HP ARABIA | VOL.2 | NOVEMBER 2021 by HP MAGAZINE

HP MAGAZINE ARABIA

VOLUME 2 | NOVEMBER 2021

TAKE SHOE COMFORT TO NEW HEIGHTS WITH 2021’S MOST COMFORTABLE HEELS

SILVER ROSE CORSETRY DREAM COLLECTION

SHOULD YOUR BEAUTY BE GLUTENFREE?

MARIE VIDA

LAWYER, FASHION MODEL, TRAVEL BLOGGER PURSUE YOUR PASSION AND YOU WILL NEVER WORK A DAY IN YOUR LIFE!

ELIE SAAB

Lift Your Beauty

Highly smoothing and firming LE LIFT skincare brings together performance and nature. The key active ingredient in their formulas, botanical alfalfa concentrate, is as efficient as retinol** and gentle on the skin. Composed of up to 96% naturally derived ingredients, LE LIFT works in a targeted way to produce visible results. Skin is smoothed, firmed, and luminous.

CHANEL BEAUTY

HP MAGAZINE ARABIA

VOLUME 2 | NOVEMBER 2021

Fashion

Take Shoe Comfort To New Heights With 2021’s Most Comfortable Heels

Beauty

7 big beauty trends Lakmé Fashion Week 2021

12. INTERVIEW 18. AN INTERVIEW WITH ELWA SALEH 26. ATELIER ZUHRA 32. ESTEE LAUDER 42. ELFEN

viannkmansur.com.mx

𝙑𝙄𝘼𝙉𝙉𝙆𝙈𝘼𝙉𝙎𝙐𝙍

CLOTHES

2021 MEDIA KIT

Can you introduce yourself: I am Marie and I am originally from Latvia, Riga, but I am British/Latvian. I am also fluent in Russian and Spanish. By the time I finished my Master degree in London in Human Resource management, I made so many friends and connections that I decided to stay here permanently. I have three very different career paths which I developed concurrently. I am an employment lawyer and established a solid career in Human Resource and talent management, helping people to define and pursue their career goals. I am also a London based model and a seasoned fashion and luxury and authentic travel blogger with 54 countries on my list. I have so many passions in life and my career paths are very diverse and multi channeled, so let’s go one by one ..:) My travel company focuses on experiential and luxury travel. We organise bespoke tours to Europe, Asia and the East for our loyal guests in accordance to their dreams, taking them off the main tourist beaten track. I am an absolute travel addict myself and really love showing our customers special places and well hidden gems on this planet. That’s my real passion. Also, I’ve been modelling since I was 15- 16 years old. My speciality is location shots and I work with various established and upcoming designers. I try to do the majority of my modelling work for my designers in special locations, so we can make their beautiful creations look outstanding.

MODEL: @MARIE_VI7 JEWELLERY: @COLLECTIONBYNADIA DRESS: @SILVER.ROSE.CORSETRY PHOTOGRAPHY: @VICKY_PHOTO.IT LOCATION: VENICE

Tell us something interesting about you? Aside from my businesses I have many other passions- I love surfing, skiing and I absolutely adore animals (especially Big Cats). I am helping a few cats & dogs shelters in Eastern Europe. I also love political science and always keen to have a good debate about the subject matter.

MODEL: @MARIE_VI7 JEWELLERY: @COLLECTIONBYNADIA DRESS: @SILVER.ROSE.CORSETRY PHOTOGRAPHY: @VICKY_PHOTO.IT LOCATION: VENICE

Take Shoe Comfort To New Heights With 2021’s Most Comfortable Heels

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FASHION

A good pair of heels will, quite literally, elevate your outfit but they don’t look quite as stylish when you’re hobbling around in pain after a few hours. So if you’re planning on wearing your heels for a longer period of time, you need to make sure they’re comfortable. You could wear minimalist sneakers or just remember to throw a pair of fail-safe flats or walking shoes into your bag… or you could sidestep the issue entirely by choosing the most comfortable heels in the first place. Fortunately, the designers of today are one step ahead of the game, with comfortable pumps to match any occasion available in almost any style and colour under the sun. Whether you prefer a high heel, kitten heel, block heel, pointy toe, a classic nude, needle-thin stiletto or a timeless mule, we’ve tried and tested the most comfortable heels of 2021 to suit your every need. The heels below are made for wearing during all your favourite activities: strolling, exploring, shopping and dancing the night away. The 17 most comfortable heels M.Gemi The Esatto Christian Louboutin DreamPairs M.Gemi The Lustro Tod’s Gianvito Rossi Clarks Nina Genay Porte & Paire Jimmy Choo Aquazzura Naturalizer Castañer Stuart Weitzman Cole Haan Vionic Roger Vivier

AN INTERVIEW WITH ELWA SALEH BY HARSHIT PATEL

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INTERVIEW

Hi, could you start by telling us a bit about yourself? Hi! Thank you for this interview. To begin, I am a big advocate of self love and enjoy encouraging others. It is important for me to live an authentic life, and I truly believe lasting happiness means staying true to my values. I have a progressive mentality and am always looking to gain a new perspective on my life, career, and the world as a whole. I love to learn and it is important that I share that knowledge with other people. My constant crave to learn has led me to achieve a Bachelor’s degree in Business communications and a Masters degree in Business Administration (M.B.A). In a way my education has helped me develop an agile mind and I am so thankful for having the opportunity to go to school and graduate with an M.B.A degree. I also hold a Cosmetologist degree in which I owned a small hairdressing business for 5 years, and developed an affinity for the beauty industry. Thanks to my passion for the beauty industry, I have been able to work with top brands like Wella, Toofaced cosmetics, and Fenty beauty (to name a few) as a beauty blogger. Could you talk to us a bit about yourself besides being a beauty blogger? Blogging has opened many doors for me. Whether it is in social media or modeling I am blessed to work with the best. I hope to expand my career and make the most of what comes my way. Although I am passionate about beauty blogging, I have this pull towards acting. All thanks to being highly observant in life, my emotions and human behaviour. I realized that I love to channel them through characters. There is a sense of release through expressing what I feel and it allows me to leave my inhibitions behind. It is very therapeutic. Tell us about the research you had to do to carry out your roles and as a blogger? In all honesty my research is my life’s experiences. I always fall back on my experiences and express them into my roles. As a beauty blogger, I fall back on my expertise as a hairdresser and self-taught makeup skills. It is very fulfilling to be able to share my experiences in roles; and to teach people what I know through beauty tutorials. At the beginning of my social media career, I researched on the type of equipment and editing softwares successful bloggers used. The research never stops though. There is always improvement and I enjoy it as it gives me the constant change I crave for. Your first big break in your career? My first big break would be hitting 100k IG followers as it established me as a beauty blogger and was able to take my blog full-time. Ever since then there was no looking back. As my page continued to increase, new doors opened for me like landing acting agents, working in music videos and connecting with top brands and artists. If you were to tell me 5

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INTERVIEW

years ago that this would come together the way it did for me I would laugh. It all has been a blessing and I am forever grateful for every brand, artist, and everyone who believes in me. There aren't enough words to describe my appreciation for it all. The universe always has our back! I promise.

Something about you that stands out? I should answer this question by saying that I am a determined and conscious individual. But I can’t help but say I love to take care of plants! I have so many plants at home. For me plants teach me so much about being human. Planting seeds, watering them, and patiently waiting for them to blossom teaches me about my inner workings. This process has taught me to set the right intentions in my life, act upon them, and patiently wait for the fruits of my labor. So coming in full circle, I am determined to grow wherever I am in my life. Projects you currently are working on? I am currently working on various social media projects. There are so many upcoming beauty launches that I am itching to share with my audience. It’s always exciting to be part of them and share what is new in the industry. What are your hopes for the future of the fashion industry? Because humans tend to translate information more visually, fashion is a strong nonverbal way to send important messages to the world. I hope to see more fashion brands incorporating messages of unity, sustainability, and advocating human rights. It is time for us to progress and move on to the next era. Although it is not easy to do as there is alot of learning and unlearning to do, I have faith in the fashion industry. Who have been some of your favorite collaborators so far in the industry? There are so many! I love all the beauty brands that I have worked with. On the music video forefront, Diljit Dosanjh is my favorite. Him and his team have opened my world in so many ways and I am honored to have worked with them. What first piqued your interest in fashion and modeling? Ever since I was little, I have wanted to be a model. As an 8 year old, modeling piqued my interest because it was a job about being “beautiful”. Most girls my age at the time loved to look at magazines of models and play with barbies. We were instilled with the idea that being beautiful would make us feel enough. The older I got the more I realized life is more than just about being a beautiful model. Today what piques my interest as a model is that I have the ability to express and channel my artistic side. After all, art is what inspires and moves humans. This is my recent newfound love for modeling.

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INTERVIEW

What is fun and rewarding about modeling? And what is not? There was a brief moment in my life where I stopped modeling. I was very dedicated to my blog and finishing my education that didn't have time for it. After I finished school, I started to accept modeling projects from brands and fell in love with it again. This time I was older with a new perspective on art. The most rewarding part about it is being able to work along with other creative individuals. I always have fun planning and connecting with everyone involved. For me, it is about creating a good atmosphere filled with laughter and positivity. Almost always the finished product of our collective efforts turns into something we all love. The part I don’t like about modeling would be wardrobe malfunctions. I love a good challenge but sometimes implementing crisis control can be time consuming on set. Almost always we work it out and continue to laugh it off. ;) Where there is a will there's way. What is the biggest highlight of your career so far? The biggest highlight of my career so far is knowing that I have increased my organizational skills. I can be really focused and forge solutions through my creativity and apply them effectively. To me this makes me feel confident to tackle any challenge that surfaces. Everything I have learned up until this point, I know can effectively apply and produce tangible results. Do you have a favorite designer or high street brand? My favorite designer would be Elie Saab. I am in awe of every design and it inspires my style. I love how feminine yet sophisticated each piece is. I love how each piece can bring out different aspects of a woman -- strength, courage, and even delicacy all at the same time. How has your style changed over the years? My style depends on my mood. Sometimes I like to feel sophisticated and other times edgy or daring. But for the most part I would say it has become more feminine and incorporates 1 or 2 colors/textures at a time. What is your greatest strength My greatest strength is knowing that whatever happens in life I have me. Knowing that I am responsible for my own happiness pushes me to create the life I want. Side note: this came from my 101 plant lessons on life. =P

What are your goals in your career? My goal is to one day be able to make a difference in the world. Whether it is through modeling, my blog or acting, I hope to achieve heights and use the status to make a difference in the world.

ATELIER ZUHRA

Beautiful your way. Double Wear Makeup 24-hour wear. No touch ups. With Double Wear, what makes you different is beautiful. The shade more than matches, it flatters you. Enhances your skin for 24 hours and stays colour true. Won’t look grey on deeper skintones. Transfer-resistant. Waterproof. Natural matte finish.

REVITALIZING SUPREME+ MINI

ESTEE LAUDER

7 big beauty trends Lakmé Fashion Week 2021

Elfen Watches

ABOUT ELFEN A gentleman's choice of timepiece says as much about him as his Saville Row Suit. At ELFEN our aim is not just to create a watch but is to provide a unique experience to our wearers. ELFEN is India's first brand for premium wooden watches. All the watches have been made using 7 different types of natural wood namely Mahogany, Ebony, Pine, Oak, Zebra, Walnut wood and Sandalwood. The brand was founded with a belief that beautiful watches can be made from wood - a renewable resource with a significant advantage over other commonly used materials. We show the world how age-old craftsmanship can be used in modern-day products to form ethical and sustainable designs for the conscious yet stylish individual.

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ELFEN

HOW DID IT ALL START? Back in 2018, i was working in a corporate job, and my co-founder had his own Fashion-Accessories store in Pune. We always used to discuss starting up with something niche and unique, something which can provide a lot of value to Indian consumers. We realised that the watch industry is saturated with very limited designs and patterns, especially in India. All the usual brands were offering similar-looking stainless steel designs in watches, which are not only quite heavy on your wrist, but also not that versatile for every occasion. It's then when we came up with the idea of wooden watches. We thought why not try creating a watch from a renewable resource such as wood. Not only did the watches came out to be super lightweight, they were also the quite strong inbuilt quality and durability. We thought to take it big and take it to the entire Indian and global market and that's when the idea of ELFEN was born. We started operations on 5th August 2019, and by taking continuous feedback from our customers and working on those to improve our processes and end-product, we have been successfully able to create a product that is both supreme in quality and high on style quotient.

THE HURDLES? Well, the main challenge was to create that end product. With none of us having a background in production and manufacturing line, we had to go through a lot of failed attempts and iterations to finally develop our first successful prototype. It was a watch made of Zebrawood, and we are proud of the fact that we are a fully homegrown brand. The other major challenge was to take this completely new watch segment to the Indian market. We were very sceptical, how it will be viewed by the consumers and would they be actually receptive to the idea of a wooden watch? One thing that kept our belief high was the fact that everyone that we hadshown the watch to, absolutely loved it.

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We just had to position ourselves in a right and aspirational way to the Indian consumers. One thing we had very clear in our mind from the very first day, that we are not going to target every consumer in this country. We knew that our target customer will be a value-driven one who makes a purchase because he/she believes in that product, rather than buying something just because they are at a heavy discounted price. All our ad campaigns and social media strategies were devised to target that value-driven customer, and we saw some really great results. Till date, we are following the same notion of providing as much value to our consumers as possible for their purchase with us. Our packaging is one of the best in the industry, our product return rate is one of the lowest in the industry which clearly shows that despite all the hurdles we faced, we tried to learn from them and improve continuously. TREE PLANTATION INITIATIVE Our mission has always been to provide as much value to the our consumers as possible. We decided to give people unique experiences by introducing something as unique as a wooden watch. The majority of our products are handmade, with an emphasis on quality at affordable prices. As a responsible and sustainable brand, we have always believed in giving more to mother nature than taking away from it. Keeping up with our core principles, for every purchase you make we plant a tree in your name. ELFEN has partnered with TreeNation whose focus is on reforestation and the reduction of the most pressing threats to the diversity of life on Earth. Every time you buy an ELFEN Wood Watch, a tree will be planted in your name! As soon as you place the order on our website and make the payment, you will receive an email from Tree-Nation, with the details of the tree planted in your name. You will be able to see all the details of the tree like its LIVE Google location, the farmer taking care of it, the crop that it will be a part of the harvest, etc. Along with this you will also receive a tree - plantation certificate over e-mail. The link in the certificate will take you your tree with its details.

ELFEN

HOW ARE WE PROGRESSING?

We are glad to tell that we have been very well received by our customers and the indian market at large. Ours sales have been growing pretty well and most of our customers are repeat buyers. We provide custom Gift wrapping and messaging service, and lots of our customers prefer to gift it to someone everytime there is an occassion. We are growing at a very good pace, but our customer centric approach is something we would never want to compromise for growth.

FUTURE PLANS

Future seems very exciting. We are introducing 6 new designs as part of our new collection along with custom engraving services. Customers will be able to get their message or a picture engraved at the back of the watch. We are working on our packaging and are trying to create one of the best packaged brand in india. We are also planning to target global markets now like Europe and canada. In fact We have already started shipping to USA and UK.

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