Issuu

JANUARY 2016 - 15 L.E., VOLUME 11, ISSUE 4 WWW.IDENTITY-MAG.COM

STUCK IN THE ZONE

“EX”

2016

wish list

see page 14

OKHTEIN the ‘in’ bags

BEAUTY TIPS BY

THE QUEENS

+

the

FASHION PROJECT New Year New Closet

Letter from the Editors

H

ere at Identity Magazine, we are welcoming 2016 with high optimism for change and progress for our beloved country. This entire first issue of the year, in addition to revealing the changes we have made in our sections and designs, is also dedicated to Egypt and questions of what is the Egyptian identity. We hope that Egyptians find once again their noble identity they were so well-known for in the past.

In this issue, we are thrilled to present the winning photoshoot of the Fashion Project.

As part of our effort to support rising talent and capture the Egyptian identity, we brought together brilliant fashion designers, aspiring models, skilled photographers and the talented stylists and artists on their teams.

The final shots were judged upon consistency throughout the photoshoot that fit print perspectives. The judges were Fashion Photographer Sherif Mokhtar, Actress and Model Tara Emad, Make-Up Artist Mahmoud Rashad, and Founder and Managing Editor of Identity Magazine Rola Kamel.

From the beautiful results of each photoshoot, it is obvious that each team was very passionate about capturing what they saw as the Egyptian identity. We would like to sincerely thank everyone involved in the competition. Each photoshoot is available to be admired online.

We are looking forward to another great year with our readers.

Identity Magazine was founded in 2005 by Rola Kamel to enhance every aspect of a woman’s life style, helping our female readers to discover and improve their own identities.

The subscription rate to Identity is 180 L.E. for one year (12 issues) by Al Ahram, Tel: 02-27703190 Contact us at: 26A Montazah St., Zamalek, Cairo-Egypt. Tel: 02-27361187 Mobile: 0122-9401071 email: sendus@identity-mag.com www.identity-mag.com

IDENTITYMAGEG 8 Identity January 2016

Masthead

ANUARY J VOLUME 11

ISSUE 4

IDENTITY-MAG.COM

THE BIG FRIDAY BRUNCH THAT STANDS OUT FROM THE BUNCH.

Founder & Managing Editor ROLA KAMEL Editor-in-Chief NAWAL ISMAIL Senior Editor LIZA DUNHAM Copy-Editor AMINA EL FAYOUMY Senior Writer RAGHDA EL-SAYED Staff Writer AMINA MOUSTAPHA Online Writers MIRANA TERA, KHALED NASR, PERY EL ETREBY Relationship Expert MARWA RAKHA Psychology Expert KATE KERPEZ Senior Graphic Designer ALIA EL-ABD Marketing & Advertising Manager RIHAM YEHIA Digital Marketing Specialists MONICA NAGY, SANDRA SWELLAM Online Advertising Consultant MARWA KAMEL Website Company QPIX SOLUTIONS

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Our brigade of chefs bring you an array of traditional, oriental and multi-ethnic dishes “a la minute” from Sushi & Stir Fry to Teppanyaki & Tandoori, not to mention salads, pasta, and desserts. We promise a brunch on Friday that’s full of fun, food and family!

Printing House INTERNATIONAL PRINTING HOUSE (IPH) Identity Magazine Distributors ASHRAF FOUAD & ESSAM IBRAHIM

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10 Identity January 2016

I n o v e r 1 7 0 l o c a t i o n s a c r o s s t h e g l o b e i n c l u d i n g : J O R D A N • L E B A N O N • U N I T E D A R A B E M I R AT E S

Contents

19

NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS WE NEVER KEEP

28

“

REAL CURSE: PHARAOHS WILL NEVER DIE

Perhaps the real pharaoh’s curse is that Egyptians will never really be able to have an identity without him

TIPS

FASHION & BEAUTY

PERSPECTIVES

BITS & PIECES

12 IDENTITY LOVES 14 STUCK IN THE “EX” ZONE 16 IDENTIFYING YOUR PERSONALITY 18 OUR ENTERTAINMENT WISH LIST 20 THE STORIES BEHIND PROVERBS 22 SIX LONG WEEKENDS TO PUT IN YOUR CALENDAR

52 OKHTEIN:

THE DYNAMIC DESIGN DUO 12 Identity January 2016

“

44

the

48 HOW EGYPTIANS LOST IDENTITY 50 SIXTEEN THINGS YOU NEED TO DO IN 2016 54 DR. MOHAMED EMAD: THE MAN BEHIND THE SMILE

26 NEW YEAR, NEW CLOSET 28 BABY, IT’S COLD OUTSIDE 30 TREND ALERT! HERITAGE PRINT 32 THE FASHION PROJECT 40 DESIGNING THE EGYPTIAN IDENTITY 24 EGYPTIAN BEAUTY TIPS

56 SNAPS & PRESS RELEASES 64 HOROSCOPES

www.identity-mag.com

Zang’s “Wicked” Reshapes Our Childhood and Upcoming Summer Winter 2015 Collection

Top 12 reasons why he lost interest in you

The Origins Of Some Wedding Traditions

What’s Inside What’s Hot

Latest news in Egypt, the world, and the Internet.

Bel Masry

This section is based on Egyptian culture and funny things Egyptians relate to.

A La Mode

Everything beauty and fashion related in the Egyptian fashion scene.

Interviews

Missed the interview when it was

Health Gurus

published? you can find it here.

Everything related to health and fitness.

Relationships

The Gateways

Everything from love advice to intimacy related to Egyptian culture and traditions.

Shewaya Gad

This section is dedicated to serious topics, discussion, interviews, and open letters.

A travel section that includes everything from traveling advidce, destinations, funny traveling posts, and reviews.

Picks

WINGED SCARAB EARRINGS - AZZA FAHMY “We love anything that has a pharaonic style to it, but it’s hard to find something that’s wearable and not too costumey. Azza Fahmy’s latest collection, however, balances it perfectly.”

EMBROIDERED CUSHION ZAHRA COLLECTION OUMELDOUNIA.COM “We can’t get over the designs on this one! We will never go back to a plain pillow ever again.”

‘CAIRO SHOPS’ MUG BY GOLO OUMELDOUNIA. COM “If we are going to drink coffee every morning, and we do, we might as well do it in style.”

FELT HAT WITH WIDE BAND - ZARA “This one is just too cute to not love it.”

IDENTITY

LOVES

BURGUNDY PALMETTE BACKPACK - OKHTEIN “Have you been looking for a backpag that doesn’t scream college student? This design from Okhtein works great even after graduation.”

JACQUARD SCARF ZARA “We might be guilty of having more scarfs than anyone needs to get through an Egyptian winter, but we couldn’t say no to this one!”

QUILTED LEATHER GLOVES MASSIMO DUTTI “This is our top pick for gloves this season. Nothing beats classic leather.”

HIGH HEEL ANKLE BOOTS PULLNBEAR “The wintry weather doesn’t mean you have to give up on heels. This pair will give you the support and stability you need.”

PULL & BEAR LONGNIGHTS “Stay on trend with nudeJanuary colour.2016 This 16this Identity dress is on point”

Relationship

Stuck in the “Ex” Zone Dear Marwa, I’ve been friends with my ex for six months now. We text nearly everyday and see each other in old friends’ gatherings. I’m still in love with him and he’s getting more and more attached to me, but the relationship is not moving forward. Sometimes he tells me he is jealous of other guys talking to me, and asks if I am going to hurt him again like I did in the past. But at the same time he avoids talking about his feelings for me as much as possible. I want to break down his walls and get him to trust me, what should I do ?

confused, or incoherent; I want you to be sharp as a samurai on a silk scarf! Here is the strategy: PLACE: A place where you can both feel comfortable, where you can both talk, where you can both get emotional, and where you will neither be disturbed nor distracted.

TIME: As soon as possible! I do not want you to daydream or guess or assume or do any more decoding.

WHAT TO SAY: Start the talk with a straightforward apology. Tell him that you are sorry that you hurt him. Tell him that you did not mean to make him feel jealous or insecure. Tell him that there were many misunderstandings in your relationship and that you are here today to set the records straight. Be sincere!

Dear Ex Girlfriend, There is only one way to do this; become “the GF” or “the EX.”

Paraphrase the mistakes; explain in your own words what you did that damaged this relationship and what you should have said and should have done to prevent the damage.

Show him that you truly understand!

Lessons learned; tell him what you have learned about yourself, about your needs, about your priorities, and about him as a man during your relationship, during the breakup, and after the breakup.

You need to talk!

I do not want you to be shy,

New beginnings; ask for another chance and for a clean slate.

Sincerely , The Ex Girlfriend P.S. He knows I’m still in love with him.

18 Identity January 2016

by Marwa Rakha

Promise him the things that you are willing to change about yourself and about your lifestyle to avoid reaching the same end again. Do not make promises that you cannot keep and always stay true to yourself and who you are.

HIS TURN: Now it will be his turn to talk and I do not know what he will have to say! Whatever he says, listen! If he asks questions, respond clearly and honestly. If he refuses to give your relationship another chance, do not hate him for it.

Accept the fact that people change and that he is entitled to choose.

Be graceful and leave him knowing that there are no grudges between the two of you and that karma will be kind to you.

As for the friendship between the two of you, you might want to decide if you can really be a sincere friend with no hidden agenda or not.

You will be subjecting yourself to the pangs of jealousy, loneliness, regret, and a multitude of negative feelings just by being around him as the ex who still loves him.

My most sincere advice would be to meet him with a heart that is open for all possibilities and a soul that is seeking peace and accepting peace in whatever form it takes. The journey to finding Mr. Right is more interesting than finding Mr. Right himself.

Psychology

Identifying your

Personality

by Kate Kerpez

You would rather stay at home and read a book than go to a party. Your house is always clean and your work is organized in colour-coded binders. If this sounds familiar, you might be an ISTJ, which stands for IntuitionSensing-Thinking-Judging. This is one of sixteen personality types identified by the Myers-Briggs test, one of the most popular measures of personality. The Myers-Briggs test is a personality test developed by trait theorists that categorizes and describes personalities.

Trait theorists in psychology attempt to describe general personality type categories by examining the different traits that make up our personalities. The Myers-Briggs test describes personalities on four scales: extroversion-introversion, sensing-intuiting, thinking-feeling, and perceiving-judging. All of these individual traits come together and interact to create what we perceive as a singular personality.

INTROVERTS & EXTROVERTS Introverts are sometimes thought of as unsociable or shy, but being an introvert does not mean a person is either of those things. An introvert is energized by spending time alone, but may also greatly enjoy being around people. However, too much time socializing and an introvert will begin to feel drained and will need some alone time to recharge.

Extroverts are the opposite. They may enjoy spending time alone, but lots of socializing is what keeps them energized.

Sensors and intuitors Sensors and intuitors approach the world and solve problems in different ways. Sensors are strongly realistic, relying on their senses and factual 20 Identity January 2016

knowledge when making decisions.

Doctors or lawyers are likely to be sensors, whereas artists or writers are more likely to be intuitive. Intuitors are creative and imaginative, and may focus more on ideas than realities.

THINKERS & FEELERS Similar to sensors, thinkers are very down-to-earth. Like the name implies, they tend to think deeply before acting. Thinkers take a logical approach to life, making them excellent problem-solvers. On the other hand, there are those who are guided more by personal values than logical conclusions. Feelers are especially empathetic and are likely to offer help to friends in need.

JUDGERS & PERCEIVERS The final scale in the Myers-Briggs personality typology is judging and perceiving. People who are inclined towards judging desire structure in their lives. Judgers appreciate the presence of rules, instructions and

clear plans. Perceivers are more spontaneous and flexible, and more likely to see rules as guidelines.

What is your type? If you are curious, you might take a Myers-Briggs test to find out. People feel differently about their results. Some feel that they are eerily spot on and the results describe them to the letter, others feel they are so off the mark that they would have been better off reading their horoscope. You might find that the results are accurate in some areas but not in others. It can be entertaining to take the test with your friends and compare the results, because an outside perspective might be better able to tell you how well the results match your personality. If you feel that your type does match your personality, the results can be very useful to explain your behaviour in relationships, business, and other areas of your life.

Check out: www.16personalities.com

New Year

ones with criminals and belly dancers. Enough already! We deserve more than a cheap success.

4. We think less copied movies should be brought to the big screen. It’s all right to be inspired by some new ideas but when it is only a translation into Arabic, that’s forging. Add some of our spice to those movies to give them an Egyptian glow.

MUSIC: It is difficult to say whether it is music that impacts society or if society is reflected in the music that it plays. Either way, music is a big deal, and our wish list is very long when it comes to what we want to hear.

1. We wish to wake up and find all of the empty, flip-floppy songs that have, unfortunately, influenced our pop culture’s taste dead and buried.

2.We wish to see some uniqueness and variety when it comes to music. Why is it when a new idea in music comes up everyone sprints to copy it? They milk it to the last possible drop, to the point that we wish it never existed in the first place. There are so many different styles to write a song, give us some variety!

Our Egyptian Entertainment

WISH LIST

by Amina Moustapha

The Egyptian entertainment scene has always been in the limelight, especially when we are talking about the Middle East.

Whether it’s cinema, music or TV shows, we do love our show biz; and we have a long list of things we would love to see this year.

CINEMA: Everyone knows we are the Hollywood of the Middle East.

Unfortunately, for the last few years the Egyptian movie creators have suffered from an imbalance of production costs and revenues, making the production wheel go downhill. We ended up in the age of the low budget film. Now enough 22 Identity January 2016

with the bad news, and let’s get to our wishes for this brand new year: 1. We wish to see the return of the box office stars like Adel Emam, Ahmed El Sakka, and Ahmed Helmy. Hey guys, the Ramadan battle is already so crowded that we can’t find time to see all of you; the big screens need you back!

2. We want to see more of our popular books converted into movies. It was exciting to witness the success of “El Fil El Azra2,” and it is obvious how eager everyone is to see “Torab El Mas” and “Hibta.”

Apparently, putting some books onto the big screen is worth their salt. Movie creators, take notes.

3. We demand less Sobky movies, both the dramatic and commercial

3. We would love to have a mix of familiar faces and new ones. The music scene doesn’t have to be composed of exclusively big names or a whole new set of singers!

We do love our front line singers, but still new blood always does everyone good. Let’s steer a middle course, and have a little bit of both.

TV SHOWS: We would love to see some originality in 2016.

1. We wish we could go back to the time when we had Fawazir Ramadan and all of the other classical, original ideas that are timeless.

2. We want to tell the talk show hosts something very important: For the love of everything good in the world, keep your voices down, and please hire someone to mediate the talking between all of you, we only have two ears!

We realize this is a long list, but we know that Egyptians have a unique sense of humour and creativity that cannot be found anywhere else in the world. We just hope to see it reflected in show business this year!

NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS WE NEVER KEEP Admit it, you’ve been saying “New Year, New Me” every time New Year’s Eve comes around, and nothing changes. You’re not alone. Everyone from all over planet Earth, and probably other planets too, keep making plans and resolutions with every coming year with the intention of changing and improving. The truth is they usually only last for three hours maximum before we revert back to all of our old ways.

Here are some that we hear and say over and over:

we could take the perfect selfie.

This year is the time to change that habit and quit social media, but I have to make a story about this on Snapchat and then write an emotional Facebook post first.

NO MORE POLITICAL DEBATES

Why argue over something we both don’t understand? Let’s be civilized and accept each other’s political views. Let’s all be… Wait, who did you say you voted for in the presidential elections? You son of a...!!!

NO MORE BREAKING THE LAW

We Egyptians break the law more than we ever realize, from driving laws to that bribe you paid to

get your papers done. It’s time to change and respect our law. It’s not a circus, we should all respect the law even if we don’t want to. IS THERE SERIOUSLY NOT A SINGLE PARKING SPOT HERE? Oh well, we hope that car we’re blocking doesn’t want to leave before us.

NO MORE MATERIAL THINGS, AND MORE EXPERIENCES

It’s time to leave the materialistic life behind us, and live the real life. No more expensive phones and clothes we barely wear, it’s time to go around the world to see and learn new things. But how can I travel or learn something without the new iPhone 6s+?

NO MORE KERSH

The “kersh” is an Egyptian trademark. How can you be an Egyptian without a kersh? It’s an insult to our culture and heritage!

With the New Year, however, we all decide to head to the gym and get rid of it for once and for all. The reality is that you pay thousands on the gym’s year membership and your personal trainer, but you never go for more than 3 weeks. You know you’ve got it bad when you block your trainer’s number so they can’t call and make you feel guilty.

NO MORE SMOKING FOR ME!

“Habatal el sagayer, w akon ensan gedeed!” said every smoker on New Year! The New Year started, and aren’t you all cute with your nicotine patches and green tea pills trying to replace your fix! But did you know that this random tobacco brand that you never smoked changed its package? Yeah, now go to the kiosk and have that “last pack.” Want to go for shisha afterwards?

I’M SWEARING OFF OF SOCIAL MEDIA

Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, they’re all extremely time consuming. Think of all the time wasted in 2015 doing nothing but scrolling down our phones stalking others, and all of the missed life changing moments so

January 2016 Identity 23

Heritage

The Stories Behind Egyptian Proverbs “El Amsal El Sha3beya” prove that Egyptians have had a unique sense of humour throughout the ages. We use these proverbs all of the time, but we don’t always know the amusing stories behind them. They didn’t come out of nowhere, and after hearing how they originated you might chuckle the next time you use one.

“Eli Maye3rafsh Ye2oul 3ads” The story of this proverb goes back to when a thief stole money from a shop that sold grains. When the owner of the store rushed after the escaping criminal, the thief tumbled into a lentil sack causing the lentils to spill all over the ground. The people thought that the thief had stolen some lentils to eat, so they blamed the owner for his cruelty and lack of mercy. The owner then frustratingly shouted: “Eli maye3rafsh ye2oul 3ads.” So matfatish w te2oul 3ads.

“E7na Dafnino Sawa” We hear this proverb often, especially between friends, but what exactly is “eli e7na dafnino”?

Here is the story: the donkey that carried the goods of two merchants died. Fearing that their trade might stop, one of them suggested to bury the donkey and build a shrine above it. If they claimed it belonged to one of Awleya2 Allah el Sale7in, people would then come with offerings. A few years later, one of the merchants stole the offerings from the other, so the other one threatened to go complain to the owner of the shrine. This made his partner laugh while saying, “What owner? Da E7na Dafnino Sawa!”

It’s also rumoured that the proverb “Ta7t El Oba Sheikh” came from the same story.

“De5oul El 7amam Msh Zay 5orougoh” A sly man opened a Turkish public 24 Identity January 2016

toilet and made the entry free of charge. People hurried to get in naturally, unaware what the clever businessman was hiding from them.

He kept their clothes in reserve at the door, so when they came out, he asked them to pay money to get back their clothes. People complained because he had said that using the bathroom was free, so he told them “Do5oul el 7amam msh zay 5orougoh.”

“Shayla Tagn Setk” If you are irritated or all steamed up about something, people might ask you “Malek shayla tagen setk leh?” The story comes from when back in the old days, the most delicious plates were presented in casseroles. So one young lady spent all day cooking for her hardto-please grandmother, using every trick in the book to come up with the perfect meal. She presented the completed casserole to her grandmother, who shook her head in disapproval and sent the girl

back home in disgrace. Ever since then casseroles have become a source of resentment and anger.

“Eli 3ala Raso Bat7a Ye7ases 3aleha” A man had been living in a small village raising chickens on his roof, but each day he found one of them stolen. He rushed to the sheikh of the mosque to complain; the Sheikh told him not worry, he had a plan to reveal the thief. The next day, after the prayer time, the sheikh began his sermon with the penalty of robbery as a topic. He recited the stolen chicken story, ending his words with, “Can you imagine the audacity of the thief, he is sitting among us and has forgotten to remove the feathers from above his head!” The thief then automatically scanned the top of his head with his hand, exposing himself as the culprit.

Getaways

corals, well preserved landscapes, and coral reefs.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 6: EID EL FITR

It’s summertime so don’t think twice, this is your chance to run away to Gouna. Whether you are after a fun and active holiday or just want to relax by the beach and revive your energy, this Red Sea paradise will do it for you.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 11: EID EL ADHA

6

LONG WEEKENDS TO PUT IN YOUR

CALENDAR

by Amina Moustapha

Long weekends are something we can never get enough of. They provide an opportunity for a mini vacation in the midst of what would normally just be a routine work week. Don’t miss out on any opportunities to escape this year.

If you can’t think of anywhere to go, we have some suggestions for you, and none of them require traveling abroad!

THURSDAY, JANUARY 7: COPTIC CHRISTMAS

If you are not celebrating with family, then this long weekend is a great chance to pack your 26 Identity January 2016

Another long weekend to treasure and switch off your thoughts by enjoying some sun and sea. What’s better than a trip to Ras Sedr? One of the most breathtaking places over there is Kiteloop, a camp that offers spacious Caribbean-styled beachfront bungalows nestled along a stretch of turquoise sea.

Even better, it’s only two hours drive from Cairo!

luggage for a warm getaway. We love Sharm El Sheikh, because there are plenty of not-to-be-missed places there; from Ras Mohamed National Park, to Tiran Island, not to mention activities like quad bike safari Bedouin night, and all of the water sports. When it comes to a winter escape, Sharm El Sheikh is the place to go.

If you don’t want to go to Sinai this time around, don’t forget it is still a great time of year to get to Alexandria! You can miss the awful summer crowds. Just remember that any trip to Alexandria is not complete without indulging in some amazing seafood.

SUNDAY, MAY 1: EASTER WEEKEND

Here comes the long weekend that we all dream of all year. These four days off gives you a chance to go a little further away. Think Ras Shitan in Nuweiba. Schedule your date with Mother Nature and get ready to explore underwater canyons, caves, mountains, plateaus, hard

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 2: ISLAMIC NEW YEAR

Maybe for this family holiday you want to stay close to home, but you can still take advantage of a couple days off of work. Put on your walking shoes, grab a history book, and head to the greatest concentration of medieval architectural treasures in the Islamic world. “Muizz Street” is a great chance to enjoy an oriental day in its narrow streets, watch the folk dance performed by Sufi dancers at Wekalet El-Ghoury, and go home with a load of souvenirs.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6: ARMED FORCES DAY

The last long weekend of 2016 deserves a proper goodbye by spending this weekend in Fayoum.

Even the road, which is a two-hour drive from Cairo, is a pleasure for your soul, from Qaroun Lake, to the waterfalls of Wady El Rayan. Be impressed again by ancient Egypt at Wady El-Hitan, and destress at the serene Tunis Village.

Beauty

EGYPTIAN BEAUTY TIPS that have stood the test of time

It shouldn’t surprise us that ancient Egyptians were pioneers in the field of beauty. At the top of the beauty icon list is Cleopatra, the legendary pharaonic queen who’s beauty inspired awe and wonder for the ages. Ancient Egyptians understood how to enhance our natural beauty so well, that we still use their treatments to this day. Here are three Cleopatra-approved treatments to pamper yourself with.

MILK BATHS

HONEY MASKS

It may sound odd to soak in milk, but Cleopatra swore that her daily milk bath helped keep her skin soft and young. According to legend, she required an army of 700 donkeys to supply enough milk for her royal bathtub. Is there any science backing up this ancient beauty treatment? It turns out that milk is a phenomenal natural ingredient for skincare because it contains lactic acid, which is an alpha-hydroxy acid. AHAs naturally exfoliate your skin by removing the dead cells, leaving your skin looking fresh and young. You can make your own milk bath at home, and you don’t even need 700 donkeys to do it.

Simply heat up a small amount of honey and milk together and add to your bath water.

Honey played a huge role in ancient Egypt. Bees were so valued they were believed to have come from the tears of the sun god Ra. Of course the ancient Egyptians realized that honey had many health and beauty benefits, especially when applied as a face mask. This Nefertiti-inspired facial is an incredible way to treat yourself. Honey is a powerful humectant, which means it attracts moisture to the skin. An easy way to get the royal benefits of using honey on your skin is to mix some quality honey with crushed almonds and use as a scrub. Simply wash off with warm water.

OLIVE OIL Olive oil has been a classic of beauty treatments ever since people wanted to take care of their skin. In addition to being a powerful moisturizer, it also is a strong antioxidant which helps keep our skin from aging. So that was Cleopatra’s secret! We can still get the same effects that Cleopatra did by using olive oil directly or olive oil based products. An easy way to get a full-body treatment is after a simple sugar scrub in the shower, massage a small amount of olive oil into your skin. If you have dry elbows and feet, make sure to give them a little extra attention, especially during the dry winter season.

28 Identity January 2016

Fashion

New Year, New Closet

It’s that time of the year again; fresh New Year’s resolutions, de-cluttering, and cleaning out your closet (physically and mentally). While those are all great ideas for the New Year, life and fashion both have a way of getting the best of you. So, in an attempt to structure a method into your shopping madness, let’s start by singling out those few pieces that you should be adding to your closet now, and start the year right.

by Nahed Kazziha

RUFFLED UP If you are feeling romantic, the ruffles and tiers of winter will surely help thaw you out. Soft shirts and maxi dresses will help you achieve a luxe and updated look to keep you flowing freely throughout the year.

SLEEVE DETAILS There are so many ways to revamp your classic sweater and shirt. In keeping with classic designs, the sleeve cut will make all the difference this year. Check out poufy sleeved cashmeres on a cold day, or try out am exaggerated cuffed shirt for the under-the-sweater update.

JEAN ON JEAN

The best part of the cargo 2.0 is the pairing of comfort and utility. Forget the carpenter and 90s boy band look, this year is all about decadent fabric and texture being introduced into an everyday comfort level that only a loose fitting cargo can bestow.

Pairing jeans up top and down low brings a whole new meaning to winter blues. The Canadian tuxedo is going strong and requires little thought to pull offdenim jacket over denim crops anyone? Yes, please!

Give ‘em the cold shoulder literally. The off the shoulder shirt is ready and waiting with the slightest hint of spring. But if you can’t wait until then, creatively wear a polo neck underneath it, or transition it into more casual evening wear for now.

Never undermine the importance of geometry and symmetry in the artistic world. As scientifically thought out as these designs may seems, stripes are making a comeback, so why not get on board this winter?

SLIP DRESS SPARKLE AND SHEEN Holiday party season may be over, but that doesn’t mean that you have to retire your sequins (of the non-disco ball variety). For the bold, transition the sequins into daytime, because there’s no reason you can’t be allowed to shine in the AM, too.

30 Identity January 2016

Do it like a lady and give your mini skirt a rest. The 50s infused trend is no longer confined to the stove and is now all styled up and ready to command attention in the boardroom.

STRIPES AND LINES

OFF THE SHOULDER

CARGO COMEBACK

LADY LIKE MIDI

TIE DYE Unleash your inner hippy with a kaleidoscope of translucent color bursts. With a whole rainbow to choose from, the combinations are limitless and sure to provide ample color therapy to weather the cold.

It’s the return of the prodigal dress and we could not be more excited about it! Whether you decide to layer the slip dress with a turtle neck or duster, or simply prefer to throw it onto your bare back, this dress will be with you throughout the year, come rain or shine.

January 2016 Identity 31

Fashion 3. MOTO LEATHER

Tripping over long tailed coats that hold you up when you are on the go?

No muss, no fuss and an abundance of utility goes into a leather biker jacket, perfectly fit to those heavy duty boots you need to conquer your hectic day.

1. APRÈS SKI

Whether you are hitting the slopes, or taking occasional breaks from being a couch potato, lightweight puffers in colourful patterns and metallics are the perfect finish to your on-the-go winter look.

4. CAPE COOL

2. STATEMENT PIECE

This winter’s darling go-to gear is far from fairy tale frump and all easy city chic. The cape will leave your wrists free for heavy accessorizing and ready to take on your daily dose of heavy lifting.

Brighten up an all-blackeverything ensemble with an intriguing coat that doubles as a headturner. Grey winter skies do not have to mean grey winter coats, so add some colour for the season.

Baby, It’s Cold Outside

7. PASTEL ROBE

This one hits a double whammy: soft and cozy.

Look forward to sunnier days and let spring in early with pastel candy hued delicate coats.

Add some cuddle with a robe wrap around style.

Temperatures outside may be dropping, and while it is too soon to debut those cute outfits you have stashed away for warmer times, there is no need to succumb to the winter blues. Gray skies call for bright ideas and inspired outerwear.

So beat the blues with our top outerwear picks this month.

8. TRENCH COAT

Just long enough to keep you covered but shapely enough to accentuate that waist. Grab a ladylike staple trench, pop that collar and go forth!

by Nahed Kazziha

5. MILITARY PARKA Keep your style in line with a laid back military inspired parka for those more polished off-duty looks.

6. FURRY FOLLY

Soften the harsh winter blow by staying warm in shaggy furs. No need to keep it real when you can go full blown faux without changing your name to Cruella De Vil.

9. ANIMAL INSTINCT

Take a walk on the wild side with animal print outerwear.

Bold and outspoken, it is best paired with minimalist black for just the right amount of volume in your roar.

32 Identity January 2016

11. ANDROGYNOUS COAT

10. BOHO FRINGE

Don’t let winter suffocate your inner hippy. Stay free spirited and layer warm tonal suedes and fringe. Add scarves and hat pairings that will give texture to your outfit on a drab cold day.

Take a page out of the men’s playbook and take charge in a clean and classic overcoat. Pair with brogues and one of grandpa’s old foulards for instant old-school charm.

1. Moncler at Matchesfashion.com EGP10,528 2. Threefloor.com EGP3,940 3. Mango EGP999 4. Zara EGP1,299 5. Zara EGP999 6. H&M EGP599 7. Acne EGP13,038 8. Burberry at Netaporter.com EGP17,175 9. Mango EGP1,599 10. Glamorous at BespokeEgypt.com EGP570 11. MSGM at Coterique EGP5,100

January 2016 Identity 33

Fashion

Trend Alert!

Keep it casual with a plaid flannel shirt, always handy for layering STYLING TIP: Pair with rocker denim or leather to side-step the accidental lumberjack effect (yikes!)

HERITAGE PRINT

H&M

Zara

Kate Bosworth in Plaid Shirt

Fight off the cold in the perfect outerwear alternative to your everyday black coat.

What better way to pay homage to the land of eternal winter than in tartan?

34 Identity January 2016

Saint Laurent at Netaporter.com

Kilted Mel Gibson in Braveheart (admittedly, not the worst thought) but for now set aside the pleats and try out pencil fitted midis and minis in bold wide grid print.

Christine Centenera in Celine

Carven at Netaporter.com

Zara

Go full-on anglomaniacal and take your cues from none other than Vivienne Westwood. The head to toe plaid suit requires practically no further styling effort and will soon become your new uniform.

Street Style Celine Plaid Slip Ons

.com reIsLove n at Mo

Bella Thorne wearing Marc Jacobs

Not a fan of the heavy weave? You can still partake in the game of checkers with whimsical handbags, like Saint Laurent’s classic shoulder bag in tartan.

Vivienne Westwood FW15 ready to wear

Chanel fw15 ready to wear

Jason Woo Pre-Fall 16

If you feel the need to play dress up, not to worry, there’s a world of frump free shaping checkered dresses out there that will help you feel more warrior chic than schoolgirl cute.

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Just a hint of heritage will also do and double as a winter essential. Wrap a woven scarf around your neck to feel warm and regal.

Cuchess of Cambridge wearing Tartan Scarf

Alexander McQueen at Nordstrom.com

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by Nahed Kazziha There is something about the juxtaposing of heritage prints in fashion- the contrast of classic distinction meets modern day punk, turning old country charm into coveted catwalk collections and street style hype.

Thankfully, if you have not gotten on board this trend just yet, there is still time! Check out the freshest ways to rock one of the oldest woven prints in textile history, today.

Hit the pavement in none other than print.

Whether you are looking for that all day comfort of a Celine-inspired slip on to run around the city, or a flattering stiletto, be ready to take on the grid.

January 2016 Identity 35

Clothes: Nada Akram

Fashion

the

FASHION

PROJECT Photographer ALI BAHR Make-up Artist EMMA ABDELAZIZ Model MIRAL MAHLILIAN 36 Identity January 2016

January 2016 Identity 37

Clothes: Nada Akram

38 Identity January 2016

January 2016 Identity 39

Clothes: Bardees Abdel Wahab 40 Identity January 2016

Clothes & Accessories: Esmeralda Radwan

Special Thanks to:

42 Identity January 2016

January 2016 Identity 43

Fashion

Designing the Egyptian Identity The theme of the Fashion Project photo shoot competition was the Egyptian identity through fashion. In order to create the looks behind this complicated idea, Identity needed the perfect team of fashion designers. It can be very challenging to find talented and creative minds that can capture the complicated and multi-layered Egyptian identity through fashion; but Nada Akram, Esmeralda Radwan, and Bardees Abdel Wahab were ideal partners. All three of them have a mission to reflect their Egyptian heritage and culture in the way they create and design their collections. By bringing their pieces together into the same shoot, the result reflected elements of the Egyptian identity ranging from the “kaff,” to calligraphy, to Nubian colours, to inspiration from Islamic carpets and pattern design. We are looking forward to seeing more Egyptianinspired collections from these talented designers in the future.

44 Identity January 2016

N Nada Akram Nada Akram’s journey as a fashion designer has changed drastically since she began five years ago.

She first started by creating a Facebook page and posting photos of her designs she took with her own camera. Now she has released 22 collections and is preparing her own studio. Nada received a fashion design diploma from MSA; she defines significant moments in her career as each time celebrities recognize her and ask her to design for them.

ada is the mind behind the skirt and top covered with bold and blue “kaffs.” Nada shares that the inspiration behind the collection used in the fashion shoot is superstitious beliefs, especially envy. “The collection theme is about superstitions and envy. Many Egyptians believe in superstitions, so I used most of the items in our culture that reflect envy, like the evil eye, in a funky way.” Nada thinks that these elements capture the Egyptian identity because they are visibly prevalent everywhere in Egyptian society. The power of envy is so widely believed in

by Egyptians that one can find the “kaff” and evil eye hanging in houses, cars, and jewellery.

fashion,” declares Nada. She simply adds, “we are vintage and that’s why my hashtag is funky vintage.”

Fashion designers, such as Nada, see that it is very important to find ways to represent the Egyptian identity through fashion, since that is a way that we, as individuals, express and represent ourselves every day. “We have a very rich culture and a significant identity, our history deserves to be represented to the world through

Her future plans include opening a long-awaited men’s fashion line in March. Egyptian influence has played a significant role in Nada’s designs and she says that this inspiration will continue to influence future pieces. We can always expect to see this touch in at least one of Nada’s designs.

It can be very difficult to pinpoint what the Egyptian identity is, especially when it comes to fashion. Nada argues that there are significant amount of factors to consider because there has been so much history and culture since Egyptian society began thousands and thousands of years ago. Pharoanic, Bedouin, and Arab elements such as calligraphy are just a few. While it may be complicated to capture the Egyptian identity, at least there is plenty of material for designers to work with and continue to inspire them into the future.

January 2016 Identity 45

Fashion

E Esmeralda Radwan

She views one of the significant moments of her career as when she received feedback on her first runway show and was selected as one of the top three designers in Egypt. Esmeralda’s inspiration to design began when she was only 13, when her grandmother taught her how to design and create clothes by hand. Already designing before she went to university, she majored in media design at the German University in Cairo, and has now released three seasonal collections and two precollections, and plans on growing internatinally.

46 Identity January 2016

smeralda’s brand mission and vision is to create Egyptian-inspired clothing.

Esmeralda Radwan’s pieces are recognized by their oriental-inspiration, especially with the patterns and accessories attached to them. The colourful collection was inpired by the kilim print carpets from the Islamic phase in Egypt a thousand years ago.

The same print was made into textiles woven with materials like wool, silk, and cotton using vibrant colours that created a bold look.

The second collection is inspired

by Asyut, as all the fabrics were handmade by local housewives.

Esmeralda says that, “The main inspiration is Egypt bringing up this richness, showing the people what they don’t know in their country and inspiring the world with outstanding showstopper masterpieces. They capture the Egyptian identity because each and every collection was made based on high research from history, materials, design theory, and illustrations.”

Esmeralda has found it is critical to represent the Egyptian identity through fashion ever since the beginning. She says, “When you review the Egyptian history and

you understand the rich culture that is present in each and every small detail like the food, fashion, music, customs, beliefs, and stories, it is definite that you would be fascinated to raise back the identity in fashion. Because at one time we used to impress the world with our fashion back 7000 years ago where there was no technology, textile factories, or beading machines, we can definitely be even stronger to influence the world once again.”

Esmeralda sees the Egyptian identity as something very strong and worthy to be represented.

“The Egyptian identity in general is something very rich, strong, unbreakable, remarkable, unique and influencing. The community is like no other; it has been invaded by lots of different countries through the years, but Egyptians never changed completely. They used to get inspired and affect others with their ways and style.

The fashion identity is lost till now but there are really good and uprising fashion designers that are trying to revive it back through the culture in our small, different cities in Egypt.”

Bardees

Abdel Wahab

Despite only, officially, being in the fashion scene for a year, Bardees has already become a widely recognized and loved designer. After studying fashion design and pattern making, she has released two ready-to-wear collections. Bardees sees the significant moments of her career as when her work is admired and recognized. When she attended the London Fashion Week, she was stopped by strangers who wanted to know the designer behind her outfit.

B

ardees thinks it is important to represent the Egyptian identity through fashion because when she looks at the fashion industry globally, she sees that Egypt is the only country that doesn’t create fashion related to its history and traditions.

“In this aspect we are extremely wealthy. I simply wanted something that says Egypt. You cannot really define the Egyptian identity with one word because Egypt has such a diverse culture. You can say that the Egyptian identity is one of change, innovation. We are a creative culture that loves to celebrate life; we love music, colours, accessories and all thing eccentric.”

Bardees’ pieces are easy to spot in the fashion shoot, as she loves working with wildly bright and colourful designs. This particular collection is a collaboration with the Egyptian Abstract Artist Dr. Ashraf Reda. The artworks are his original work and Bardees earned the right to use them exclusively.

“I wanted to show that calligraphy can be merged into fashionable wear for modern women too. I was challenging myself, actually, to integrate the one of a kind artworks into my designs. It was essential for

me that they compliment each other.

I would say my main inspiration is simply Egypt.”

She continues to explain why this collection captures the Egyptian identity: “The Nubian art has been a major and integral part in the Egyptian culture for thousands of years. You can see in Nuba how colourful their art is. In my collection, you can see the influence of the Nubian arts specifically colours wise. Of course, calligraphy as well plays a major role in my collections.

Calligraphy is simply art and you can see it in many parts of old Egypt be it in ceilings, walls…etc.”

Bardees took her talented touch to combine this concept of the Egyptian identity with modern and comfortable clothing designs.

In the near future, Bardees is preparing a Haute couture collection, and in the far future is planning to expand globally.

Egyptian culture will continue to influence her future designs, and she hopes to keep shocking people with the beauty and art inspired by Egypt.

January 2016 Identity 47

Cover Story

THE REAL CURSE Pharaohs Will Never Die

by Liza Dunham

W

hen the pharaohs of ancient Egypt had their legendary pyramids built and their royal bodies preserved by mummification, it was so they could magnificently transition from life on Earth to the after world. Now since I am not dead, I don’t know if these kings and queens successfully made it or not to their destination. Perhaps they are living it large in another dimension, surrounded by their treasures, or maybe they’re not.

But what I do know, is that these infamous characters of history have managed to live forever in the studies and imaginations of every era that have come after them. Pharaoh never really died, the world’s fascination with ancient Egypt never let him.

And with pharaoh’s eternal life, he has overshadowed the world’s relationship with Egypt ever since.

Whenever I visit my home in the United States, I dread the moments when someone first learns that I live in the so-called “extremely exotic land of Egypt.” This exciting realization usually brings with it some painfully awkward questions, such as if I can “walk like an Egyptian?” This is, of course, in reference to the infamous song by the Bangles, and is usually followed by a barrage of questions and assumptions that show how outdated the outside world’s perception of Egypt is. If I had a dollar for every time someone asked me about the mummies, or the pyramids, or camels, or if I knew how to speak hieroglyphics, I could literally pay my shisha tab for a year. What would people think if they knew that not every Egyptian had a view of the pyramids from their window, or even more crazy, might not have even seen the pyramids in their life?

And when I think I have it bad, just for being an American who lives in Egypt, I have to remember my Egyptian friends have it a million times worse. After they have traveled abroad, I have heard horror stories of people lighting

48 Identity January 2016

January 2016 Identity 49

Cover Story

The fascination with ancient Egypt starts with the children. If they are not learning in textbooks about pharaoh and how his body was eternally saved by mummification, they are watching it after school on their televisions. When the infamous cartoon character Scooby Doo and his mystery solving gang journeyed to the land of the Nile, what was the mystery based on? The mummy of Cleopatra and a powerful curse that had them running around for an entire episode. Even if a movie or show isn’t set in Egypt, it can still have bits and pieces that reinforce the idea of ancient Egypt’s power.

For example, in the movie the Night at the Museum, the power that brings all of the history to life is an ancient Egyptian tablet.

Even very small plot details can do their part to tell kids that “Hey, the most interesting part of Egypt is its ancient history, most probably the pyramids, and the rest is just desert.” Remember how the loved Despicable Me cartoon started out?

With a majestic view of a shepherd

50 Identity January 2016

When these kids grow up, the stereotype continues. Popstar Katy Perry used the mystical stereotypes behind ancient Egypt with her music video Dark Horse, complete

“

ANCIENT EGYPT BECAME COOL AS SOON AS IT BECAME ANCIENT, AND PROBABLY BEFORE, BECAUSE HUMANITY HAS ALWAYS LOVED ANYTHING THAT IS MYSTERIOUS OR MYSTICAL.

“

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uch incorrect and onedimensional perceptions of Egypt are not surprising at all. Time and time again people’s imaginations are inundated with the marvel and mystery of ancient Egypt; it’s no wonder there is not any room left for the modern reality.

Think of all of the films you have watched recently set in Egypt, or with scenes in Egypt, that were not produced in the Middle East. What era did they focus on? What were the perceptions of Egypt? Most likely it had something to do with the magical theme of ancient Egypt that never seems to get old. If only we could all age that well...

overlooking the Great Pyramids of Giza. No other part of Egypt was shown. It’s a small thing, but all these little pieces come together to build that idea that what you need to know about Egypt existed six thousand years ago. Can we blame people for not realizing there is something more? That the bursting metropolitan city of Cairo actually spreads out beneath the gaze of the ancient tombs, with all of the bustling chaos that comes with it?

Perhaps the Sphinx doesn’t seem as mysterious when people realize that it is staring straight at a Kentucky Fried Chicken.

with magic and Cleopatra inspired eye liner and white robes draped in gold. The most infamous film example could be The Mummy movies, which pretty much say it all just with the title. The plots revolve around curses from eons gone by, and the “local, modern” Egyptians are represented as assassins with turbans. Indiana Jones and James Bond also had their adventures in Egypt, focusing mostly on ancient temples, but perhaps throwing in an oriental bazaar here and there for “authenticity.” You could add to this list the never-ending History Channel documentaries, The Ten Commandments, Abbott and Costello and The Mummy, Cleopatra, and every other film focused on the period of history that has overshadowed everything that has happened along the banks

of the Nile ever since. This isn’t a trend that looks like it will be solved in the near future either. The film The Gods of Egypt is due to be released this year, complete with a confusing white cast bonus. If the world is going to be obsessed with something, can’t they at least get it slightly accurate?

This fascination didn’t show up with the rest of our obsessions with the past. It has been around long before Time Hop or those obnoxiously repetitive posts that remind us about what we need to remember about our childhoods. Ancient Egypt became cool as soon as it became ancient, and probably before, because humanity has always loved anything that is mysterious or mystical. It even gets its own noun: Egyptomania.

This obsession was prevalent all the way back to ancient Greece, and is obvious around the globe as classes about Egyptian history fill up in comparison to other topics and the masses flock every time Egyptian artifacts make a tour. Think about where Egypt’s treasures are and why they are there? While the Egyptian museum stands dusty and neglected in Cairo’s Tahrir Square, museums showcasing Egyptian exhibits have people rushing to get tickets. Entire underwater cities were recently discovered beyond Alexandria in the Mediterranean, and the artifacts will be featured in Britain, not Cairo.

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his phenomenon about which audience gets excited about ancient Egyptian history and which doesn’t says a lot about modern Egyptians. While ancient Egypt can never be removed from the context of modern day society, like any historical era in any society, it simply does not impact Egyptian’s every day lives like the outside world imagines it would.

Pharaoh did not live forever in the sense that Egyptians, especially those in the metropolitan cities of Cairo and Alexandria, live very modern lives. They drive cars, they eat fast food, they shop in malls, they waste time on Facebook, and they wear the same brands that can be found around the rest of the globe; absolutely nothing that pharaoh did.

“

PERHAPS THE REAL PHARAOH’S CURSE IS THAT EGYPTIANS WILL NEVER REALLY BE ABLE TO HAVE AN IDENTITY WITHOUT HIM.

“

up hearing they are from Egypt, and then making very bizarre assumptions about what their lives must be like in mystical Egypt. One of my friends was asked while in London, “Do you ride a camel to work?” Another one was invited to a traditional dress themed dinner, so he was told to wear whatever he traditionally wore to work and school. When he showed up in a button-up shirt and dress pants, as most Egyptians do when they go to work and school, the host protested that he had dressed incorrectly. He should have worn a “dress.”

But because of the potential for tourism, pharaoh has in a way lived forever. When you have something that is so appealing to foreigners, you might as well make some cash from it. And so Egyptians ran with the image. It paid well for a long time.

At the peak in 2010, right before the revolution, tourism accounted for twelve percent of employment.

One out of ten, that is an insanely high number. In this sense, it is very logical to push the idea that ancient Egypt lives on. If visitors are willing to pay for the pharaonic image, there is no need to correct them.

When was the last time you bought a postcard? What was the selection like? It probably went something like pyramids, hieroglyphics, pyramids with a camel in front, temples at Luxor, pyramids with a landscape view of the desert behind them, vintage photo of a falooka on the Nile, and then a different angle of the pyramids. The sunset would be a nice touch. Take a stroll through Khan el Khalili or any other touristic area. There is a never-ending supply of scarabs, Egyptian god statues, “authentic” papyrus and lily-scented perfumes for a “good, Egyptian price” to make sure no visitor goes home without a piece of the so-called real Egypt.

In contrast, just below the touristic shops of Khan el Khalili is the sprawling markets of Attaba.

Perhaps pharaoh didn’t need them, but the modern Egyptian needs lamps, t-shirts, batteries,

screwdrivers, electric kettles, headphones, teddy bears, and anything else one could imagine to live a life in the 21st century. These are not the areas that are going to capture the attention of tourists seeking a genuine experience that reflects what they see as a genuine experience, but they are critical to the everyday life of the millions upon millions who live in Cairo.

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hile the rest of the world turns its attention to the remains of an ancient civilization, Egyptians live their normal lives on the same soil that pharaoh walked on like it is no big deal. They get stuck in traffic in their cars and motorcycles, they eat french fries from McDonald’s, they do laundry in their washing machines, they send their kids to school in uniforms, they watch the news or read it on their phones, and probably most importantly, they fight over which football team should win.

Egyptians will never really be able to have an identity without him.

If Egyptians are cursed to always have the ghosts of their past haunting them, perhaps they should continue to capitalize on them.

Maybe ancient Egypt doesn’t reflect the everyday Egyptian’s life, but it makes sense to use the plethora of treasures one has for the benefit of the country. And tourism did benefit the country significantly, especially up until the unstable period that occurred after the revolution. Perhaps in a time when Egyptian tourism needs any breath of life it can get, it is not such a bad idea to support the outside world’s obsession with ancient Egypt.

Perhaps pharaoh needs to take his immortal fame and lure visitors once again to the banks of the Nile to view the wonders that have lasted thousands of years. Long live pharaoh.

But this isn’t the Egypt that is cool, so this is not the Egypt that people want to hear about. Perhaps the real pharaoh’s curse is that

January 2016 Identity 51

Perspective

“

A SOCIETY WITH MORE THAN ONE IDENTITY AND ALL OF THEM FIGHTING FOR POWER AND CONTROL – POLITICALLY, MORALLY, AND ARTISTICALLY.

In the meantime, the social, political, and educational gaps are increasing. They’re increasing so much to the point that Egyptians are having an identity crisis of sorts. What caused this identity crisis? Who are Egyptians? And more importantly, will we snap out of it anytime soon?

It’s obvious that politics are what control any nation. When there’s political stability, the nations are stable, and stability gives the space for identity creation. When the country is politically unstable, everyone has the chance to take control over the country, as well as its identity, which creates the identity crisis we’re having.

How Egyptians Lost Their Identity

Take a look at Egypt now, what are we exactly? Our identity is scattered all over the place to the point of us even classifying each other through politics and classes – we point at others and say he’s a Muslim brotherhood supporter, he’s pro Sisi, he’s pro Mubarak. Even the ones who don’t care about politics are classified as passive.

we went from royals

by Raghda El-Sayed Politically, to fighting for power. The image

Egypt – the country of ancient civilizations, the pharaohs, the Nile, the pyramids, Om Kalthoum, and Samia Gamal. A beautiful country with a treasure trove of things to be proud of, except that they all happened in the past or are God-given natural beauty!

52 Identity January 2016

of the royal family, whether we agreed with their ruling or not, reflected on Egyptians. During the kingdom, people were wearing similar clothes to the royal families.

All men wore suites, fez hats, and were neatly groomed. Women

“

It’s true, there is now nothing to be proud of in Egypt. Even the revolution that inspired the world is not something that everyone is proud of. Egypt has been living in chaos for the last four decades and it doesn’t seem like we’re getting out of it. Throughout all of this chaos, we lost our identity. We’re still bragging about accomplishments that we had nothing to do with, and we’re trying to milk the glorification of what our country achieved in the past.

wore dresses, heels and stayed classically groomed as well. Their attitudes were also royal, even the uneducated. Art reflected this – it was the peak of Egyptian art history. Then came the 1952 revolution; the monarchy ended and the Nasser era started. The Nasser era started the class gaps.

Look on the flip side. Many Egyptians are seeking education outside of Egypt and are hired almost immediately when they return. This creates bigger gaps and deepens the identity crisis.

Those who survived the Egyptian education system are often overlooked.

he Muslim Brotherhood were outlawed, creating a major cult-like society in Egypt. The land reformation laws created an even bigger gap, and somewhat hate, between classes and the lower classes started gaining power.

Art is another thing that has lost its glory. All of the best types of art in Egypt’s history were made during the first half of the twentieth century, especially from the twenties to the fifties. This includes literature, movies, theater, music, and even dancing. Names like Taha Hussain, Neguib Mahfouz, Naguib el-Rihani, Youssef Wahbi, Abd El-Halim Hafez, and Om Kalthoum were all respected. Even belly dancers had the respect any artist deserves. Who can forget the names of Naima Akef, Samia Gamal, or Taheya Karyoka?

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When the lower classes start taking power, one would expect them to have better education, morals, and to become better people. The reality of Egypt’s case is, they took the power and chose to change Egypt to their standards, not the other way around.

Egyptians started changing, the seventies set the standards, and by the eighties we became who we are now. A society with more than one identity and all of them fighting for power and control – politically, morally, and artistically.

Education is not a priority for modern Egyptian society. Back in the beginning of the twentieth century, education was extremely important. The number of uneducated people was very little.

Education and teachers were respected. Now teachers have terrible curriculum to work with, they get paid almost nothing, the students don’t learn from schools that they can barely afford, and are forced to take private lessons to learn anything. Today, over twentyfive percent of Egypt’s population above ten years of age is illiterate, according to a report conducted by the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics in 2013.

The whole cycle is a recipe for disaster.

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elly dancing is the best example to show how Egyptians have changed and lost who they are throughout the years. Belly dancing was an art Egyptians were famous for. The dancers were very respected and loved by everyone. It was solely viewed as an artistic performance, and almost no one viewed it as a sexual act. Now look at it – all of the famous dancers aren’t even Egyptians. The Egyptian dancers are never respected, nor do they appreciate the art or even view their jobs as art.

corrupt Egyptians is only reinforced by the entertainment scene. Look at how it represents Egyptians: harassers, bullies, thugs, and basic criminals. That’s how we are shown to be, and that’s what each new generation is becoming.

While everything above is negative, it is important to point out that it is impressive we have survived everything that has happened.

We could have been worse, and we still have the potential to get back on track. It is important to have pride in your country and get excited behind positive campaigns like #ThisisEgypt, but we need to be realistic. We’re a developing country that barely avoided a civil war, is still politically unstable, suffers from corruption, and will remain so for at least a few decades.

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e can improve our country and find a true identity for ourselves like we did before. All we have to do is admit that we have a problem, and work towards fixing it. Once we stop lying to ourselves and living in the past, we’ll change for the better.

This change is also reflecting on our daily lives. We have no appreciation of the fine things nor do we have social morals. It’s guaranteed that any woman reading this article has been subjected to harassment.

Anyone reading this has offered or was offered a bribe, has illegally parked somewhere, or broken the law in general one way or another.

This is contrasted by the selfrighteous claim that Egyptians are religious by nature. The image of January 2016 Identity 53

Cover Story

7.

16 THINGS YOU NEED TO DO IN 2016

We don’t necessarily mean romantic dates, (unless you are single, then go for it) we mean spending more one-on-one time with the people in your life who are important to you. This could be your husband, he could probably use some pampering. It could also mean your kids, your parents, or your dear friends. Spending time and money on experiences is more rewarding than just gifts, so make 2016 full of memories.

8.

9.

THROW AWAY YOUR PHONE

Don’t actually throw your phone away, we know how critical it is to your personal and professional life. We just meant that we need to set aside time when we turn our phones off and not feel bad about it. Smart phones have made us so accessible 24/7 that we can barely remember what life was like before we were addicted to them, and this stress of being so available can wear us down. This year make it a habit that once every week you are turning off your phone for at least four hours (and not while you are sleeping, that’s cheating). Take this time to catch up with friends and family without any distractions, or just enjoy some peace and quiet for yourself.

2.

BECOME A THANKYOU CARD JUNKIE

Practicing gratitude has proven benefits that you should take advantage of from the very beginning of 2016. Being more grateful can make you feel more positive, feel less lonely, and even strengthen your immune system.

If you commit to writing one note a week, that is 52 people who will feel the love in 2016.

54 Identity January 2016

WATCH MORE TED TALKS

We all need some inspiration, and probably all that time lost on Facebook and YouTube isn’t doing it for you because there is so much junk mixed in with anything that is good. Make your time in front of the screen worth it and spend 20 minutes watching a Ted Talk or anything else inspirational.

It’s time to change the calendar again, and there are a few things we recommend you should put on your to-do list this year. Make 2016 a little sweeter with these 16 habits handpicked by the Identity team.

1.

GO ON MORE “DATES”

SAY “NO” MORE OFTEN

We are all guilty of over committing, which leaves us no time to relax or do the things we really want to.

2016 is your chance to be more selective how you spend your time.

You will be happy you did.

10.

PLAN YOUR DAY EVERY MORNING

This habit is critical to stop wasting precious time. We are much more efficient when we have a plan in mind, so take five minutes every morning to simply sketch out what you want your day to look like and then stick to it as much as possible.

3.

HIDE YOUR MONEY

And we don’t mean in your mattress. Save your money for whatever big purchase you have been putting off for years, like that trip you always say you will go on but never do. Divide the goal by 12 and set aside that money every month as soon as you get paid. Put it in an extra bank account or even with someone you trust so that you are not tempted to use it. This habit will seriously pay off at the end of the year!

4.

MAKE YOUR BED

Yes, we are agreeing with your mother on this one. This is a small habit for 2016 that will make you feel less stressed when you come home after a long day at work. While you’re at it, you should clear off your desk and get rid of any other clutter. You should have space that you can truly relax in every day.

5.

SHAKE YOUR BOOTY

We know exercise comes up with every new year, but that’s

because it’s something we really need to do. So this year just make it your habit to do whatever exercise you enjoy the most. Hate the treadmill? Join a zumba class instead. Exercising is already torturous enough, so pick whatever you like the most.

6.

KISS DRAMA GOODBYE

Life is short; don’t waste it drowning in drama. If this means removing toxic people out of your life, now is as good a time as any.

11.

APPRECIATE YOUR CAR

You know how we never seem to appreciate something until it’s broken? That’s exactly what we do to our cars. Stop this year. Take your car to get the oil changed and checked every three months so that it will work better and have less problems in the long run.

12.

interests, why not spend some time working on our own? We all have a cause that we are particularly interested in, volunteering is a great way to get involved and meet more like-minded people.

13.

CHECK YOUR GOALS

14.

GO TO BED EARLIER

15.

DRINK MORE THAN USUAL

Goals without plans are just dreams.

Sit down with yourself this January and be honest with yourself about where you want to be at the end of the year. Then make a plan where you need to be at the end of each month to reach those goals. If you are in the habit of reviewing your progress each month, you will be much more proactive than last year.

We just don’t perform as well when we are tired, no matter how young or old we are. This is a habit you need to prioritize. Get more sleep at night and you will be more productive the next day.

By this we mean drinking water, water, and more water. Natural juices are good in moderation, but you should have no space for sodas or other sugar-filled drinks in 2016.

True hydration comes from water and will affect your energy, skin, and overall health.

16.

READ A CLASSIC EACH MONTH

Reading lists usually grow longer than shorter. Pretend you’re in school and “assign” yourself a book you know you should read each month. Maybe one of your friends could become your reading buddy so you have someone to discuss all the details with at the end of each month.

VOLUNTEER ON A REGULAR BASIS

We spend eight hours or more every week working on our company’s January 2016 Identity 55

Interview

OKHTEIN:

“

AL MOAZ STREET HAS PLAYED A BIG ROLE IN FORMING OKHTEIN. WE FEEL WE HAVE TAKEN OUR CULTURE AND MODERNIZED IT IN A VERY UNIQUE WAY.

THE DYNAMIC DESIGN DUO

“

the one you will find on our backpacks, and attached to the Feryel handbag. It became part of our brand identity.

A: It is actually inspired by the stucco ceiling in one particular mosque on Al Moaz Street. And believe it or not, the metal rods are inspired by a mirror we saw in Khan El Khalili. We are very influenced by Fatimid architecture.

At twenty-five and twentyfour, sisters Mounaz and Aya Abdelraouf have taken the accessory world by storm. We sat down for coffee with the two sisters behind the powerhouse brand, Okhtein. They walked in clad in black. Mounaz was in a Krak Baby hoodie carrying the latest Feryel handbag, named after their grandmother, from Okhtein’s AW16/17 collection.

Aya was gracefully enveloped in a kaleidoscopically colored featherweight wool scarf, their latest creation. The polar opposite dynamic duo have created a quintessentially quirky brand for the modern sartorial woman. Inspired by their heritage, perfectly juxtaposed yet complementary, the sisters are exuberant and full of passion for what they do. We decided to 56 Identity January 2016

talk business, both family and personal.

WHO INFLUENCED YOU MOST IN BECOMING THE DESIGNERS AND WOMEN YOU ARE TODAY? Mounaz (M) and Aya (A) in unison: Our grandmother!

M: Our Syrian grandfather owned a large fabric store in Kuwait, with materials from all over the world, including France, Italy, and India.

Our grandmother would travel with him and she loved it.

A: She would use those exotic fabrics to design and sew her own clothes using her Singer sewing machine.

M: She even had this amazing closet where she would show us things she wore at the age of seventeen. Remember the colourful embroidered vest?

A: Or the dress with the gold lace!

M: Oh, she had such unique style!

She was also the backbone of the family in a way, raising her three daughters with our grandfather

travelling a lot. She was really like a superwoman.

WHAT KIND OF WOMEN ARE YOU DESIGNING FOR? M: We aren’t targeting a woman with a certain style, our bags have a general appeal which enables each woman to style it uniquely.

A: But we do have the Okhtein customer in mind- she’s daring and young.

M: Our message is that you don’t need to either buy that expensive Chanel bag or carry the same Zara bag everyone else is carrying. We offer something affordable with impeccable quality that is unique.

A: So whether you are a woman making it on your own, or really just enjoy fashion, we try to be trendsetters and to keep the brand current.

WHAT DID YOU HAVE IN MIND WHEN YOU WERE DESIGNING YOUR VERY FIRST BAG? A: We started by thinking “who would wear an Okhtein bag?” We thought of a daring woman and eventually we came up with a circular bag with this unique flap.

M: And this is how the flap started,

M: Yes, Al Moaz Street has played a big role in forming Okhtein; it’s an Egyptian brand. So, we feel we have taken our culture and modernized it in a very unique way.

WHAT IS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE YOU HAVE FACED IN SETTING UP OKHTEIN? A and M together: Production, definitely!

A: Abroad there’s an organized process. You send your design to the manufacturer, they produce it within deadlines and there is proper quality control.

M: Finding the raw materials here is also very difficult. We make everything by hand to guarantee our quality, even the clasps on our handbags! The bags are all literally handmade from scratch, even the hardware.

WHAT IS IT LIKE WORKING WITH FAMILY? (BOTH OF THEM LAUGH) M: Some days you love it, other days we are chasing each other around the dining room table!

A: On occasion, I wake up early to do work before Mounaz gets up. My approach is to stay chilled and do things at my own pace.

M: I work better at night, and am

always multitasking. I wake up in the morning and write down my “To Do List” of 30+ items and get to work.

M: Really, she is super talented at it.

She is an expert at body language and reading people, which saves us in business sometimes.

A: We both get stuff done, but in very different ways, so we leave each other our space.

WHAT ARE YOUR BIG PLANS FOR 2016?

A: Hollywood! There is so much we want to do in Los Angeles, but what exactly we will end up doing, we don’t know yet. But we are planning our LA trip for the spring already.

WHAT IS THE FAVOURITE ITEM THAT YOU HAVE DESIGNED SO FAR? M: The minaudiere. My goal is to make it into an antique piece.

A: For me, the backpack. It’s still in my head and I want to keep redesigning it again and again.

WHAT ESSENTIALS DO YOU CARRY IN YOUR BAG? M: You know what’s ironic is we actually use bags very little. We carry a lot in our pockets.

A: But we use them for going out.

And I have always been obsessed with designer handbags and even saved for a small Gucci bag when I was a kid in the sixth grade.

M: I actually used to go find plain clutches and use glue to decorate them with stones.

A: Yes! They looked really good and I used to share them with her.

In some way we were destined to design handbags.

A: Look out for our scarves launching soon. We don’t want to limit ourselves to handbags, we are an accessory brand. The scarves are about “people you’d like to meet” drawn in our different styles.

There are ten in total, about real stories and real people. One of us will start drawing, then the other will continue with scanning the image on illustrator then photo. After that we color it in and print it on silks and wools.

M: We also want to penetrate the Spanish market, as well as London, LA and New York.

A: Also expect a very, very interesting collaboration in February. We’ve been preparing for it for over four months now.

WHAT ARE YOUR MYSTERY TALENTS? M: I’m a good cook!

A: (After much debate, she smiles) I can tell if someone is lying…

January 2016 Identity 57

Interview

THE MAN BEHIND THE SMILE Dr. Mohamed has been in the field for seventeen years. His specialty is cosmetic dentistry, but his office offers a wide range of services, including orthodontics, children dentistry, and oral surgery. In all services, Dr. Mohamed puts trust between himself and the patient at utmost importance. This is one of the reasons behind his uniquely designed clinic.

“We have three types of anesthesia.

Thre is chemical anesthesia as we all know, as well as visual and auditory anesthesia. By auditory, I mean carefully selected music which will make you relax. Some days I play oriental music like Um Kalthoum and Fayrouz. This auditory anesthesia will decrease fear about thirty percent. By visual anesthesia, I mean the colours of the clinic. In the reception you will wait for your appointment, so the colours must be relaxing.”

Dr. Mohamed firmly believes this method works, and has been using it for seven or eight years.

I assumed that it would be more important for the children, but Dr. Mohamed actually surprised me that adults are more nervous when they come for their appointments.

DR. MOHAMED EMAD From the moment I walked into Whity clinic, I knew Dr. Mohamed Emad was not an ordinary dentist. I would have thought I accidentally went to the wrong place for my interview if I hadn’t seen the sign on the wall. The friendly staff, stylish décor, and the relaxing music in the background of the reception made it feel more like a spa than a dentist office. When I met Dr. Mohamed face to face, it was clear that this energetic and cheerful man was the mastermind behind the welcoming environment. He emphasized from the very beginning that he was trying to create a better experience for his patients.

58 Identity January 2016

“Our fears from the dentist come from our history. Our history and imagination exaggerate the pain; so you will feel it more.” He went on to explain that since children do not have these bad memories, they don’t associate the dentist with pain.

By creating the clinic’s relaxing atmosphere, he reduces the chance that children will view the dentist as something to fear from the very beginning. It would be difficult for someone to be nervous in Dr. Mohamed’s clinic. It was unlike any other dentist office I had seen. The décor was cozy, Omar Khairat was playing in the background, and lighted candles scented the air.

There was even a screen above the dental chair showing a relaxing scene of a quiet lagoon.

“I don’t like to only be a dentist, I like to be an artist. I’m trying to create another image of a dentist,” stated the doctor. This led into the next topic. Dr. Mohamed’s specialty is cosmetic dentistry, so I was curious which procedure was the most popularly requested.

“Whitening, especially for women,” was his immediate answer. But apparently something that seems very simple is actually the opposite.

He explained, “Natural teeth are not white, they are ivory. Ivory has grades, so I must discuss this with the patients. We want it the lightest ivory colour, not white.

Some people, like celebrities, make their teeth too white, which is very fake” Additionally, in his years of experience, Dr. Mohamed has found that he needs to know his patients before he decides how he will design their smile. He must sit down with them and chat for about twenty

“

I DON’T LIKE TO ONLY BE A DENTIST, I LIKE TO BE AN ARTIST. I’M TRYING TO CREATE ANOTHER IMAGE OF A DENTIST

“

“Patients come to the dentist with a lot of fear, so I am trying to decrease that fear, decrease the stress, and make it a friendly atmosphere in my clinic. It’s my way, my approach.”

minutes before they move forward.

“There are some factors that I will consider in colour and alignment: your colour, your eyes, your hair, the style of your clothes, your personal attitude, the way you talk.”

While Dr. Mohamed has seen between five and six thousand patients, he admits that it takes more than help from him for the perfect smile. “The colour and shape of your smile will be good if you are good from the inside, if you laugh from the inside. If you laugh and smile from your heart, and not only your face, you will have a great smile. It’s a very important factor.”

Not only is Dr. Mohamed genuine about the source of an authentic smile, he also has practical dental care advice for his patients. He recommends regular checkups that will control diseases and pain from

the beginning. He also knows his patients are busy, but still wants to advise them how to keep their teeth healthy on a day to day basis.

“People work about ten to twelve hours a day, so it is not logical to tell patients that they must brush their teeth after each meal. They will say, ‘I am at work. I have no brush, I have no toothpaste, I can’t do that.’ So, we can find other alternatives for the patients which will do the same as brushing. Like, using a tissue to wipe our teeth after eating, or using mouthwash. Or even drinking a cup of tea without sugar to rinse our mouths.”

Dr. Mohamed even shared his own personal dental hygiene habits. “I’m trying to control my diet. I don’t eat sweets. I eat just during my three meals a day, because snacks in between meals are very bad for teeth, especially synthetic foods. If we eat natural foods, our teeth will be great. Vegetable and fruits will act like brushing. Like an apple, it acts the same as a toothbrush. It will scrub your teeth.”

Dr. Mohamed has a great reason to keep his smile healthy. He has a wonderful family, a wife and two sons, who have supported him through everything. “My work makes me not see them, but my wife has stood beside me. She never told me it was a problem, she did everything to help me when I began.” Dr. Mohamed is a firm believer in hard work, and wants to make sure he teaches that to his sons. Since I was certain his two young sons must look up to their father, I asked him if they also wanted to be dentists. His answer was very heartwarming and supportive. “I don’t want my sons to be dentists, I want them to be what they want. If he is a cab driver and he loves his work, he will be a very excellent person. Money is very important, but it is also important to like our lives.”

At the end of the interview, Dr. Mohamed reiterated why he believes that a beautiful, healthy, and genuine smile is important.

“Your smile and your teeth give the first impression. If it’s good, everything is good.”

January 2016 Identity 59

Reviews

CLEAN CLOTHES CAN MAKE YOU HAPPIER

#ARIEL #DOWNY Ariel and Downy are at the forefront of discovering how what we wear impacts the quality of our daily lives. New research is finding a connection between the freshness and cleanliness of your clothes and your mood. This isn’t the first time that researchers have discovered that what you are wearing can impact how you feel and your behavior. Wearing black clothes can make you more aggressive, and comfortable clothes can improve cognitive performance and test taking. So now the question is, can clean clothes make a difference too?

With Ariel and Downy, Cognitive Psychologist Lawrence Rosenblum and Fiber Scientist Mary Johnson are finding the answer is yes. In their study, they conduct experiments in which subjects sit inside a sauna fully clothed for ten minutes. The participants are then randomly selected to either remain in their sweaty clothes or change into a clean set before participating in a series of tests that measure cognitive performance and mood. They have begun to see a connection between clean clothes and feeling more relaxed, more happy, and less anxious.

wash confidence of fashion lovers for years with their innovative fabric care products, because they find it a shame that we spend 80% of our time wearing only 20% of our clothes. It is definitely a shame, and it is also extremely frustrating when our clothes lose their quality much quicker than we want them to.

We should be able to wear our entire closets freely without holding back from fear that cleaning them will actually wear them out. Nothing is worse than when an elastic-based item, like a skirt, loses its “bounce.” Elasticity can be damaged from wearing and washing, but using high quality products like Ariel and Downy can give the bounce back. Just like hair, clothes need some conditioner to get rid of the static and flow smoothly. Even sweaters that might become stiff and scratchy from competitors’ products can become soft and cozy again.

These results shouldn’t surprise us, every girl knows that we will naturally be happier and more confident in clean clothes rather than sauna-drenched ones.

But what we don’t all know is how dirty our clothes become on a daily basis. Only 30% of the dirt on our clothes is actually visible, 10% of which is outdoor soil and 20% of which is from accidental stains. The other 70% is body soil, and is there even if you don’t consciously notice it. That is extra disturbing knowing that many of us suffer from wash anxiety, which is when we are hesitant to wash our clothes often from the fear of damaging them or wearing them out too quickly. But we shouldn’t have to suffer from not keeping our clothes and fresh, because they can actually be preserved and even enhanced with the right products.

When using the right fabric care products, it is much more practical to achieve the happiness and other benefits of wearing clean clothes without breaking the bank over dry cleaning bills. Fiber Scientist Mary Johnson shared that there are real life applications from their research. If we have a big day, a hot date, or any other occasion that we want to be on top of our game, we should go all clean so that we can be at our peak performance.

Ariel and Downy have been busy increasing the 60 Identity January 2016

January 2016 Identity 61

Bits & Pieces

#MyConverseMyStory Converse Egypt brought together some of Cairo’s coolest up and coming Egyptian Artists, giving them a chance to showcase their artwork and talent for the cities coolest bunch and influencers.

Each Converse tells as a story, and with the launch of the new Chuck II there was no better time for the #MyConverseMyStory’s to come to life. Guests danced the night away to Egypt’s newest band Funk Off, while being wined and dined at gu bar.

62 Identity January 2016

Hilton Worldwide Hosts Media Gala Dinner in Celebration of the New Year Hilton Worldwide Hosts Media Gala Dinner in Celebration of the New Year Hilton Worldwide celebrated a fruitful 2015 with esteemed members from the Egyptian press, in a gala dinner hosted at Conrad Cairo’s Stage One. The dinner gathered a number of Hilton Worldwide’s team members in Egypt, led by Christian Muhr, Vice President of Operations for Egypt & Levant. During the dinner, attendees enjoyed the entertaining atmosphere as well as indulged themselves with the eclectic food and beverage offerings Stage One is famous for.

January 2016 Identity 63

Bits & Pieces

#FORTHELOVEOFMUSIC: Bershka’s Music Festival Bershka did it one more time and overtook the music platform in Egypt. Last Thursday, Bershka along with Ninteen84 threw one hell of a party on the roof top of Le Pacha. Media and influencer were there dancing to the beats of Ramy DJunkie and the talented boys from Disco Misr for the whole night.

KIDZANIA OPENS ITS DOORS TO ADULTS FOR THE BIGGEST HUNT EVER COUNTDOWN & CELEBRATE NEW YEAR’S IN STYLE AT RAMSES HILTON Indulge in an exquisite fourcourse romantic dinner on the 36th floor with panoramic views of the River Nile & Cairo at our Windows on the World rooftop restaurant. Enjoy the melodic duet sounds of live guitar & violin while being entertained by belly dancer Kawakib.

KidZania, the kids’ only city opened its doors to grown-ups for The Biggest Hunt Ever on December 17, 2015 at 7:00pm. This miniature world designed for children gave adults the opportunity to bring out the child within for hours of nonstop fun as they work in teams to complete the biggest scavenger hunt Cairo has ever seen. With 200 teams, 1,000 people competed to accomplish tasks and earn Kidzo’s along the way while training to be police officers, artists, pilots, dentists or a ton of other exciting jobs for the ultimate experience.

PRODUCTIVE FAMILIES’ EXHIBITION LAUNCHED LAST SATURDAY AT THE SEMIRAMIS INTERCONTINENTAL CAIRO Minister of Social Solidarity inaugurated Al Nahda Annual Exhibition of Khaimeya and hand crafts at the Semiramis InterContinental Cairo Dr. Ghada Wali Minister of Social Solidarity and Dr. Moamena Kamel Secretary General of Egyptian Red Crescent inaugurated Al Nahda Annual Exhibition of Khaimeya last Saturday 12th December 2015.

Many Egyptian Red Crescent branches participated in the exhibition showing products of Khaimeya and hand crafts.

XmasByRadisson Radisson Blu celebrates Christmas with Vybe!

Despite the weather and their hectic schedule; Cairo’s top media leaders, bloggers and influencers left everything behind and headed to Radisson Blu, Heliopolis for a night full of music and holiday spirit.

January 2016 Identity 65

Bits & Pieces

BUILDING ON ITS VITAL ROLE IN SUPPORTING YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS PepsiCo sponsors “RiseUp” summit for the third consecutive year, providing education, training for youth and entrepreneurs of emerging projects to boost innovation in energy, education as part of PepsiCo’s strategy for CSR and Education for employment

LET US HELP CREATE AN EXCITING FAMILY OUTING IN MID – YEAR VACATION AT SHERATON MONTAZAH

SODIC CELEBRATES THE GRADUATION OF THE THIRD SODIC CYCLE OF AUC VENTURE LAB START-UPS

Mid-year vacation is a good break for families and children specially after a particularly stressful first semester. In Alexandria, over a million people and families from Cairo and all over Egypt annually come to the city in mid-year vacation to enjoy its stretched beaches, shopping plazas, moderate winter weather and vibrant environment which made the city a favorable destination in both summer and winter for many of the Egyptians and residents.

SODIC celebrated the graduation of the third SODIC cycle of the American University in Cairo School of Business Venture Lab (AUC V-Lab) on December 9th.

The AUC V-Lab provides young Egyptian entrepreneur start-ups with access to AUC facilities, its world-wide alumni network and seed funding through incubation cycles with the goal of commercialising the technologies and innovations which would contribute to economic growth and job creation.

HILTON LUXOR RESORT & SPA HOSTS HIGH-PROFILE FRENCH DELEGATION WHILE THEY PROMOTE CULTURAL TOURISM IN LUXOR The Hotel’s Unmatched Hospitality Offerings Makes it a Favorite Destination of Choice Hilton Luxor Resort & Spa recently welcomed a highprofile French delegation during their recent visit to Egypt. The delegation included Members of Parliament, tour operators, political figures as well as media representatives, who were visiting Luxor as a part of the introductory trip to Egypt organized by the Ministry of Tourism and Egypt Tourism Authority.

THE HEAT IS ON DURING WINTER HOLIDAYS AT KEMPINSKI HOTEL SOMA BAY

MOBINIL THE OFFICIAL PARTNER OF SPANISH FOOTBALL LEAGUE “LALIGA”

Experience a festive winter holiday in a true paradise unlike any other...

Feel the joyful atmosphere and spend your winter break in the delightful surroundings of sunny Soma Bay. The hotel emphasises the mood of marvellous festivals along our pristine shores for a memorable winter break.

Mobinil Part of Orange Group signed a partnership agreement with “LaLiga” the official Spanish Football League, in the presence of the top officials from both sides. This partnership is considered to be the first of its kind with a telecom operator outside Spain.

“EMPLOYEE AND MANAGER OF THE YEAR” AT SONESTA CAIRO HOTEL, TOWER & CASINO CAIRO Sonesta Hotel, Tower & Casino Cairo constantly aim to maintain the high quality of service and standards of hospitality to its esteemed guests, therefore kept on the yearly tradition of awarding the Best Employee and the Best Manager through the year to encourage the honorable competition to best performance among its personnel.

Upon the on-going occasion of nominating the Manager & Employee of the year, Sonesta Hotel – Cairo has awarded Mona Sobhy (Asst. Director of Sales for Meeting and Conference) and Hesham Abdel Salem (Senior Sous Chef) as the Managers of the Year.

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WARM WINTER HOLIDAY AT SHERATON MIRAMAR Take a break it’s time for vacation.

Stay off the mid-winter blues with a mini holiday at the Sheraton Miramar lagoons and beaches that will leave you invigorated and read to brave the remaining months. the breeze at Sheraton Miramar is infused with the scents of colorful roses across the nine islands, with breath- taking views of lagoons and sea. Indulge your senses ,enjoy the charm and tranquility of summer .Watch the sun rise from behind the mountains and the sun set in the sea at Sheraton Miramar

CUBE FURNITURE JOINS BARON MALL CONRAD CAIRO PRESENTS DIM SUM WEEKENDS AT KAMALA RESTAURANT Conrad Cairo is delighted to present new editions to its dinner menu by serving Dim Sum at the authentic Asian Restaurant “Kamala” every Thursday and Friday, offering a superb selection of handcrafted Dim Sum specially prepared by Chef Chantima U-Ber, in addition to the soup of the

Cube furniture is a venerable Company with distinguished history in selling modern and classic Furniture & Lighting with wide variety of collections as well as the option of manufacturing special models to meet our customers needs and expectations.

Cube Furniture launched it’s newest showroom at Baron Mall, your one-stop mega shop for everything home! From furniture, ceramics, lighting, wallpaper, carpets, curtains, fabrics, floor coverings, mattresses, home appliances and accessories, kitchens, and much more - there is nowhere else you will have to go but here! We have brought together the top local, national and international brands under one roof. Mostafa El Sallab, Oriental Weavers, and Crystal Asfour are just a few of the world-renowned names that await you here.

CARACOLE A BEAUTIFUL TURN IN A NEW DIRECTION Is there any greater luxury than having a beautiful home to retreat to each day? Whether you want to unwind in a luxurious and quiet haven or share life’s moments with a revolving group of family and friends, our home environment offers us an intimate canvas. With that thought in mind, we are dedicating this issue to the concept of everyday luxury. The Caracole pieces showcased in these pages exude refinement and luxurious details that promise to pamper and give you the building blocks to create a very personal home interior.

Stores: Designopolis, Cairo. The District, Cairo.

5A Ghernata street, Cairo. 673 Elhorrya Street, Alex.

January 2016 Identity 67

Horoscopes CAPRICORN

22 DECEMBER - 20 JANUARY Strengths: Responsible - Patient - Ambitious - Resourceful - Loyal Weaknesses: Dictatorial - Inhibited - Conceited - Distrusting - Moody Most Compatible with: Gemini and Scorpion. Taurus and Virgo are also good matches for Capricorn, but a lasting relationship requires compromise by both parties.

How to Attract Capricorn: Make them laugh, do not pry into their emotions and buy them gifts, not gaudy and expensive but practical and useful ones.

Aries: Out of nowhere someone will cross your path and stand by your side when you really need it, so this month keep an eye out for that stranger.

Taurus: It’s not failure that destroy our

Leo: This is your time to really get excited about your career; your horoscope forecasts that January will be full of accomplishments on the personal front.

Sagittarius: You will see overwhelming changes in your life throughout this month that will convince you to change the beat you’ve always marched to.

Virgo: Start this New Year by showing

everyone what you’re really made of; you’ve learned your lessons and this month you can act on them.

Aquarius: No more old, dusted, or comfortable plans. You will make room for adventures and growth by getting out of your comfort zone and enhance your social circle starting this month.

Gemini: Your outlook towards new relationships will see major changes this month, let your insecurities vanish and don’t be afraid to take risks when getting close to others.

Libra: You will close the book on confusion and start taking action on what you want. Don’t hate the over thinking process, it will help you later on.

Capricorn: This month you will show beyond a doubt that you’re not a pushover; you will fight back against the people who get under your skin. Let them pay.

Design by Matteo Thun

confidence, it’s not getting back up. This January you will have the confidence to close your unfinished business.

Cancer: This month you will finally

understand that you must stop wasting your time for others to change their behavior. You will switch your attention to yourself and start making some overdue decisions.

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Scorpio: January is your month to trim away all the fat and nonsense, and actually focus on what you want. If you follow your gut, you’ll never regret it.

Life is too short to do things you don’t love.

Pisces: This January it’s important to remember this phrase, “if wishes were horses, beggars would ride.” Don’t let your wishes just stay wishes, make them goals and actually accomplish them this time.

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