres. Meanwhile, the cutting edge architecture showcases the functions and technologies offered by smart homes; including pre-paid electricity and water options, lighting and air conditioning controlled by one touch from your phone, inclusive WIFI coverage throughout the entire compound, in addition to modern amenities, housekeeping and property management.

12-13 October 2018 THE FIFTH

Anniversary

ANNIVERSARY

Find your Challenge

Hosted At

Biker Zone Expo & Show Bikerzone_Egypt

www.bikerzone-eg.com

Organized By

HAPPENINGS

El Gouna All eyes were on Gouna this year as the second edition of El Gouna Film Festival took off. Taking place in September under the title â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Cinema for Humanityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, the festival was marked by regional as well as international celebrity appearances such as Patrick Dempsey, Owen Wilson, and Sylvester Stallone. Photographs by Kareem Abdel Aziz

Film Festival

FLAIR #LOVES By Daniela Bonetto

MARVEL MARBLE

As the summer comes to an end so does our taste in light and airy furnishings. Now it’s the time to turn to stones and which better one than marble! Specifically, the Isa Coffee Table, created in collaboration with Ora ïto. {Isa Coffee Table by Ora ïto for Citco, POA; citco.it}

LET THERE BE LIGHT Two years after its acclaimed arrival in the world of lighting, Magic Circus Éditions reveals a new interpretation and direction: its Collection 02. With these new designs, their creator Marie-Lise Féry continues her quest for balance, lightness and movement. (Floor lamp China 07, Collection 02, €2,886; magic-circus.fr)

AUSSIE MADE Australian design brand, SP01, has just announced new additions to its ‘Indoor’ collection by Milan-based design studio, Metrica. Made up of ten pieces our fav is the bench. (Holland Bench by Metrica for SP01, €2,400; sp01design.com)

COMPLETELY FLOORED! La Chance has done it again. We are once again lusting after them. This time the drool is floor level with their fabulous new carpets. { “Cross” Rug designed by Anatole Royer, price per m2 starts from €562; lachance.paris }

Playful Pitchers

We love to play at the table and Bordallo Pinheiro always knows how to do it best. Pick your fancy from the fun pitchers and enjoy your meal with a ‘woofwoof’, ‘quack’ or a ‘croak’. [Frog, €72, Dog, €82, Duck, €97; bordallopinheiro.com ]

Fashion

Gaia/ Very Valentino/Tiffany Covent Garden 37

FASHION CLIPPINGS By Nour Ibrahim

Walmart’s Ellen Line With Amazon taking over the shopping world, many other brands are trying to keep up. This motivation pushes superstores such as Walmart and Target to start focusing on the weaker aspects of their stores- namely, clothes. What better way to increase sales than by selling a line with the beloved talk show host and comedian Ellen DeGeneres. The line is called EV1 and will feature almost 60 items, all under the price of $30. It is set to include tees bearing Ellen quotes, denim, accessories and even footwear. This appeal to a younger audience is definitely a step in the right direction for Walmart.

Gabriel Union #AllTogetherNow Gabriel Union is truly one who not only talks of change and inclusivity but creates it. The new line #AllTogetherNow, created in collaboration with New York and Company, was created to celebrate women’s bodies and the power of their union. Establishing this point further, Union shot the new collection with her friends Essence Atkins, Ajiona Alexus, and Valarie Pettiford, advertising further the beauty of female friendship. The women rock the shoot, with all their different styles and body types. The clothing line itself is completely size inclusive with clothes starting at XS-XXL in both petit and tall cuts. There is something there for everyone in true Union fashion.

Dubai Square If you thought that The Dubai Mall was big, you are in for a surprise. A new mall dubbed Dubai Square is set to open in the UAE and its about to take the title of the world’s largest shopping mall. At 2.6 million square meters of retail, hospitality and residential space, the mall would be the equivalent of 100 football fields. Located at the Dubai Creek Harbor development, the mall is set to include luxury retail, dining, a water park, a Cineplex, parks, an art district and even a Chinatown! It is also based on a tech-driven system that will make any consumers shopping experience easier. Its completion date is still unknown; however, its popularity is more than ensured.

Lauryn Hill x Woolrich Having complete creative control both behind and in front of the camera, Lauryn Hill has made herself a fashionable force to be reckoned with. The singer was working on the shoot in which she was to debut the brand’s Autumn/Winter 2018 Woolrich: American Soul Since 1830 campaign. The images produced showed great confidence and immaculately represented the theme of American Grit that has started to take over the world of western fashion. The presence of the amazing singer is truly remarkable as she captures the essence of the shoot perfectly.

Jazzy Boho Collection As we stand in that awkward period between summer and autumn, we find ourselves gravitating towards one style: Boho Chic. The flowy light textures with the earthy tones provide a perfect balance of stay cool clothing and an autumn vibe. However, no boho look is complete without a set of retro glasses, and Jazzy has got you covered. Their latest Boho collection consists of 12 sunglasses ranging from cat eye to large round shapes, all including the classic 70s vibe the brand is known for. The eyewear includes the best of frame technology and high-quality polarized lenses ranging from earthy to more colorful tones that will protect your eyes from the summer sun, whilst helping you maintain that Fall themed look.

Karl Lagerfeld X Kaia Gerber One of the world’s most renowned fashion designers, Karl Lagerfield, decided to mash his Parisian high-fashion style with 17-year-old model Kaia Gerber’s L.A. charm. The day-to-night line is a capsule collection of readyto-wear and accessories, coming off as the ideal mix of elegance and character. The project comprises mainly monochrome pieces, including wetsuit-looking bodysuits, logo hoodies, biker jackets and double-breasted tuxedos. The accessories include monogram chokers, over-the-knee socks, mini rucksacks and velvet bags, trainers and chain-embellished hats. The collection became available on sale starting August 30th on karl.com and revolve.com for two weeks, as Gerber showed up at special launch events all over Los Angeles, New York and Paris. Starting now, the collection will be available through international wholesalers and online retailer, including Karl Lagerfeld stores, of course.

BEAUTY CLIPPINGS By Nour Ibrahim

Urban Decay Natural Skin Campaign Urban Decay surprised us all recently with a campaign that advertised their products on un-altered, un-photoshopped skin, and honestly, its mind-bogglingly remarkable to see the difference. We seem to forget that even the simplest of images on Instagram can be photoshopped, and this effects how we expect things to look. The natural take Urban Decay has taken shows the beauty in the freckles, peach fuzz and ridges of the skin. These glamorous, unedited shots are nothing short of amazing and should stand as an example to any person or brand that has an influence.

Beauty Bakerie Foundation Line Beauty Bakerie, was founded by Cashmere Nicole, a self-made African American woman who started from the ground up. Despite her struggles as a single mom and fighting against breast cancer, this amazing entrepreneur created a five-million-dollar business, which she is now using to the advantage of diversity and representation. The release of the new Cake Mix Demi-Matte Foundation has created quite a buzz as the vegan formula not only comes in 30 different shades, but the darkest shade is being labeled #1. This is a first in makeup history, with the lightest shades usually being numbered first, typically due to brands adding darker colors after the lighter ones have been released. It is honestly a relief to see this sort of representation somewhere in the makeup world, and we hope that it may inspire future brands to consider this option, if not do the same.

Flesh Makeup Flip Book Retouching your makeup has never been easier. To combat the usual clunk of make up brushes, beauty blenders, compacts, and bottles, Flesh has created the makeup Flip Book. Filled with 100 sheets of bronzer, blush and highlight, this makeup tool is a great way to provide an easy, portable method of touching up your makeup. Functioning much the same as blotting sheets, this revolutionary item is the perfect addition to any person on the go who doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to weigh down their bag.

Beautyblender Foundation Beautyblender, the creators of the ever so iconic beauty blender, have created their first ever foundation line. Fit with a concave, beauty blender shaped bowl in the back for blending products, the foundation is the perfect companion to the brand’s signature product. Coming in the 32 shades, the Bounce Liquid Whip Long Wear Foundation is meant to last 24 hours and provide a light coverage that makes your makeup look airbrushed and feel natural.

Givenchy Parfums L’Intemporel Blossom Luxury skin care has never looked more beautiful. Givenchy has released a line of pink marbled products that are all meant to protect and rejuvenate the skin. Containing ingredients such as angelica extract, Brazilian pink pepper, and vitamin C, the products all allow for a new chance at youthful, glowing skin. Light to touch, the products also contain intoxicating scents of fresh blossoms that add to the refreshing nature of the line. Beautiful to look at, beautiful to smell, and beautiful to touch, Givenchy’s new line is bound to make you gorgeous in return.

Benefit 4 in1 Brow Pen Benefit has a signature brow line that would give anyone the motivation to start getting their eyebrows on fleek. The 4in1 brow contour now adds to this equation. The Brow Contour Pro is a defining and highlighting brow pencil coming in shades of blond, light brown, medium brown, dark brown, and deep black. The elements of the product include a lighter shade, a deeper shade, a definer and a highlight for a complete airbrushed look. The perfect brow product for all occasions.

INTERVIEW

GAIA Brings Out Your Inner Titan

The fitness trend in Egypt shows no sign of slowing down. On the contrary, more and more people are taking up working out and various sports whether in or out of the gym. But despite an increased interest in sports and fitness, fitness apparel in Egypt leaves a lot to be desired. Enter GAIA, which means the ‘Mother of the Titans’ in the Greek mythology. The Egyptian sportswear brand, which opened last March, is hoping to shake things up and ultimately become a top brand in the field. We sat down with the owners, Sara Gabr, 26, and Karim El Bendary, 30, to discuss their motivations and challenges in the sportswear industry. By Sarah Guirguis

With both owners coming from backgrounds in different fields, how did your interest to start a sportswear brand spark? One of us being a designer and the other an ex-banker both caring about maintaining a fitness lifestyle and training together in the gym, we saw how difficult and time-consuming it gets to find a good sportswear design that we actually like and can afford. We thought why not fill the gap in the market where many people are searching and dreaming of finding affordable and unique sportswear.

What were the challenges you faced when getting started? To be honest, we faced some challenges some of which we didn’t even anticipate, like finding the right fabrics for sportswear here in Egypt. It’s not very easy to find suppliers for such fabrics so we decided

doors for us to be creative and innovative in providing sportswear in the local market.

Tell us about the designers and their design process. I (Sara Gabr) am the head designer, and I have a team of four people working with me. The design process starts with deciding which colors we will go for and brainstorming what new colors to present to the market. After that, we look at the needs of the market and what to avoid. The most critical stage is when all members of GAIA’s team meet up and decide the fabrics that will be used and which are the best options for each design.

What criteria do you use to pick fabrics for each design? Quality, durability, texture, color, percentage of polyester and cotton. Also important is fabric strength according to our tests that indicate if the fabric could live long.

Tell us about your concept of changing the trend of sportswear in terms of colors, patterns and design.

to import fabrics from different countries, such as India, Turkey and China. Another challenge was the market study, in terms of understanding the client from different aspects and learning how to position ourselves alongside other brands in the market locally and internationally.

What does your brand name stand for? GAIA means ‘Mother of the Titans’ in the Greek mythology. She represents the roots of all powers and strengths. Regarding our logo, we designed it to resemble the roots of all power along with the freedom wings that express the unbeatable titan within each one of us. The logo also presents the mask of the Titans that we imagined each titan wore.

What do you feel you offer new to the market both locally and internationally?

GAIA offers the highest quality of sportswear you can find with affordable prices that meet everyone’s needs by using unique fabrics, a wide range of colors and designs that will make you stand out.

Have you come across any surprises about the market so far? Anyone who decides to build his/her own start-up business will come across many surprises. The most important thing is your business and market study because they eliminate the factor of surprise or at least minimize it. One of the biggest surprises that we faced was concerning the import process. It requires a whole lot of paperwork. Due to the floatation of the Egyptian pound, our costs are also mostly variable and not fixed which is tough to handle in a start-up. Another surprise was how big we found the gap in the market within the sportswear field, especially when it comes to high quality affordable designs, but this was a good surprise because it opened

Our vision is to be the top sportswear brand. Designing sportswear comes with limitations because it’s not like every day street wear, since each sport and athlete has specific needs. Our plan is to create the most unique designs within the lines of those requirements. In terms of colors, we already use colorful pigmentations in order to spread joyful vibes to our customers. Not everyone likes to train or run as much as they love to eat ice cream, for example, so sometimes they need a boost. We hope to provide that with GAIA.

How did you come to the decision to ship internationally as well? It has been a part of our plan to become international since the beginning. We decided to ship our products first to the Middle East and Gulf countries, like Dubai, Jeddah, Riyadh, UAE and KSA. In the near future, we’re hoping to start shipping to USA, UK, and some cities in Europe starting with Milan and Barcelona.

What are your plans for the future of the brand? Our aim is to become a well-known international sportswear brand with the edge of a stylish and comfy clothing line. We make it our business to meet people’s needs in terms of quality, prices, designs, colors, and everything they wish they could find in a sportswear clothing line.

FASHION SHOOT

VERY VALENTINO Pre-Fall 2018

For their Pre-Fall 2018 collection, Valentino reinvents some of the themes that have defined the label: Glamour. Individualism. Hedonismâ&#x20AC;¦ VERY VALENTINO

An exploration of the iconographies of the maison’s archive: the tiger from 1967, the dragon from 1968, the snake from 1971. The maison describe the collection as ‘An extravagant bestiary: a change in perspective cadenced by pois, enlightened by crystals’. Mixing styles, the collection has furs and tracksuits, dresses and boots, and the nonchalant ballgown to boost. Embroideries and logos mark the down jackets created in collaboration with Moncler. The glimmer and the volant. Rouches on sportswear and patent leather for the t-shirts. Lace on sweaters. Black that overflows and shots of decisive colors. #ValentinoFall18

BIJOUX NEWS

Michael Kors Introduces Sterling Silver Jewelry Michael Kors recently announced the launch of a new jewelry collection! Made from sterling silver, semi-precious stones, sparkling accents and luxe plating in 14-karat gold, rose gold and rhodium, the collection is rich in detail and designed with a timeless sensibility. It offers seasonless, feminine necklaces, bracelets, rings and earrings that can be worn separately or stacked together for versatile everyday wear. The new line debuting as part of the Fall-Winter 2018 collection takes as its starting point the Mercer Lock, an iconic brand element inspired by Mercer Street in New York City’s renowned SoHo neighborhood, where Michael Kors opened his first downtown store.

“Capture Me” Earrings & Earcuff from Akillis In 2018, the “Capture Me” collection from Akillis was revealed. The collection’s earrings and earcuffs are stars of the collection, evoking a sense of rock n’ roll glam. These earrings feature the signature “out-of-the-box” triangle motif. The daring design of the earcuff hugs the ear. Unfurling at a glance, it gives off a sexy allure. Geometric lines interact together, playing on the contrast between diamonds and the skin. The tips of the triangles surround the earlobe with irresistible charm.

Cindy Chao’s Peony Brooch wins Award The only Asian high jeweller present at this year’s Masterpiece London fair, Cindy Chao’s design the Peony Brooch has been awarded ‘Outstanding Object’ by the Masterpiece 2018 Awards Committee. The brooch is part of the Black Label Masterpieces which are the most prestigious and exclusive creations that bear the Cindy Chao name. Original, innovative and technically challenging, on a limited number of these one-of-a-kind masterpieces are created annually, and each is named, numbered and dated. Each precious gem, including some large and breathtaking stones, is attached with meticulous care and patience requiring more than 10,000 hours to complete.

Second Messika & Gigi Collaboration Last year saw the launch of the first collaboration between Gigi Hadid and Valérie Messika. With its success, Gigi Hadid has designed a second bohemian-chic collection: My Soul. The new line, Messika by Gigi Hadid, is a reflection of two strong personalities and its pieces are both sensual and ultra-desirable. Marking a departure from Move Addition and its punk-rock connotations, My Soul is inspired by fashion-hippie styles and geared towards the “stacking” trend. “For this second collection, Gigi knew exactly what she wanted,” said Valerie Messika. “She created a number of highly precise moodboards, which formed the basis of our creative process. She was the orchestra’s conductor, providing artistic direction for these ideas as I sought to bring my diamond expertise and the Messika values to her dream jewelry.”

Photographer Mert & Marcus

Atelier Swarovski & Penelope Cruz Celebrate Fine Jewelry Collection Atelier Swarovski and special guest Penélope Cruz celebrated the launch of the actress’s first Atelier Swarovski Fine Jewelry collection with an exclusive cocktail event during Paris Haute Couture Week. Made with Swarovski Created Diamonds, created gemstones and traceable genuine gemstones set in 18-karat Fairtrade Gold, the collection shines a light on conscious luxury and marks the brand’s commitment to making all its fine jewelry pieces with responsibly sourced gold. Nadja Swarovski, Founder and Creative Director of Atelier Swarovski, commented: “It has been a true pleasure to work together with Penélope and jointly explore Atelier Swarovski’s commitment to conscious luxury. The collection combines flawless red carpet elegance with responsible craftsmanship and sourcing. We are embarking on the next step in our ongoing sustainability journey by introducing Fairtrade Gold to our fine jewelry collections.”

FEATURE

A World of Tiffany Blue in Londonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Covent Garden By Daniela Bonetto

A little slice of the Big Apple has arrived in the heart of London in the shade of Tiffany Blue. The utterly Instagrammable new Concept Store which opened last month on St James Street in Covet Garden is pintresting everyone’s interest. Style Studio, the Tiffany & Co. new retail concept, is inviting all customers to come and play a little. Trying to leave behind the traditional notions of luxury behind by encouraging creativity and playfulness. The tongue and cheek behind the heavy doors offer a space that is spacious, super-sleek and integrates playful displays so one can ‘interact’ with the products. On offer is a special vending machine, on-the-spot designing, engraving and embossing. The new iconic duck-egg blue store celebrates self-expression, welcoming style conscious shoppers to discover their own vision and create unique, imaginative jewellery looks in any combination they may like. The brand is keen to promote creativity and put formality aside for a minute. There are cool neon signs and with a pinch of wit and humour the space offers distinctive zones. There are Tiffany Blue wooden crates displaying new Everyday Object accessories (think ceramic cups, pens, plant pots and straws), while over at the #MakeItTiffany personalisation station you can have rings, charm, cufflinks or pendants engraved with your initials, monograms, symbols or even doodles. Self-styling at its best! And what to do with some spare change? Head on over to the super cool vending machine where you can buy your bottle of Tiffany fragrance at the touch of a button. Just don’t expect this decadent machine to give you small change. This store is full of sass. Unlike other Tiffany & Co. stores, where neutral tones abound, this store emphasises the brand’s trademark shade of blue by featuring it on walls, in the displays and on a neon sign. All you need now is a croissant and it’s like Breakfast at Tiffany’s. tiffany.co.uk

Lifestyle

Shimaa Saber/ Cairopolitan/ Engy Al Garf/ Lamia Kamel 55

PERSON OF FLAIR

Shimaa Saber Breaking Sportsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Glass Ceiling

It is no secret that the world of football in Egypt is a maledominated sport. From its players to its fans, men are at the center of the game. The sports media field is no different as it is mostly made up of men who are usually former players and coaches. This makes sports anchor Shimaa Saber a marvel in the sports television industry. Dubbed as ‫( مذيعة الكوره‬The football anchor) since the beginning of her career, we speak to the current leading lady of the sports field in Egypt about her career and breaking the sports media glass ceiling. By Sarah Guirguis

How did you get your start in the sports media field? I’ve worked in television for a long time now – almost 12 years. I started in the sports television industry when Melody Sports was looking for female presenters. I was excited about the opportunity and I applied. I ended up working from 2011 until 2012 when the Port Said stadium tragedy took place and sports in Egypt came to a halt as the Egypt Premier League was cancelled for about two years. After that, I worked at Al Nahar Sports for three years and then I went to DMC Sports, which was one of the biggest steps I took in my career life and it was a show called Timeout. Recently, I started working at Al Ahly Sports Channel on the show Kalam Fi El Media.

Why did you choose this field in particular? I picked sports television because I love sports and specifically football. I’ve always loved watching football games and had a passion for it. You know how some people are obsessive collectors of coins and things? My obsession is to collect jerseys from different football clubs.

What are the biggest challenges that you faced in your career? The biggest challenge for me was to come up with a new thing simply by showing up on sports television as a woman. I stood out because I was probably the only female in the industry when I first started out. It brought a lot of attention to me and I remember newspapers and European media writing about me and how I was a

rarity in Egypt. The challenge was striving to succeed in an overly male-dominated industry.

That’s what people called me all the time. I was literally the only female sports presenter at the time. So I adopted it as well.

Besides football, what are your favorite sports to follow or play?

What do you hope to achieve in your career in the future?

Besides football, I love swimming and I used to be a professional swimmer for Al Ahly club. I used to travel for so many swimming tournaments and participate in local ones, as well. I quit when I was 17 but it’s still my second favorite sport.

I want to conquer my best self every year. I don’t have specific career goals in general but this is always my personal goal.

On social media, you use the hashtag ‫ مذيعة الكوره‬. How did that nickname come about and why do you call yourself that?

What advice would you give other women who want to work in male-dominated fields? I personally don’t think any activity should be male-dominated. If we think about it, cooking, for example, is known as some-

thing mastered mainly by women but if we look at the star figures in that industry, you’ll notice that they’re actually male for the most part. Even in the beauty industry, you’ll see a significant number of big names who are, in fact, male. This is why I don’t believe that women shouldn’t enter into male-dominated fields. There is no real obstacle standing in our way and women definitely do not offer less than what men can offer.

Besides sports, what are your other interests? Honestly, my life totally revolves around sports but in my free time, I watch a lot of movies. Does that count?

Quick Questions Hidden Talent: cooking Favorite Quote: “It’s never too late.” Favorite athlete: Cristiano Ronaldo One person you can’t live without: my mom Favorite city: Madrid

Styling & Art Direction: Salma Hesham Photography: Sarah Lasheen Hairdresser: Mina (Instyle Beauty Salon Makeup: Mohamed Reda (Morshed Makeup Studio) Production: Aspire ME Dress & Jumpsuit by Maison Zein

DESIGN NOTES

Cairopolitan Iconizes Our Favorite Things About Cairo On a scale from standard to innovative, Cairopolitan ranks at an unmistakable 10. If you haven’t heard of it yet, Cairopolitan is an art shop and gallery that sells a variety of everyday products inspired by Cairo’s urban life from random iconic things you see in the streets, local food, cafés and markets. Gallery events showcase local pop artists that compliment the Cairopolitan theme. While the dream to launch this place started all the way back in 2006 by founder Ahmed Hefnawy, it just opened 2 months ago. We sat down with manager and creative director, Nelly Sharkawy, 23, to talk about product inspiration and Cairopolitan’s behind-the-scenes. By Sarah Guirguis

Why the name Cairopolitan? Two reasons. In 2006 when Hefnawy was dreaming of this place, he was sitting in a coffee place downtown called Cosmopolitan. He thought if they removed “Cosmo” and replaced it with “Cairo” it will still sound good – not to mention the fact that Cairo is a metropolitan city and this suited the idea of the project.

What do you mean by your slogan ‘Branding the City’? This place is divided into two aspects – the design shop where you get access to the products designed here, and the art gallery. The design shop is all about gathering iconic items from the streets of Cairo and turning them into product. That’s how we turn everything about the city into a brand. Our definition of iconic isn’t the pyramids or Qasr Al Nile Bridge, though. It’s more of things that anyone who lives in Cairo will relate to, like baladi bread or red bricks used to build everything around here.

“ The Baladi Bread Pouch is originally a sandwich you put things in, so why not put pencils in instead ? “ How did you come to the decision to create this space and sell your merchandise directly instead of through other outlets? We started selling our products in 2006 and Hefnawy made it his business to keep everything under wraps as much as possible so the product ideas don’t get copied. Although some stores approached him wanting to feature his products, he declined because he wanted to put all of them in a concept store. He didn’t want Cairopolitan items to be a notebook in one place and tissue box in another but rather present them together to send a stronger message.

How did the Cairopolitan team come together? Hefnawy invented the idea of the art space and he designed all the products. He recruited us all from random different backgrounds. Shennawy was always helping him with the visual identity of the place. Then, there’s me, and Amr and Moustafa who help us in the workshop. There’s also Ofa who scouts for the best printing spots for the pop artist productions. Bolbol is in charge of creativity, so basically everything that has to do with the branding of the store. Finally, there’s Ronald and he is our valuable joker.

Tell us about your creative process. How do you find inspiration for such a wide variety of products? Hefnawy is in charge of that. It’s a certain way of thinking or a certain vibe. He’s always lived in Cairo and is always roaming its streets. Inspiration comes from the streets of Cairo and that’s what makes it stand out. It’s also not just a nice-looking or nostalgic design that we print on any type of product. Every product design is directly linked to the original function of the iconic item. For example, the Baladi Bread Pouch is originally a sandwich you put things in, so why not put pencils in instead, you know?

What are the most popular or best selling products so far? Why do you think they are successful? The Baladi Pouch, the Sketch On Board,

the Tissue Meter and the Drainkit. I think they’re successful because there are ideas behind them and they are very original and creative. They are also visually appealing and strikingly similar to the actual icons.

What are the biggest challenges that have faced you so far? There’s a lot to keep up with. At the end of the day, we don’t have that many hands on deck and we still want to maintain the increasing demand. The variety of products keeps us in contact with so many different workshops and exhibitions, not to mention, having to keep up with the website and the online sales and social media. It becomes a challenge to handle all the little details sometimes especially when you have every team member doing a million tasks on their own.

Any interesting projects coming up? This month, we’re releasing a new collection and we’re hosting an event showcasing artist George Azmi.

Where can people purchase your products? Currently, we have everything here in our store and you can also purchase online. We deliver all over Cairo, Alexandria and the North Coast. Soon, we will be launching a smaller branch in partnership with Dwaik’s in Galleria 40. All items will then be available in both branches.

COMING SOON

Credit ÂŽArchimation

Monumental Marvel Grand Egyptian Museum

The long awaited Grand Egyptian Museum is set to open its doors at the end of 2018, and it will be worth the wait. This new museum in the shadow of the Pyramids is set to boost tourism while preserving some of the most precious artifacts from Egyptian heritage--all in a stunning structure designed to stand the test of time. By Kate Dannies

Costing more than $1 billion, the museum will re-house and restore some of the country’s most precious relics. Its expansive, glass-fronted building offers sweeping panoramas of the Giza plateau and Great Pyramids. The idea for a state-ofthe-art museum was first conceived in 2000, to ease the burden on the old museum built in 1902. The new museum intends to hold about 100,000 artifacts in total, less than half of which have already been transferred. The artifacts include a 3-ton and 30-foot-high granite statue of King Ramses II and the famed funerary mask of Tutankhamun. Many of the Museum’s artifacts have been revitalized by conservationists and archaeologists. Some of the items might have been lost forever were it not for the Grand Egyptian Museum’s specialized labs, which now make up one of the largest conservation centers in the world. Measuring to almost 700,000 square feet in size, or the equivalent of about 10 soccer fields, the museum complex is less than two miles from the main pyramids of Giza. The building is the same height as the pyr-

amids so the visitor in the galleries in the museum will be looking through glass facades directly towards the pyramids. The building itself is the shape of a chamfered triangle, echoing the architecture of its site. The new museum’s soft opening is scheduled for the end of this year, when a collection of Tutankhamun’s possessions will go on display in approximately one-third of the museum space. The facility’s 17 labs are helping to prepare the boy king’s 50,000 artifacts. King Tut’s bed is being re-made by wood specialists, his jewelry is being strung back to life in the organics lab and the grand obelisks of his era are receiving facelifts to prepare for the opening. We are pleased to report that this long awaited project is coming soon to Cairo and we could not be more excited to line up to see Egypt’s ancient heritage given its due in state-of-the-art new galleries. A visit to the Grand Egyptian Museum sounds like a perfect afternoon in Cairo-for tourists and locals alike. heneghan.peng.architects

Design Team Architect: heneghan.peng.architects | RMC Design Team Mgmt: Davis Langdon Services: Buro Happold | Shaker Consulting Fire | IT |Security: Buro Happold Structure | Civil: Arup | ACE Facades: Arup Facades Cost: Davis Langdon Lighting: Bartenbach Lichtlabor Landscape: West 8 | Site International Signage: Bruce Mau Design heneghan.peng.architects

ART

The Unconventional

Artist By Sarah Guirguis

ENGY AL GARF After failing to get her paintings into art galleries around Egypt and getting rejected for not having a â&#x20AC;&#x153;deep enough storyâ&#x20AC;?, Engy Al Garf, 28, decided that the perception of what a successful artist looks like had to change. Frustrated with the routine and limits of traditional art, Engy started exploring other art methods like sculpture design and more recently, street art. Thanks to her, if you pass now by Salah Salem Street in Gizah, you will see a stunning mural of a smiling face surrounded by greenery to promote a greener Egypt. We sat down with the unconventional artist and talked art, murals, and future plans.

Growing up with a passion for art, how did you pursue it as a career? I have that cliché backstory of the girl that had been into art since she was little. When you grow up and you go to university, that passion for art gets neglected. I originally wanted to be an art major but my parents argued that I would end up being an art teacher and it’s not really a career, so I studied mass communication instead. After that, I worked in advertising for a while as an account manager. I picked advertising because I thought it would be creative and if I were about to take on a new project they would tell me the sky is the limit and let me soar. Real life looked more like a lot of emails and boredom, so I just quit. Then a relative of mine asked me to paint something uplifting in the hallways of a hospital and I really enjoyed that. I started also doing commercial art like paintings of butterflies, flowers, Batman and Superman designs for furniture and vintage stores. That was how I got started because I needed something that will sell since I didn’t have any money.

How would you say the graduate program in Florence affected you as an artist? I traveled to Italy for four months for a workshop in Florence. I loved it because it changed my perspective as an artist and I got to learn more about my personal aesthetic and what I wanted to further explore in art, which is mainly portraits. I love drawing faces and showing complexity and emotions, especially of people I don’t know.

What is the art process you go through when it comes to privately commissioned paintings? If they’re commissioned, usually the client would tell me more or less what style (if for example, it’s something that’s completely abstract or more portrait-like) and what color scheme to use. I try to stick as much as I can to those specifications but I always end up adding my own touch into it, as well. So, I sketch their input and once it’s approved, I start the painting

process. I really enjoy my studio work, though, where I get to be myself completely and do whatever I want.

Was it a challenge for you to start painting on walls or something you always imagined yourself doing? At first, I only stuck to paintings and tried to get them into galleries but if you think about it, galleries are not accessible to everyone. I like that accessibility that comes with street art, where passersby get to see your work and ask you about it while you’re painting on-site. I love that. Of course, challenges or rather things I had to overcome in my head included fear of verbal harassment in the street, doing something we all learned to be taboo growing up you know, the idea of painting on a wall - and falling off the wooden lift held by just ropes. In reality, people were very supportive and cheered us on when they saw us, and I had a lot of practice painting on coffee shops and ice cream stores and working with Heytan and Jidar before my big project with DUCO.

How did your collaboration with DUCO for the Gizah mural come about? For every project that I took part in in the past 3 years, I was contacted on Instagram. DUCO was looking for a street artist with a design that Giza Governorate would approve, so they challenged me to do it, and thankfully it was approved.

How did you plan for such a big work of art? I was used to painting portraits by stepping back, making sure the proportions are right and looking at them in big picture. The challenge with this project was that the wall was huge and right in front of my face. Not to mention that the wooden lift was actually covering most of it. We came up with a gridding system where you divide the mural into smaller squares and I could paint it step by step. It turned out to be a lot simpler than I thought.

What was the theme behind it? GIZ and Cluster are doing green technology projects in this area. They have solar panels and green roofs, so they wanted the mural to commemorate that. They also wanted to incorporate colors that re-

flect the heat maps that they were monitoring. What you see in the final mural with the green and red grids is what we came up with, along with the girl smiling. They wanted something positive and simple for passersby to enjoy even if they don’t know exactly what it’s about.

What would you say is your signature art style? I feel like I don’t have a signature style yet. What I know is that I love painting faces and contemporary styles. I don’t want the portraits to look very realistic. I like to convey the message more through brushstrokes and colors. I’m also learning how to incorporate my personal style into street art but I’m still exploring.

Are there any new art ventures you plan to take up in the future? I’m moving to the U.S. with my husband soon while he does his residency. Up till then, I have a few commissions to work on here. In California, I will probably be working on some murals that I’ve been planning for. I’m excited because the street art scene in the U.S. is very mainstream right now and I’d like to take part in it while it is in demand.

INTERVIEW

PR Queen

Lamia Kamel TALKS NATIO N BRANDING

Is it possible to brand a nation? And how exactly do you go around achieving that? Believe it or not but this daunting task is being carried out by PR Queen Lamia Kamel, the woman behind the prominent PR firm CC Plus. Always having believed in the value of local talent, Lamia Kamel bet her money on it when she established her firm in 2006. Ten years later she decided to celebrate this milestone by giving back to the industry through launching the Narrative Summit and supporting the branding of Egypt as a whole. As we approach this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s edition of the summit, we caught up with Lamia to find out about the challenges she faces and what we can look forward to this year. By Sarah Guirguis

Starting out as a small PR boutique, how did CC Plus grow into one of the leading consulting firms in Egypt? So many factors involved. A great team ,each person leaving an impact on our success. It was also the vision we had starting the firm 13 years ago. Over those years, so many circumstances happened that allowed this vision to evolve. We went through the revolution in 2011 and the political dynamics during that time gave us the opportunity to participate in several presidential campaigns. In 2012 and 2014, we were part of the PR efforts regarding the constitution. In 2013, we did some work with the Parliament of 2012, and we continued doing so until 2015 when the country was politically stable. After that, we participated in the Sharm El Sheikh summit and the launch of the administrative capital. I think all those circumstances, along with the vision we carried, allowed us to grow. We also have the ability to absorb talents when it comes to people joining our team.

When did you realize you could have a wider impact with your work? Back in the day, I worked with multiple agencies and most of them were international companies that would give you very high rates for good work, but I felt that we had so much local talent and caliber that we could provide the same level of work at a much better price. That’s what I was betting on launching CC Plus with just two people working with me. In 2012, we saw that we had a say and a role in the future

of the country. The definition of PR became more to me than just press releases, content and events. It’s about taking part in the creation of a strong and powerful message, whether or not the candidate you’re endorsing wins or loses.

How did the training you received in London prepare you for your work in Egypt? It was very important because back then I was very young and I needed to be exposed to international case studies and the shared knowledge of all the people in the room. I took two courses at the time – a crisis management course and PR training. It definitely prepared me for the next phase of work.

What was your motivation? I’ve always wanted to write and I was fascinated with media. I always knew that I wanted to have an impact and communicate something and raise awareness of any cause that I believed in. The closest thing I got to writing and journalism was PR because you work a lot with journalists. You help them in creating content and support their mission in delivering a message or a campaign. This is how I got into the field. I then realized that so much could be done that wasn’t being done. There weren’t too many other good local companies in the field when we first started but now you’ll find a number of them.

How does CC Plus tackle something as big and complex as nation branding?

Nation branding has always been something that concerned me and a lot of practitioners in the past few years. That’s because we feel that the country deserves much more influence than it actually has. We have a lot of local talent and so much going on for us. Whenever I speak to internationals, they always associate Egyptians with the pyramids and the pharaohs. I feel it’s good to have that history but it’s not something that we should always rely on, especially when we have so much going on for us on a contemporary level. I felt that by digging into what’s happening, finding interesting topics and looking for stars and leadership, we can get those stories out and inspire others to move on. Even if it happens slowly, we are accumulating efforts until people start looking at Egypt as a hub for interesting talents and stories.

Which previous PR successes are you most proud of? Why? I could tell you about our first participation in a presidential campaign. Being around a frontrunner candidate like Amr Moussa was definitely something I was very proud of. Supporting the PR concerning our current constitution, the Narrative Summit and doing campaigns for companies like Ericsson, Nestle, Telecom Egypt and TE Data. What I am most proud of is a meeting in 2006, when I was pitching to Orbit, now OSN, with no experience whatsoever but Hala Hegazy took one look at us and said she wanted us on board. We worked for them for 4 years until management changed. She saw our passion, vision and integrity, even when we’ve only been in the industry for a month.

What are the aims you hope to achieve with the Narrative PR Summit? I’m hoping that one day I will see an institution responsible for the branding of Egypt and utilizing the entire cabinet to push for that brand.

What can people look forward to this year? We have 21 speakers so far and they are from different backgrounds and with different capabilities. They will be processing and providing their insight into the recommendations we discussed in last year’s summit by putting them into actual practice based on their own experience.

FLAIR FOODIE

Eclectic Dining SASS Restaurant & Bar By Sarah Guirguis

Where do we start? Let’s establish one thing. We’re big fans of Sass. The restaurant and bar which opened last year is the perfect place for a romantic, elegant date between 5 and 9pm, and the ideal spot to hit for a fun night out starting 10pm. That’s when the DJ cranks up the volume and the party gets started. What about the food you ask? We sampled it for you and here is what we thought.

The staff is welcoming and attentive. The charming aesthetic of the place wins you over as soon as you walk in – not to mention, it has a Nile view. After you’re seated, you’re served Flo water, and then Parisian-looking, muffin bread with slices of butter. That’s how debonair the vibe is. The menu incorporates lots of varieties and cuisines. From tapas and salads, to sushi and sashimi, you will be spoilt for choice. Sass also offers soups, pastas and main dishes of meat, chicken and seafood. Of course, we’ll be reviewing what we actually ordered but because of the consistency in quality we received in every dish, we can’t wait to come back later and try their other offerings. Here’s what we got. Fettuccine Bolognese There is nothing simpler than a Fettuccine Bolognese pasta dish…right? Think again. The Sass chef’s take on this classic Italian dish was perfect with its fresh pasta and sumptuous sauce giving the plate a rich taste. Grilled Chicken The seasoning was on point and the chicken is j-u-i-c-y. On the side, you get potato wedges and a brown mushroom sauce dip, equally as delicious. This is what we call “finger licking good!” Sass Cookie Pan This dessert was composed of a buttery cookie pan, topped with salted caramel sauce and vanilla ice cream. By the time it arrived to our table, we had been full, honestly, but we somehow managed to lick up the whole pan at the end. They call their dessert “sweet bites” for a reason. For virgin drinks you can’t go wrong with the Tropical Freeze or Virgin Colada, or you can try one of their signature cocktails. Sass: Imperial Boat, 19 Saray El Gezira St., Cairo Governorate

JET SET

Sky High

Luxe Private Jets Private air travel? Our answer is always in the affirmative. Any private plane is a good one in our opinion, but these luxury private jets give bespoke travelling a whole new meaning. From the premier party jet to stylish business travel to remote exploration in a specially-designed safari plane, these aircraft are upping the ante in a big way. By Kate Dannies

Bombardier Global 7000 The ultra-long-range Bombardier Global 7000 can travel nonstop even farther than the manufacturer originally projected. Bombardier claims that the Global 7000 is now the largest and longest-range business jet ever built, and that under the right conditions, it can fly nonstop from New York to Hong Kong and from Singapore to San Francisco—city pairs that no other business jet can directly connect. The Global 7000 is indeed large. The cabin (not including the baggage compartment) is 54 feet, seven inches long; six feet, three inches tall; and eight feet, two inches wide. Aft of the galley, the passenger area is divided into four distinct living areas. Depending on the layout, they can include a seating area, a dining or meeting area, a cinema room, and a bedroom. In addition to boasting award-winning design and unprecedented range and size for a business jet, the Global 7000 is fast. It has achieved a speed of Mach 0.995, which equals about 650 mph. Bombardier says the Global 7000 is the largest business jet to reach this speed. Sign us up!

Design Q Concept Plane If you’re going on safari, or just getting away for the weekend, this concept plane by DesignQ provides the perfect ride. The spacious layout provides a unique outdoor deck that is designed from a modified cargo door and can be deployed or stowed in just a few minutes with the push of a button. Other features include a barbecue station, a marble-floor entryway, and a fully equipped office. The jet’s interior also provides plenty of space for a dining area, a lounge, two private staterooms, and crew quarters. With four jet engines placed high on the wings, the ABJ is also capable of landing on grass, gravel, or sand airstrips—opening up a world of remote locations for travelers to explore. We may have just changed our minds about camping.

ABJ Elegante The ABJ Eleganté is the fourth of five innovative and exciting interiors commissioned by BAE Systems Regional Aircraft from Design Q to meet different VIP aircraft market segments. The Eleganté features a highly sophisticated and luxurious interior that takes full advantage of the aircraft’s exceptional cabin interior space that is unique in an aircraft of this class. The interior of the ABJ Eleganté is aimed at the customer who appreciates the space and grandeur of the larger VIP aircraft but requires a regional product for everyday use. The focus of the interior has been to maximise the available space within the cabin by creating a fluid layout that guides the occupants through the cabin. On entering the aircraft the generous cabin is immediately on show creating an instant feeling of space. There is a large galley at the front of the aircraft that can be shut off from the main cabin for privacy. The forward lounge has two large sofas providing a relaxed social area with an offset dining table in the aft section and a large 46” display screen. The dining area can be used as a work area and in this mode there are information screens embedded into the surface with power supply for laptops and a central pop-up communication centre. The aft cabin provides an additional lounge and private office. A curved book case gives the cabin both a personal feel and a practical storage solution. The cabin can be quickly converted into a private bedroom with a full size double bed. With a very large VIP lavatory located behind the bookcase the complete rear section of the aircraft doubles as a private bedroom with an en-suite. Business travel just got a whole lot more interesting.

Crystal Skye Boeing 777 You will never, ever take another flight like this. Launched last month, Crystal Skye is the world’s largest private charter jet – a converted Boeing 777 that accommodates just 88 passengers, rather than the usual 300 or so. The first aircraft launched by Crystal Cruises, which until now has focused on offering luxurious experiences at sea, it costs in the region of £43,000 an hour to charter and is unlike anything else in the sky The front of this 200LR-type 777 is taken up by a comfortable 24-seat restaurant, bar and lounge. In the rear is a state-of-the-art gourmet galley and a 200-bottle wine cellar said to be the largest on any aircraft, anywhere. With Skye, all of its 88 commodious lounger seats are the same – and each one is convertible into a 6ft 2in bed. The cabin crew of a dozen Skye butlers speak more than 35 languages between them, in addition to being ready to provide a whole range of services for guests; tools they have at their disposal include steamers to  get wrinkles out of your clothing and a professional shoe-shine kit to make sure you arrive looking sharp. There is also a mixologist on board, while the TVs feature multi-language programming, and there’s a channel to run your own videos. With so much to entertain you in the air, and plenty of space to party, why would you bother landing at all?

HOME

NO. 12 AT

GASHOLDERS

By Daniela Bonetto Photography By: Tina Hillier

No.12, the London-based interior design practice founded by Katie Earl and Emma Rayner, has just completed work on the interior design of a two- and a three-bedroom apartment at Gasholders London, a residential development of 145 apartments within the world’s only conjoined triplet Grade II-listed gasholder guide frames on King’s Cross. In addition to the apartments, the architects have also furnished all amenity spaces and communal areas of the WillkinsonEyre-designed project. Through a considered approach, No.12 sought to complement the strong design language of the architecture and react sympathetically to its technical complexity through the introduction of a tailored selection of materials and a refined and contemporary approach to the overall design. THREE BEDROOM APARTMENT For the 1,555 sq. ft., three-bedroom apartment No.12 devised a pared-back and

distinctly masculine design. The design envisages the owner as a well-travelled collector with a refined collection of fine art, sculptures and objects. A bespoke velvet bench located in the entrance vestibule is tailored to suit the curve of the circular building, while desaturated green and blue tones run consistently throughout the apartment making a link to the beautiful views of Regent’s Canal. The King’s Cross location is referenced through framed antique original railway tickets. Other more unexpected items include an unassuming antique Chinese urn, which is one of the most expensive pieces in the apartment. For the dining area No.12 introduced a selection of custom-made chairs by British furniture designer and manufacturer Tom Faulkner, upholstered in monochrome dog-tooth fabric from Pierre Frey. Continuing the theme of British heritage, the sculptural pendant lighting above the dining table is by much-loved British / Cypriot designer Michael Anastassiades.

TWO-BEDROOM APARTMENT The design of the 950 sq. ft., two-bedroom apartment, provides a purposefully warmer counterpart to the three-bedroom residence and features bold sculptural pieces and a softer palette of burned orange, rust tones and desaturated reds. The apartment is flooded with morning sun and looks truly golden as the sun rises and the natural light that plays into the space throughout the day was one of the inspirations behind No.12â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s design. As before, many custom-made furniture items and carefully curated objects have been woven in to reflect the perceived lifestyle and taste palette of the would-be buyer. The design is sympathetic to the circularity of the building and features a bespoke dining table designed in an organically curved shape to work with the interior architecture whilst proving the feasibility of optimum seating. The master bedroom has a tonal palette of white on white, which illustrates that colour when used minimally can still be bold. The headboard is a bespoke curve design and makes full use of the available space in order to maximise the depth of the room.

AMENITY AND COMMUNAL SPACES This significant commission by client King’s Cross Central Limited Partnership also saw No.12 advise on the interior design planning and execution for the amenity spaces and communal areas for Gasholders London. No.12 has introduced many bespoke British elements into the design scheme for Gasholders. The majority of the furniture is bespoke and many of the products specified come from British designers and manufacturers, including the decorative joinery, which has been tailor-made by a London based craftsman. All furniture items, objects, lighting and artwork have been carefully-selected for specific locations within the project, offering pockets of relaxation within this voluminous, circular-shaped building. THE ENTRANCE LOBBY Bespoke pieces can be observed within the public spaces and common areas of Gasholders, including monolithic sculptural plinths in the entrance lobby which

are offset by a striking claret red deep pile velvet ‘polar bear chair’, these design details combine to provide the ultimate welcome to luxury living for residents and their guests. The felt artwork hanging in the entrance lobby adjacent to a grand spiral staircase is bespoke and consists of ‘three’ suspended pieces with concentric circular forms woven into the pattern. Taking such a central position in the building, the artwork respects the enigmatic architecture while offering a soft yet still synergised element to the interior. THE BUSINESS LOUNGE Beyond the entrance lobby, lies a calm, light-flooded business lounge with an array of working spaces giving residents flexibility to determine their best work spot in a home-from- home style space.

ENTERTAINMENT AREAS The screening room, a jewel of a space within the heart of the building, offers a dramatic immersive interior, with a blue/ green â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;squid inkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; colouring to walls, floor and ceiling. Cut- pile carpets aid the acoustic and cinematic experience. Dyed-to-match custom wall panelling in a perforated faux suede echoes the architectural design of the perforated steel and brass shutters that veil the building, maintaining design consistency through to the most detailed iteration. The design of other areas in the entertainment suite also challenges convention and provides a contemporary twist on a classic design by exchanging the traditional green baize pool table top for one in black felt.

ROOFTOP Along with the decorative furniture No.12 advised on space planning and layout of the fixed dining and seating areas to create a welcoming and comfortable residentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; roof garden. The planters were hand-selected from an East London antiques dealer to combine contemporary with classic, adding variance and diversity to the design. gasholderslondon.co.uk

DRIVEN

The Archetypal Hunter

Aston Martinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s New Vantage The new car performs with an acceleration of 0-62 mph in 3.6 seconds and an impressive speed up to 195 mph. While an eight-speed automatic is the sole transmission, a seven-speed manual is in the works. Everyone is wondering if it is a worthy rival of the Porsche 911. We think it most certainly is. The new Vantage rocks the spotlight with high-tech and contemporary sportswear-looking veneer, especially the Vibrant Lime Essence official launch color. Surprisingly, it has almost nothing in common with its predecessor and features over seventy percent of new components over the DB11. Only thirty three percent of the car structure is shared with a DB11, which is 274mm longer than the Vantage and 2mm narrower.

Aston Martin’s new twin-turbo, 503bhp 4-liter V8 super coupe is a beaut. Designed by Marek Reichman, the new Vantage supercar aligns itself with Aston’s famous 007 style but also takes it to a whole new level. By Sarah Guirguis

Dubbed “the archetypal hunter”, the Vantage has a flick in the tail and the lowest nose Aston has ever produced. It also has a maximum of 2 doors and 2 seats. The exterior is a mix of aluminium and plastic composites, with a dry weight of 1530kg, including the lightweight options provided. Signature ultra-slim rear light graphic irradiates the full width of the tailgate, highlighted by the flick in the Vantage’s tail. “The design is very functional, with a strong emphasis on aerodynamics” explained Reichman. “It has much stronger athletic lines than the DB11. It’s more aggressive. If the DB11 is a samurai sword, this is a scalpel.” Concerning the chassis, the Vantage has a double-wishbone suspension at the front, a multi-link at the rear and adjustable dampers all-round with torque-vec-

toring by braking. While we’ve seen all this before, this is the first Aston car to have a new electronic diff which beats the purely mechanical LSD by going from fully open to 100 per cent locked in a only a few milliseconds. The carbon fibre interior gives you the impression that you’re in a cockpit, which is exactly what you want from a beautiful sports car. This is emphasized with the lower driving position that causes a more immersive and engaging experience for the driver. The infotainment system isn’t a touchscreen so it is operated with a touchpad, a rotary input device and voice command, and since the voice recognition software is Mercedes technology, it is nothing less than premium. To say the least, we are very impressed.

FLAIR REVIEW

Narrative PR Summit Returns For Its Third Edition

Egypt’s first international public relations forum, The Narrative PR Summit, will be reaching for the stars in its third edition next month, convening a stellar line-up of local and international speakers including Egypt’s influential female ministers, Ghada Waly, Minister of Social Solidarity and Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of Tourism. This year, the gathering is organized under the auspices of Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Ministry of Trade and Industry and the Ministry of Social Solidarity. The event will take place on 28 October and will bring together policymakers, corporate chiefs and professionals from all levels of practice and across a range of industries to work out how to best lead the future of our country. With keynote addresses, case studies, theory presentations and in-depth debate, 23 speakers will discuss current challenges, best practices, breakthroughs and trends to enhance Egypt’s brand image. The agenda will strategically focus on a variety of topics in the fields of investment, tourism, innovation, entrepreneurship, arts & culture and sports.

The line-up includes Minister of Solidarity Gahda Waly, Minister of Tourism Rania AlMashat, World Bank Group Vice President Mahmoud Mohieldin, CEO of Etisalat International Hatem Dowidar, US Department of State officer and spokesman of the US embassy in Cairo Samuel Werberg, UNFPA Egypt Representative Aleksander Bodiroza, global affairs analyst Michael Bociurkiw, CEO Injaz Egypt Dina El Mofty. There are also prominent speakers from the private sector like Walid Sheta Cluster President NEA and Levant Schneider Electric, Moataz El Hout Chairman and CEO Northeast Africa Nestle, Hany Mahmoud chairman of Vodafone, Ayman Baky founder of Baky hospitality, Amr Mansy CEO and cofounder of El Gouna Film Festival and CEO of i-events and from entertainment Tarek Ganainy the TV producer and Essam Youssef, writer and TV presenter. The annual gathering was first launched by leading Egyptian communications agency CC Plus in October 2016 as a nation branding initiative and has later become a flagship annual event to hear first-

hand from the most respected thought leaders, visionaries and practitioners. This year, CC Plus is partnering the prominent bank CIB along with a number of strategic institutions like AUC, Oxford Business Group, Injaz and EJB. In its 2017 edition, Narrative convened 39 speakers and drew a high-quality audience of over 1200 attendees including senior government officials, business leaders and CEOs of private sector companies. The summit came up with a list of key recommendations to enhance Egypt’s brand image and draw investment and tourism to the country, which was submitted to the Egyptian government and the parliament. The recommendations included setting up an authority to be in charge of strengthening Egypt’s nation brand and boosting the country’s image worldwide as well as creating a national program sponsored by the Egyptian president with the aim of changing negative cultural behaviors.