December 2016
WINTER FRONTLINE
FASHION
fashion
IS COMING
SAVING THE EARTH ONE GARMENT AT A TIME
MODEST FASHION
TAKES OVER
AT KUALA LUMPUR MODEST FASHION WEEK
December 2016
Contents Cover Story
aab Collection
Fashion
As Winter Approaches - aab Collection Kuala Lumpur Modest Fashion Week 2016 Variations Frontline Fashion ZALORA - Launches First-Ever Fall/Winter Collection
Beauty
Peek-a-box Winter Skincare
Inspire
A tribute to the Champ Heart to Heart
Living
Qenza - Contemporary Design Meets Fashion
Health
Kick Start Your Day
Work
Crowdfunding’s Appeal to Millennials
Disclaimer: All rights reserved. No part of this magazine or content may be reproduced or used without the written permission of the publisher: C.A. Editorial Consultants. All information contained in this magazine is for information only, and is, as far as we are aware, correct at the time of going to press. The views, ideas, comments, and opinions expressed in this publication are solely of the writers, interviewees, press agencies, and manufacturers and do not represent the views of the editor or the publisher. Whilst every care is taken to ensure the accuracy and honesty in both editorial and advertising content at press time, the publisher will not be liable for any inaccuracies or losses incurred. Readers are advised to contact manufacturers and retailers directly with regard to the price of products/services referred to in this magazine. If you submit material to us, you automatically grant C.A. Editorial Consultants a license to publish your submission in whole or in part in all editions of the magazine, including licensed editions worldwide and in any physical or digital format throughout the world.
TEAMG AYA Our Writers
Co-founder & CEO Editor-in-chief Juliana Iskandar juliana@gayamagazine.com
Country Editor Australia Mastura Koelmeyer
Country Editor Bangladesh Mumtahana Elahi
Aateka Samara Amal El Gharbi Ana Maria Aneesa Asma Toujani Assil Taha Atikah Amalina Ayesha Khan Aylim Duran Azrina Naimuddin Bushra Amjad Hakeemah Cummings Hanisah Maskon Hanna Begum Hajar Masri Hira Ali Idil Mohamed Ali Iqra Arif Lamaa Husseini Lamya Ayad Layla Rodrigues Lipa Hussain Madiha Ahmed Mahnoor Malik Malikah Ebrahim Marwa Samara Mahvash Rehman
Nada Alzalloum Nadia Ali Nafisa Bakkar Naseema Miah Nawal Boukir Nouhailah Rahma Talwar Regine Maryam Reham Khan Roda Abdi Rym Shamas Sabera Hassanally Goulam Safira Adam Sajeda Sheikh Saleema Shah Salma Shalaby Sana Mahmood Sanae Chakrouni Sara Dekkiche Sarah Ghanem Shazia Javed Hassam Sheema Sherry Sheikha Haroon Shuhada Alauddin Siddika Jaffer Unaizah Toffar Zoya Khan
Editorial Assistant Atikah Zainuddin Designer Jessalynne Woo
Beauty Editor Naira Ghanem
Marketing & Distribution Byte.ME Pte. Ltd.
join our team of writers.
magazine@gayamagazine.com
O
h my, oh my! How time flies! We’re reaching the end of the year already! And more importantly (for me anyways) GAYA Magazine has turned 3 years old! I cannot believe it’s been three years since I’ve started this crazy journey. I look back at the past issues and think WOW, we’ve come a long way. And I have all of you wonderful, amazing, lovely people to thank. If it wasn’t for you, your love and your support, we wouldn’t be here. Alhamdullillah. GAYA Magazine has grown from strength to strength and it’s all thanks to you. I was recently asked why I embarked on this journey. And my answer has never changed since the beginning. To me fashion, or modest fashion in our case, is just a gateway to a bigger, deeper conversation about Islam and Muslim women. Through fashion, can we portray the strength and the beauty of Islam and Muslim women. It breaks down walls and creates a peaceful platform for discussion. The hijab has gotten a rather bad rep in the past few years but through modest fashion can we show the balance between modernity and spirituality. Ok, this is getting too deep. So I shall end here by saying, thank you for believing in us and Insya’Allah we will be able to bring you more in many years to come.
love & peace...
Juliana Iskandar
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Fashion
as
approaches Aab Collection Presents AW16 Campaign featuring international hijabi model Mariah Idrissi.
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TURTLE NECK NAVY Our Turtle Neck Navy Rib with military inspired gold buttons featured on the shoulder is your stand alone statement piece this season.
a
ab Collection has truly provided for this year’s winter wardrobe, with a beautiful collection of styles and essentials for every woman. This season calls upon Aab’s in-house design process and the quality that comes from overseeing the craftsmanship from design inception to ethical production. The campaign, which features famous hijab model Mariah Idrissi (who has previously appeared in H&M campaigns), sees a variety of textures, silhouettes and fabrics from Aab this season, including opulent silk and breathable cotton. 6
Stylish knitwear, poplin shirt dresses and gorgeously warm coatigans call upon on neutral hues of beige, grey and navy providing chic and polished looks - perfect for work or relaxing. Of course, Aab has not forgotten that this is the party season. As the nights draw in, radiate confidence for any event in Aab’s stunning kimonos, abayas and wide-leg jumpsuits. With luxe satins and strong tones of olives and plums, make an entrance that will be unforgettable.
Contemporary, British modest-fashion line Aab Collection delivers an exciting and visionary interpretation of this season’s coolest trends; perfect for winter.
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TURTLE NECK SLIP BLACK A wardrobe must have and an ideal piece for layering up this season. A lightweight Turtle Neck Slip gives you coverage and warmth without additional bulk.
Aab’s creative director Nazmin Alim says, "My inspiration for this year's Autumn Winter 2016 collection comes from the hues that you see from the changing of the seasons. The autumnal browns and the rust reds from falling leaves; the navy blue and greys from the winter light. I also drew influence from prints, embroidering detail and luxurious fabrics; all key details that really elevate and gives an Aab garment that exclusivity and premium element." 8
Aab also provides a made to order service on most of their garments and alongside international delivery, also offers a “collect in store” service for those women who would like to try on in either Aab’s stunning flagship store in Bradford or London’s Green Street.
Fashion
The who’s who of the modest fashion world landed in Malaysia as Moslema in Style hosted Kuala Lumpur Modest Fashion Week 2016.
ashion orward 9
KLMFW 2016 was packed with back-toback shows that showcased some of the leading homegrown designers from all over the world. Recognising the rise of modest fashion worldwide, the event highlighted the potential leaders of the modest fashion industries of tomorrow. The annual fashion showcase saw participation of designers from Japan, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Pakistan, Italy, Indonesia and Malaysia.
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Ryoko Katayama, Japan Top Tato, Saudi Arabia
MFA, Malaysia
Wajie Imbrahim, Malaysia
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Day one of KLMFW 2016 began its runway showcase with Ryoko Katayama from Japan and Ghadi Ali from Saudi Arabia and Wajie Ibrahim from Malaysia, followed by Tamma and Beta Azee from Malaysia, Si.Se.Sa from Indonesia, Kaifiyyah from Singapore, Nina Noghoro and Lantera from the Indonesia Modest Designer movement and Jawhara from Indonesia. 12
Day two showcased modest collections from designers Carolina Ferioli from Italy, Nihaan from Pakistan, Top Tato from Saudi Arabia and MFA from Malaysia. Gracing the event were international bloggers Imane Asry from Sweden, Hodan Yusuf from the Netherlands, Fathima Husam from U.A.E, Omaya Zein from the United States and Nabila Bee from United Kingdom. Based on the enormous turnout this year, we certainly look forward to KLMFW 2017.
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Fashion
ariaTions I love languages because they enable me to communicate with people from all over the world and discover different cultures. It opens the mind to diversity. It is the same regarding fashion. Call it modest, minimalist, ethnic, I really try to add variations to my outfit. Written by Amal El Gharbi Photos by Assia Takkal 14
I love keeping things simple but adding a little detail to make it unique. For this lookbook, I chose a simple, minimalistic outfit, all in black: a palazzo pant with a turtleneck pullover, and derbies. In this look, a long stripped ivory poncho breaks the all black outfit. Matching with a similar shade of ivory turban and voila!
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If the stripes pose too much pattern to your liking, try a solid coloured pashima like this one instead.
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In winter, throwing on a long coat can make an outfit. But to add a little chicness to it, I added a short satin scarf around my neck. One small addition can make a big difference to your entire outfit. 17
Basics are a girl’s best friend. Be it a pair of black pants or a long sleeved white top, they go with everything and anything. All you need is a little creativity to add on that little pop of colour and personality.
THE WRITER: AMAL EL GHARBI Editor, translator, writer for Peace, born and raised in Brussels, Belgium, Aamaly alias Amal El Gharbi, is passionate about modest fashion and interested in social and women issues. Aamaly mag is a bilingual online space created after an inspirational trip to Canada to share passion for modest fashion, but also insights on women’s conditions, education and society.
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Fashion
FRONTLINE
Statistics: second to oil, fashion and textiles is the most polluting industry in the world. Our love for fashion may just be killing the earth. And that’s a scary thought. Have you ever wondered what it’s like for designers working on the frontline to make our clothes more sustainable?
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Redress Founder Christina Dean
S
ALE! Every girl’s favourite word. When the big bold, often times, red letters S.A.L.E is placed on a store window, we run like our lives depended on it. Don’t laugh. We’re sure you have done exactly that. We are just as guilty.
It lives a life hung in our closet and only breathes when we wear it out. Death comes when the trend ends, or its threads pull apart, or we gain weight and can’t fit in them anymore, or we just grow tired of it. What follows is a sad unmentioned burial in the dumpster.
But joking aside, do we really know what goes into making just one garment? What is the full lifecycle of a blouse for example? All we know is we see it in on a rack in a store and many of us think that signifies the birth of a piece of garment. Its lifecycle begins the moment we purchase it and bring it home.
Let’s rewind to how a piece of garment gets to the store in the first place. We, as consumers, tend to forget those first baby steps.
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Before a garment gets made, raw materials like cotton are cultivated, collected and transported to factories
EcoChic Design Award 2015 16 Finalists visit secondhand clothing warehouse with Christina Dean and Kevin Germanier
to get them made into cloth. The cloth is then measured, cut and sewn into the garment. Now, not everything gets a final seal of approval. Pieces that spot defects are benched. Remaining pieces of cloth that don’t make it into the final piece are thrown into a garbage bin.
where do they go? Ok, if you have a little sister or a family member, you would usually pass it on to the next generation but what if it can’t go into the hands of another? Just like any other trash we throw out, it ends up in, yes...dumpsters.
Now let’s stop and ask ourselves, what happens to these pieces? Once in the bin, it’s out of our minds.
Now let’s multiply that one lifecycle by the number of clothes we own, and multiply that by the 7.4 billion people on the planet. Ok maybe 7.4 billion is taking it a little too far, far into the galaxy but you get our point.
Let’s go back to the ones that do make it out of the factory doors and into our closets. Once you’re done with them, 21
EcoChic Design Award 2015/16 Finalists
So it’s no shocker to find out that fashion and textiles is the most polluting industry in the world, second to oil. Oil, people! We protest against oil spills, wars that are started over oil, we try to reduce our use of cars due to the gas that oil produces…yet, we sometimes fail to realise that our love for fashion may just be killing the earth just as bad as oil. Redress, a Hong Kong based NGO with a mission to promote environmental sustainability in Asia’s fashion industry, has released a documentary that focuses on this global issue. 22
The documentary titled Frontline Fashion, follows 10 talented Asian and European emerging fashion designers determined to change the future of fashion for the better in the world’s biggest sustainable fashion design competition, The EcoChic Design Award. The EcoChic Design Award challenges designers to create an entire collection out of thrown out clothes. From reusing the material to reusing the care tags from the garments.
EcoChic Design Award Judges Susie Lau, Orsola de Castro and Raffaele Borriello
Yes, people, care tags! It’s mind blowing just watching these designers push the boundaries of creativity. We were at the Singapore screening of the documentary and it is a must-watch not just for consumers but designers as well. We’re not saying you should stop loving fashion, stop buying clothes and live like a vagabond. Continue loving fashion, you beautiful fashionistas. But let’s love it a little more. Let’s give our clothes a little more TLC. If we do that, perhaps we may think twice about throwing things out too quickly. 23
Tap the video below to watch the trailer. Full documentary is available on iTunes.
Fashion
Z A LO R A Launches first-ever Fall/winter collection
Photos by Zalora 24
Z
ALORA, Asia’s online fashion destination, is pleased to announce the online fashion retailer is launching its first Fall/Winter collection this year. As a fashion authority in Asia, ZALORA aims to provide fashion enthusiasts across the region with stylish options for every occasion. Customers in Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Malaysia, Philippines and Indonesia can look forward to updating their wardrobe with the latest winter trends from ZALORA starting this month. Designed and created by ZALORA’s in-house collective of international and 25
local designers based in Singapore, ZALORA’s first-ever Fall/Winter 2016 collection features a range of womenswear, menswear as well as accessories including bags and footwear. The initial offering features a selection of over 400 women’s and men’s apparel along with bags and footwear collections, including oversized coats, velvet separates, parka with eco fur and complementary accessories in bold texture and colour palette. Style savvy travellers seeking fashionable options can look forward to the debut collection at ZALORA.com.
Women’sc Colle tion Taking inspiration from the latest trends, the key themes seen in the women’s collection includes 70s Clean, Parka & Folk, Velvet and Sport-Inspired. Retro silhouettes are infused with sport-inspired looks with an urban minimalist appeal; utilitarian pieces, contemporary structured shapes and a hint of folk. Bold colour in contrasting blocks, eco-leather, mixed prints and patches, ribbed knits, velvet shine and updated outerwear are key to these looks. Key fabrications are eco-fur, velvet, ribbed knits, corduroy and textured wools.
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Men’scColle tion The menswear debut collection sees refined tailoring, brushed cotton textures, shearling look detailing and quilted sweatshirts – essential pieces to sharpen up sartorially for this Fall/Winter. Styled with soft warm knits, technical outerwear is a key look for winter wear. The rustic warm colour palette mixed with blue hues creates a modern approach to menswear. where each piece plays a distinct role.
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In addition to the apparel line, ZALORA is introducing a range of bags and footwear for the upcoming months completing the entire look for the Fall/ Winter season. Expect structured bags with bold hardwares, slouchy saddle and bucket bags with folkloric details as seen on whip-stitched flaps, braided pullers and floppy knots - a strong re-emergence for the season’s nomadic inclinations. Vintage silhouettes such as the vanity top handle bag, hatbox handbag, and the structured sling bag, are given a modern update. 28
Shoe lovers can choose from over 200 styles of footwear from flats to heels and boots in variety of colours and designs suitable for every occasion. Key themes includes clean look with added design element like heel accents and contrasting toecaps and dark romantic look adorned with historical references inspire such as pointed toes, lace-up fronts and decorative embellishments great for the upcoming party season and special occasion all year round.
"Since launching our in-house label two years ago, ZALORA has grown into a strong and credible fashion brand and platform for the region and as we’re entering our fifth year, it feels like the right time to start offering fall/winter collections," said Tito Costa, Chief Marketing Officer of ZALORA Group. "The debut collection is built on a good mix of classic and bold pieces in the season’s most beautiful and on- trend fabrics, giving our customers the choice to either dress up or dress down individual pieces for not only the upcoming months but also any occasion throughout the year.” 29
With over 400 pieces, customers can choose from a variety of Fall/Winter looks for men and women as well as a wide assortment of bags and footwear available exclusively on ZALORA. Price ranges from $24.90 to $99.90 for womenswear, $34.90 to $129.90 for menswear, $24.90 to 79.90 for footwear and $23.90 to $49.90 for bags. View the ZALORA Fall/Winter 2016 Collection on ZALORA and shop the collection anytime, anywhere on ZALORA’s website and mobile app.
Beauty
I
ntroducing Peek-a-Box, Malaysia’s No.1 beauty box! This most talkedabout beauty box has finally become un-boxed with a launch that took place in Talent Lounge recently.
This can be seen with its first collaboration with Aidijuma, Malaysia’s No.1 Bawal Scarf brand; featuring Aidijuma’s latest collection within the box.
The launch saw the reveal of the exquisite drawer box which consists of beauty essentials introducing its brand partners The Body Shop, Melvita, The Face Shop, Avenys Skincare, Hairkur by Hairkunst, Melora Virgin Coconut Oil, Remember Me Black Seed Oil and Dyan Lipcolour.
Peek-a-Box prides itself as an exclusive beauty box subscription service offering four (4) to five (5) “surprise” deluxe beauty treats every month delivered to your door. Beauty enthusiasts will get to try and enjoy products and make use of fantastic deals of high-end, exclusive and cult cosmetic, skincare, fragrance, hair care and other “beauty” products from international and homegrown brands. It also comes with a beauty read containing information on each product of the month within the box as well as tried-and-tested beauty advice from Peek-a-Box team of trusted experts.
That’s not all. Understanding that “beauty” has a vast meaning, Peek-aBox doesn’t want to stop at just skincare and cosmetics but also includes brands and products that promote beauty of different forms and kind. 30
Founded by Shuhada Alauddin, a lawyer turned colour expert and entrepreneur; she started Peek-a-Box with the vision of bridging inner beauty such as selflove, intellect, confidence and courage with outer beauty; hence the beauty box tagline “Beauty Inside Out”. Shuhada is joined by 2 other co-founders Zura Ahmad and Bubblegumhijab, a UK Beauty and Fashion Influencer; each with their own impressive experiences and portfolios. The Peek-a-Box launch saw the attendance of the who’s who from the beauty and fashion industry. To top it all off, it also saw the attendance of the International Beauty and Fashion Influencer Nabiilabee as the guest of 31
honour; flown from the United Kingdom especially for the event. During the event, Nabiilabee shared her views and experience on how she uses the products in the launch box. It was made even more interesting when guests had the chance to try out the products by being pampered at each of the brand’s pampering booth during the event. Peek-a-Box will be in distribution starting January 2017 to reach the subscribers in time for Valentine’s (which is known to be the season of giving); but with a twist - to serve as a reminder to love yourself first by treating yourself to something nice, none other than Peek-a-Box!
Mixing art and beauty Peek-a-Box is gorgeously designed, having in mind to purposely enable it to be reused in different ways by its subscribers later. The box iconic motifs and eye-popping hues come with a drawer pull, such that it can double as a cosmetic and lifestyle décor drawer. During special months or festive season, it is decorated with a limited edition drawer knob which sets the brand further apart from other beauty boxes, wherein it adds more excitement to its subscribers keeping them guessing what kind of limited edition box will be offered. 32
What’s better about this beauty box is that Peek-a-Box gives back to its subscribers. The brand is teaming up with global and local influencers for an “Unboxing Challenge” campaign – a special collaboration with influencers including celebrities, beauty bloggers and makeup artists to name a few, whereby they are invited to sample all products in the box of the month and share their honest review with the subscribers every month. This is in evidence from the first collaboration with Nabiilabee during the launch.
Right to left: Shuhada Alauddin, Nabiila Bee, Zura Ahmad, Bubblegumhijab.
If there is anything more exciting than to discover new beauty products friendlier to your pocket, Peek-a-Box exceeds your expectation. Subscribers can sign up for one-off individual box or a rolling monthly subscription for as low as RM59.00. Currently, Peek-a- Box is available for 1-month, 3-month, 6-month and 12-month subscriptions to complement your budget. In addition to that, Peek-a-Box offers its loyal beauty subscribers up to 10% discount for subsequent subscriptions. Peek-a-Box also promotes treating not only yourself but your special someone. 33
You can purchase the box as a gorgeous gift with personal note to your girlfriend, sister and even mother (hey, mommies need to feel pretty too). Subscribing to this beauty box is always easy. Just visit www.peek-a-box.com, add the superfun box to your cart and wait for the quirky surprise to “knock, knock” your doorstep. With Peek-a-Box, unwrapping the box feels like a luxurious surprise for yourself – only it gets better!
Beauty
IS COMING Written by Naira Ghanem
W
inter is here, whilst it is nice to wrapped up in the fashionable winter styles, it will take some time to adjust my skincare routine to this cold weather!
Keeping your skin hydrated in this weather is key for a flawless complexion, and perfect makeup application. So I thought I’d share with you some of my favourite products and tips for this season! Getting plump and hydrated skin in this weather will require more than one moisturiser! Recently I’ve been mixing my two favourite moisturisers to get the best results.
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elemental herbology
cell plumping This has to be one of my favourite skincare brands! This hydrator specifically is lightweight yet superhydrating daily moisturiser is brimming with antioxidants, anti-ageing marine actives and botanicals to protect against harsh environments. Skin’s collagen is boosted, leaving a healthy-looking glow. Not only that but this will last forever, you literally need the smallest dab to cover the whole face. I’ve had it for 4 months so far and still have more than half of it left over.
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kiehl’s
line-reducing So this concentrate improves the overall skin texture and radiance, which is what we need this time of the year! It contains a high concentration of pure vitamin C, which your skin will love and helps in minimising the appearance of pores, it has a powerful ability to improve the appearance of skin. Again you don’t need to use much of this product for your skin, a maximum of 2 pumps is needed. For use alone, I would recommend application only at night just because it’s so concentrated, and can leave your skin looking shiny.
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mixing Why mix? Not every moisturiser will be perfect, or contain everything we want all in one. Mixing means you get to make the most of what you have. Add a dab of the elemental herbology moisturiser on the back of your hand, add two pumps of the Kiehls concentrate and mix. Then press the mix into the skin, avoid massaging the mix into the skin, pressing is much more effective. These two moisturisers go so well together because the cell plumping hydrator helps the concentrate absorption into the skin, meaning you get the best out of it! You will notice a big difference after just one use, I promise, you can do this with a lot of moisturisers, for example mixing an anti-breakout or oil reducing moisturiser with a hydrator would also work perfectly! Now sometimes we don’t have the time or effort to even apply a moisturiser, in a rush every morning, or just can be bothered before bed time. If so, this new skincare product will become your best friend!
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caudalie
beauty elixir This was an impulse purchase for me, I just wanted to try something new! It’s an anti-dull complexion mist which smoothes features, tightens pores, and gives the complexion a burst of radiance. The Beauty Elixir also combats dryness from cold weather while improving microcirculation because of its tingly sensation on the skin, leaving the skin glowing with health. It’s super refreshing, and has a wonderful herbal scent to it, a perfect wake me up in the morning, but also a relaxing scent to sleep too. And guess what, it even helps to set makeup!
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skin republic
brightening face mask So my main focus in the post is just getting a more radiant complexion, and getting rid of any dullness and dryness, and here is the perfect product to finish it all off! This Facial sheet mask is literally drenched in a brightening serum, containing vitamins C, E and 7 Plant Extracts help reduce the appearance of age spots and imperfections. It really helped with my uneven skin tone around the sides of my face and areas of hyperpigmentation. This is my new favourite face mask sheet, after one use I could see a huge difference in my skins radiance and tone. What I love the most about sheet masks is because of the close skin contact it encourages the skin to absorb the serum faster compared to other masks and creams. I’m really tempted to try the other masks from this brand such as the collagen infusion and spots & blemish sheet mask.
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And that was a quick review of my new skincare routine for the winter, I hope you found this useful. Remember it takes time to find products that give you the result you want! The key is consistency in their use so you can actually monitor and see the change! Stay warm and wrapped up this season!
BEAUTY EDITOR: NAIRA GHANEM Hey I’m Naira, just an ordinary student with big dream! Whether its fashion, make up or daily life, join me on my journey. Whether big or small, we can take on the world, with a pretty face and a pretty heart.
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Inspire
a tribute to the
HAMP ~ Written by Lipa Hussain
t dawned on me very recently that I really missed someone and that person was Muhammad Ali. I did not know this man personally nor have I had even a near interaction with him but I miss him terribly. It is nearly impossible to articulate the impact this one being has had on the modern world, what his name meant to many. I remember the night before the 4th of June, news came to light that Muhammad Ali was seriously ill and was rushed to the hospital. I kept on refreshing twitter to get an indication of his status, hoping it was all a false alarm. 41
Then the next morning came and the headline many of us were all fearing had become true, our legend, our champ, our Muhammad Ali had passed. I didn’t realise how impacted I would be upon hearing his death but it hit me and many of those around me like a ton of bricks. I spent the whole day switching around all the news channels hoping to see unseen footage of Muhammad Ali and experienced a combination of sadness and admiration seeing what beauty this world has lost.
He stood for more than the heavyweight belts and accolades but his being did truly transcend the sport of boxing. He became a Muslim at a time when it would be deemed as strange and shocking and did so by picking his own name, Muhammed Ali. He may not have realised then but he became a revolutionary with opinions that stood for truth and made people uncomfortable. An example of such courage was when we refused to be drafted into the Vietnam War citing his religion would not allow such oppression to be inflicted on another nation.
The real enemy of my people is here. I will not disgrace my religion, my people or myself by becoming a tool to enslave those who are fighting for their own justice, freedom, and equality. If I thought the war was going to bring freedom and equality to 22 million of my people they wouldn’t have to draft me, I’d join tomorrow. I have nothing to lose by standing up for my beliefs. So, I’ll go to jail, so what? We’ve been in jail for 400 years.” At such a prime in his career, he risked his talents, fame, and money for principle. And I repeat, for principle.
“...he served Allah with integrity and an unflinching belief that oppression would not be an accepted action as a Muslim to inflict onto others...” As quoted, “Why should they ask me to put on a uniform and go 10,000 miles from home and drop bombs and bullets on Brown people in Vietnam while socalled Negro people in Louisville are treated like dogs and denied simple human rights? No, I’m not going 10,000 miles from home to help murder and burn another poor nation simply to continue the domination of white slave masters of the darker people the world over. This is the day when such evils must come to an end. I have been warned that to take such a stand would cost me millions of dollars. But I have said it once and I will say it again. 42
How many of us can honestly say we would risk this much for principle? In making that one decision, he served Allah with integrity and an unflinching belief that oppression would not be an accepted action as a Muslim to inflict onto others. He rose above the norm and political correctness and threw it a crushing blow as he would in the ring. Muhammad Ali was not just a Muslim or a boxer. But he was Black, Muslim, American and a Boxer, to even have the audacity to downplay these elements would be a great injustice to his memory.
Social media became flooded with tributes and quotes after his death. Everyone had something great to say about him. News anchors all shared their own memories even allowing viewers an insight to their human side that can often become lost when they adopt their usual robotic stances when delivering the news.
The reason we love Muhammad Ali and his values so much because he was ALL those things and he did not compromise to fit the narrative. He was black and proud at a time in the United States where that was not possible, at least not publicly. He told the world, he was Black and pretty and he was damn good at what he does. He exuded a confidence that had been systematically ripped from the African American communities in a country that told them they weren’t good enough. He came at a time, denouncing his “slave name” and told the world his God was Allah and the Messenger was Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). He came and told America, I am me and get used to it. 43
The most beautiful part of the heartbreaking passing of Muhammad Ali was that for one day he allowed the world to see the words ‘Muhammad’ and ‘greatest’ in the same sentence. At a time where being vocally Muslim can attract discrimination and disgust, he allowed Muslims to see the name most beloved to them being written and talked about with such regard and respect. I will never be able to thank Muhammad Ali enough for allowing me to experience that moment. Even writing about him now causes a gulp and watery eyes, even in death he was a blessing. I often go back to people’s social media profiles from celebrities to athletes to activists, back to 4th of June and see what they wrote about Muhammad Ali. I am not sure why but I think I do it out of comfort. His funeral most definitely matched his life story. Seeing his coffin covered in the simple black shroud with the declaration of ash hadu allah ilaha illallah brought me and my mum to tears. He was finally gone.
Even in death, he brought people together, from Jews to Muslims, Republicans to Democrats even the Native Americans. The most memorable part of his funeral was when the Native American spokespeople conveyed their own stories of oppression and injustice and told the audience that Muhammad Ali too, fought with them. I found myself in awe thinking no one ever thinks or does anything about the Indigenous cause but Muhammad Ali did and not out of fashion or fame but he genuinely cared when oppression was being inflicted. It dawned on me why he was the people’s champion, he was a warrior in the face of injustice and he wasn’t about to be beaten down. For those who attended the memorial and those who watched, we all left with a sense of a silent awe, the kind of feeling that would have people question, what can I do to make this world a better place. The question Muhammad Ali lived his life by. His relentless dawah was refreshing, he didn’t preach or judge but he simply spoke the truth about Allah. He did not try to water down the deen yet he painted Islam on being the key to his success. He was grateful to God for his accomplishments and he wanted the world to know that there was someone greater than him. He spoke with such eloquence when speaking about Allah 44
and Islam, I assume much of his inspiration came from his friend and fellow activist Malcolm X. His death not only impacted the West but also the Muslim world who also flooded in with their own tributes. He even has a land named after him in my father’s homeland in Bangladesh, his reach was far and wide and was only met by love. He was unafraid of his outspoken advocacy as an icon and a champion for freedom from American racial inequality. His advocacy was not limited to his struggles but he also used his platform to voice his thoughts on issues such as the occupation of Palestine and South African Apartheid.
I often look at pictures of Muhammad Ali and Nelson Mandela for long periods of time and try to absorb the beauty of two great gentle giants. It is important that we remember Muhammad Ali how he wanted to be remembered, in his own words. “I would like to be remembered as a man who won the heavyweight title three times, who was humorous, and who treated everyone right. As a man who never looked down on those who looked above him. Who stood up for his beliefs…Who tried to unite all humankind through faith and love.
And if all that’s too much, then I guess I’d settle for being remembered only as a great boxer who became a leader and a champion of his people. And I wouldn’t mind if folks forgot how pretty I was.” Muhammed Ali, you have completed your wish and achieved an awful lot more. May your life be a setting example for future generations to come. We shall never forget; examples are given not forgotten. May Allah forever be pleased with you, champ.
THE WRITER: LIPA HUSSAIN Hello everyone, my name is Lipa Hussain. Bengali by ethnicity but a 21-year-old who proudly calls Edinburgh her birthright home. I am a recent PR and Marketing graduating with an itching interest in politics and social affairs. I am a dreamer and have many goals I would like to accomplish from learning multiple languages to saving the world but one step at a time will do.
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Inspire
to Written by SabĂŠra Hassanally Goulam
nce upon a time, there was a girl, carefree but curious. At the height of her 7 years, she went to see her mother during the Christmas holidays to ask her permission to wear the hijab. Her mother replied affirmatively, but without any explanation. The girl did not know what she was getting into. She found that piece of cloth beautiful, because yes, the hijab makes you beautiful from the inside but it is also very beautiful from the outside. However, she will not understand this until much later. Without any deep conviction, she began to wear her hijab that very day. At the beginning of the 46
school year, she was rather well received by her classmates and her teacher. Her entourage and her environment thought with no doubt that the decision of this naive and innocent girl was not going to continue in time, and that's why it was not necessary to cut her in her swing. Thus, that new life of a hijabi girl took place safely for the following years. Eight years later and now a teenage, her family decided to spend the holidays in her favourite country: France. She discovered France in her History classes and found its history unique and fascinating. Her native island of Madagascar was, a few years before, a French colony.
The circumstances made this holiday turn into a permanent stay. The young teenager no longer returned to her home country and her dream country became her new home and residence. That summer of 2004 was indeed a new beginning in her life. It was also the beginning of her questioning the decision she took a few years back to don the hijab. During that same year of 2004, at the beginning of high school, the girl was shocked to see a classmate removing her hijab at the entrance of the school without any hesitation. Who would believe that she would do the same thing for the next 3 years? 47
Her heart was crumbling every time she took off that piece of cloth from her head. More than a cloth, it was truly for her a matter of identity, the one she had chosen more than 10 years ago. Even though she kept her hijab in university, the more time passed, the more problems related to her hijab she had to face on a daily basis. The way people stared at her was the first of these signs. Then came the verbal attacks. The girl felt very uncomfortable in her own skin and anger took place deep inside her. And because of these odious acts, she withdrew into her shell. Fear increased in her, the fear of approaching others, the fear of going to
job interviews, the fear of going out in the street, the fear of simply going shopping. Those situations made her question herself: should she take her hijab off or not? Should she do without what she considered as her identity to avoid these insults and not to be afraid? The germs of the politicization of the secularism and its consequences echoed in her daily life. Then one day, she became aware of what she was wearing on her head through her job in the humanitarian field. She met French sympathizers and others who were unpleasant. These people focused on the shape more than the background of the person in front of them. 48
Who would believe that the hijab would cause people - people who are in the humanitarian cause no less - to stop interacting with you? In the time of terrorism and growing islamophobia, she understood that her dream country was more likely to reject her than accept her with her differences and her uniqueness. Hijabi women are considered weak or even incapable. But she decided to stay. She wanted to prove her strength and her potential. Yes, you probably understood, this story is my story.
As a citizen of the world, it is my duty to fight terrorism at my scale. Rather than weapons, it is through knowledge that I strive to cure this plague that ravages the world step by step. Indeed, this plague nourishes the prejudices against Muslims and makes their life around the world more and more difficult. Our rights are so often trampled that we cannot afford to remain silent and not raise our voices. So I decided not to hide as I did before, but to show my face, to step outside of my cocoon and express myself in my own way. My weapon? The modest fashion. Much more than a fashion, it is the way to convey a positive image of Muslim women and Islam. The beauty expressed by those who follow it defines the beauty of the religion. The adepts express it in two ways: internal beauty via a good behaviour in society, and the external beauty expressed by a lifestyle. And because “Allah is beautiful and loves beauty”, Sahih Muslim, this is how I want to attract people to Islam: through beauty. Today, my hijab is the most precious thing I have. It gives meaning to my life. In hindsight, it is even one of the greatest blessings that has happened to me so far. 49
It accompanied me throughout my life and helped me build myself. My hijab is my strength and if I decide to leave France one day, it would be only temporary. There is much to be done in this country and I wish to contribute to it, by reminding the first word that constitutes its motto: “Freedom”. One of the expressions of this freedom in everyday life has to be the freedom of wearing the clothes one wants. And the hijab is no exception. Allah (swt) has given us some freedom, including the freedom of decision on an individual level, knowing that each of these decisions will have a consequence one will have to face. The decision to wear the hijab is a difficult decision, especially in our time. But why did it become so? It is only a piece of cloth covering a part of the body, not enough to make a big deal, even less, project laws. On the contrary, the decision to prevent a person from wearing the hijab will have consequences that can only be detrimental to her development, her self-fulfilment and even her involvement in the society. Nevertheless, this piece of cloth can become a fashion accessory as the scarves tied around the neck.
For my part, I decided to get closer to my Creator in my own way. I like to wear my hijab while being made-up. I feel good about myself, in my head, in my heart, in my mind and in my soul. I feel much more fulfilled and close to the Almighty.
And yet it liberated me! Thanks to the hijab, I understood the potential I had and I became aware of the strength deep inside me. In short, hijab is freedom. But that is just my opinion... heart-to-heart.
I always thought that the hijab would limit my potential in this country that does not understand me. THE WRITER: SABÉRA HASSANALLY GOULAM After her Masters degree in science, SabÊra HASSANALLY GOULAM decided to create her blog to share her passions. Indian of origin, born in Madagascar, french in her heart and attached to her convictions, she is a mother of a little girl who is enjoying life. She wants to get close to modest fashion to get inspired by others and to finally inspire others.
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Living
Contemporary Design Meets Fashion
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F
using contemporary design with personal style for the modern Muslim consumer, newly launched brand Qenza aims to provide beautifully designed home essentials and accessories that celebrate the core values of Islam.
mats featuring designs inspired by Quranic verses that speak of nature and its bounties. Named after grand sites of Islamic civilisation such as Granada and Samudera Pasai, the hand sewn mats bring a touch of sophistication to contemporary lifestyle.
A labour of love by Malaysian, Tasha Jalani and her husband, Fozzil Jaffar, Qenza makes its debut into the global Muslim fashion industry with the introduction of Qenza Mats, prayer
Hand painted artwork on each mat provides artistic homage to Quranic verses about nature’s abundance and beauty. According to the couple, who currently resides in Perth, the idea for
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Qenza came about from their personal experience searching for home accessories and personal affects for their home when they got married. “As a young Muslim couple with contemporary tastes, we could not understand why products catered towards Muslims looked like they had been around since the Ottoman Empire. Looking for ways to showcase our personality at home, we found it difficult to find products that reflected 53
our personality. Contemporary design was absent in many products out there, which seemed unchanged for years and in some cases, poor imitations of style from another time,� said Tasha, who was a Financial Controller of a mineral sands company in Australia. Qenza is her platform as a freshly minted entrepreneur, a passion she shares with Fozzil, the Regional Manager for a university in Perth.
Taking to heart the adage that if you can’t find them, create them, Qenza was born. Qenza products are being distributed online on its own website www.qenza.co. Qenza products are also available at selected fashion retailers in Malaysia, ShopatTwenty in Bangsar and Garde Robe Haus in Empire Damansara, Bajoo’ in Brunei, leveraging the existing exposure to databases of consumers. Early December, Qenza will also be available at Enpointe, Singapore. 54
Qenza aims to be the market leader and a global brand in creating premium quality products that complement consumers’ lifestyle through fashionable and contemporary designs. It intends on being the leader of the next growth market, the Muslim home essentials and accessories industry. In summary, FASHION for your HOME.
Food
Baked Pasta Pasta, one of the most easiest things to whip up in the kitchen. You usually can’t go wrong with pasta. But instead of grabbing the usual can of pasta sauce from the grocery (which contains all sorts of artificial flavouring), try to make your own. With fresh ingredients, you know you and the fam will be getting nothing but the good nutrients. 55
Ingredients 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 clove garlic, crushed 1 onion, sliced 1 tablespoon tomato paste 2 x 400g cans of chopped peeled tomatoes Salt and ground black pepper 1 teaspoon sugar 1/2 cup chopped basil 1/3 cup chopped flat leaf parsley 500g minced beef 3 cups of fusilli pasta (you can use macaroni or penne as alternatives) Mozzarella cheese
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Method
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Cook the pasta till al dente. Set aside. Heat olive oil and fry the beef till cooked. Set aside. Heat olive oil large saucepan on medium heat. Add the garlic and onion and cook for 3-4 minutes until softened but not browned. Add the tomato paste and cook, stirring constantly for 1 minute (this 'cooks off' the paste, giving it a richer more intense flavour). Add the peeled tomatoes, reduce the heat and simmer for 8-10 minutes, until thickened. Stir through the salt and pepper, sugar, basil and parsley, adjusting the seasoning as required. Combine cooked beef and pasta into pasta sauce and mix well. In a casserole dish, layer some of the pasta mixture, then cover the layer with the mozzarella cheese. Repeat until all the pasta mixture is completed and finish off with a layer of cheese. (Just like how you would make lasagna). Pop in the oven at 150 degrees Celsius for 15-20 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the top is nice and golden brown.
Health
kick start Your day T
he first and most important meal of the day. Unfortunately many of us forgo this very basic habit. With long commutes to work, sorting through emails in the morning and preparing for the morning meetings with the boss, many of us find ourselves often too busy for breakfast. And there are some of us (let’s face it, ladies) who feel skipping the meal altogether would mean cutting the calories and losing the weight. Well, if your breakfast consist of high calorie meals, then yes, you might be adding on the pounds. But we’re talking about a healthy meal of cereal, oats or eggs on toast. Skipping a healthy breakfast like this could potentially be doing more harm to your body than good. Studies show that there are several important reasons to eat breakfast every single morning; no matter how busy you are and even if you aren’t very hungry. Here are reasons to have a healthy breakfast every morning and why it is so vital. 58
Stay healthy with a hearty breakfast When you eat a reasonable and healthy breakfast in the morning, you are actually regulating your blood sugar levels which in turn reduce your risk of diabetes. An adequate amount of nutrition found in a healthy breakfast, can also lower your blood pressure, which will reduce your risk of a stroke.
Increase your energy & stay mentally alert If you skip breakfast in the morning, you are essentially running on fumes. You need all the nutrients present in a healthy breakfast to help you perform correctly at work or school. Those who eat breakfast in the morning are mentally sharper. Certain breakfast foods like oats and bananas have been proven to give you a brain boost and will help you perform your daily duties with a sense of heightened clarity and awareness.
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Lose the weight Of all the reasons to eat breakfast, this next one is probably one of the most important. If you eat breakfast in the morning, you will be less hungry throughout the day. This is especially important for those who are watching their weight and want improved health. Those who eat breakfast are less likely to overeat, and thus consume more calories than necessary, throughout the day. Overeating throughout the later part of the day is directly related to weight gain.
Up the mood factor Aside from bettering your health, skipping breakfast can cause irritability and mood swings. Skipping breakfast can affect our behaviour and mood. Food is your fuel so if you skip a meal, you will suffer from your lack of energy! Just eating breakfast is an instant mood booster.
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Work
CROWDFUNDING’S APPEAL TO
MILLENNIALS M
illennials have been a hot topic of discussion. There has been ongoing attempts to bring insights about this generation of youths. Indeed, they are worth the attention. Millennials make up slightly more than a quarter of the global population. They are now the largest generation in workforce surpassing the generation X. Of key interest is the investing habits of Millennials. They are investing less in stocks and bonds versus generations before them. 61
This raises concerns about their financial literacy and financial planning. Interestingly, millennials invest a bigger portion of their income (18%) versus baby boomers (11%), according to Investopedia. This suggests that this generation have more interests in alternative form of investments. Based on general definition, he or she would likely belong in either of these two subgroups. Those who are between 18 to 24 years old and live with parents, and those between 25 to 34 years old and have a higher purchasing power.
This sub-categories provide a clearer picture of Millennials as a group consisting not just of potential investors (for those currently with more spending power) but also future investors (those yet to earn stable income). Despite such segregation, these groups share similar philosophies when it comes to investing. Two key factors combine to shape Millennial’s behaviour. Major global events and technology. These two also greatly influence where Millennials are to invest their money. Most Millennials would have gone through at least two large financial crisis during their life time. Those in Asia went through the Asian financial crisis in the late-1990s and the global financial crisis in 2008. While those in the US went through the tech-related crisis in early-2000s and the subprime crisis in 2008. It is largely due to these events, often blamed on the greed of big banks and corporates, that most Millennials are distrustful of big businesses. They tend to place less importance on profits and more on social responsibility and environmental consciousness. Millennials are also highly dependent on technology and therefore value transparency. They were raised in a digital, media-saturated world, deeming them the term “digital natives”. 62
As such, most of them turn to nontraditional sources like online platforms and forums, blog post and alternative media for investment advice. Millennials still value a personal connection with those that manage their money. But they look for human touch and customer service mainly through a digital interface. Millennials are less willing to stick with long-term investments, possibly due to their distrust in the big players. Their focus lies more on short-term needs as they stick to lower-risk investments. In fact, it was reported that Singaporean Millennials are more short-term oriented, holding stock investments for an average of 2.61 years in comparison to 3.47 years for their older counterparts. Again, this group is less driven by returns and are likely to put more emphasis on the ethics and positive social impact of their investment. Kapital Boost, offers an appealing investment option for Millennials. As an online Islamic crowdfunding platform, we provide ethical and shortterm investment opportunities. This is in line with the Millennials’ values and approach towards investing.
Given their lack of trust in the markets in general, their love of technology, and their need to invest and contribute to the community, crowdfunding has indeed become an attractive method of financing for the Millennials. It is currently forecasted that crowdfunding will account for more funding in 2016 than all venture capital combined. It is important that we understand and acknowledge the technological competence, social consciousness and changing mind set of the Millennials. Together with providing them smarter ways to invest, Millennials can be engaged and encouraged to become investors. This can lead to a better financial future for themselves, and also for their community.
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