Summer In The City

JULY 2015 - 15 L.E. VOLUME 10, ISSUE 9 WWW.IDENTITY-MAG.COM

BEAT THE HEAT EVEN WHEN THE POWER GETS CUT

Beauty Tips Every Skin Tone

for

6

Tips to work & fast like a boss

head to toe

FASHION

4

IFTAR & SOHOUR menus

FROM THE BACKSEAT

BEST & WORST TAXI STORIES

Summer in the City

IDENTITY how you got there

IDENTITY editor’s note

JULY 2015 - 15 L.E. VOLUME 10, ISSUE 9 WWW.IDENTITY-MAG.COM

BeAt tHe HeAt eVeN WHeN tHe POWer GetS Cut

head to toe

FASHION

4

IFtAr & SOHOur meNuS

Beauty tips

for every

Skin tone

6

FrOm tHe BACKSeAt

tIPS tO WOrK & FASt lIKe A BOSS

BEST & WORST TAXI STORIES

Summer on the cover IN tHe CIty COVER DESIGN ALIA ELABD

T

o be perfectly honest, at first I was slightly overwhelmed with the boldness of our cover. The vibrant colors were almost overpowering with how alive they were, but after more consideration, I realized this was perfect for our Summer in the City issue. Perhaps we are stuck in the middle of Cairo during another blazing summer, but there is hardly another city that is as alive and vibrant as this one. Nothing about Cairo is boring or dull. It is filled with so many unique individuals and personalities that make every interaction different from the last. This is what makes it such an amazing place to be. Around every corner there is more life, more stories, more colors. This doesn’t have to be a summer where you feel trapped every moment that you are within the city limits, but rather a summer that you embrace all the different shades of threads that create the great fabric of Cairo life.

Liza Dunham

SENIOR EDITOR PUBLISHER & MANAGING EDITOR ROLA KAMEL EDITOR-IN-CHIEF NAWAL ISMAIL Senior Editor Liza DUnham COPY-EDITOR AMINA EL FAYOUMY JUNIOR EDITORS MIRANA TERA, RAGHDA EL-SAYED ONLINE WRITERS MALAK NAGUIB. ALIA SERRY, JOE@banatmasr, ALAA YOUSRY, AYAT ABOUELELA, MOATAZ MONEAM INTERN AHMED AGAMAWY RELATIONSHIP EXPERT MARWA RAKHA SOCIOLOGY EXPERT MICHAEL RYAN JUNIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER ALIA ELABD MARKETING AND ADVERTISING MANAGER RIHAM YEHIA SENIOR MARKETING & PR EXECUTIVE NOURHAN YEHIA DIGITAL MARKETING SPECIALIST MIRNA ALAA SENIOR DIGITAL MEDIA OPERATIONS STEVE NABIL DIGITAL SALES HAZEM SADEK WEBSITE COMPANY QPIX SOLUTIONS DISTRIBUTION COMPANY AL AHRAM PRINTING HOUSE INTERNATIONAL PRINTING HOUSE (IPH) IDENTITY MAGAZINE DISTRIBUTORS ASHRAF FOUAD & ESSAM IBRAHIM 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.

Published by Beezarre Publishing Ltd. Themistokli Dervi, 6 Papyros Building, 4th Floor, Flat/Office D5 – P.c 1066, Nicosia, Cyprus.

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

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IDENTITY contents

IDENTITY way of life

10 TORN BETWEEN LOVE & RELIGION 12 FROM THE BACKSEAT: BEST & WORST TAXI STORIES

14 SURVIVING EGYPTIAN PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION

16 BEAT THE HEAT EVEN WHEN THE POWER GETS CUT

18 A BLAST FROM THE RAMADAN PAST

20 RAMADAN-IZE YOUR HOUSE 22 SIX TIPS TO WORK & FAST LIKE A BOSS

24 THE STRUGGLES OF A NONFASTER IN RAMADAN

26 BREAK A QUICK SWEAT

ANYWHERE DURING RAMADAN

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28 SUMMER 2015 HAIR GUIDE 30 LET YOUR HAIR BREATHE

46 summer IN THE CONCRETE

IDENTITY lifestyle

48 STREET SMART

32 PICK THE MAKEUP THAT SUITS YOUR SKIN

IDENTITY perspective JUNGLE

52

THE GAPING DISCONNECT BETWEEN RAMADAN SERIES & RAMADAN

34 HEAD TO TOE FASHION 54 IS MY KID GROWING UP TOO FAST 36 70’S ARE BACK 38 SATISFY YOUR TASTE BUDS IN 56 THE DAILY GRIND OF EVERYDAY NO TIME

IDENTITY bits & pieces IDENTITY how you got there

42 OUM ELDOUNIA AN ORIENTALTHEMED STORE

44 NAZEEKA WOMEN’S WEAR WITH A TWIST

58 SNAPS & LATEST NEWS 64 HOROSCOPES

IDENTITY way of life

Torn between love & religion Hi Marwa, I’m twenty-four years old and my problem is a bit complicated. I’ve been in love with a guy for seven years now and he loves me back. The problem is that we have different religions and we don’t know what to do.

We’d love to continue our lives together. I can’t imagine myself without him! He has become a crucial part of my life but our families have opposed our relationship since it started. When I think of the future I can’t imagine that I won’t have children because we can’t get married; however, I can’t imagine my future without him either. We considered travelling and getting married abroad before, but I don’t want to disappoint my family. I’ve been approached with a lot of men who want to marry me and my parents have been dying for me to meet them. Lately, there’s this guy who my parents are insisting that I meet him and eventually marry him.

What should I do?

Sincerely, Confused and Looking For Advice Dear Confused,

I wish there were one magical piece of advice that I could give you! I wish things were as simple as “go for it” or “don’t go for it”!

I could start my reply with a long paragraph asking you why you started a relationship that you knew was doomed from the start, followed by another paragraph on why you stayed for seven years with a man whom you knew that your family would never approve of. But I will spare you the traditional responses and will try to give you hope!

I know people living in the United States – personally – who ended up getting married although they were from different religions! I know a Muslim girl who got married to a Jewish man and a Sheikh and a Rabbi married them off in a joint ceremony. Both families attended and everyone

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was happy! When the Sheikh was asked on how “legal” this marriage was, he said that nothing in Islam prevents a Muslim woman from getting married to a Jewish man and that in Judaism, children got the religion of the mother. He gave so many examples of how and why there was nothing in Islam to oppose interfaith marriage.

I know another couple; a Muslim man and a Christian woman who dated for years and the families eventually accepted their choice to spend their lives together! Their children are being raised up as Muslim and as Christian at the same time; the parents managed to merge the two religions together and the kids are fantastic!

Other than the two examples that I just quoted, I am sure there are many couples out there who have happy marriages and many decent children, despite the fact that they originally have different religions. I also know that religion is more than a label that you get on your birth certificate. Every human being was born with the gift of free will and the power of choice – you, your husband, and your kids are free to choose how to live your lives and what religion to adopt and practice.

So it’s up to you. You might want to wait a couple more years before you decide to give up on your relationship, or you might want to start seeing other people and keep your options open.

Marwa Rakha

RELATIONSHIP EXPERT

A W EDDI NG FOR THE YOUNG AT HE A RT.

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LIGHT UP THE PAL ACE W I T H YO U R O W N M A G I C .

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Blend timeless splendor with stylish chic in any of Salon Royal, Eugenie, Salon Vert and the grandeur of Aida Ballroom or enjoy the cheerful atmosphere and stunning views of the Nile from Almaz.

IDENTITY way of life Taxi drivers are complex characters.

They can either inspire you, or make you wish you were never born. As someone who’s been taking cabs since she was nine-years-old, I pretty much have seen it all. Here are some of my best experiences with taxis, and for the sake of drama, worst stories too.

FROM THE BACKSEAT: BEST & WORST TAXI STORIES Best

In one cab I found a driver with a hood on and a scarf covering the face. Midway, the driver took off the scarf and the hood, and looked at me with the most beautiful smile ever and told me “You look like a nice person and I felt I can take my scarf and hood off.”

The driver was a woman! I had to ask her about her story, and I was in tears by the end. She told me that she’s the first female taxi driver in Egypt, and she started her unique career when her husband, who was also a taxi driver, died and left the taxi. They had no pension, and no source of income. Everyone told her to sell the taxi, but she thought the money would be spent quickly and she needed an investment. So she took the taxi and worked with it.

She’s been pretending to be a male driver ever since, and covers her face and body, even in the summer.

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Good

I found a taxi with a sign on it that says “I don’t speak Arabic” written in English and Arabic. Luckily, I got in to know the man's story. The driver was around fifty, wearing a galabeya, had blonde hair and blue eyes, and definitely didn't look Egyptian.

He’s Canadian and recently converted to Islam. His wife and kids kicked him out of his own house and took his money. Even though he could’ve easily sued them and got his money back, he decided not to.

He went to stay at a local mosque, and an Egyptian man there gave him money and helped him to move to Cairo where he could study Islam at Al-Azhar. He now works as a cab driver to support himself here.

Bad

Just last May, when the strange heat wave happened, I got in a cab to get to work with a driver who had

something to say! He claimed the heat wave was a “biological bomb” sent by Israel to take over the Middle East. I politely told him that he’s not even making sense and asked him to remain quiet until we reached our destination because it’s too early for this.

He screamed with the highest pitched voice I've ever heard and asked me to step out of the taxi because I’m a Zionist and I support Israel and would kill Palestinian children if I could. I was dropped in the middle of the 15th of May bridge in the heat!

Worst

A taxi driver locked me in the car and told someone on the phone that he’ll sell me to him. The dumbass didn’t realize we were stuck in traffic and I could get myself out. I basically took a ride from October to New Cairo for free!

IDENTITY way of life

Surviving Egyptian Public Transportation

For anyone who has travelled abroad has seen how transportation is much more of a priority in other countries. If you go to London, Hong Kong or even Dubai, you will see that transportation is very safe, comfortable and cheap. These are not the words used to describe any of Egypt's wide variety of transportation means, not by a long shot.

In the mid 70s, they said that Egypt's population would be 36 million! That was shocking back then, but today we can find 36 million only in the subway! Here are some other major problems you may find when navigating Egypt's crazy transportation systems: The Egyptian taxi In Egypt, the taxi driver has the right to stop for you or just continue on his way as if you don't even exist. It depends on his own schedule and mood, and even if he stops for you and this happens rarely, you have to accept the driver's regulations during your trip. First you are forced to listen to his music despite whether you like it or not, and these songs are often by Mostafa Kamel or George Wasouf.

Second, if you are riding in a white taxi you have to answer the main question "hatemshy bel 3adad?" and this means you are going to pay extra money as the driver decides.

The second question after you enter the taxi is "2alak feen?" and based on this question you have to explain the address by details before the driver finally decides to take you or not.

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Now is the time for the infamous AC debate. In Egyptian taxis, AC is a luxury, and if you win the debate to turn on the AC, that means you are going to pay extra money "aslo bys7ab mn el banzeen!"

The bus station If you see hundreds of people standing in the middle of the street, raising their hands by strange symbols, please don’t think it’s a demonstration, it's just a bus station.

These people are waiting for the bus and these ganglooking hand symbols are simply referring to the places they are going.

ON the bus The local bus in Egypt needs some special techniques to ride. First, you have to use the sprinting technique, as you may need to run using top speed to reach it. If you do without any injuries, you have to use some intense talent for the second time in jumping from the bus when you reach your station while it’s still going. Any injury is just considered the bus riding tax!

The subway Here you have to use a totally different technique. After you miraculously bust through the mob around the ticket window, you have to take a deep breath before you jump into one of the metro cars because you are going to use your gills (if you have any) in order to breath during your journey from one station to another. This is because there are hundreds of people packed inside every car.

As much of a mess as it is, we don't have much of a choice. We have to survive it one way or another.

“always remember to smile”

Dr. Mohamed Emad

Tel: 01110551777 - 01066777295 Address: 123 Hassan El Ma’mon st., in front of El Ahly Sporting Clup, Nasr City, Cairo

IDENTITY way of life

Beat The Heat Even When The Power Gets Cut The heat this summer is no joke, accompanied by fasting and electric power cuts it can be a downright nightmare. So here are some tips you might not have thought of that can help you survive the weather without getting a bad case of heatstroke.

Hang a damp towel in front of your windows. The hot air coming from outside will soon be changed into a cool breeze.

1.

Put a bowl of ice in front of a fan.

The ice will melt and evaporate giving you a refreshing cool feeling.

2.

Give your A/C a good cleaning and checkup in the beginning of the summer , so you get the best out of it when the electricity is on.

3.

Prepare a cooling spray by putting a spray bottle of water in the freezer for 10-15 minutes and use it whenever it’s needed.

4.

Take cold showers. This is a classic because it's one of the most practical things to do while stuck in hot weather.

5.

Let your computer nap. If you're not using your laptop for more than 10 minutes, just put it on standby mode, because it actually releases a lot of heat.

6.

Wear loose clothes. They let the air flow unlike fitted tight clothes. It is also

7.

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better to choose light fabrics that are light on your body.

Avoid going out around noon. If you can, put off all your errands until after midday, so you can avoid the exposure to the heat.

8.

9.

Make a "cold compress." Fill a cotton sock with rice, tie the sock, and freeze it for two hours before bedtime. Then slide it between the sheets and enjoy a cool night.

Limit your movement.

It sounds too simple, but yes, it works. If you're feeling hot and you can do nothing about it just lay doing totally nothing. It helps!

10.

Eat spicy food.

Surprisingly, eating "hot" food makes you feel "cooler." It’s magic.

11.

Freeze your bed sheets and pillow covers.

Put them in a plastic bag and leave them in the freezer for a little while before bedtime.

12.

crocs

IDENTITY way of life

A Blast from the Ramadan Past Nostalgic old series that remind us of Ramadan no matter when we watch them Every so often when you’re bored and channel surfing, you stumble upon a television series that you just stop and become fixated on the screen, even if you’ve watched it a million times before.

They have this magical way of making you feel gloriously nostalgic, taking you back to the old Ramadan days when everyone used to gather around the television to watch the one or two series on air without having to decide from an endless TV guide. Here is a refresher of some of our favorites that maybe you should get caught up on this Ramadan, and send yourself down memory lane.

1- Layali el Helmeya (1987 – 1995) Consisting of 5 seasons, each season concentrates about how Egyptians evolved from King Farouk’s era to the beginning of the 90’s. It stars Selim Basha Badry, El3omda Seliman Ghanem, and Nazek Hanel Elselehdar.

2- Ra2fat Elhagan (1987 – 1991) This one is about the life of Refaat Elgammal, an Egyptian who was planted in Israel by Egyptian General Intelligence Directorate. He was also the main reason for Egypt’s victory in the 6th of October War. 3- Zizinia (1997 – 2000) Set in Alexandria, Zizinia revolves around how Italians and Greeks who live there treat Alexandrians through a man called Beshr Amer Abdelzaher, who has an Italian mother and an Egyptian father.

4- Lan A3eesh fE Gelbab 2abi (1995) This is about the struggling life of Abdelghafor Elbor3i, who started from nothing until he became the biggest merchant in Wekalet El Bala7.

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5- Arabesque (1994) Hassan, an Egyptian Arabesque artist, who due to unfortunate events in his life neglected his work and eventually turned to drugs and bad friends. Later, he receives an opportunity from a friend of his who works as an interior designer and finds his way to getting back doing the things he love.

6- El Mal Wel Banoon (1993/1995) Two friends were working with a foreigner who smuggles antiques. After the man died, the two friends were supposed to distribute the money amongst them, but one of them became very rich, while the other one didn’t take the money and remained living on the roof.

7- Hawanem Garden City (1997/1998) This comprises of different kinds of love stories from a political background, starting from the monarchy until the 1952 revolution, and how these political situations changed the social hierarchy by time.

8- 3a2elet Wanes (1994/2013) Wanes is a perfectionist and a family-oriented man who cares about raising his children in a perfect manner, but he faces a lot of problems along the way because society itself needs changes.

9- Ze2ab El Gabal (1992) The series focuses on the life of traditional Egyptians (sa3ayda), who follows the classical norms, traditions and avengement.

10- Howa W Heya (1985) Each episode talks about a different relationship issue between men and women and how they deal with each other.

IDENTITY way of life Table Cloth - 250 to 350 EGP - The Nest

Hand Towels - 65 EGPThe Nest Mug - Handmade copper lace work 48 EGP - Oum ElDounia

Traditional Egyptian Saidi man & woman 34EGP - Oum ElDonia

Copper Set & Tray- 460 LEBoutique Basha

Ramadan-ize Your House:

Add Some Spirit to Your Comfort Zone

Kheyemeya Bean Bag - 400 EGP The Nest

With the holy month comes special, heart-warming decorations that remind, even the most westernized of us, of our Arab heritage and oriental traditions. From the timeless “Fanous” to the colourful lights, Ramadan always comes along with its spirit-inducing knick knacks. Whether you want to treat yourself and your house to some Ramadan goodies or you want to treat relatives or friends who are having you over for iftar or sohoor to gifts that aren’t edible (they probably have enough Basbousa to feed an entire nation,) here are some Ramadan-ified ornaments to pick and choose from.

Tanoura Mug 65 LE - Joud

Set of Coasters - 315 EGP - Oum El Dounia

Hemsah Tray and Stand 770 EGP - Joud

Aliaa Serry

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CONTRIBUTING EDITOR

IDENTITY way of life

6

tips to work & fast like a boss

Halfway through Ramadan, we’re not sure how we are going to survive both fasting and working. We feel sluggish, weak, and cranky from the moment we open our eyes, get to work, and somehow push ourselves through the workday without any help from our usual cravings, whether they are coffee, cigarettes, or chocolate. The easy answer is to slack at your work, but that doesn’t match with what Islam teaches us, which is that work is actually worshipping. So get your head in the game and surprise everyone with how on top of everything you are this Ramadan. You don’t have to sacrifice being the go-getter you usually are just because you are fasting. Here are six tips that will help you stay alert, focused, and productive at work this Ramadan.

tip Hydrate Make sure you drink enough

1

water between Iftar and Sohour, so your body is replenished with water. Especially since Ramadan is still falling in the midst of summer, you’ll need more water for your body to stay hydrated. Don't fall into the bad habit of forgetting to drink throughout the whole period between Iftar and Sohour, remembering it just before Fajr prayer, and ending up chugging an entire two litres in half an hour.

enough tip Sleep Don't stay up late and end

2

up falling asleep on your desk the next day. It's already hard enough that you are going through your day without your morning coffee, so take it easy on yourself and make sure to sleep well at night.

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TV series tip Avoid It's one of the reasons

3

that keep you up all night because it is very easy to get caught up in more shows than you can handle. Instead of feeling like you need to keep up with all the ones you started, pick the ones you like the most and drop the rest. You’ll thank yourself for it later.

well tip Eat Eating too heavy at night

4

will actually make you feel heavy, sluggish and sleepy in the morning, so choose wisely when it comes to Sohour. However, don’t even consider skipping Sohour, because then you won’t have the energy to make it through the day. Pick foods that are rich in fibres like complex carbohydrates, and pair those with foods that are rich in protein too

(dairy products or legumes, such as beans). That will help you feel full for longer hours. Generally, try to avoid fried, high fat and high sugar food.

Vitamins tip Take Take a multi-vitamin on

5

a daily basis. It will help replenish your body with the nutrients that it needs.

tip Drink Coffee at Sohour

6

If you're a coffee addict, have it just before you go back to sleep. Of course, it was better to adapt your body to not having caffeine by cutting it gradually before Ramadan. However, since you're already stuck you can have it just before Fajr prayer.

Mirana Tera JUNIOR EDITOR

IDENTITY way of life fasting friends, it really shouldn’t be taken for granted! It should be okay for non-fasting people to do whatever they want, like eat and drink,without any judgment.

You get judged if you go out in the morning If you’re chilling at a café in the morning, or out having lunch, all the waiters and workers will give you judgmental looks. Their default judgment is that you’re a Muslim who is breaking his or her fast. Even if I am, why are you judging me?

Everyone envies you It's really not as glamorous as it sounds. Since you have to sneak everything you do or else be ostracized, you also are not smoking, not drinking coffee, not drinking water, or not snacking unless you sneak it like a child hiding it from his parents. Overall, you’re suffering as much as everyone fasting. However, when anyone sees you they always have to mention how “lucky” you are for not fasting.

The StruggleS of a Non-Faster in Ramadan Fasting or not, Ramadan is a struggle for everyone. But it's hard in an especially unique way for those who don’t fast. It may seem an odd thing to say, because we are technically skipping out on the hardest part of the event, but there are some things that devoted fasters never think about what their friends go through when they decide not to fast, such as these: You simply can’t not fast in public You just can’t! If you drink or smoke or eat, you’ll get death stares, and maybe even death threats by those around you, who haven't let anything pass their lips since the wee hours of the morning! ..And it’s not really appreciated While most of us non-fasting people don’t show that we’re not fasting in public, because we want to respect our

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You can’t complain You’re starving, thirsty, and would kill a puppy to have a cigarette, but you can’t do anything, because people will see. No matter how miserable you are, you can’t complain, because no one will take your pain seriously since you're not really fasting.

The shisha person insists on having the “I’m fasting” conversation Shisha guys have to come over to the table and explain that they can’t fix the shishas because they’re fasting. No matter how many times you tell them you won’t ask them to fix your shisha, they still have to talk about it!

You’re the official food taster of any 3ezoma People invite you to their 3ezoma just so you will try the food while they’re cooking. By the time you get to eat, you’re already full. And when you don’t eat, people get offended. You can't win!

But we still love Ramadan!

No matter how much we struggle, we still love this festive month. With all the hype and celebration that goes into it, it's impossible not to. And the food is really good.

Raghda El-Sayed JUNIOR EDITOR

IDENTITY way of life Here’s the thing, with Ramadan comes a general feeling of relaxation and laziness, mixed with general indulgence and well, let’s admit it, gluttony of sorts when it comes to stuffing ourselves the minute we hear the Maghreb prayer call.

Your body, however, needs to stay fit all year long for you to maintain an acceptable level of fitness and well-being.

Who doesn’t love quick yet effective workouts that get straight to the point?

The type of exercise which works best in a short amount of time, is known as HIIT- High Intensity Interval Training.You do exercise drills in short intervals, with shorter intervals of rest in between. It’s basically amplified cardio that passes by so fast, that you never feel bored. HIIT is known to effectively burn fat and increase the body’s metabolic rate for up to 24 hours after you exercise.

Here’s an example of a 10-minute HIIT workout you can do in the comfort of your own home:

Warm Up:

30 sec: Jogging in place 30 sec: Jumping Jacks 30 sec: High knees 30 sec: Lateral jumps

HIIT Workout:

1st Circuit: 20 sec: Squats 10 sec: Rest (jog in place) 20 sec: Jump squats 10 sec: Rest (jog in place) 20 sec: Squats 10 sec: Rest (jog in place) 20 sec: Jump squats 10 sec: Rest (jog in place) 2nd Circuit: 20 sec: Lunges 10 sec: Rest (jog in place) 20 sec: Jumping lunges

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Break A Quick sweat anywhere during Ramadan

10 sec: Rest (jog in place) 20 sec: Lunges 10 sec.: rest (jog in place).

3rd Circuit: 20 sec: Crunches 10 sec: Rest (jog in place) 20 sec: Push-ups (do them on your knees, if you’re a beginner) 10 sec: Rest (Jog in place) 20 sec: Crunches 10 sec: Rest (jog in place) 20 sec: Push-ups 10 sec: Rest (jog in place) 4th Circuit: 20 sec: Sumo squats 10 sec: Rest (jog in place) 20 sec: Butt kickers 10 sec: Rest (jog in place)

20 sec: Sumo squats 10 sec: Rest (jog in place) 20 sec: Butt kickers 10 sec: Rest (jog in place)

After you’re done with the workout, don’t forget to stretch your muscles to avoid any cramps and eat a well-balanced meal or snack to replenish your energy levels.

Aliaa Serry

CONTRIBUTING EDITOR

IDENTITY way of life

Summer 2015 Hair Guide

Style Your Tresses to Perfection

During the hot summer days, it is always unbelievably tempting to simply pull up your hair into a bun and try to forget about its existence, but you know your summer is worth more than that. Make a change and style or colour your hair differently, here are summer 2015’s latest hair trends as seen on the runway and on your favourite celebrities.

Styling

Colouring

The Middle Part

Pastel Shades

Middle partings were covering all the s/s 2015 runways. There’s something about that style that makes it absolutely timeless.

Maybe it’s how it allows the hair to fall flatteringly around the face to give it an angle, or how effortlessly sleek it looks, but one thing’s for sure, the middle parting is in.

Pastel, rainbowcoloured hair is still all the rage. From pink hues to purple tones and minty shades, fun pastel hair is totally here to stay for a while.

Unstructured, Loose Waves Here’s what’s awesome about this trendy hairstyle: you can pull it off with airdried hair. You want your waves to be as flowy and unstructured as possible.

If achieving this look naturally is hard, simply loosely curl a few strands of your hair and run your fingers through them to loosen up the curls.

Rich, Copper Red A bold shade of red is definitely in. Think of Emma Stone’s unapologetic, bold red hair and you’ll be on the right track. Don’t shy away by going for some subtle red shade; you want to go for a red shade that’s leaning more towards warm, coppery tones.

Low Ponytail

Baby-lights

There is not an easier hair style in existence than the low, sleeked back ponytail. It’s quite simplistic, easy to pull off and totally chic. Add some waves or curl a few strands of your hair to give your ponytail a little more oomph!

The latest type of highlights, baby-lights, has totally taken the celebrity world by storm. They’re very small and subtle highlights that blend in effortlessly with the hair’s main shade to create a naturally sun-kissed effect.

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IDENTITY way of life

LET YOUR HAIR BREATHE CLEAN IT: Shampooing your hair depends on your hair type and scalp. People with normal to dry hair can wash once or twice a week. Daily shampooing is only necessary if oil production on the scalp is high.

BRUSH IT: Brush your hair daily as it helps the blood circulates letting your hair benefit from the food you eat and prevent hair fall.

We recommend using a paddle brush for smoothing and detangling hair, enhancing its shine and sleekness.

We recommend “L’Oréal Paris Advanced Hair care Smooth Intense Polishing Shampoo and Conditioner” as it helps soften and tame rough textures, leaving hair polished and smooth.

Massage into wet hair, lather, rinse. Follow with Smooth Intense Conditioner, leave on for 1-3 minutes. Rinse.

FEED IT: The key to well hydrated hair with a charming texture is to moisturize.

Moisturizing also replenishes hair to prevent damage & breakage and boosts hair’s natural shine.

We recommend “Redken diamond oil deep facets intensive treatment.” This deep conditioning mask nourishes, strengthens & smooths the hair. Leaves your hair with a protective layer of hair oils to help prevent damage. Use hair mask once a week in the shower for at least 10 minutes then rinse with cool water.

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STYLE IT: Styling your hair is the most critical part of the whole process. You should be aware when using hair straighteners as it could easily burn your hair, so you better start with low temperature, gradually until you reach the heat level your hair needs and avoid straightening the same part twice.

Before using the recommended hair straightener we have stated below, spray all over your hair “TRESEMME thermal creations heat tamer spray” as it stands up to flat and curling irons by guarding against heat and friction.

Here comes the most critical part, that’s why we recommend “BabylissPRO Nano titanium U styler.” This tool is incredible as it creates a host of varied looks; Straighten, wave and curl your hair safely with one smooth step.

Nourhan Yehia

SENIOR MARKETING & PR EXECUTIVE

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Indulge in our mouth-watering food selection and watch your favorite shows and matches on our mega screen. add to that, an exceptional shisha experience with an additional option of private pergolas that will, all together, promise you the ultimate Ramadan experience.

#Lanterns_Uptown Platinum Sponsor

The Clubhouse - Uptown Cairo

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Emtidad Ramsis St., exit from the 6th of October Bridge, Nasr City or Mokattam exit from Autostrad Road.

For more information & reservations call 16129 - 01283557000 - 0225032133

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IDENTITY lifestyle

Light Skin

Lipstick: You don’t want to use bold colored lipsticks; all you need to use to bring out your lips are soft colours like sandy and rosy pinks, and soft apricots. Try out “Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipstick” & “MAC light pink lipstick.”

Eye-shadow: For the eye-shadow, you can use natural shades to make your eyes pop out. Shades like champagne, soft pinks and gray hues will match well and create eye-popping contour. We suggest you try “Mac Cranberry Eyeshadow” & “Nars lhasa eyeshadow.”

Foundation: Foundation for the light skin can be a little bit tricky; you don’t want to wear one that is too dark for you.

Foundations we suggest that would fit perfectly and give you a sun-kissed tan are “Bobbi Brown Foundation Stick in Alabaster,” “Max Factor Face Finity All Day Flawless 3 in 1 Foundation,” and “Revlon Nearly Naked Makeup.”

Tips: To enhance your eyebrows, fill them with darker shades of your skin tone. But if you already have darker eyebrows, enjoy the natural contrast that you have.

Medium Skin

Lipstick: Cherry red and bright berry are amazing colors that fit perfectly with medium skinned ladies. We suggest you try out “Estee Lauder in Peach Glass” “Lancome in Corail in Love” and “Nars Audacious for a flattering look.”

Eye-shadow: The hues that suit your skin tone are navy blue and gold. Try out “Estee Lauder Eye Shadow in Blazing Bronze” and “L’Oreal Shadow in Cobalt Smokes 236.”

Foundation: When it comes to foundation, you have to be careful while choosing. Try it out and make sure it matches your skin. We suggest “Dior Natural Glow” and “L’Oreal-True Match.”

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PICK THE THAT SUITS

MAKEUP YOUR SKIN

Dark Skin

Lipstick: The best lipsticks that compliment your skin tone are deep colours such as deep reds and dark apricot. We suggest you stay away from pale nudes. But if you really want to wear a nude tone, make sure that the colour is close to your skin tone like a brown shade. Try out “Rebel Lipstick by Mac.” Eye-shadow: We suggest you go bold with deep shades of purple, golden and bronze. They will be stunning with your complexion.

Foundation: Finding the best foundation for your skin tone is usually difficult and can be frustrating especially if you have dark skin. The perfect way to match the foundation if you are darker is to try it on your jaw line, but if you have an oily skin, go one shade lighter. Decide which category best suits your skin. If you need a heavy coverage, go for cream or liquid; if you need light coverage, go for powder. And if it is for some touch-ups, go for stick. We’d say try these: “Bobbi Brown Stick Foundation (Espresso)”, “Lancome Teint Visionnaire Foundation,” “Clinique Even Better Foundation,” and “MAC Matchmaster SPF 15.”

Olive Skin

Lipstick: When it comes to lipstick, you have a lot to choose from since almost all colors fit your skin tone. You can play it safe and wear nude, toffee and cinnamon, but coral and orangey pinks and even the fire engine reds will make your face glow. We suggest you try Bobbie Brown Fire Engine.

Foundation: It’s hard to go wrong with a beautiful olive skin tone. There’s no need for a full coverage foundation while having a natural shiny skin tone, but it is very important for you to choose the right shade of foundation, so we suggest you stick with yellow-based shades with names such as “honey” or “golden” like “Giorgio Armani: Luminous Silk Foundation” & “Guerlain foundation-spf-20- Lingerie De Peau.”

Eye-shadow: For such a different skin tone, we suggest you go with browns, blues and maybe greens and avoid the pinks for the eyeshadow. Try out “Maybelline Eye Studio Colour Tattoo Eyeshadow” and “Lancôme Colour Design Eye Shadow in Filigree” Tip: Thanks to your beautiful skin, we don’t really have much to say. But you should stay away from bronzers because you already have a natural one.

Alia El-Abd

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

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IDENTITY lifestyle

HEAD TO TOE FASHION Topshop - Striped T-Shirt by Goldie

Round Sunglasses With Metal Bridge High Bar & Flash Lens - ASOS

Cairo Morning

Denim Dungarees - Topshop

Ramadan mornings in Cairo can get quite long and extremely hot. So it’s crucial that you choose comfortable clothing and preferably light colours.

Denim dungarees are quite big this season and another hot trend now is striped tops.

Try pairing these two together along with platform sneakers to create the cutest nineties look that is modest enough for Ramadan but trendy and cool at the same time.

‘Bette’ Leather & Genuine Snakeskin Crossbody Clutch - Michael Kors

MILLY Riley Backpack

Jeffery Campbell Platform Sneakers

Off-the-shoulder blouse - H&M

Cairo EVENING Family gatherings for Iftars and Sohours are a fundamental part of our Ramadan evenings. Take these gatherings as a chance to dress up and have fun with your fashion. This outfit recommendation is sophisticated, stylish, and conservative all at the same time, making it the perfect outfit for an evening out during Ramadan. Tuck a ruffled top into a trendy flaired jeans and pair them with a beige wedge and a cross body clutch, and you’ve got yourself a lovely Ramadan evening look.

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MOTO Ripped Tally Flared Jeans - Topshop

‘Keenia’ Wedge Sandal Steve Madden

FOR DAY & NIGHT Straw Hat Forever 21

Crepe Maxi Skirt Etro Printed Silk Round Cat Eye Sunglasses - Asos

SAHEL Morning 3X1 Cropped Cotton Top

Tie-Up Gladiator Sandals - Stuart Weitzman

Beaded Collar Statement Necklace- BP.

When spending your mornings in Sahel during Ramadan, you want to choose clothing that is lightweight, breathable, and fun. This outfit idea serves just that. Since crop tops are considered one of the hottest trends this season, this outfit incorporates the crop top but with minimal exposure. You can pair a crop top with a high waist maxi skirt or high waist jeans covering any skin, making it an appropriate choice for Ramadan mornings in Sahel.

SAHEL EVENING There’s nothing better than the Sahel breeze during the evening time. So enjoy the weather when going out for Iftar or Sohour and wear something trendy and effortless such as a jumpsuit.

Add a statement necklace for a bit more attitude and throw on a comfy wedge and a clutch, and you’re good to go!

Stretch-Crepe Jumpsuit Paul & Joe Naema

Heba Mortada

FOUNDER & FASHION EDITOR (WWW.THEFLORALFEDORA.COM)

Flap Glazed Saffiano Leather Crossbody Clutch Wallet-Halogen

identity-mag.com ‘Summers’ Wedge Sandal -BP

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IDENTITY lifestyle

70’s

Farrah Fawcett

AnnaLynne McCord Floral Top with Frill DetailStradivarius-129EGP

Flared Trousers

Bootcut JeansStradivarius-349EGP

Flarred Jeans Zara-399

Pleated Embroidery Blouse499EGP

Print TopStradivarius-149EGP

Flared trousers in all shapes, sizes and fabrics are back! It’s tricky to find the right cut for your body, but totally worth the wait!

Get ready to boogie with the groovy trend by either wearing flared or bootcut denim pants or patterned, flared trousers. Then, Farrah Fawcett aced the look wearing a pair of denim trousers while skating. Now, AnnaLynne McCord looks equally elegant, matching them with a floral top.

Geometric Mirror Print Wide Leg TrousersTopshop-495

Wide TrousersH&M-159EGP

White Crop Top Zara- 299EGP

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ARE BACK

Charlotte Rampling

Patterned dressH&M-559EGP Print A-Line DressStradivarius-149EGP

Patterned Dresses These far out patterns are a major 70’s trend, from simple floral patterns to bold daring ones. Slap those patterns on a dress, and you’ll be really trendy. You get extra points when the dresses are either short and A-lined, or conservatively long with sleeves. Then, Charlotte Rampling wore a sleeved, chiffon, floral dress back in the 70’s. Now, Alexa Chung wears it with even bolder patterns.

Alexa Chung

Floral Print GownMango-1499EGP

Floral Print Bardot Dress- Topshop648EGP

Printed dress with oriental sleevesZara-1199EGP

V-NECK Print DressStradivarius-149EGP

identity-mag.com

Mirana Tera JUNIOR EDITOR

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IDENTITY lifestyle

SATISFY YOUR TAS

Already running out of ideas for all those Iftars you have to come up with? your mother-in-law jealous and wishing she had thought of them first.

menu 1 Mushroom Soup - 2 plates of fresh mushrooms - 2 garlic cloves, minced - 1 cube of vegetable MAGY - ½ liter whipping cream - 1 teaspoon butter

Directions 1. Wash the mushrooms, put in a pan to boil.

2. Remove and place one and a half plates of mushroom in the blender with the whipping cream, blend well.

3. Get a small pan, put in 3 glasses of water and add the Maggie, leave until boiled.

4. Bring the remaining half plate of mushrooms and place in the blender with just a quarter cup of water. Blend lightly so that it is thick with tiny pieces in it.

5. Add the two mushroom mixes together with 2 cups of the Magy water. Bring to a boil.

6. Melt the butter in a pan with the garlic, leave until you can smell the garlic then add on top of the soup.

TIP: Add salt and pepper to taste.

Beef and Mushroom Nutella Katayef - Nutella Spaghetti - Katayef - 1/2 kilo beef, finger sliced and marinated - 1 plate mushroom, washed well and sliced - 1/2 pack spaghetti pasta, cooked per package instructions - 1/2 kilo cooking cream - 2 cups concentrated milk - 4 garlic cloves, minced - Spices: salt, pepper, cinnamon, cumin, thyme

Directions 1. In a skillet, grill the beef with a little butter. Remove and cover to keep the meat moist.

2. In a saucepan, put in butter and three of the minced garlic cloves; wait until you smell the garlic cooking and add the cooking cream. Keep on simmering then add the milk and your spices. Keep stirring from time to time and remove from heat when a bit thick.

3. In a small sauce pan, add oil, the remaining garlic clove, and the mushrooms together until grilled.

Remove from heat.

4- Add the cooked pasta, beef, and mushrooms in a pan, and stir well.

TIP: Your beef should be juicy and have a little brown broth to give it a nice taste.

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- Hazelnut (optional) - 1 glass water - 2 glass sugar - 1 lemon - Rose water

Directions 1. In a sauce pan, heat sugar and water until boiling, add the lemon and keep boiling for 3 minutes until a bit thick (dont keep it boiling for long to avoid it getting very thick and sticky.) Remove from heat.

2. Smash the hazelnut and set aside (this is optional.)

3. Bring the katayef and fill it with the nutella. If you want it, add the hazelnut by sprinkling it over the nutella then close firmly. Make sure you don’t fill the katayef with too much nutella so you can close it well.

4. In a frying pan, add oil and fry. Place on your serving dish and add the sugar sauce (sharbat) but don’t add a lot because it’s already sweet.

Tip: Add 2 drops of rose water to the sauce and stir before pouring.

TE BUDS IN NO TIME

BY NORA EL SADAT

Here are four menu ideas that are so tasty and easy they will even make Ramadan Kareem!

menu 2 Cheese Sambousak

- Presidant cheddar cheese or any spread - Mozarella - Old, grated Roumy cheese (mabshoor) - Sambousek sheets (spring roll wrap)

Directions 1. In a bowl, add all the cheese together and mix well.

2. Bring the sheets, spread the cheese inside and fold them well. Put them immediately into a plastic bag until ready to fry.

Tip: Freeze until ready to fry.

Eggplant Fettah

- 1 large eggplant (cut into small cubes and fried in oil) - 1/4 kilo minced meat (cooked with 1 chopped onion, 2 tbs tomato salsa, and salt and pepper) - 4 big, round pieces of bread (shamy, cut into squares and fried until golden) - Pine nuts (fried until golden) - 1/2 kilo yoghurt - 2 spoons tahini - 1 tbs vinegar - Salt to taste - 1 tbs mayonnaise - 2 minced garlic cloves

Directions 1. In a bowl, add the yoghurt, tahini, mayonnaise, salt, garlic, and vinegar together and mix well.

2. On a serving plate, place down the bread followed by the eggplant, minced meat, and cover it with the yoghurt mix. Sprinkle the pine nuts on top.

Mini Nutella Konafa

- 1/4 kilo konafa small pcs - Nutella - 1/4 cup butter - 3 tbs powdered sugar - 1 cup water - 2 cups sugar - 1 lemon

Directions 1. Preheat the oven.

2. Mix the konafa with butter and powdered sugar in a bowl. Grease a cupcake oven tray with butter, add a little konafa to the bottom of each space.

3. Add 1 tsp Nutella to each one then cover with some more konafa, put in the oven until golden.

4. In a sauce pan mix the water, sugar, lemon to make a syrup.

5. Remove the tray from the oven.

Before serving, add little drops of the syrup on top.

Tip: Open the oven door at the end for a nice, golden colour.

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IDENTITY lifestyle

menu 3 Chicken Cream Soup

- 2 cups of chicken soup, or soup with Maggy - ½ kilo cooking cream - 3 cloves of garlic, minced - Cubes of grilled chicken - Spices: salt, pepper, cumin, nutmeg, coriander, and cinnamon - 1 tsp flour - 3 tbs milk

Directions: 1. In a sauce pan heat garlic in butter, add the soup, then pour in the cooking cream.

2. Add the chicken and your spices.

Leave to boil.

3. To make it thicker, mix the flour with some milk in a glass, then strain the liquid out into the pan.

Tip: Boil some carrots, onions, and green leaves with the chicken soup then strain them out before serving, to keep the flavor but not compromise the consistency.

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Sunshine Cashew Chicken Curry

- 10 pieces of chicken breast (marinated in onions, salt, pepper, and thyme) - 1/8 salted cashews - 2 cups cooking cream - 2 tsp curry powder - 2 garlic minced - 1 tsp butter

Directions: 1. Grill the chicken well and add one handful of cashews while you are grilling. Remove and let sit in a small pan, covered well to stay juicy.

2. In a saucepan, heat the butter and garlic, stir and add the curry powder.

Keep stirring for 1 min then add 1 cup cooking cream. Stir until boiling then add the second cup of cream and add salt and nutmeg to taste.

Add another handful of cashews to the sauce and keep cooking. Leave for 10 minutes on low heat. Add the chicken to the mix and bring to a boil.

Om Ali

- 1 liter of milk - 5 tbs sugar - 1 pack om ali pastry ( from any pastry shop or try dream packs) - 250 ml heavy whipping cream - 4 tbs butter

Directions 1. Preheat the oven. Heat the milk and sugar until sweetened to your taste.

2. Add the whipping cream by blending well.

3. Put the pastry in Pyrex, add the sweetened milk top it with cream and add the butter on top. Put in the oven for 10 minutes then roast with the upper oven until it’s golden.

Tip: Add 1 finger bread (fino, cut into pieces) to the pastry before you pour the milk.

sohour menu Chicken Liver

-10 chicken livers (wash well with salt and flour then wash again with vinegar) - 1 potato, sliced for french fries - 2 tbs debs al romman - 1 colored sweet pepper, diced - 1 clove minced garlic - Salt and pepper, as needed - 2 tbs apple vinegar

Directions: 1. In a bowl, mix the liver, garlic, pepper, spices and leave for at least 2 hours.

2. Fry the fries in a frying pan.

3. In a cooking pan or skillet add 2 tbl oil, add the liver, slowly ad the debs al romman until cooked.

4. Serve the liver and fries together.

Tip: For better taste, cook and wash the liver well before cooking.

Iskandarany Liver

- 1/2 kilo liver meat, washed well with vinegar and salt, cut into strips, and marinaded with garlic, salt, and pepper - 1 small onion, diced - 1 lemon - 2 minced garlic cloves - 2 green onions, sliced - 2 green bell pepper, diced - 1 tomato, diced - 2 tbs butter or 4 tbs cooking oil - Salt and pepper to taste - 1 tsp nutmeg (gozet al teeb)

Directions: 1. In a large skillet, simmer the butter, garlic, spices and then add the liver.

2. Add all the other ingredients and cook over medium heat until cooked.

Sausages - 1 kilo of sausages from the butcher - 2 tomatoes, diced - 1 green pepper, diced - 1 chilly pepper, diced - 1 onion, diced - 4 tbs oil

Directions: 1. In a cooking skillet, heat the oil, onions, and sausages.

2. Add the rest of the ingredients and leave until cooked.

3. Serve warm.

Tip: For a delicious, juicy taste add 2 tbs soy sauce and 1/4 cup of water while cooking.

Tip: Add some tahina to this tasty recipe.

BY NORA EL SADAT

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IDENTITY how you got there

Oum El Dounia An Oriental-Themed Store Like No Other in the Heart of Cairo

In the broad spectrum of handmade, nonmainstream products that are taking over Egypt’s shopping scene, it’s hard not to notice the ones who stand out with their eye-catching products. One such brand is “Oum El Dounia,” which sells oriental-themed home products as well as accessories and ornaments. We interviewed Ludovic Piantanida to get the scoop on what inspired him to start the brand, as well as generally what the future holds for “Oum El Dounia.”

1. What inspired the Oum El Dounia Brand to come about, especially that you’re not Egyptian?

I’ve been living in Egypt for 10 years before starting “Oum El Dounia.” I travelled a lot throughout the country, from Sinai to the oasis, Upper Egypt, and the Red Sea coast and I met fantastic people, discovered the country and found nice handicrafts that were not available in Cairo.

At the same time, most people were more attracted to imported items than by locally-made stuff. So my wife and I decided to open “Oum El Dounia” in 2004 to become a place where everyone can shop the nicest of this country.

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We added a French bookshop specialized on topics revolving around Egypt and the Arab world, to encourage foreigners to read Egyptian literature and learn more about the country. We wanted a very Egyptian name that can talk to everyone and insisted on being located downtown, as it is the heart of the city.

2. Who designs the products?

Before launching “Oum El Dounia,” I was an art director in advertising, and I graduated in France from an art school. So naturally, I started designing products, as well as decorating “Oum El Dounia” according to my taste.

But designing is one thing, and getting the right result is another one. So slowly I tested craftsmen to work with.

Some were really enthusiastic about designing new models, while others preferred to continue only their usual items.

I also encouraged my suppliers to be more creative, and explained to them carefully the feedback and preferences of our customers.

3. Are they manufactured locally?

Yes, all items in store now are locally made.

4. What’s the story behind the name “Oum El Dounia”?

When we first inaugurated “Oum El Dounia” in 2004, overlooking Tahrir Square, we wanted to create a magical place, in the heart of Cairo, that combines high quality crafts and a bookstore entirely focused on the Middle East- a store where one could have a good time, discover Egypt’s craftsmanship, as well as find French translations of Egyptian novels. We felt like that name would capture everything our store stands for.

5. Do you have any future plans of expansion?

Last week, we’ve just launched our online store (www. oumeldounia.com). It is the result of a year of long hard work as we wanted to have a website that keeps the same spirit as our stores. We needed a creative, friendly and colourful style that reflects our identity, but also a wellbalanced choice of handicrafts, accessories, decorative items and French books. Our website is now the first French language online bookstore in Egypt and we already shipped several orders throughout the country.

For handicrafts, we already referenced about 300 products and we have tons to add, but it will be done step by step.

The idea is to quickly have items in all categories listed. It’s a huge work of photo, text editing, and organization to be sure products are exactly as the photos on the website.

6. Do you offer international shipping outside of Egypt?

As of September, we will be able to ship our website orders abroad. This is very important and dozens of “Oum El Dounia’s” customers have been requesting this kind of international online shopping. Some foreigners left the country, but are still in love with Egypt, Egyptian handicrafts

and “Oum El Dounia.” A lot of Egyptians living abroad have also discovered our stores while on holidays in Egypt.

7. Are you releasing any special products for Ramadan?

Our store features a trendy oriental style so we have a lot of items that incorporate Ramadan’s spirit. But we keep them all year long as it is part of our usual choice, like kheyyameyya tablecloths, table runners, and bread baskets.

Our customers love to find these items all year round. Of course, we do add new items for every Ramadan, but we keep them even after the feast.

8. Which products are your bestsellers and which are your personal favourites and why?

Akhmim cotton products are some of our best-sellers, as they are made from pure Egyptian cotton, carefully and manually woven in a city that has a long tradition of weaving dating back to the Christian Era. Fayoum potteries are also our customers’ favourites. The Golo line (stationary, posters, notebooks, etc.) works well, Golo is a cartoonist who draws several famous cartoons about Egypt.

Among my favourite are my street sign magnets, that I started developing from the beginning of “Oum El Dounia,” with Arabic/English text. They are made according to the same process as the real street signs. The Mamluks lamps hanging in all our rooms are also some of my favourites; their recycled blow glass is just magic.

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IDENTITY how you got there

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NAZEEKA women’s wear with a twist

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NAZEEKA is an Egyptian brand that is specialized in women wear and has a mini collection of bags. It’s known for its Kaftans that are made in vibrant and catchy colors. What differs Nazeeka from other Egyptian brands that it offers middle eastern women a conservative yet fashionable and modern pieces. We decided to know more about the brand and that’s why we interviewed them.

1. Who’s the designer behind Nazeeka Collection?

Nabiha Ben Zaied is behind the brand. My background is in graphic design, but was always inclined towards fashion and always wanted to have my own clothing line. It was not easy, it takes a lot of hard work, perseverance and never giving up to obstacles or failure. And most of all believing in your dream.

2. Are your pieces designed locally?

All our pieces are designed locally, taking in consideration culture, style and weather in Egypt. Most of our items are also manufactured using locally produced fabrics, mainly cottons, linens, and viscose.

3. What products do you offer other than clothes?

Along with our clothing collections we do add a small line of bags which is designed to be matched with some of the pieces in our collection.

4. Talk to us about your fashion line. What is the inspiration behind it?

I always wanted to design a line of clothing that reflects the Arab cultures and matches the local market need in terms of sizes and designs. My main objective was and is to design a modern collection in line with the international trends taking yet in accordance the Arab woman's needs.

I get inspired by anything that catches my eye, it can be a colour, a pattern, a shape, and so on…

6. What differentiates your designs and collections from other online brands?

Somehow our designs reflect my own personality: versatile, comfortable, and experimental.

7. Are the products manufactured in Egypt?

Our whole line is produced in Egypt. Egypt has a large capacity for clothing production but unfortunately not used wisely. I do believe that the potential of Egypt to become a clothing manufacturing hub is very high if directed on the right path, with the right laws and legislations, and the right investments.

8. Where are your products available? How can someone order your items?

Our pieces are presently stocked at CAIROBOUTIQUE in Heliopolis, at the doll house in Alexandria, and online.

Internationally we stock in Riyadh, Jeddah, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman.

9. What are your best sellers? And what are your favourite pieces?

My favourite pieces ever are the Kaftans, I can be very creative while designing them and once worn they give a special allure.

I will be soon creating a special line only for Kaftans and modern Abayas to meet the needs of veiled women within the region.

5. Describe your brand in three words.

Modern, edgy and comfortable.

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IDENTITY perspective

Summer in the Concrete Jungle Who knew it was possible to have cabin fever when in the midst of one of the most bustling cities in the world. But it is like the residents of Cairo are trapped inside the walls, trying to seek refuge from the melting heat next to their not-so-faithful air conditioners. The indoors are constraining, offering little occupation for the mind other than to watch another episode of a Ramadan series, which does little to stop one from going stir-crazy. But as bad as the indoors can be, even counting the nagging of your mother or mother-in-law (depending on who’s turn it is), there is something worse: the outside.

Despite its lack of trees and wild animals, unless you count the cats and ferrets skulking through the alleyways, it really is a jungle in those streets. The blistering heat is one thing, the millions of on-edge, fasting people are another. It is a scary world out there when Ramadan falls in the middle of a scorching Egyptian summer. Traffic is like a stampede in slow, horn-honking motion right before Iftar, giving a whole new meaning to that after-work traffic.

It takes serious survival skills to stay afloat in the daylight hours of civilization. It makes being cooped up in that den of an apartment sound much more appealing, faulty airconditioner and all. At least then you wouldn’t be thinking about how deodorant companies should really capitalize on these months. You would rather walk home than take the metro.

as everyone gets together for Iftar. The streets become lit and festive, with little to no evidence of the chaos that reigned just hours before. The taraweeh is like an intricate backdrop to the fawanis and bustling streets, but this time not bustling with cranky, zombiesque people but rather with smiling, celebrating faces. The ‘ahwas are full and the environment is enchanting. For the fleeting hours of nightlife, being trapped in Cairo doesn’t seem so bad.

Then the circle of life starts all over again, as the sun peeks over the concrete walls and satellite dishes and brings the heat along with it. It can only be taken one day

a scary world out there when Ramadan falls “ Itinisthe middle of a scorching Egyptian summer

“

Alhamdullilah there is relief every day with the setting of the sun. Like gathering at the waterhole, the dust settles

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at a time. Fortunately, we have compiled a survival guide to help you push through the hottest of the days.

Identity’s Concrete Jungle Survival Guide

Listen to Guns N’ Roses’ “Welcome to the Jungle” every time before you face the outdoors.

For those moments when your faulty air-conditioner is being especially faulty, and even when it’s not, read our tips on how to “Beat The Heat Even When The Power Gets Cut” on page 16.

Escape to the theatre from the overwhelming of constant social gatherings with just a few close friends and watch a movie you’ve been waiting to see. We recommend seeing Minions, because it is good for your heart.

Give yourself a manicure and pedicure while watching your favourite Ramadan show. You will feel more productive and accomplished.

Make sure you get out during the evening and change your scenery every so often. It will help you not feel so cooped up.

Look up an event that you can go to with some of your friends, like a concert or performance.

Never forget to keep your electronics charged, so you don’t get stuck with a low battery during an hour long power cut. Imagine being trapped inside and cut off from the rest of the world because your phone is dead. It should make you shudder.

Stay in shape despite all of those Iftars, especially after trying the recipes on page 40, with our convenient tenminute workout on page 26, you can do from the comfort of your own home. There’s no need to brave those baking streets just to go to the gym.

Liza Dunham SENIOR EDITOR

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IDENTITY perspective

Street Sm

The street children dilemma in Egypt & what you

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can do about it

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t is no secret that Egyptian streets are witnesses to a lot of worrisome occurrences.

The lack of education, proper knowledge and the jaw-dropping poverty rates have triggered the emergence of several phenomena that outright jeopardize the well-being of the society and its citizens on a daily basis. Other phenomena, while products of the same input, damage societal fabric from within; the process takes a longer time and in some cases, damage can run deep enough to cause irreversible problems.

The crowded Mohandeseen streets have been young Ebtesam’s “spot” every day since she turned six-years-old.

The barefoot, messy-haired and constantly smiling girl can be recognized by a great number of the area’s residents, as they inattentively watched her grow up over the past two years. The now eight-year old, along with her two sisters, are driven by their caretaker to a different spot in Mohandeseen every day. Sometimes left with tissue paper to sell, other times left to just beg for money. Ebtesam and her sisters’ daily goal is to make enough money to please their caretaker so they would be allowed to sleep in a room, rather than on the streets and receive one very poor meal each, rather than sleep on empty stomachs.

The three sisters’ story is but one among thousands of examples of similar or worse conditions that children of various ages face nowadays. The “street child” phenomenon grows worse every day; aside from families sending their children to work on the streets, infants & toddlers are regularly kidnapped from their homes and are brought up to serve the main purpose of roaming the streets, begging, crying and lying for money. The problem escalates to the point of minor trafficking, according to the words of Maha, an 11-year-old veiled girl who is assigned one of the traffic lights of El-Hossary square in the 6th of October region. “I lived in two different houses so far. When I went to the new house, a kid from it went to my house. My aunt-what she calls her first caretaker-told me that my new aunt will make me better and let me go to school, but I miss my friends and don’t like making new friends in the new house.”

The phenomenon is not limited to children who beg their way to basic shelter and food every day, and friendly or innocent replies are not what you are always going to get when attempting communication with a child on the street. Fear is a very powerful presence in their lives, and if their caretaker is anywhere to be found, the children will not communicate with you for longer than it takes to beg for a pound. Others have been part of the cycle for so long that they have become aggressive, thuggish and impatient. Insulting and harassing passersby constantly occurs, and matters have escalated to picking pockets or snatching and running. Fear, hunger, and sometimes plain-old being brought up into this,

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not knowing anything else their entire lives, are powerful reasons that ensure the children’s devotion to “the job.”

The issue at hand has grown paradoxical in several senses, the most highlighted of which is how citizens most commonly choose to deal with the problem, according to our small-scale survey. People actively choose to ignore the pleas of street children for money or help, mostly with the hopes that when they stop earning their caretakers any profit, the latter will stop sending them to the streets and the cycle stops. However, the truth carries heavier fates for these children, as instead, according to Maha’s statement, they are either abused –physically or verbally– so they work harder or they are traded for other children and the cycle continues.

The reasons vary and the outcome is the same; the psychological manipulation that children undergo to be prepared for a life on the streets is very carefully thought out by the parents/caretakers. Some are promised school if they work hard enough to help pay for it, others are told they are the only members of the family who can bring in money due to the parents’ alleged incapacitating illnesses. Some are told they will not be kept home if they do not bring in any money because they cost too much to keep, others are constantly abused to “do what they were brought here to do.” Conditions are worsening each day and the cycle continues.

turned me out on the street with nowhere to go and gave me enough money for two days of food. For the first time in my life, despite everything I had gone through, I was truly scared. I slept on the street, begged for money and aimlessly walked around all day, wishing that God would just end all of this and take me. One day, I was sleeping outside a carpenter’s workshop right by the door, when he opened it from the inside and hit me in the head. He was worried that he hurt me, but it was only a bump.

He brought me some water and made sure I was okay. I told him I was hungry and asked him for any food he can spare, because I could smell the bread inside. He split his breakfast with me, and told me to hang around with him for the day if I would like. Osta Sobhy was a large man, and was not scared that I would try to rob him or anything because he can literally crush me. I spent two hours watching him work, and was fascinated by what this man could do. I then, for the second time in my life, took a shot, and asked him if he could teach me and I would become his assistant (sabi). I wanted no money, just food and to be allowed to sleep in the workshop, and he could lock me up inside for all I care till the morning. I will never forget this man because he was the first person to ever give me a real chance.

He agreed, took me in and for four years, our arrangement worked out. He passed away just as I was turning seventeen, after he had made me the man I am today. I can now afford a small bedroom on the roof of a building, learning to read and write, have my own ID card, which he helped me get, and can work in any workshop I want because everyone knows how good I am.

But most importantly, I never sleep on an empty stomach anymore.”

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Life-altering moments can be found around every other corner, but it is the unfortunate truth that not enough street children stumble upon them

Not for an exceptional young boy, however, who decided to take charge of his own fate. Mohamed, a seventeen-yearold carpenter, never knew his parents. He grew up with an abusive caretaker who put him on the streets at the age of six. He begged for money, sold tissue paper, Holy books and prayers (azkar), cleaned windshields and sometimes cleaned the paths in front of buildings for six years of his life. He learned a lot being on the streets, but what he mainly learned was that this is not what he was meant to be doing with his life.

“I fought with my caretaker at the age of twelve, I told her I wanted to stop and to go to school, to which she replied ‘No school would want you, so old and so dirty, but you are right, you are getting too old and almost useless.’ She

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Life-altering moments can be found around every other corner, but it is the unfortunate truth that not enough street children stumble upon them. There are those who give in and there are those who fight, but fact remains that the majority are clueless, feel helpless and do not know what to do. They have no idea that something better should lie in store for them, they are not aware that this should not be the only life they know.

Ramadan is here, the month of celebrations, meditation

and religious spirituality; yet less and less street children care to celebrate the Holy month with every passing day.

To some of them, Ramadan is a month where people become friendlier and more giving, only to have it all go back to the way it was when the month and the feast are over. “One good deed is equivalent to ten good deeds in Ramadan” says Mohamed, “but people need to remember that one good deed being equivalent to one good deed is still a pretty good deal”.

Money donated by citizens during Ramadan (zakah), according to our survey, mostly goes to mosques–to feed people, buy water dispensers, clothe people in need, etc.charity organizations–to feed families, clothe them, buy them cattle, etc.- and homes for people with special needs –old people’s homes, homes for people with mental disabilities, etc.- Through this article, we aspire to let Ramadan be the first stepping stone towards a grand goal.

Below, we are going to add a couple of more points to the previous list, so that the umbrella of Egyptian generosity widens, and in turn contributes to the hopeful eradication of the problem, one step at a time.

What we can do, smaller to bigger contributions 1. Report any street child abuse you witness on the street, take photographs if possible and send them to nonprofit organizations (NGO) concerned with children’s wellbeing.

2. If you can guide any NGO to where some street

children are usually spotted, so they can attempt communicating with the children and moving them off the streets. You will find contact information below that will help you take that step.

3.

When you are asked for money by a street beggar, especially a child, give food instead. If you think a pound may not make a difference, a sandwich definitely will.

4. If you’re going to contribute bigger quantities of food,

let’s say a meal for a family or raw ingredients/meat, make sure you bring something on the side for the child.

The caretaker may allow the child bites from the meal, so to make sure they sleep on a full stomach, give them something separately for themselves.

5. Next to mosques, charity organizations, orphanages

and homes, add to your list special organizations & establishments for street kids. The difference lies in the fact that these establishments are usually bigger, contain small schools and contain craft classes & workshops.

Contributions can be in the form of food supplies (rice,

macaroni, oils, flour… etc.), clothes, school supplies, money that they will tell you how they’re allocating (for the previous or for formal clothes for interviews, trips… etc.) One of the most important contributions is also time.

Volunteering your personal time for teaching, supervising a trip or just spending a day at the organization can make a substantial difference. Examples of these organizations include (both in and outside Cairo); • Dar Om Kolthoum Lere3ayet Al-tofoola, 106 Selim AlAwal Street,Helmeyat Al-Zaytoon, Cairo Egypt.

• Resala Foundation, Atfal Ad Al-hayah day centres and housing projects for street children, ask for more information at any Resala headquarters.

• Markaz Tofolty Lere3ayet Atfal El-shaware3 Fi Masr, 41 Rostom Street, Helwan, Egypt • Egyptian Association for Social Welfare, 8 Baddala St., Daqahleya, Mansourah

6.

Encourage NGO efforts by volunteering your time, donating money or contributing in any other way you can.

Considerable NGO efforts include: • UNICEF Egypt’s Child Protection Program www.unicef.org • Save The Children Egypt www.savethechildren.org • SOS Children’s Villages (Cairo, Tanta, Alexandria) www.sos-childrensvillages.org • FACE for Children in Need www.facechildren.org/ Now, if Egyptians would like to be known for anything, it is their hopeful spirit and their optimism concerning “changes for the better”. We may be a long, long way from utopia, but one positive step can go a long way in changing a person’s or a child’s life, and in turn, partially bettering the country’s future.

And to quote some immortal words, because no call-foraction article should be written without such attribution, here’s Mahatma Gandhi’s two cents on the matter; “If we could change ourselves, the tendencies in the world would also change. As a man changes his own nature, so does the attitude of the world change towards him… We need not wait to see what others do.”

Ramadan Mubarak, everyone.

Nada Auf

CONTRIBUTOR

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The gaping Disconnect between Ramadan series & Ramadan

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t must be really difficult for Muslims, who want to celebrate the true meaning of the holy month, and at the same time, are TV enthusiasts.

Let’s face it, the best TV season every year is during Ramadan. All of the producers and advertisers take advantage of the fact that people will be working less and have more time to lounge on the couch in front of their screens in an effort to distract themselves from thinking about how hungry they are. On the one hand, this creates some of everyone’s favourite shows and is a big enough event to get everyone excited long before the first episodes air. On the other hand, there seems to be a huge disconnect between the content of the series themselves and the point of Ramadan overall.

The first thing that comes to mind at the mention of Ramadan is fasting from food and water, but everyone knows it goes much deeper than that. The physical fasting is symbolic for the actual fasting of the spirit and mind, the fasting from all things worldly and ungodly. Long story short, one is supposed to focus on spiritual and righteous things (during the entire holy month,) to uplift the mind and soul. It’s a great idea, and there are many people who take Ramadan as an opportunity to get closer to their Creator. But at the same time, there is an entire industry pumping out the most worldly and dramatic shows right in the middle of the most holy month. That’s hard to ignore, especially for anyone who loves TV.

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This year’s themes are not any different than in the past. There is corruption, greed, black magic, trauma, conflict, murder, and forbidden love. These can be very thoughtprovoking topics, but don’t seem to be thought-provoking in the way that Ramadan was designed for.

This is a long shot from how Ramadan entertainment began. It used to be based on historical or religious series, that now are basically nonexistent as if the producers and TV stations cannot “make room” for anything actually related to Ramadan, because there are too many shows that need to be fit in, which doesn’t make sense, because how did they make room for all these new shows in the first place? There used to be only about four shows for people to choose from. It is nice to have more options, but it leaves everyone wondering what happened to the simple, pious combination of Ramadan Fawazeer, 1001 Nights, and the religious stories that kept Ramadan and its purpose at the forefront.

There is no easy answer to the dichotomy of this gap between Ramadan and the current TV listing. For those only concerned with the obvious traditions of Ramadan, such as fasting and communal series watching, the choice is easy. It is only business as usual.

But for anyone who actually wants to delve deeper into the true spirit of Ramadan, it becomes much harder. Because at the end of the day, most of the series that are so popular are not promoting the spiritual mindset of Ramadan. So it becomes nearly impossible to have both.

This does not mean that everyone has to turn off their TVs for thirty days. Everyone is unique and has to choose the right combination they feel works well for them.

For some, that might mean going cold turkey and fasting not only from food and water, but also from all of the series. It might be easier for them to resist getting caught up and distracted by cutting it out completely.

For others, they might feel it is better to find a balance. Maybe they could research the series before hand, and only watch ones that they feel the moral lesson outweighs the frivolous dramatic components. Or maybe they could commit to stop watching a show mid-series if it takes a turn that they feel doesn’t meet their standards.

As stated before, there is definitely not one easy answer for people to deal with this dilemma, because everyone is different and will feel convicted differently about the topic. Everyone must make the decision for themselves, and find comfort knowing that there are positive and negatives from any choice they choose. If they choose to completely cut out all of the series during Ramadan, their spirituality will not be compromised by the themes and ideas that make them up, but they will also exclude themselves from something that has become a tradition in their community. They will miss out on all of the bonding and commonality that can be found by watching the shows together or discussing them. Those who choose a mix or continue to watch the shows as normal will be able to enjoy this tradition that is growing stronger every year, but at the expense of knowing that they are supporting the industry that isn’t necessarily going the direction they want. It is not an easy decision, but one that needs to be made before sitting down again with the remote control.

Liza Dunham SENIOR EDITOR

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IDENTITY perspective

Is My Kid Growing Up Too Fast?

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t seems that every generation complains that their children are growing up too fast. Rapidly advancing technology, the rise in use of social media, an increasingly globalized world, and exposure to mature topics at earlier ages are all concerns that many parents share regarding their children’s well-being. Do kids mature too quickly nowadays–whatever that might mean – or do they simply mature in different ways? Will these factors affect their children negatively?

What should parents do about this concern?

One reason for the perception that children are maturing too quickly is technology. A hundred years ago the introduction of the automobile made parents worry that their children were going to mature “too quickly.” In the 1930’s parents worried about the rise of dancing halls and changing fashion trends. The middle of the

technology, exposure to new and changing ideas is a constant and certainly not a new concern. One potential effect of much of today’s social media is that the social networks of children (at least children privileged enough to have access to social media, which is a relatively small, but growing, number) are becoming increasingly diverse. Whereas many children of past generations would find their primary social networks through siblings and friends at school, children today increasingly have the option of interacting with anyone they can find on a variety of social media platforms. And it is not just through direct interaction with people that children will be affected, but also through exposure to the kinds of information shared by these people. For example, one can find posts on nearly every topic imaginable on Facebook and any child with a Facebook account can thus find themselves exposed to the kinds of information that might have previously only circulated among more adult circles.

The real question, however, is what counts as an “adult topic”? For children, as with adults, the issue is not exposure to an idea, but rather how to make sense of it. If parents spend time talking with their kids about different kinds of ideas and ways of thinking, instead

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It is not just through direct interaction with people that children will be affected, but also through exposure to the kinds of information shared by these people. last century saw the introduction of rock and roll that became a cause of concern for many parents. Nowadays, many parents worry that the internet and cell phones are making their kids grow up too quickly. And, no doubt, the parents of tomorrow will worry that some new technology will be affecting their kids in a negative way.

The technology might change from one generation to the next, but the worry over its effects remains the same.

Every generation is exposed to a greater level of globalization than the one before and it seems that with the increasing ease of travel and the seemingly boundless possibilities of exposure offered by the internet, that this generation is nearing the peak of access to global information. But this does not necessarily have to be a bad thing. There are as many “good” things to be exposed to in the world as there are “bad.” Learning more about other parts of the world and different ways of thinking can be as much a temptation as it can a reaffirmation to follow one’s beliefs.

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of trying to hide the ideas from them (which, with the internet, is nearly impossible!) it would better equip them to make sense of what they are learning. A parent's role should not be the fruitless attempt to keep children “protected,” an effort that will no doubt fail, but rather to help them understand. Negative outcomes do not come from learning, only from learning without context.

Dr. Michael Ryan

ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF SOCIOLOGY (THE AMERICAN UNIVERSITY IN CAIRO)

Perhaps the greatest “threat” many parents worry about is that their children seem to be exposed to too many “adult topics” at an earlier and earlier age. Like

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The daily grind of everyday

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t's 5:00 am, she no longer needs an alarm clock; she trained her body to be up with the sound of the chirping birds. Although she is groggy and tired she still manages to roll out of bed and like an automated machine she walks over to her kettle and switches it on. Like a zombie she walks back to her bed, hoping to steal a few more seconds of sleep before her kettle switches off, but her alarm clock—which she doesn’t need—goes off.

She pours herself a cup of coffee, then without much thought; she takes out her little notebook and starts checking her to-do list. After packing

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her gym bag, double checking that she has chosen appropriate clothes for her day job, she quickly hops in and out of the shower. She fixes herself a small bite and runs out of the door with her laptop, gym bag and coffee. It’s not even 7:00 am, and she’s at the track ready to start her workout. This is just the beginning of Yasmine’s daily routine, after which she freshens up and rushes to her first and full time job. This consumes her schedule until 5:00 pm, when she drives back home to work on her freelance jobs.

In her commute between different locations she reminds herself to call her family and friends.

By the time she is only half way done with her checklist, it's already a quarter past 11:00 pm and she is too tired to do anything but crash on her bed.

As you can tell, Yasmine comes from a privileged background where she can afford to take the time to do something for herself. One can only imagine, how the everyday life of those who can barely survive is constructed. Thus, this is not a special schedule of a person who works hard, on the contrary, this schedule actually offers an opportunity for Yasmine to do something she loves and that allows her to stay fit and healthy everyday. “Fit and healthy,” two notions that perhaps don’t even figure into the lives of most Egyptians; two concepts that are born out of luxury and awareness and believe it or not, time.

Others, in today’s fast paced competitive life, don’t even have this opportunity.

We are constantly spinning around like that tiny rat in a never-stopping wheel, like automated machines, hardly affording the time to savor an unrushed cup of coffee, a shared lunch, or an uninterrupted chat with a family member or a friend. Others don’t have the time or privilege to sleep or even eat at the day’s end.

Vacations and weekends are packed to the last second to accommodate all those things that are dropped amidst the busy week’s schedule. You name it, seeing friends, a visit to the salon, a chance to see and talk to parents and family members, a quiet dinner, even scheduling a doctor’s appointment becomes a hassle. The weekend list piles, and we are usually running around enjoying but not savoring. Suddenly, as if we have been living in an alternate universe, we are shocked to discover that it’s Saturday night and we haven’t even had the chance to sleep in, read a chapter from a book—an almost extinct habit--, have Friday lunch with the family or even the chance to just lay down to watch a full movie in silence. This is not a special weekend schedule, it is just like the one before it and the dozens that are to come.

We live in an everyday moment whereby we are made to make choices between socializing or pausing to self reflect and rest. It hardly ever works to get both done.

Again, those are the concerns of a privileged person on a weekend, one must wonder, what a “weekend” would be like for those who barely afford a slice of bread at the end of a working day. Now we could endlessly argue that it's been always like that, however, in one’s humble opinion, our everyday is one that is wrapped in a competitive air of sink or float, run or be run over, produce or be left behind, socialize or be forgotten. We will not delve into the micro or macro explanations of why our days and bodies are being constantly produced and reproduced into automated

machines, where the space to pause, breathe, savor, think and even sleep are becoming a luxury, we will just simply suggest that we be aware that we are turning into machines.

We would suggest that by acknowledging that realization, we should consider at times pausing because amidst the everyday hectic life of rush, do, produce, and achieve, we might forget to think, reflect, and hence feel, act, and react to things, moments, news, issues that play a huge part in our lives. Even in that pause, we can get the chance to reflect upon the lives of others who live in the same fast paced world that we so often suffer from and where we cannot savor, but in relation to their lives, savoring is not an option nor is resting. That pause, that space, that moment that we urge you to take is not just about the recognition of others and one’s time and loss of power over one’s own body and existence, it is also about the realization of the meaning of our coexistence in this type of world. What gets left behind in this mess?

In this constant hurry, what becomes invisible? What social, emotional, humane feelings and interactions fall between the cracks? When do we get the chance to deal with happiness, death, illness, loss and gain? Even at particular moments when we really need time for things to sink in and to accept particular realities, we are stripped of that time by the fast-paced, competitive world we live in. We are not suggesting that we don’t have agency, all we are trying to articulate here is, that we are becoming too trained not to take that space and in the process of becoming machines, we fail to acknowledge, live and react to simple and complex moments in our lives. We deal with the everyday and mundane as passing moments, when in the mundane details of the everyday, life, struggle and survival are born. In those details, that we so often don’t have the time to see or think about are meanings and changes that eventually become naturalized and normalized into our lives, but are not ones we chose or necessarily appreciate.

How many times have we wondered when did family time become such a rarity? How many times have we wondered about changes in the way people listen to their friends and give back? How many times have we wondered, what happened to our society and how have we gotten to where we are today?

It could be argued that in a way we lose our freedom and we become chained to systems and processes that forever gain power over our bodies. Take a moment to reflect and remember freedom is not born out of material gains, but out of the space to gain knowledge and awareness and hence, the space to act as a human, not as a machine.

Marwa Sabah CONTRIBUTOR

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MARRIOTT ZAMALEK A MODERN TAKE ON ROYAL WEDDINGS PRESENTING “YOUR GRACE” AT THE CAIRO MARRIOTT

On June 15th, 2015 the Cairo Marriott staged a royal wedding themed extravaganza. The evening’s highlight was the presentation of the Maison Yeya fw15 bridal collection “Your Grace” and the launch of the hotels wedding campaign “Marry Me at Cairo Marriott”. In partnership with Flower Power, IRAM Jewelry and Pashion magazine the cocktail party was hosted at the palaces historic Salons Royal and Eugenie once the setting for the wedding festivities of the sons of Khedive Ismail. Lavishly decorated by the master florists of Flower Power and the events management and culinary team of The Cairo Marriott, the salons were the ideal venue for the presentation of Maison Yeya’s stunning bridal capsule collection of ten gowns. Models made up by make-up artist Kiki Ismail and coiffed by Kris Hair Salon, clad in grand wedding gowns and adorned with gems in sparkling diamonds by IRAM Jewelry, swept down the grand marble staircase. Gracefully striding through the crop of Cairo’s socialites and fashionistas, past an extravagant banquet table topped with an array of fruits, chocolates and special wedding delights they took their final positions in front a magical flower curtain devised by Flower Power, for an idyllic “tableau vivant”. Replacing the specially devised sound tracks of traditional wedding themed tunes mixed with Arabic instruments, DJ Roro Assaf accompanied by violinist Mohamed Medhat, touched the hearts and souls of every guest reflecting on a graceful wedding experience.

Laboratoriorosso celebrates the publication of Zahi Hawass’ new book “The legend of Tutankhamun”, with photographs by Sandro Vannini, at the Cairo Marriott Hotel as part of #Activ8Egypt

Tutankhamun is a constant presence in the iconography of Ancient Egypt and in the imagination of those who approach this magnificent civilization for the first time. Years of research have been dedicated to the Boy King and, yet, many mysteries still surround him and new discoveries are regularly made.

The fascination of his character and the breathtaking beauty of his tomb’s renowned treasure are never-ending and continue to capture the hearts of people all over the world.

Is there anyone who has never seen at least one photograph of his famous funerary mask or his solid gold sarcophagus? Nevertheless, very few have had the opportunity to admire these stunning objects up close.

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IDENTITY bits & pieces

Renaissance Sharm El Sheikh Golden View Beach Resort Celebrating Success with Top Business Partners

El Borolossy Academy to manage “LakeHouse, powered by Dusit” Squash courts

El Borolossy Sqaush academy has signed a management contract with LakeView’s soon to open club house, LakeHouse powered by Dusit. Being the first specialized Squash training center in Egypt and the Middle East, El Borolossy Squash Academy will manage 3 spacious air conditioned Squash courts under the Leadreship of Mr. Omar El Borolossy who has been greeted by Hotel General Manager Mr. Ahmed El Hady.

Renaissance Sharm El Sheikh Golden View Beach Resort – one of Marriott International hotels and resorts in Egypt celebrated their 2014 business results by hosting a Customer Appreciation Getaway in Sharm El Sheikh on the 28th and 29th of May 2015. The weekend getaway celebration started with an elegant Cocktail reception by the beach. In the early morning, all headed to Sina Dream starting a marvelous boat trip full of water activities, fun and mouthwatering catering all day long

THE RITZ-CARLTON HOTEL COMPANY APPOINTS RADEK CAIS AS GENERAL MANAGER OF THE NILE RITZ-CARLTON, CAIRO

In the build up to the re-opening of Egypt’s most iconic hotel property under the stewardship of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company later this summer, Radek Cais has been appointed as the General Manager of The Nile Ritz-Carlton, Cairo.

Sheraton Miramar El Gouna Receives Certificate of Excellence ‘Hall of Fame’

TripAdvisor has rewarded Sheraton Miramar Resort El Gouna with the Certificate of Excellence Hall of Fame.

This unique accolade is granted only to those that have won the Certificate of Excellence for five years in a row.

The gorgeous Nicole Saba at Dusit Thani LakeView Cairo Eid Celebrations at Sheraton Montazah:-

Sheraton Montazah Hotel is your ideal retreat during the Eid holiday. Enjoy a festive occasion that will last forever in style and comfort with your family and friends for only L.E. 1100 for single and L.E. 1200 for double . Eid room packages including service charges, taxes and buffet breakfast.

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Celebrate Eid at Dusit

In celebration of the end of Ramadan, Dusit Thani LakeView Cairo offers sumptuous dining choices that guarantee a truly festive setting for families and friends during Eid Al Fitr. Families and friends are invited to enjoy the lush oasis of greenery and captivating views of the hotel. Children will also be taken care of with yummy treats that include cotton candy and popcorn while they enjoy activities and entertainment designed just for them.

Dusit Thani LakeView Cairo was selected to host the launch of the latest summer’15 collection of home-grown high street retailer, “Splash”. Nicole Saba being the preferred brand Ambassador of Splash was present at Dusit Thani to celebrate the brand’s “In Love with Fashion”.

Schneider Electric Egypt and North East Africa Honors Graduates of the Professional Electrician Program Italian Square to kick off in New Cairo this month

Misr Italia: New real estate concept in Egypt based on unit management, investment for owners Misr Italia, real estate investment and development leader in Egypt, is launching commercial units in its world-class project “Italian Square” in the New Cairo this month, following the new concept “Income Properties” that generates highest investment revenues by renting and managing units in favor of owner, which helps vitalizing the real estate market and boosting economy.

Abraj Misr launches a new landmark project “The Shore” a deluxe beach resort in Ras El Hekma Bay,the North Coast

Following the resounding success of its iconic landmark “The Gate”, the multi-use eco-friendly project in Heliopolis, Abraj Misr has announced the development of “The Shore”, a new prime year-round beach resort at Km 186 on Ras El Hekma Bay along the Alexandria-Matrouh Road in Egypt’s North Mediterranean Coast.

Stretching across 1,100 meters of private pristine beach along the stunning coastline of Ras El Hekma Bat famous for its immaculate beaches and crystal clear waters, “The Shore” boasts one of the longest beaches in the North Coast offering uniquely stylish residential neighborhoods with a fantastic assortment of leisure and entertainment activities set amidst lush landscapes and meandering lagoons, and all featuring panoramic views of the azure waters of the Mediterranean Sea.

Albert Fuchet: The Egyptian electricians are the most skilled and a key pillar in sought-after economic development

Oriental Weavers. The World’s Best Carpet for the 2nd year in a row!

Awarded by: Floor Covering News Magazine

Celebrating the continuous success of the Professional Electrician Program, Schneider Electric Egypt and North East Africa recently hosted a ceremony to honor the top graduates of the program. The Professional Electrician program aims to qualify Egyptian electricians according to the latest global standards in the design of electrical distribution panels, electrical fixtures and other related practices in order to enhance their competitive edge and performance as they play a key role in the development of the local economy in addition to enhance safety standards at home.

Minister of Industry&Trade Inaugurates Electrolux Newest Household Appliances Factory in 10th of Ramadan City, announces its Commitment to Implement Expansion Plans in Egyptian Market to Make Egypt Its Regional Household Appliances Hub

Mounir Fakhry Abdel Nour, Minister of Industry, Trade, Small and Medium Enterprises, inaugurated the Electrolux newest cookers factory at the company’s industrial complex in the 10th of Ramadan City. Its area is 60,000 square meters with an annual production capacity of 600,000 units as a first stage, which will rise to one million units afterwards. This comes in the framework of Electrolux, a leading international household manufacturer, strategy that aims at expanding its activities and increasing its production rates in Egypt and the MENA countries.

Calibrating on its global market leadership, Oriental Weavers has celebrated winning the award of ‘The World’s Best Carpet’ for the second year in a row. According to the results of “Floor Covering News” magazine’s survey, Oriental Weavers has proved to be the home of the world’s best designed and highest quality carpets. The Floor Covering News Magazine award is widely regarded as the most prestigious award for rugs and carpets internationally. It is only granted to the utmost remarkable design, manufacturing, customer service, and sales rates.

adidas presents the new Real Madrid 2015-2016 kit with the motto “only perfect counts”

adidas and Real Madrid today present the new kits for the 20152016 season with a clear statement of intent: only perfect counts. For Real Madrid just winning is not enough: every victory must be perfect. This idea is embodied in the colour combinations of the new home and away kits that are also striving for perfection on the field

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IDENTITY bits & pieces

IDENTITY horoscopes

Cancer

Strength Loyal Dependable Intuitive Sensitive Adaptable

(June 21 - July 22)

Weakness Moody Insecure Suspicious Over-sensitive Pessimistic

Most compatible with Scorpio, Pisces, Taurus and Virgo

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Having a Cancer in your friend group will help everyone stay close because they will act as the rock that holds everyone together The fourth sign of the Zodiac, Cancers are the nurturers of our universe. They are ruled by the moon, which in mythology symbolizes a mother, hence, they tend to be caring, quick to show affection, and have strong maternal instincts.

Having a Cancer in your friend group will help everyone stay close because they will act as the rock that holds everyone together, not to mention, they will probably be the one organizing all of the group activities and outings because they love community.

have mood swings as consistent as the change in the tide. This could be a good thing, because you don’t have to second guess how a Cancer is feeling. They are as open as a book!

The downside is that their constant emotional states can become taxing.

Being ruled by the moon, Cancers also tend to be very emotional and

Despite the moodiness associated with Cancers, such as being

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The sign of Cancer is a crab, which makes sense, because they can be protective and feel the need to retreat to the safety of their shell when they need to, yet still have the mobility to venture out when they want to.

pessimistic, suspicious, and insecure, they make incredible friends. They are loyal, and will protect and cherish anyone dear to them. Keep Cancers close to you, because they will always have your back in a pinch. They are the friends that you can count on to be there when you are having a crisis, going through a heartbreak, or just need someone to listen. Just make sure you are willing to return the favour!