Men's passion #83 february 2017

THE OLYMPIANS FASTER, HIGHER, STRONGER – FOR KUWAIT

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ISSUE NUMBER 83 - FEBRUARY 2017

JUST A THOUGHT Dear Passionate Readers, Many are life’s challenges …

But what is life without challenge?

Many are life’s obstacles ...

And what are we if we do not find ways to overcome them?

Many are life’s glorious moments...

Shame on us if we do not celebrate and appreciate them.

February marks a month of celebrations for Kuwait, so we couldn’t find a better opportunity to celebrate those who have challenged themselves to the highest limits, overcome all obstacles to realize their dreams, and made Kuwait proud.

Welcome to MEN’S PASSION’s February 2017 edition, a special edition celebrating Kuwait’s 2016 Olympians and Paralympians. With this edition we start our new calendar year of MEN’S PASSION; fuelled by greater passion than ever before.

7 is indeed a heavenly number.

May we make this year a great one indeed.

Till next issue,

Zeina Mokaddam Managing Director

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ON THE COVER:

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Amera Al-Awadhi February 2017 The Olympics remains the pinnacle of sport. It is the most watched global event, an Olympic gold medal remains the most richly prized of all sporting accolades. To be an Olympian is to be a member of an exclusive club. There’s no easy route to becoming an Olympian.

Behind every one lays a tale of dedication and sacrifice. Behind every Olympian lays the determination to go faster, to fly higher, to become stronger. To the small group of Kuwaitis who represented their compatriots at Rio in 2016 – we dedicate this edition.

LEGAL CONSULTANT Khaled Al-Kandari Al-Kandari Law Firm PUBLISHED BY

MANAGING DIRECTOR Zeina Mokaddam GENERAL MANAGER Chimene Ibrahim BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR Nouf Al-Hajri GROUP CREATIVE DIRECTOR Yousif Abdulsaid

THE OLYMPIANS FASTER, HIGHER, STRONGER – FOR KUWAIT

MANAGING EDITOR Simon Balsom CONTENTS 12 The Olympians

The Soft Power of Sport

over Politics

37

Crafts Old and New Bentley Artisans Meet Arabian Dhow Builders

14

Fehaid Aldeehani Target Shooter

38

The Race to the Deep With Omega

16

Ahmad Al-Mutairi Wheelchair Racer

18

Abdullah Al-Rashidi Skeet Shooter

40

SIHH View The World’s Finest Watches - All in One Place

20 Abbas Qali

Swimmer – Men’s 100m Butterfly 22

Abdulaziz Al-Shatti Fencing - Épée Individual

24 Faye Sultan

Swimmer - Women’s 50m Freestyle 28 Second Generation

Porsche Panamera

Concept Comprehensively Enhanced 30

32

44 Split-Second Precision

Richard Lange Jumping Seconds 46

With Love from Geneva Chopard Plays Cupid

48

Imperiale “La Vie en Rose”

49

Bovet’s Tokens of Love

50 Gucci

Men’s Collection – Spring/

Summer 2017 54

Ralph Lauren Purple Label Spring 2017 Collection

McLaren Automotive Announces

56 Hugo Boss Completes the Second-Generation Super Vendée Globe Series The New Core British Yachtsman Alex of the McLaren Brand

Thomson Takes Second with

Hugo Boss Audi at the Detroit Motor Show Audi Q8 Concept + SQ5 TFSI 58 Versace Menswear + A5/S5 Cabriolet

Fall / Winter 2017

34 The World’s Fastest Four-

Seat Car

New Bentley Continental Supersports

60

Crafted Modernity Ermenegildo Zegna’s “Made to Measure” Fashion Show

62

Cultural Bonding The French Cultural Scene in Kuwait, with His Excellency Christian Nakhlé

64

Hamad Al Jenaie Producer, Actor and Director

66

Saïd Zeineddine Guardian of the Archive

70 Kuwait Yacht Show 2017 Preview 72

Beirut; My Paradise 48 hours in the Most Mosmopolitan City of the Region, with Lama Karam

76

The Big Apple - Take a Fresh Bite

80

Property Events to Fuel Kuwait Real Estate Sector

82 ZEITGEIST

Light Rider 3D Electric Motorbike 86 EVENTS 96 Listings

EDITOR Pamela Azzi CONTRIBUTORS MaryAnn D’Silva Anna Amin (Cityscape) Lama Karam CREATIVE DIRECTOR Nidal Al-Shaker HEAD OF PHOTOGRAPHY Maher Al-Nouri PRODUCTION MANAGER Jad Nahhas PH7 is a specialized publishing house based in Kuwait.

Telephone +(965) 2572 0810 Fax +(965) 2572 0860 Website www.ph7-kw.com To maintain the desired quality of our publication, your contribution and feedback are welcomed.

Please email your suggestions to zeina@ph7-kw.com For advertising, do not hesitate to contact info@ph7-kw.com For subscription, please email your details to info@ph7-kw.com PH7 wishes to state that the opinions expressed in MEN’S PASSION are those of the authors concerned and not necessarily those of the publisher.

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THE OLYMPIANS

The Olympians

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The Soft Power of Sport over Politics

his special edition marks an important month for Kuwait. February. A month, towards the end of which, when we’ll be celebrating and remembering our days of Independence and Liberation. What better way to do so, in this new ‘Trumpian World’, than by returning the nation to the people. For this edition, we look at the strength of the nation through the strength of its people. In this case, Olympic athletes.

THE OLYMPIANS

For two months in 2016, Rio de Janeiro was at the epicentre of world sport. Through both the Olympic and Paralympic Games, the very pinnacle of global athletic prowess was on display. That Kuwait was robbed of the opportunity to send a team was more than frustrating. But that Kuwait was represented by nine Olympians - under the banner of the International Olympic Committee - and six Paralympians speaks volumes for the dedication of these citizens in putting sport above politics.

athletes arrived in Rio without a long history of training and a strong palmarès of competing and qualification tournaments.

Sport is one of the few truly global arenas that transcend national boundaries. Their rules and regulations offer a literal ‘level playing field’ to competition around the world. Athletes compete against themselves – striving to improve personal bests. They compete against their peers. They compete for themselves. They compete for their country. For the fifteen sportsmen and sportswoman who travelled to Brazil last year, this latter reason burned as the strongest.

Fehaid Al-Deehani – competed in Shooting / Men’s Doubletrap, and won Gold

Despite the often ‘hard’ physical nature of sports, the Olympics is one of the largest events for a nation to demonstrate their soft power capabilities’ where winning an event, or holding an Olympic gold demonstrates the ‘character’ of a country.

Soft power can define the ‘attractiveness’ of a country, where other countries will seek to follow its lead because they admire its values and seek to emulate its examples.

The success – of an individual or a team - within the sporting arena shines a new light on the image of a country.

It questions presumptions, and can dispel prejudices. Their entry to a competition spells out a nation’s willingness to engage with the world. Its success highlights a nation’s commitment to achieving success.

Our athletes are our ambassadors on the world stage.

They’ve all achieved success via different routes. Each with their own conduits of support from within Kuwait, and from outside. Every one of our Olympians and Paralympians has acquitted themselves admirably, and reflected pride in their country, as they’ve travelled.

Behind every athlete, there lays an often very private and always very personal story of dedication and sacrifice.

No one becomes an Olympian by accident. None of these

Their focus on the prize of representing their country in 2016 does them credit, and bestows even greater credit on the nation of Kuwait. For their dedication to their sport, and to the nation and people of Kuwait, we dedicate this special edition to our Olympians.

Kuwait’s 2016 Olympians

Abdullah Al-Rashidi – competed in Shooting / Men’s skeet, and won Bronze Abdulaziz Al-Shatti – competed in Fencing / Men’s épée Ahmad Al-Afasi – competed in Shooting / Men’s Double-trap Abdulrahman Al-Faihan – competed in Shooting / Men’s trap Khaled Al-Mudhaf – competed in Shooting / Men’s trap Saud Habib – competed in Shooting / Men’s skeet Abbas Qali – competed in Swimming / Men’s 100m butterfly Faye Sultan – competed in Swimming / Women’s 50m freestyle Kuwait’s 2016 Paralympians Ahmad Almutairi – competed in Athletics / Men’s 100 m T33, and won Gold Naser Saleh – competed in Athletics / Men’s 100 m T33 Hamad Aladwani – competed in Athletics / three events Mohammad Nasser – competed in Field / Shot Put F32 Abdullah Alsaif – competed in Field / Shot Put F40 Atef Aldousari – competed in Shooting

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THE OLYMPIANS

Fehaid Aldeehani

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Target Shooter

he fallout from Kuwait’s suspension by the International Olympic Committee was heightened when, in August 2016, Fehaid Aldeehani became the first ‘independent’ sportsman to win a gold medal. For the first time, the Olympic flag was raised to the top of the pole and the Olympic anthem played, but the world knew it represented the patriotism and passions of Kuwait.

THE OLYMPIANS

Having competed for Kuwait in every Olympic Games since 1992, his gold was a long time in coming, but was just reward for Fehaid. He won a bronze medal for the men’s double trap shooting event at the 2000 Olympics, and won another bronze for the men’s Olympic trap shooting event at the 2012 Summer Olympics. At the 2016 Summer Olympics, Al-Deehani competed as an “independent Olympic athlete” because Kuwait was banned from the Olympics by the IOC. Athens 2004 and London 2012 had seen Fehaid proudly carry the Kuwaiti flag during the opening ceremonies, but he refused to carry the Olympic flag in the opening of the 2016 Games. A Kuwait army officer, he felt compelled to turn down the request.

“I am a military man and I will only carry the Kuwait flag,” he said. “I cannot carry the IOC flag.”

A trap shooter, he competes in one of the three major disciplines of competitive clay pigeon shooting. In trap shooting, the targets are launched from a single “house” or machine, generally away from the shooter.

Al-Deehani defeated Italian Marco Innocenti in the gold medal match of the men’s double trap, becoming the first independent athlete to win a gold medal. Ever passionate, Al-Deehani led the semi-final the whole way, and when he made the gold medal match while the rest of the field was still to be determined, his celebration caused a distraction. He was subsequently given a yellow card for his actions.

This now-legend of Olympic shooting traces his love of the sport back to the age of 16. It became a singular focus during

his years at Military College, and all his free time was spent at the Hunting and Equestrian Club, honing his skills.

Being a professional soldier, it may be easy to imagine that his life is spent with a gun in his hands. Not at all. Although sports shooting was his priority, he still had to balance this between his job too.

His sport is the ultimate triumph of mind and body working together as one. Training on the shooting range is only part of it – he spends three hours a day in the gym focusing on cardio and fitness exercises.

The path to gold is one he has been travelling for decades.

It entails a long history of hard work, exhaustion, victory and defeat. It’s also enabled him to build many friendships around the world. Every challenge has helped form inside him a permanent quest for excellence.

Successful by any measure, he still endures every athlete’s biggest stresses – largely the fear of failure. To mitigate this, he analyses every game, and knows that to continue to succeed he must be his own harshest critic.

Now aged 50, one can see his first Olympic gold as being a springboard to further success. Part of his plans for the future include establishing an elite shooting academy – one where the next generation of Kuwaitis can train and be trained, in the hope that in one four-year cycle in the not too distant future, we will all see Kuwait’s flag run up to the top of the pole, and our anthem played.

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THE OLYMPIANS

Ahmad Al-Mutairi Wheelchair Racer

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iagnosed at birth with Cerebral Palsy, Ahmad Al-Mutari’s life has always been lived to the full. He’s disabled? No. Differently abled, that’s all. Whichever path we choose in life, or indeed whichever path life chooses for us, we compete within our own arena. In 2016 he competed for Kuwait at the Rio Paralympics Games. His sport? Wheelchair racing. What happened? He won a gold.

THE OLYMPIANS

Perhaps it takes no more and no less determination to succeed as a Paralympian than an Olympian. Why should it?

Competition is competition. Train hard, you’ll do well. It’s as true for an able-bodied sprinter as it is for a wheelchair racer.

The way his body functions certainly gives Ahmad no reason to feel sorry for himself, he says “There’s really no difference between me and any other person. What we are is from God’s will. The way my body is – in both strengths and weaknesses – is a blessing. Where I’m weaker than others in some ways, it’s compensated by strength in other areas”.

He’s driven in many ways. As an athlete, he strives to improve his fitness, to compete at an ever-higher level, and bring down his racing times. He’s passionate about inclusion – “As a member of the Kuwaiti Sports Club for the Disabled (KSCD), I’ve been greatly supported in achieving the maximum. If it’s been good for me, it can be as good for other disabled people”. Indeed, he makes a point of introducing himself to other disabled people he meets when out and about. Sharing his story with them inspires many to follow his lead and join the Club. It’s not for everyone to become an Olympic athlete – fewer still to be gold medallists – but he’s keen to ensure that everyone is presented with the same opportunities that he himself has had.

Ultimately, however, Ahmad insists he doesn’t only compete for himself. He competes for Kuwait. He constantly reminds people that his records always show him as ‘Ahmad Al-Mutairi – Kuwait’. This is an identifier he is fiercely proud of.

His passion for inclusion, and love for his country, is not equally reflected through his country’s love of – or even interest in – Paralympic sports. Although his achievement was warmly welcomed and congratulated by no greater supporter than His Highness The Emir and other leaders within Kuwait,

including National Assembly Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanem and KDSC President Shafi Al-Hajeri as well as friends and family, the silence from other compatriots and large sections of the national media has been deafening. It is a reflection on the poor social maturity of a country when Paralympic sports are not given similar status to Olympic sports – particularly when the brother returns home with a gold medal.

Ahmad is undaunted. He’ll continue his own three-wheeled trail. He sees continued interest and growth at KSCD and, to be fair to those in Kuwait who have shown little interest so far in his achievements, it must be said that it wasn’t so long ago that, even in Europe and the States, Paralympic and disabled sports news was rarely deemed important enough for more than a cursory paragraph or two somewhere amongst lowerleague football results.

One aspect of his sport that intrigues the most, and this is a key difference between his and able-bodied sport, is in its technological advances. Clearly, his wheelchair is a critical component in his success. His chair are his legs. It is not uncommon for a state-of-the-art wheelchair to cost upwards of $15,000. A wheel (one wheel…) can set a racer back $1,500. How much for a pair of Nike running shoes? Here, though, Ahmad benefits from the essential and generous support of KSDC through the supply of his equipment. He’s also coached by the Club, using the latest science-based techniques and practices.

As inspirational athletes go, we can think of few with higher credentials than Ahmad Al-Mutairi. Whilst the temptation exists for society to admire Ahmad for his achievements as a disabled athlete, a true coming-of-age will have occurred when he is admired for his achievements simply as an athlete, on par with able-bodied peers.

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THE OLYMPIANS

Abdullah Al-Rashidi Skeet Shooter

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e first met Abdullah Al-Rashidi back in 2009. Already a four-time Olympian through his participations at Atlanta (’96), Sydney (2000), Athens (’04) and Beijing (’08), he’s gone on to compete in London (’12) and now Rio (’16). It’s easy to reflect that throughout his career Abdullah has competed in more Olympic cities than most people have been on vacation to. That’s not to say he regards these quad-annual forays with anything less than the utmost seriousness.

THE OLYMPIANS

Rio 2016 proved to be the most successful of Olympics for Abdullah coming home, as he did, with a bronze medal in skeet shooting. For the uninitiated, ‘skeet’ is shooting sport in which a clay target is thrown from a trap to simulate the flight of a bird. The targets are flung in to the air in a generally random arc, requiring great levels of concentration, quick thinking and precision shooting by the competitor. Abdullah is a three-time world champion and has six gold and three silvers from the Asian Shooting Championships to his name – his credentials are strong.

Easy-going and eminently likeable, Abdullah became one of the most popular characters during Rio’s shooting days. Competing under the flag of the IOC (due to Kuwait’s temporary suspension), and with no ‘official’ national uniform in his possession, he turned up on the day of the finals wearing the familiar red jersey of England’s Arsenal Football Club under his shooting vest – a club whose nickname is coincidentally ‘The Gunners’. Making such a choice in football-mad Brazil was a positive move, although Abdullah insists it was unintentional. When asked by Britain’s BBC broadcaster the significance of this choice he replied, straightforwardly, “I don’t know. I saw it and just bought it”.

Taken to their hearts by Brazilians watching from the stands, they bestowed on him the nickname of ‘Bigode’ – Portuguese for ‘moustache’. Each time he prepared for a shot, chants of ‘Bigode’ resonated around the arena. Greatly amused, “I feel like I am from Brazil and not Kuwait. Thank you Brazil!” said a grateful Abdullah.

He first had to get through a sudden death shoot off to meet Ukrainian former gold medallist Mikola Milchev in the bronze medal match. He defeated Denmark’s Jesper Hansen and Sweden’s Stefan Nilsson in the second round.

In the bronze medal match Milchev missed early, and could never come back. Al-Rashidi scored a perfect 16 for 16, and fell to his knees as the crowd went wild showing their appreciation.

Following his bronze medal winning performance, and in common with compatriot Fehaid Al-Deehani, who won gold in the men’s double trap event at Rio, he was disheartened not to see Kuwait’s flag run up the pole.

“Anybody who doesn’t see his flag, he dies,” he said. “I need my flag; this is better for me. But what can I do?”

Adding, “Maybe after a gold and bronze we can compete again with our flag, inshallah”.

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THE OLYMPIANS

Abbas Qali

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Swimmer – Men’s 100m Butterfly

s Kuwait’s sole male representative in the aquatic centre, he was destined to be in the spotlight during 2016’s Rio Olympics. His road to representing his country came as the result of years of commitment and dedication. His appearance at the Games was a victory in itself – the manifestation of many early mornings, much time in the pool and many hours in the gym. It was at times a lonely road – swimming is perhaps not as social an activity during training as many other sports, how can it be? His choice of sport also demanded a singular vision from himself – he received no support from neither the Kuwait National Team nor the government. We believe Olympians are different to the rest of us – and Abbas’s story demonstrates this clearly.

THE OLYMPIANS

At what point in your life did swimming become a passion for you?

You were the only male Kuwaiti swimmer. A lonely Olympics? Or good team spirit across disciplines?

Swimming was a passion in my life for as long as I can remember; at a young age I used to go to my older brother’s swim meets and training sessions and that helped me gain the love and passion for the sport.

I had a good friend of mine, Faye Sultan (Kuwait’s only female Olympic swimmer), with me and had many of my teammates from Alabama at the Olympics so I was never alone. I had friends from Germany, Iceland, Greece, Cyprus and South Africa all who swam with me at the University of Alabama.

We all cheered for each other.

When did you first consider the possibility of aiming for Olympic qualification?

When I moved to the United States in 2010 I began to develop a different vision for my future in swimming. I tried to qualify for the 2012 London Olympics but did not have enough time to prepare, so I set a goal for the 2016 Rio Olympics and I achieved the qualifying time standard a month before the Games.

How did your life change in the run-up to Rio? How intense did your training become, where did you train? Did you receive support from within Kuwait during this period?

I trained at the University of Alabama between 2012 and 2016. I was a student-athlete there for 4 years, and training there was the hardest thing I have done in my life. Every day I’d wake up at 5:30am for morning practice, and then head to class for the rest of the day - then I’d head to afternoon practice for another 2 hours and more. Add to that all the weight-lifting workouts and you have an idea of what it took for me to achieve a life-long dream. I always had support from the people of Kuwait, but nothing from the national team nor the government.

What sacrifices did you make in order to qualify?

I wouldn’t say I scarified anything because I was always doing something I loved doing, and was alongside a group of people from other countries that had the same goal as I did.

What is your enduring memory of The Games? Which of your swimming heroes did you meet or compete against?

My best memory of Games is watching the 100m Butterfly final - it is one in a million chance that would happen again.

It was great meeting all the current world champions, and even seeing retired swimmers who are previous Olympic champions. I also got to meet many other sport icons from different sports.

Will you do it again?

I will be training to make it to the next Olympics, and hopefully will be the first male Kuwaiti swimmer to qualify for two Games.

How has the experience changed your life?

Living in the Olympic Village for three weeks gave me a different perspective by being around top athletes from each sport. It is bound to make you aim to be more of a perfectionist in everything in life.

Have you felt an increase in the interest towards swimming over recent years? Are you involved in any initiatives to promote the sport?

I’m trying to raise awareness in Kuwait for people that don’t know how to swim, and I’m running clinics for young children to help them get improve their swimming skills through experience.

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THE OLYMPIANS

Abdulaziz Al-Shatti Fencing - Épée Individual

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he sport of fencing remains one of the most noble of Olympic sports – and is certainly one of the most dashing. Requiring the utmost concentration, fast reactions and lazer-sharp precision of cut, the difference between winning and losing can be measured in milli-seconds.

Abdulaziz Al-Shatti was the sole Kuwaiti representative in Rio’s 2016 fencing competition – and the first Kuwaiti fencer in 16 years.

THE OLYMPIANS

He knew the odds were stacked against him, but Abdulaziz Alshatti has beat long odds before, including the stunning first place finish at a qualifying event this year that punched his ticket to Rio de Janeiro.

Organizers told him not to wear the fencing attire he brought with him, displaying Kuwaiti flags and other insignia. “I had to respect their rules. I wasn’t there to make trouble,” he said. “I play by the rules of my sport and let them worry about their rules.”

The Kuwaiti rattled off a string of upsets in that April tournament, starting with a second-round win over Kazakhstan’s Elmir Alimzhanov, who placed 11th in London four years ago.

Coming out of nowhere brings some advantages, Abdulaziz said, given that no one had time to scout his strategy and style.

“For all the others, I could go on YouTube and see how they play.

For me they won’t have found any videos,” he said with a grin.

Even after going up 10-5 in three minutes – a blistering start for the cautious epee that he fences – he kept calm, he said, shutting out the noisy throng that gathered to watch. “For me to fence well I have to be very calm. If I play too angry, I’ll lose,” said the 26-year-old.

Because of that the national ban on sending a team, Abdulaziz’s only chance to earn a trip to Rio was a last-chance Asian qualifying event in April in which only the winner advanced.

He took first in a stunning result, but he couldn’t match that performance in Brazil.

“My coach always says, ‘You need to get angry,’ but I hate to be aggressive. And I reached the Olympics because I know how to keep calm.” If he were more anxious, there would be plenty to worry him.

In Rio he had the backing of a small crowd that appeared to sympathize with his plight. But Hungary’s Andras Redli survived a furious late rally from the hard-charging and flamboyant Kuwaiti, winning 14-13 in epee.

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THE OLYMPIANS

Faye Sultan

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Swimmer - Women’s 50m Freestyle

f all Olympic sports, there can be no other with a training schedule quite so detached as that of the swimmer, writes MEN’S PASSION’s Simon Balsom. Pounding the water for interminable lengths, punctuated only by the rhythm of a turn at every 50 metres – it’s not for the unenthusiastic.

Whatever else it may be, it’s certainly character-building. For Kuwait’s Faye Sultan, the journey from London 2012 to Rio 2016, via Massachusetts’ Williams College’s Samuelson-Muir Pool, was one of extraordinary commitment.

THE OLYMPIANS

Six months have passed since Faye stepped from the pool in Brazil, having won her heat at Rio’s Olympic Aquatics Stadium, and this veteran of two Games has had plenty of time to reflect. A winning performance – and personal record - of 26.86 seconds was not fast enough to carry her through to the semi-finals, but heat-victory for the (then) 21-year-old Kuwaiti was reward enough.

I had a lower expectation of myself,” Faye notes. Although she was a long-time swimmer supported by two dedicated parents, much of her preparation involved training in homecountry pools too shallow to complete flip-turns. “But by the time I got to Rio I had far more experience and had the benefit of four years’ involvement in a strong varsity training programme” she adds, here as part of Williams Ephs.

She left home in 2012 as a graduate of the American School of Kuwait, and returned from her U.S. college’s Class of 2016 an athlete with Williams Ephs, twice-Olympian, and the bestknown swimmer in town.

Although Faye’s first appearance as an Olympian in 2012 assured her some measure of celebrity in Kuwait, this didn’t translate in to a high degree of tangible support that extended beyond some national team training camps and entries to regional competitions. “I did enough to establish my presence in the region as a female Kuwaiti swimmer, but a lot of the preparation I went through was self-funded. I had the privilege of training at a fully supported and staffed program at Williams. Without access to those resources, I do not think I would have improved as much as I did.”, she says.

Her experiences, and expectations, differed hugely from the first Games to the second. “The first time around I’d say it was more nerves than excitement”, she recalls. Both times her aim was to compete well and to compete to her very best level. Here, she acquitted herself comfortably. “At London

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THE OLYMPIANS

With the Ephs, she found access to swimming and strength coaching staff as well as nutritionists. Add to this college competitions plus training opportunities in both Europe and the States (with girls her own age for the first time in her life) and, although qualification for Rio was far from a certainty, Faye had been presented with a dream package.

As history shows, politics would conspire to almost cancel any possibility of a second participation, and it was only through a further example of her determination and commitment that she secured permission to compete under the Olympic flag.

A patriot, she is adamant, however; “Whenever I compete, I compete as a Kuwaiti.”

Despite her years in the spotlight, she is the first person to dismiss any pretence of ‘celebrity’, although does acknowledge a level of recognition within Kuwait that she may have never had without her sporting achievements. It is this recognition that she now aims to put to good use through involvement in several sporting and other social initiatives.

Is there a third Olympics in Faye’s sights? By the time Tokyo 2020 comes around she’ll be 25 – it’s towards the higher end of the age range for a competitive freestyler, but it’s still doable. She’s unsure about this commitment just now, and there’s a sense that her attention and excitement is turning more towards ways to inspire and empower the next generation in Kuwait – in particular, young women.

“Right now I want to give back to the community”, she says, adding “I want to create a niche for women and girls of all

ages to swim”. To this end, she’s helping establish a women’s branch to an existing swimming team, and later hopes to implement an annual swimming meet for women. “This will be entirely female run, and focused on the specific sports requirements of women”.

At the end of 2016 she spoke alongside Sarah Abushaar at the Center of the Arts for the ‘We Believe’ social movement on ‘The Art of Achieving Dreams’. Faye explains, “I feel the experiences I’ve had over the past years are transferable, and have a value beyond sport. I would like to find avenues for sharing these experiences”.

For sure, the execution of a successful life has at its foundation an unwavering commitment to a single goal. In sports, the road to success is truncated: focus and train today for success tomorrow. In life – both business and personal – the objectives we focus on today will develop longer term benefits, and the fruits of our successes can benefit society as a whole.

As youth role models go, there can be few finer than Faye Sultan. There were no short-cuts to building a college and athletic record as strong as hers. Her results are not subjective, they’re unquestioned; they’re real, and she’s consistently opened roads and pioneered a fresh wave of possibilities for Kuwaiti women. Her single-mindedness, demonstrated year after year between the lines of whichever pool she happened to be training in, will hold her in good stead as she performs her most important flip-turn and digs deep to establish a new direction to her life.

THE LUXE REVIEW

THE LUXE REVIEW Our exclusive guide to the finest from the spheres of horology, automobiles, style, travel, design and much more.

In the Luxe Review we look at the best, and meet the people that are making it happen.

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THE LUXE CARS

Second Generation Porsche Panamera Concept Comprehensively Enhanced

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n its second generation, the Panamera has been redeveloped down to every last detail. Modifications to the engine, transmission, chassis and overall design concept, make it a performance icon in the luxury class. The new model further extends the boundaries between an ambitious sports car and a comfortable cruising car with technical highlights such as rear axle steering, electromechanical roll stabilisation and a three-chamber air suspension.

THE LUXE CARS

Meanwhile, inside a completely new display and control concept greets the driver and passengers upon entry. In many areas, touch-sensitive surfaces replace classic hard keys, and high-resolution displays merge into the interior.

The digitalisation of the Porsche interior, which began with the 918 Spyder, is now available in the Stuttgart-based manufacturer’s four-door saloon.

New engines and transmission All Panamera engines have been redesigned to produce more power, whilst significantly improving fuel economy and reducing emissions. Two new twin-turbo engines have been introduced, combined with the brand’s first eightspeed Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK) transmission. The eight-speed PDK enables an even better gear ratio spread alongside a reduction in fuel consumption, because the seventh and eighth gears are designed as engine speedreducing overdrive gears, with all models reaching their top speed in sixth gear. The Panamera 4S and Turbo apply their power to the road via Porsche Traction Management (PTM) – a permanent, fully variable all-wheel drive system. Tuned to the specific driving situation, PTM sensors continually monitor wheel speeds and perfect performance on dry roads as well as in wet conditions.

New design philosophy At first glance, the unique concept and performance credentials of the four-door sports car are reflected in a new design which creates a stylistic link to Porsche’s design icon, the 911. Recognisable sports car aesthetics which make up the typical Porsche flyline in the new Panamera include pronounced shoulders, athletic flanks and an extremely fast roof line that is 20 mm lower at the rear. LED headlights and larger wheels also add to a sporty look.

The sharpened exterior includes a completely new front-end design, with a crossbar in the radiator grille emphasising the car’s width and an arrow-shaped bonnet that features a prominently contoured powerdome.

The rear of the vehicle now further highlights the Panamera’s four-door coupé credentials, distinguishing it from a conventional saloon. Features, such as the three-dimensional LED rear lights that include integrated four-point brake lights, interconnected by a narrow LED strip, result in a distinctive night design.

Refined chassis In keeping with the overall concept of the Panamera, the chassis unites the cruising comfort of a luxury saloon with the performance of a true sports car. This is achieved by

supplementing the basic layout with innovative systems such as an adaptive air suspension with new three-chamber technology and Porsche Active Suspension Management (electronic damper control), the further enhanced Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control Sport system including Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus, as well as a new electromechanical steering system. The integrated 4D Chassis Control system analyses and synchronises all chassis systems in real time for even better handling. In combination with improved brake performance, Porsche is now also introducing rear axle steering adapted from the 918 Spyder and 911 Turbo to its Panamera range.

Panamera 4S The 2.9-litre V6 twin-turbo engine of the Panamera 4S is a completely new development, which produces 440 hp, available at 5,650 rpm and represents a 20 hp increase from the previous model. Reaching 100 km/h in just 4.4 seconds (4.2 seconds with the Sport Chrono Package), the Panamera 4S has a top speed of 289 km/h. A NEDC combined fuel consumption of 8.2 – 8.1 l/100 km (186 – 184 g/km CO2) means that the new Panamera 4S offers a fuel saving of up to 1.0 l/100 km or 11 per cent in comparison to the first generation model.

Panamera Turbo With its powerful petrol engine, the Panamera Turbo’s new 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 develops 550 hp at 5,750 rpm, with a maximum torque of 770 Nm between 1,960 and 4,500 rpm.

It has 30 hp more than its predecessor as well as a torque increase of 70 Nm. The new Panamera Turbo accelerates to 100 km/h in 3.8 seconds, whilst with the Sport Chrono Package the sprint time is down to 3.6 seconds. The new turbo model features a top speed of 306 km/h and a powerto-weight ratio of just 3.6 kg/hp. A lower combined fuel consumption of 9.4 – 9.3 l/100 km, is up to 1.1 l/100 km less than that of the previous model (NEDC), therefore equating to CO2 emissions of 214 – 212 g/km.

Presenting a harmonious balance between sporty performance, comfort and luxury, the new Panamera has been developed for sports car drivers who appreciate four doors and four seats. Achieving a new lap record of 7 minutes 38 seconds on the legendary Nürburgring-Nordschleife circuit and a unique design concept that replicates the brand’s iconic 911, the revamped model is a truly attractive offering in its segment.

With a range of derivatives set to be launched throughout the year, the new Panamera 4S and Turbo are available now at Porsche Centre Kuwait.

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McLaren Automotive Announces Second-Generation Super Series The New Core of the McLaren Brand

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new era will begin for McLaren Automotive this March with the launch of the second generation of its Super Series at the 87th Geneva International Motor Show. The first of the 15 new cars cited in the company’s Track22 Business Plan, the second-generation Super Series is also the first replacement of a product family by the British manufacturer of luxury sports and supercars.

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“Super Series is the core of the McLaren business and personifies the blend of extreme performance, crafted luxury and unparalleled driver involvement that is the McLaren heartland,” explained McLaren Automotive CEO, Mike Flewitt. “This is the first time we have replaced a product family and the new Super Series will be absolutely true to McLaren’s pioneering spirit in being a revolutionary leap forwards, both for our brand and the supercar segment.”

The new Super Series is created around an ultra-lightweight, carbon fibre central structure. Immensely rigid, yet weighing less than the carbon fibre and metal cockpit architecture of the first-generation Super Series, the Monocage II contributes to a lightest dry weight of just 1,283kg for the new car – lower than the closest competitor and 18kg lighter than a McLaren 650S with comparable specification.

The development of Monocage II has allowed McLaren to incorporate a wider cabin entrance and lower sill to improve access into a driver environment that will offer excellent all-round visibility. The new chassis structure also enables a lower centre of gravity, further sharpening the dynamic performance of the new Super Series. Owners wishing to showcase the carbon-fibre construction chassis

can specify a ‘Visible Monocage’ option that exposes the material on the inside area of the A-pillar.

The Super Series lineage began in 2011 with the launch of the groundbreaking 12C. The 12C Spider followed in 2012 and in 2014 McLaren introduced the 650S Coupé and 650S Spider. The first generation of the McLaren Super Series was further expanded in 2015 with the launch of the limited edition 675LT Coupé and 675LT Spider.

Full details of the new, second-generation Super Series will be confirmed in March, when further images and pricing will also be available.

• New McLaren supercar will debut on March 7 at the 87th Geneva International Motor Show.

• Second generation of the Super Series is McLaren Automotive’s first-ever replacement of a product family and the first of the 15 new cars defined in the company’s Track22 Business Plan.

• New carbon fibre Monocage II body structure delivers extreme strength and contributes to the car’s light weight.

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Audi at the Detroit Motor Show Audi Q8 Concept + SQ5 TFSI + A5/S5 Cabriolet

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udi kicked off the new year with three highlights: with the Audi Q8 concept car, the premium carmaker previewed a future production model at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit. At the same time, the brand with the four rings celebrated the world premiere of the Audi SQ5 TFSI and publicly presented the A5/S5 Cabriolet for the first time.

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A synthesis of coupé and SUV: the Audi Q8 concept Unsurpassed prestige and sportiness – that’s what the Audi Q8 concept represents. It combines the typical spaciousness of an SUV with the emotional styling of a coupé. Audi is tapping into a new segment in the full-size category with this car. At the same time the brand is offering a preview of its future direction in design styling with the concept car. Many elements are reminiscent of Audi’s original Ur-quattro from the 1980s, including the exceptionally flat and wide C pillars as well as the powerful, flared shoulders over the wheels. Despite the flat roofline, the show car offers plenty of room for four people as well as lots of luggage. Widely stretched lines lend the interior a sporty as well as elegant ambiance. The new control concept relies on large touchscreens, supplemented with an enhanced Audi virtual cockpit and a contact analogue head-up display that uses intelligent augmented reality technology to merge virtual indicators with the real world. For example, a navigation arrow will appear in the same position as an actual arrow on the street.

The drive system and suspension feature high-end technologies from volume production. The powerful and highly efficient plugin hybrid of the Audi Q8 concept provides total system output of 330 kW and 700 Nm of torque. Power is delivered confidently to the road via quattro permanent all-wheel drive. Air suspension and ceramic brake discs round out the impressive technology package. The concept car is the basis for a production model that Audi will introduce into the market in 2018.

V6 power and superior dynamics: the Audi SQ5 TFSI The sportiest variant in the new Q5 model line celebrates its world premiere with the debut of the Audi SQ5 TFSI at the Detroit Motor Show. The turbocharged three-liter V6 engine outputs 354 hp and delivers 500 Nm of torque at just 1,370 revolutions per minute. With this, the top model accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.4 seconds.

The quattro permanent all-wheel drive supports dynamic driving behavior in combination with the smooth-shifting

eight-speed tiptronic. The car’s agility is further enhanced with the optional sport differential that actively distributes torque between the rear wheels and the optional dynamic steering with variable ratios. Both components are integrated into the Audi drive select driving dynamics system – as are the engine, tiptronic and standard-equipment damper control.

This allows drivers to adjust the characteristics of their SUV in multiple modes. Optional air suspension allows the driver to adjust the height of the suspension to the specific driving situation. Numerous design features and an expanded series equipment package set the Audi SQ5 TFSI apart from the base model. These include, among other things, S sport seats in Alcantara/leather, LED headlights and 20-inch cast aluminum wheels in a 5-double-spoke star design. The Audi SQ5 TFSI will arrive at dealerships across the Middle East starting mid-2017.

Open to intense driving pleasure: the Audi A5/S5 Cabriolet Audi is completing the A5 family. Following the Coupé and Sportback, the brand with the four rings is presenting the new A5/S5 Cabriolet for the first time in Detroit. Its design is based on the sleek lines of the Coupé. The rear window is now flatter and emphasizes the sporty looks, as do the short overhangs and the long wraparound hood with power dome. The classic soft top delivers outstanding aeroacoustics and now has a convenience opening function: Just a quick pull of the switch is all it takes to open or close the soft top fully automatically – even while driving up to 50 km/h. Also included in the new A5/ S5 Cabriolet are the latest technical connectivity features and driver assistance systems. The quattro drive lends the midsize Cabriolet superb traction and dynamic handling. Adaptive dampers are available as an option. They are incorporated into the standard Audi drive select dynamic handling system and allow the driver to choose between a sporty or comfortable driving experience. New engine for the Audi A5 offer powerful performance, with 190hp in the 2.0 TFSI, and Audi S5 with 354 hp in the 3.0 TFSI. The new midsize Cabriolet will be in dealerships across the Middle East by August 2017.

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The World’s Fastest Four-Seat Car New Bentley Continental Supersports

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entley has announced its fastest and most powerful production model to date: the new Bentley Continental Supersports. A top speed of 209 mph (336 km/h) and a 0-60 mph time of 3.4 seconds (0-100 km/h in 3.5 seconds) make the new Continental Supersports the world’s fastest and most powerful luxury four-seat car.

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Similarly, its soft-top sibling, the Continental Supersports Convertible, is the fastest four-seat convertible in the world, despatching the sprint to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds (0-100 km/h in 3.9 secs) on its way to a 205 mph (330 km/h) top speed.

Bentley’s mighty W12 engine, redeveloped for the Supersports with new high-performance turbos and engine hardware, and a torque vectoring system create a Continental Supersports as agile as it is powerful. Meanwhile, unique styling cues inside and out give the new model a sharpened athletic appearance highlighting its performance potential.

As well as offering supercar pace and a highly focused driving experience, there is no compromise in the refined nature of the Continental’s ride quality. This fusion of extremes in luxury and performance make the Supersports the ultimate iteration of a model that has come to define and dominate the grand touring genre.

The brakes sit behind lightweight 21” forged alloy wheels, together offering a 20 kg weight saving in unsprung mass. A further 5 kg weight-saving is offered via an optional titanium exhaust system. The new Supersports is the lightest-ever iteration of the current Continental GT and lighter than the 2009 four-seat Supersports model.

Enhancing the driver experience still further, the exhaust system has been redesigned to breathe more freely and provide an unmistakeable Bentley soundtrack, with downshifts eliciting a rifle-fire crackle.

Ultimate Handling and Luxury Refinement This performance is matched by athletic handling. The Supersports has a specifically calibrated and updated version of the torque vectoring system first introduced on the Continental GT3-R.

Wolfgang Dürheimer, chairman and chief executive of Bentley Motors, said: “The Supersports name is legendary at Bentley.

From the very first Supersports of the 1920s, to the Continental Supersports of 2009 – and now with the third iteration of this iconic model – it is a name which excites, impassions and thrills. Only Bentley could create a car which blends immense performance and unrivalled luxury in this way.”

Extreme Power and Torque; Stand-Out Performance A bespoke drivetrain featuring Bentley’s W12 engine combines extreme power and torque to offer exhilarating performance.

Key to the Supersports’ additional outputs are newly designed, higher-capacity turbochargers and a revised charge-air cooling system which create more boost and additional power.

In order to harness these additional outputs, upgrades have also been made to the Continental’s cranktrain, including new main and conrod bearings.

These extensive engine revisions result in an increase of 80 PS (79 bhp) and 217 Nm (160 lb.ft.) over the 2009 Supersports model – a 10 percent power-to-weight and 25 percent torqueto-weight ratio improvement. The top speed rises by five miles per hour (and the 0-60 mph time drops by 0.3 seconds).

The Supersports also benefits from a new torque converter which locks up faster allowing the car to make best use of the enhanced torque figure of 1,017 Nm (750 lb. ft.), and accelerate from standstill even more rapidly.

In order to rein in this immense performance the new Supersports is fitted with high-performance carbon ceramic brakes with enhanced cooling. The brake discs are the largest of their type in the world, providing excellent performance with minimal fade under extreme conditions.

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The new Continental Supersports Convertible offers the luxury and refinement of a coupé yet transforms into a head-turning open-tourer at the touch of a button. The multi-layer hood ensures high levels of refinement and acoustic insulation.

Exhaustively tested in all conditions from -30°C to +50°C or more, it resists even monsoon-force rain and maintains comfortable, draft-free warmth even on the coldest days.

Another practical feature, the neck warmer, makes open air driving an appealing and comfortable prospect even on the cooler days of spring and autumn. With the hood down, the Continental Supersports Convertible offers sensational performance with the sensory amplification of open-air motoring. Hood up, it’s as practical a year-round proposition as its coupé stablemate.

This dynamic system brakes individual front and rear wheels during acceleration out of corners to increase performance, whilst maintaining full power to unbraked wheels, and brakes the inside rear wheel on turn-in to improve agility. It also has a bespoke, less intrusive stability control calibration for a more precise chassis response.

The new Supersports retains the rear-biased torque split of Bentley’s all-wheel-drive system, sending 60 per cent of the engine’s power to the rear wheels as standard for a better balanced, more sporting character, but with the ability to adjust the front-rear power split depending on available traction.

Despite the focus on sharper driving dynamics, the Supersports’ lowered and stiffened dynamic suspension set-up retains all of its luxurious ride quality for passengers wishing to cover long distances in supreme comfort.

Bespoke Design Signalling High-Performance Character The new Continental Supersports features unique exterior and interior styling cues which reflect the significant uplift in the performance capability of this pinnacle grand tourer.

Exterior changes include newly sculpted front and rear bumper designs incorporating a carbon-fibre splitter and diffuser respectively, new side sill extensions and bonnet vents also finished in carbon-fibre, gloss-black front wing vents and a new gloss-black, rifled exhaust tailpipe design. Completing the dramatic exterior look are dark-tint headlamps and tail-lamps, and a complement of black-finished brightware to the front grilles, lights, rear bumper, door handles and window surrounds.

There is also an optional, aerodynamically balanced rear spoiler and front splitter combination for the coupé, new Supersports badging, a new black and bright-machined finish for the 21” forged alloy wheels and optional side decals.

Further highlighting the enhanced performance, an optional gloss-finished, Supersports-branded carbon-fibre engine cover can be specified.

Inside, a host of bespoke styling details enhance the contemporary British luxury experience.

A unique colour split has been created, using three colours: the first tri-tone interior offered in this generation Continental GT. A new diamond-quilted design is incorporated in the seats and door side panels for a unique signature in Alcantara, while chequered Supersports carbon-fibre fascia panels join the existing list of ten veneers and technical finishes available. The interior is completed by new Supersports emblem stitching, and a bespoke Supersports steering wheel and unique gearlever, both featuring Alcantara accents.

A titanium exhaust option is available for drivers seeking a more intense audible experience. As well as a stirring soundtrack, the Titanium system also provides a weight reduction.

For Supersports customers seeking even more personalisation, an ‘X Specification’ pack is available, consisting of eight unique duo-tone paint treatments and carbon-fibre door mirrors and heel plates. The titanium exhaust option is included, as is a carbon-fibre finish to the interior side panels, the carbon-fibre engine cover and a gloss black finish to the 21” forged wheels.

As with all Bentleys, the Supersports can also be handed over to the highly skilled craftspeople at Mulliner, Bentley’s bespoke coachbuilding department, who will respond to individual customer requirements.

Supersports: The Ultimate in Luxury and Performance The Continental Supersports of 2009 won global plaudits for its unique combination of extreme dynamics and unrivalled luxury.

The new Supersports takes these characteristics to new heights of engineering excellence, transforming this model into the world’s fastest four-seat car and one that is, nonetheless, an everyday, usable luxury coupé or convertible.

It sits at the pinnacle of Bentley’s luxury and performance ethos and is the ultimate iteration of a model that has come to define luxury automotive grand touring.

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Crafts Old and New

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Bentley Artisans Meet Arabian Dhow Builders

raftsmen from two very different worlds recently met at one of the Middle East’s oldest dhow-building yards to demonstrate that some traditional skills are still flourishing. In the region to demonstrate first hand, Bentley’s unique and reknowned handcraft skills in wood and leather, experts from luxury motoring brand received a personal demonstration from some of the region’s most accomplished wooden boat builders.

More at home finishing the interiors of the world’s most luxurious cars, David Maddocks, an expert wood craftsman of the veneers Bentley is famed for, and Noel Thompson, a coach trimmer who joined the manufacturer as an apprentice when the founder W.O. Bentley was still alive, also demonstrated their wares to local craftsmen at the Obaid Bin Juma Bin Suloom boatyard, located on the edge of Dubai Creek.

Fine craftsmanship is at the heart of every Bentley with the term “hand-built” being no idle claim – it represents a world of expertise and experience in the creation of its exquisite cars by master craftsmen at the Bentley factory in the UK. Similarly, the UAE-based boatyard prides itself on continuing to employ the traditional hand-building methods perfected over the generations. It is this respect for the “old ways” of doing things and the passion for craft shared by artisans around the world that compelled the two Bentley veterans to pay a visit.

While the Bentley boys showed the local Dubai craftsmen how they ply their trade back at Bentley’s headquarters in Crewe, displaying the fine handiwork of the stitching and trimming customised steering wheels and wood marquetry,

they were treated to a quick tutorial in dhow-building. In an interactive demonstration, they were shown the carpentry techniques used in creating the hulls and cabins of the allwood vessels – all of which reinforced their appreciation of traditions local to the GCC region.

Commenting after the visit, Thompson said: “At Bentley, we pass on our skills from generation to generation. Whether it is the wood craftsmanship that lets us mirror-match beautiful wood veneers, or the hand-stitching of supple leather around a steering wheel, there is a rare attention to detail that is only made possible by using traditional skills in wood, paint and leather. So it was a real honour to be able to witness traditional Arabian craftsmanship, a skill that needs to be experienced first-hand to fully appreciate it.”

Obaid Bin Juma Bin Suloom Launch Repairing Establishment is run by brothers Ahmed and Majid Al Falasi but they are not new to the business of dhow construction. Within their family they represent the third generation of boat-builders and are keen to pass on the business to a fourth. This dedication to an intergenerational transfer of skills was recognised by both the British craftsmen in the approach used in their own workshops in the UK.

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The Race to the Deep With Omega

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umans have always been fascinated by the secrets of the ocean. For thousands of years, our curiosity and desire to go deeper has been pushed and pulled with the changing tides. And despite the persistent dangers and challenges, our spirit of exploration has continued to take us further below the waves.

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Jacques Cousteau once said that “underwater, man becomes an archangel”, able to “fly in any direction.” In recent history, revolutionary new equipment has certainly enabled us to fly to the darkest and most mysterious realms. And this has led to an explosion of inspiration. In fact, today we can look back on generations of scientists, inventors, explorers, treasure hunters and military personnel who have overcome many barriers in the enduring race to the deep.

For one famous French novelist, the deep ocean provided a great voyage of the imagination. Jules Verne wrote his iconic novel “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea” after seeing the world’s first diving suit, created in 1864 by Benoit Rouquayrol and Auguste Denayrouze. Their gold-medal winning invention fuelled the mind of Jules Verne. His story specifically mentioned the Rouquayrol/Denayrouze system and theorized about the next inevitable step - cutting the diver’s reliance on surfacesupplied air. But could this challenge ever be overcome?

Cousteau walked in the footsteps, or “flippersteps”, of inventors such as Yves Le Prieur, who had previously designed a similar system. But unlike the “short submersions” of Le Prieur’s invention, Cousteau’s AquaLung was a ground-breaking piece of self-contained equipment that allowed divers to stay underwater for extended periods of time. Importantly, the invention was both reliable and low-cost. With freedom unlike ever before, man’s perception of the planet was now changing.

By the 1950s, dive stores were opening up everywhere, dedicated magazines emerged and scuba clubs and courses became commonplace.

Recreation aside, the race to the deep has also been about scientific discovery. John. F. Kennedy was known for his bold promise to send men to the moon. At the very same time, he also said that “knowledge of the oceans is more than a matter of curiosity. Our very survival may hinge upon it.”

Literature wasn’t the only industry being carried along by the possibilities of the sea. Other industries also found opportunity and inspiration. In medicine, Dr. John Scott Haldane’s interest in diving led to pioneering breakthroughs in decompression sickness. By 1910, the world was aware of the effects that the deep sea and its natural gases had on the human body. It was one major obstacle that stopped man from going ever deeper.

But by creating the first “dive tables”, Haldane made significant steps in helping to make diving a lot safer.

In the decades that followed Kennedy’s speech, huge investments were made that forever changed our understanding of the ocean and the way it affects climate, weather and planetary chemistry. To get down there, organizations such as COMEX created entire experimentation centres to help solve the problems that occurred when diving at great depths. Similar to Dr. Haldane 50 years earlier, COMEX experimented with hydrogen to overcome severe health issues experienced by divers.

Even in watchmaking, the lure of the ocean became apparent. Many iconic Swiss brands such as Blancpain have helped to bring time underwater, but it was OMEGA, in 1932, who created the world’s first diver’s wristwatch available to everyone. Sold commercially, the OMEGA Marine used a removable double case that cleverly kept the water out. With each second of air being critical for divers, this watch solved many underwater problems.

In 1970, Jacques Cousteau also submerged himself to test man’s physical and psychological capacities of working and living at depths of 500 metres. Again, technology was able to keep up with curiosity. By now, OMEGA had created its iconic Seamaster Ploprof watch and Cousteau could rely on its great pressure-resistance when conducting his deepsea experiments. Unlike other watch brands which included fitted helium escape valves, OMEGA instead created the Ploprof with a case that prevented helium from entering the watch in the first place. By doing this, the precision of the watch was unaffected by gas. That meant that people who worked in the inky blackness of the sea could always rely on exact time to connect themselves with the world above.

Even today, the Ploprof watch design has endured.

Other diving equipment began to surface in the 1930s too. Guy Gilpatric, an American aviator, inspired a new style of rubber goggles with glass lenses, while the Frenchman Louis de Corlieu created the very first fins. With such a rise in thinking and innovation, it was inevitable that humans would try to force themselves deeper yet again.

William Beebe was one such man. His deep-sea submersible, known as the “Bathysphere”, allowed him to reach a depth of 3,000 feet in 1934. Surrounded by the blue waters off Bermuda, he discovered an unseen world of weird and luminescent sealife. But such a large and heavy vehicle had one obvious drawback; it wasn’t something that everyone could own.

In Beebe’s time, getting to the deepest parts of the ocean was still a pastime reserved for the few. For the common man with a hunger for exploration, diving still had its limitations. But that all changed in 1943 with the invention of the Aqua-Lung.

Known as the first modern SCUBA system, the Aqua-Lung was invented by none other than Jacques Cousteau. Together with Emile Gagnan, he was able to open up a new age of deep sea exploration. The very challenge that Jules Verne had written about almost a century earlier had been conquered.

The race to the deep has been a shared passion since the dawn of time. It can be a personal quest or a great expedition. And considering that 12 men have walked on the moon, yet only three have been to the bottom of the ocean, it shows that the “inner-space” of our own planet holds just as much wonder and intrigue as the vastness above us. Jacques Piccard and Don Walsh first reached the deepest possible point in 1960 aboard their Bathyscaphe Trieste. Although this incredible depth of 35,820 feet has now already been reached, there is still a race to discover much more.

Today, over 945,000 PADI certifications are issued each year. Diving has never been more popular. And with around 95% of the world’s ocean still unseen by human eyes, our dedication to deep-sea exploration is sure to continue for many years to come.

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SIHH View

The World’s Finest Watches - All in One Place

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nce again, January was the focus of the watch world as the great and the good descended on Geneva for the 2017 edition of SIHH. We’ll publish a full review of SIHH and Baselworld in our April edition but, for now, here’s just a taste of a few of the pieces that excited us.

Baume & Mercier

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Panerai

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Hublot

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Vacheron Constantin

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Split-Second Precision Richard Lange Jumping Seconds

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he first of a total of 100 new Richard Lange Jumping Seconds timepieces in platinum will be delivered to dealers. The typical regulator dial, the classic jumping second’s mechanism, the constant-force escapement and the zero-reset mechanism come together in a fascinating reinterpretation of the scientific observation watch.

For ten years, the name Richard Lange has stood for a continually growing watch family. It convincingly transitions the scientific observation watch, a genre traditionally nurtured by A. Lange & Söhne, from the past to the present. Additionally, its name pays tribute to Ferdinand Adolph Lange’s firstborn son. Born in 1845, Richard Lange adopted his father’s legacy by translating the latest insights in physics, chemistry and mathematics into numerous technical developments. Many of his patents were embodied in the manufactory’s technically elaborate pocket watches.

Presented in January 2016, the Richard Lange Jumping Seconds broadens the watch family with a model including a classic function that was once a feature of A. Lange & Söhne’s historic pocket watches. Its newly developed L094.1 manufacture calibre is endowed with this complication (also referred to as seconde morte), and has an innovative constant-force escapement. The mechanism utilises the switching impulse of the jumping seconds integrated in the wheel train to deliver fresh energy to the remontoir spring of the constant-force escapement. In a separate wheel train between the mainspring barrel and the escapement,

the constant-force mechanism compensates the gradually declining power of the mainspring. It assures virtually constant torque and a stable amplitude across the entire power-reserve period of up to 42 hours.

The zero-reset mechanism allows the watch to be quickly and comfortably synchronised with a time signal. The rhodiécoloured regulator dial features a prominent seconds circle and presents itself in a stately platinum case with a diameter of 39.9 millimetres. A small aperture at the intersection of the hour and minute circles reminds the owner when it is time to wind the watch: the display switches to red ten hours in advance.

In the movement, hand-finished to the strictest Lange standards, the technical processes are easily observable through the sapphire-crystal caseback. A five-point star, that controls the seconds jumps, rotates beneath a transparent sapphire bearing jewel in the middle of the mirror-polished end piece. The remontoir spring of the constant-force escapement can be seen through an opening in the three-quarter plate. The levers, springs and clutch of the zero-reset mechanism are readily visible as well.

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With Love from Geneva Chopard Plays Cupid

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hen Valentine’s Day comes around, Chopard enjoys playing modern-day Cupid. Rather than silver arrows, its quiver contains a sprinkling of diamonds and rubies teamed with white gold.

A bright ray of sunshine amid the grey of winter, Valentine’s Day is a dream occasion to reveal our feelings to the object of our affections. With Chopard as a messenger, tender confessions sparkle like promises of endless love.

When it comes to the game of love and seduction, the Geneva-based Maison holds the trump card.

Hearts for the taking or amorously taken, you are the target and are duly warned: on Valentine’s Day, Chopard rarely misses its mark!

Mille Miglia GTS Automatic Speed black Cool precision Chopard presents a new sports watch, the Mille Miglia GTS Automatic Speed black, born of its passion for classic motor racing. Cloaked in deep black, this powerful model joins the Mille Miglia GTS collection launched in 2015 and inspired by the legendary Italian competition for which Chopard has been serving as official timekeeper since 1988. Sophisticated design and technical excellence combine in this exclusive timepiece powered by a Chopard calibre and chronometercertified by the Swiss Official Chronometer Testing InstituteCOSC. With its red “Rossa Corsa” detailing, its oversized numerals recalling a 1950s dashboards, its engine-style finishing and its strap featuring a vintage Dunlop racing tyretread motif, the new Mille Miglia GTS Automatic Speed black – issued in a 1,000-piece limited edition – perpetuates the Chopard classic racing spirit.

A passion for fine mechanisms The now inseparable ties between Chopard and classic racing stemmed from the personal passion for collector’s cars nurtured by Chopard co-president Karl-Friedrich Scheufele.

This strong attachment was manifested in 1988 when the

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Manufacture became partner and official timekeeper of the famous Mille Miglia: an endurance competition that sees more than 400 classic cars facing off each spring on a thousand-mile loop-style course between Brescia and Rome that winds its way through some magnificent Italian scenery.

Referred to by Enzo Ferrari as the “world’s most beautiful race”, it inspired an eponymous watch collection created

by Chopard in 1988 and which since 2015 is equipped with Manufacture movements. An authentic benchmark in the field of contemporary watchmaking, the Mille Miglia collection annually welcomes new models distinguished by sophisticated and eminently virile designs.

Deep black The intensely dusky Mille Miglia GTS Automatic Speed black now enriches this iconic collection by revisiting the characteristics of the classic cars that took part in the Italian race between 1940 and 1957. Cloaked in deep black from its case and dial all the way to its functional screws, it flaunts a powerful look and a sporting character suited to all occasions.

This contemporary timepiece issued in a 1,000-piece limited series comes in a sturdy 43 mm-diameter case made of stainless steel blackened by a DLC (Diamond-Like Carbon) treatment creating an extremely resistant coating, topped by a bezel with a graduated black aluminium insert. Its short, streamlined lugs – designed to mould the curves of the wrist to perfection – ensure optimal comfort and a unique style.

The model is ideally complemented by the integrated black rubber strap inspired by 1960s Dunlop racing tyres and fastened by a DLC-coated stainless steel folding clasp. The screw-in case-back guaranteeing water resistance to a depth of 100 metres is secured by eight PVD-treated black screws and engraved with the inscription “Mille Miglia GTS Speed black”. Its tinted crystal surrounded by a bright red gasket provides fascinating glimpses of the Chopard movement its engine-style finishes and its openworked oscillating weight.

A set of contrasts While the Mille Miglia GTS Automatic Speed black lives up to its name, it also plays on contrasts. Its velvet-finish matt

black dial is lit up by flamboyant red accents in the shape of a sweep-seconds hand, the gasket surrounding the minute track, as well as the arrow-shaped Mille Miglia logo framing the date aperture. This iconic “Rossa Corsa”, the shade formerly allocated to Italy in motor-racing competitions, is one of the “racing colours” that served to identify rival nationalities. The superluminova-painted oversized 6 and 12 o’clock Arabic numerals stand out clearly against the dial. Evoking the dashboards on classic cars, they meet the legibility demands of the Italian race that takes place in any weather. Reflecting the same care for details, the broad facetted dagger-shaped hands and the black metallised applied hour-markers are painted with a luminescent substance, thereby accentuating the sporting nature of this prestigious timepiece.

High-precision watch ‘engine’ The impressive lines of the Mille Miglia GTS Automatic Speed black house an ‘engine’ boasting equally remarkable precision and performance. Chopard Calibre 01.01-M, entirely conceived, developed and assembled in the Chopard workshops, is chronometer-certified by the COSC. Endowed with a generous 60-hour power reserve, this mechanical self-winding movement powers the hours, minutes, seconds and date functions. A symbol of prowess and high technical standards, this mechanism features grooved bridges with exclusive finishes echoing the cooling fins on racing cars.

A dark and powerful watch exuding undeniable character and chic styling, the Mille Miglia GTS Automatic Speed black embodies the Chopard classic racing spirit interpreted in a resolutely contemporary mode.

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THE LUXE WATCHES

Imperiale “La Vie en Rose”

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hopard’s classic Imperiale watch line welcomes a new interpretation for Valentine’s Day: a delightful pastel pink model artfully combining softness with sophisticated elegance, for those who love to see life through rose-tinted glasses.

When the codes of contemporary elegance draw inspiration from the grandeur of the Empire, a great classic is in the making. The Imperiale watch distils a wealth of details that are nods to the finest hours of ancient Rome. The sovereign nature of the collection is expressed through the powerful stature of the Roman numerals marking the hours, as well as through the tapered hand design reminiscent of combat daggers, while the shape of the lugs echo the tradition of imperial columns famed for their perfectly balanced proportions.

The powerful straight lines of these symbols are softened by the delicate shade of pink infusing the entire timepiece with an aura of exquisite lightness. Even the alligator leather strap takes on the tender blush of finer feelings. The dial centre adorned in old rose mother-of-pearl glows with an opulent velvety radiance. Epitomising a subtle blend of power and gentleness, the Imperiale la Vie en Rose reveals a more sensitive and romantic aspect of the Imperiale personality.

The Imperiale La Vie en Rose is a 100-piece limited edition featuring a stainless steel case.

THE LUXE WATCHES

Bovet’s Tokens of Love

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ccording to legend, during his imprisonment, Saint Valentine healed the daughter of his jailer, Asterius, just before his execution and wrote her a letter signed “Your Valentine” as a farewell.

Dating back to the 14th century flourishing alongside the tradition of courtly love, Saint Valentine prevalence with romance bloomed in 18th and 19th century England becoming the expression of one’s sentiment via gifting a token of love.

During the same period Edouard Bovet, son of watchmaker, moved to London in 1814 to learn about Great Britain’s culture, trade & horology expertize. His 4 years in London were particularly constructive resulting in his journey to Canton – China, where the BOVET’s reputation and success were immediately achieved.

Valentine’s Days also share the values of respect, emotions, authenticity and timelessness that are the essence and philosophy of BOVET 1822.

For Valentine’s Day 2017, the House of BOVET is presenting an exclusive “His & Her” Gift featuring two timepieces in stainless steel and blue dial.

For Ladies the Amadeo® Fleurier “Miss Audrey” “Miss Audrey” is a gem of femininity, refinement and versatility. Housed in a 36mm diameter stainless steel case, it features the patented Amadeo® convertible system, enabling to adorn the wrist, worn as a pendant or even as a table clock – to be noted all without the use of any tools whatsoever. Despite its thinness, “Miss Audrey” is nevertheless powered by a self-winding mechanical movement insuring its beauty inside-out. Last but not least, it showcases a deep vibrant midnight blue dial that is masterfully guilloché. The artisans of BOVET 1822 Manufacture de Cadrans, the in-house Manufacture handcrafting all dials, once again confirm the excellence of their talent and craftsmanship.

For Gentlemen the “19Thirty Fleurier” 19Thirty is a collection proposing – for the first time – a stainless steel case. The 19Thirty collection borrowed its aesthetic codes from a 1930s BOVET “easel” chronometer, one of the last pocket watches to be manufactured by BOVET before wristwatches became widespread. An

instant success since its launch in September 2015, the 19Thirty is powered by an in-house caliber developed specifically for this collection. Respecting in all points the execution and finishes prevalent with grandes complications. The collector may choose between 3 dials – blue circular brushed, black circular brushed or ivory polished lacquered – and 3 types of numerals – Arabic, Chinese or Roman. The timepiece featured here for Valentine’s Day is housed in the signature Fleurier case with its distinctive crown and bow at 12 o’clock. Drawing its energy from a single barrel, this hand-wound mechanical movement insures a 7-day power reserve.

The matching deep blue and steel decors of the 2 timepieces for Valentine’s Day embody the perfect token of the genuine significance of this Celebration.

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THE LUXE STYLE

Gucci

Men’s Collection – Spring / Summer 2017

“We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time.” (T. S. Eliot)

To make a journey means to be digging into the landscape. The traveller is, in fact, able to go deep down “as an archaeologist through dif ferent layers of reality, to read even the hidden signs under other signs, to collect as many existences and stories as possible,

and save them from the flow of time and from the erasing wave of oblivion” (C. Magris). It is a meticulous and humble work of discover y: a process of knowledge in which it is possible to collect fragments of reality as well as possibilities set aside, banned or removed.

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T h e c l o t h e s of t h e M e n’s S p r i n g / S u m m e r 2017 c o l l e c t i o n a r e t h e r e f l e c t i o n o f t h i s t r ave l l i n g .

T h ey ke e p t r a c e s o f o t h e r n e s s; e c h o e s of s p a c e s , c r o s s e d o r i m a g i n e d; te m p o r a l i t i e s , p l u r a l a n d t h i c ke n e d. E a c h s u i t i s a k a l e i d o s c o p e of s i g n s

p o e t i c a l l y r e a s s e m b l e d to c r e a te n e w m e a n i n g s . T h e t r ave l , i n f a c t , c a n u n t i e t h e k n o t s of t h e s o u l; c a n h a r b o u r wo n d e r a n d m a g i c; c a n p u t a s p e l l b a c k o n ex i s te n c e . I t ’s l i ke f a l l i n g i n l ove , w h e n t h e wo r l d s u d d e n l y u n f o l d s a s s o m e t h i n g n e w.

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THE LUXE STYLE

THE LUXE STYLE

To make a journey implies separating, leaving, becoming, moving. It’s an unexpected encounter. Open-mindedness and possibility. But, above all, is a return. In Heinrich von Ofterdingen (Novalis), the wayfarers were asked: “Where are you going?”. And the unequivocal answer was: “Always homeward”. In this sense “the sense of home

that everybody, in nostalgia, believes to see in childhood, is instead at the end of the journey. The latter is circular; it starts from home, goes through the world and comes back home, even though it is a very different home, because it gained meaning thanks to the departure, the original split” (C. Magris).

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THE LUXE STYLE

Hugo Boss Completes the Vendée Globe British Yachtsman Alex Thomson Takes Second with Hugo Boss

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homson, 42, set out to become the first Brit ever to win the Vendée Globe but following an epic battle with French skipper Armel Le Cléac’h missed out on the top spot by just shy of 16 hours.

The skipper of Hugo Boss crossed the finish line at 0737 UTC in a time of 74 days, 19 hours, 35 minutes and 15 seconds in one of the closest finishes ever in the race’s 27-year history. Le Cléac’h, 39, took the top spot yesterday at 1537 UTC with a time of 74 days, three hours and 35 minutes, setting a new race record by three days, 22 hours and 41 minutes. Although Thomson had to settle for second place his time also supersedes the previous record of 78 days 2 hours 16 minutes set by French sailor François Gabart in the 2012-13 edition.

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It is the second time in four attempts that Thomson has finished on the Vendée Globe podium - he took third place in the 201213 edition after being forced to retire from the 2004-05 and 2008-09 races. The result makes him the most successful non-French skipper in the history of the race. In the 2001 race British yachtswoman Dame Ellen MacArthur finished in second place taking 94 days, four hours and 25 minutes to do so. Sixteen years on Thomson was almost 20 days quicker, a feat made all the more impressive given that one of Hugo Boss’ foils providing lift and therefore speed was destroyed just two weeks into the race.

Thomson arrived in the Vendée Globe’s home port of Les Sables d’Olonne in France at sunrise to rapturous applause from thousands of race fans that braved the freezing temperatures to welcome him home. Among the first to congratulate Thomson on his incredible achievement was his wife Kate, their six-yearold son Oscar and two-year-old daughter Georgia who enjoyed an emotional reunion onboard Hugo Boss prior to arriving at Port Olona marina. “It’s an amazing feeling to be here – you never really know for sure that it’s going to happen until you cross the finish line,” Thomson said. “We’ve been away a long, long time and it’s great to finally be here. I hoped and prayed I could catch Armel but about 24 to 36 hours from the finish I knew that was the end. I’ve spent the whole race wondering what could have happened if the foil hadn’t broken, but it did, and now it’s finished. Congratulations to Armel, what a great race he had and he thoroughly deserved to win. I’m very happy with second place. Now I’m looking forward to getting some sleep, seeing my family and having my life back.”

Thomson and Le Cléac’h were singled out as the pre-race favourites prior to the start on November 6 and they lived up to their top billing, spending much of the 25,000nm race practically

neck and neck. Both sailors topped the leaderboard at various stages of the opening days but it was when Thomson rocketed from eighth to first by taking a shortcut through the Cape Verde Islands that the battle between the pair really began. Thomson led at the Equator but on November 19 he hit a submerged object and the starboard foil was ripped from the boat. Despite this he led round the Cape of Good Hope into the Southern Ocean, but was overhauled by Le Cléac’h on December 3. In a display of sheer skill and talent Thomson, with a little help from the weather gods, turned a 800nm deficit at Cape Horn into a gap of just 50nm as the pair crossed the Equator heading north.

He set a new 24-hour distance record on January 16th, sailing 536.81nm at an average speed of 22.4 knots to break Francois Gabart’s existing record by two miles. Hearts were in mouths when Thomson got to within 30 miles of Le Cléac’h with just a few hundred miles to the finish line, but just as it looked like he would cause a major upset his French rival accelerated away to build up an unassailable lead. Thomson sailed 27,636nm in the race at an average speed of 15.39 knots, at times hitting more than 30 knots.

The fact that Thomson even started the race was an incredible achievement. Exactly one year before the Vendée Globe was due to begin the newly-launched Hugo Boss was dismasted 80nm off the coast of Spain after being smashed side-on by a massive Atlantic wave. Thomson, who had been competing with Spaniard Guillermo Altadill in the Transat Jacques Vabre doubled-handed race across the Atlantic, had to be airlifted off the stricken boat by coastguards. Hugo Boss was badly damaged but recovered and towed to Spain. Amazingly his shore team won the race against time to get her start of the 2016-17 Vendée Globe.

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THE LUXE STYLE

Ralph Lauren Purple Label Spring 2017 Collection

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he Ralph Lauren Purple Label Spring 2017 Collection embraces one of life’s greatest luxuries, perfect imperfection. This touch of leisure is woven through sportswear, haberdashery, formalwear and accessories.

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Sportswear exudes ease with signature rugged and rustic details while speaking to a more active and urban lifestyle, introducing air-spun cashmere and jersey sweaters, tropical-wool running shorts and water-resistant track pants. A nautical theme is woven through a group of highperformance pieces, such as a neoprene duffel coat with handmade leather details and an ultra-lightweight airmesh windbreaker. Fine craftsmanship is celebrated in a battle jacket and jumpsuit with embroidery, and handsome suede is put into a hooded sweater with a laced henley opening.

for additional dimension. Modern fashion details include high-waist and wide-leg trousers, deconstructed unlined jackets with patch pockets, and versatile knitwear layers.

Suiting takes on a more relaxed silhouette in rich and innovative garment-dyed and textured fabrics, styled in sophisticated tonal color combinations. There are separate haberdashery groups in gray, taupe and navy that mix custom-designed lightweight silk and linen blends with special touches such as basket-weave and chevron patterns

A new collection of Purple Label accessories builds on the exciting sportswear story with the introduction of a carbonfiber and burled-wood surfboard, and neoprene espadrilles and tote, while other fleece accessories are inspired by performance auto seats in Ralph Lauren’s own personal collection of cars.

The clean geometric architecture of the Art Deco era informed the inspiration of the formalwear, illustrated by the graphic contrast of bold black and white. Jacquards are crafted with nuanced contemporary patterns, and the iconic Chrysler Building, a legendary New York destination, lands on a novelty sweater.

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THE LUXE STYLE

Versace Menswear Fall / Winter 2017

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he brotherhood of Versace – the strength of individuals, the power of unity.

Pride in identity, the coming together of clans, and the sense of belonging from new archetypes for a male wardrobe.

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Outerwear includes long, knitted coats that wrap the body, or sharply tailored coats that are held by belts to dramatize the silhouette. Prints throughout are like mark-making, as if the hand-painted pattern of an ancient tribe. The prints unify and blend the collection between formal and casual.

Nylon trenches have light yet dynamic volume, with doublelength belts to hold and exaggerate their elegant fluidity.

Photographic prints of classical sculptures are collaged with images of hardware, symbolising the idealistic beauty of male power through the ages.

Shearling coats bring the survival instincts of the wilds to the city, while plaid shirts are rugged for the urban landscape.

Positive words of hope are embroidered on the chest of shirts and nylon zip-ups, with hidden messages of affirmation also sewn inside coats to embolden the wearer. The pattern and beauty of African textiles are found in jacquard coats that are woven like blankets, or graphic sweaters that were proudly knitted by hand.

The Versace suit is refreshed and lightened: the strong silhouette is now neat to the body, with a soft constructed shoulder for the way men wear tailoring today.

Hiking sneakers punctuate the silhouette with their energising shape, often mixing traditional shoe detailing with a technical sole.

Empire bags have been hand-painted in the marks of the collection, while the new Palladian bag is neat, compact and versatile.

The V-Extreme Pro watch brings the rugged outdoors into the urban environment, while a special edition of the Dylos with grey stone or total black is sleek for the city.

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Crafted Modernity

Ermenegildo Zegna’s “Made to Measure” Fashion Show

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merging of the intensely artisanal and the resolutely contemporary. Alessandro Sartori debuts in the role of Artistic Director for Ermenegildo Zegna in a dialogue between the art of exquisite tailoring and the fast-paced needs of the contemporary urban and globe trotter. Out of progressive contrasts - technology clashes with tradition as the outdoors spirit stems from sartorial constructions and sportswear permanently alters the look of formality - new categories arise. The message is synchronic: ease, speed, luxury that’s relevant for the moment and that’s thought to be lived out there. The spirit is as multi-cultural, multi-age, multiple as contemporary masculinity is.

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The show is set within the iconic premises of Anselm Kiefer’s The Seven Heavenly Palaces. His brutally poetic, conceptually expansive architectures of pure raw materials and effortless engineering becomes the perfect environment for Alessandro Sartori’s new aesthetic which evolves and breaks codes relying on intense textures and keen constructions that define new functions. Casentino felt is made with ultralight cashmere, allowing suits to turn into outerwear. The textile research of Ermenegildo Zegna is manifested in the exclusive Trofeo Cashmere denim as well as in felted cashmere jersey and tubular padded jacquards. A special wax tanning process gives baby calf a papery, waterproof feel and a surprising weightlessness. Geometrics jacquard - hand-drawn and intricate - add a spin to classic suiting patterns.

The silhouette is soft and active, defined by the strong line of the shoulders and a natural flow. Inside-out constructions bring functionality to the fore; drawstrings mold the shape of formal coats and field jackets. The proportions of blousons and parkas have a defining lightness. Rubberized zippers close tailored outerwear.

In the global shifting, an elegant informality arises.

The organic color palette grows from tones of winter white and light grey to notes of camel, vicuna, rusted nail and African earth to deepen into shades of oxblood, pond, peacock green and journal blue.

Accessories make a bold presence: active sneakers, sturdy brogues with silicon-dipped soles, outsized portfolios and backpacks, book briefcases. A special loom turns super thin leather strips into a woven fabric: the innovative Pelle Tessuta.

To close the circle creating a real dialogue with the customers, in the spirit of Couture the day after the show a selection of looks will be available to order Made to Measure in global stores worldwide, scheduled for a six-weeks delivery according to the meticulous atelier timeline. This unique experience expands the reach of the show to a global audience, keeping the authenticity of Zegna values in soulful pieces meant to be really worn.

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Cultural Bonding

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The French Cultural Scene in Kuwait, with His Excellency Christian Nakhlé

hristian Nakhlé was appointed Ambassador of France to Kuwait in July 2013 and joined his new post on 15 September of the same year. A career diplomat, yet engineer by profession , he has worked extensively on promoting the French cultural scene in Kuwait through events, forums and conferences. His aim is to strenghten these relations between France and the State of Kuwait.

MEN’S PASSION’s Pamela Azzi had the pleasure to conduct a one-on-one interview with His Excellency about the cultural exchanges between the two nations.

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Since your appointment as the Ambassador of France, how have you found Kuwait?

I arrived to Kuwait in September 2013, and I must say that the day after my arrival, I felt immediately ‘at home’, as if I had always lived here. It is true that I have a long experience in the region, having recently been Consul General of France in Jeddah in Saudi Arabia, but it was difficult for me to imagine that my adaptation to Kuwait would be so rapid.

I have been here for more than three years and my network has grown enormously: I personally know almost all the ministers of the government, and mainly the Prime Minister who traveled to France for an official visit in October 2014.

Obviously, I have very close relations with all the authorities of the country, which have very close relations with France. I greatly appreciate the wisdom and vision of His Highness the Emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, who is a great friend of my country and whom we highly respect. But the State of Kuwait is also the ‘ordinary’ Kuwaitis - people like you and me; we meet each other in “diwaniyas,” for meals, and at family-and-friend events. The Kuwaiti society is open and educated. I have great pleasure interacting with my Kuwaiti friends, whether they are students or experienced professionals. As I told you, I really feel at home!

Can you characterize the cultural relations between France and Kuwait? Moreover, what steps should be taken to further these relations?

We have excellent diplomatic relations. They are also based on numerous exchanges, particularly in the cultural field.

France has chosen to set up a French Institute in Kuwait, located in Jabriya. We are practically the only nation to have in Kuwait such a pedagogical and cultural tool designed to promote the diffusion of the French language. You may also know that Kuwait, with the support of France and the French-speaking countries, has introduced French as a living language into the country’s public colleges.

We have also chosen to establish here our regional social sciences research center, the CEFAS, which was originally located in Yemen. Again this is a fine achievement we have led with the strong support of the Kuwaiti authorities. It is impossible for me to develop all the current projects, but I would like at least to say a word about the health sector: we welcome many Kuwaiti medical students to France and are very happy to train them. Better yet, we have a project, which should soon see the light of day, to set up a French cancer hospital in Kuwait: the ‘Gustave Roussy Hospital’, named after the same hospital in France, which is the first of its kind in Europe.

What does the French Embassy bring to the cultural scene in Kuwait?

We have had many events in the recent months in coordination with the Dar Al Athar Al Islamiyyah (DAI) for example, and other

associations like Loyac, as well as forums like Nuqat. With the Contemporary Art Platform gallery (CAP), we also brought artists from France, and in September 2016, the exhibition by the French artist Quentin Carnaille greatly pleased the Kuwaiti public.

Again, it is difficult to include all the events and cultural exchanges in few words: the cultural life in France is very rich and we are very interested in doing even more in Kuwait, in particular in the context of shows or exhibitions and we are looking forward to collaborating with Sheikh Jaber Al Ahmad Cultural Center. We will work on it.

Kuwait has multiple-dimension relationships with France, ranging from pure economics to culture, technology to humanity, and from education to support. Please tell us how you perceive your role as Ambassador of France to enhance the sustainable bilateral relationships between the two countries.

For three years I have sought to expand the network of my country so as to reach the largest public in Kuwait, especially young people. Believe me, it is a pleasure for me to maintain these ties with the Kuwaitis because we are constantly discovering many talents! It is today an important part of my work to continue and maintain these contacts because they are very important for the development of economic and trade relations and more generally the relations between our two countries.

We have opened a “Business France” office within the Embassy, which is designed to promote trade between France and Kuwait.

France stands for its rich cultural heritage and performing arts. Kuwait has also been blessed with so many gifted artists, performers, and voices. To which extent does the French Embassy encourage those talents?

We are very attentive to young Kuwaiti talents and wish to establish a strong link with the new generation. For example, every year we train three young filmmakers from Kuwait at ’La Fémis’ - the French national school of sound and image in Paris.

You really must meet these young Kuwaitis - because they will tell you better than I what they have gained in terms of experience! They are dithyrambic! I would rather let them speak. We are very pleased with these exchanges.

One last word...

Kuwait has an important place in the Middle East because it is a ‘peace power’, as is France. This is a fact that no one can deny. This reason alone is sufficient for Kuwait and His Highness the Emir, to gain the greatest esteem of France and the entire international scene.

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Hamad Al Jenaie Producer, Actor and Director

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is extensive catalogue of theatre credits may belie his relative youth, but it pays testament to a wealth of experience. Having spent his formative years in the United Kingdom, he was brought up on a diet of English literature and passionate performances. From the land of Shakespeare, he’s bringing those same influences into play in the world of the theatrical arts in Kuwait. We spoke to Hamad not long after he stepped out of the stage door, fresh from his success with December’s production of ‘Sweeney Todd – The Demon Barber of Fleet Street’.

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From his earliest roles in England for The Italian Straw Hat (2003); A Midsummer Night’s Dream (2004); The Scarlet Pimpernel (2005); and Romeo and Juliet (2006) Hamad moved to Kuwait in 2007 and was soon involved at the highest level of theatre with Harriet Bushman’s 2008 musical adaptation of Marietta Philips’ The Dream Dealer, directed by Alison Shan Price. His prodigious talent was quickly spotted, and he landed his first lead in this play, an experience that would also take him to Edinburgh’s famed Fringe Festival. Hamad received a Distinction at Gold Medal Level in Musical Theatre and Gold Medal level Acting in LAMDA (London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art) Examinations in Kuwait he’s set his sights on inspiring a new level of appreciation for, and enjoyment of, theatre in Kuwait and beyond.

From 2008 until now, it’s been a typically short and direct theatrical route and series of mutually-beneficial collaborations that Hamad has followed.

Hamad has played major Shakespearean characters including Iago (Othello), Oberon (A Midsummer Night’s Dream) and Cassius (Julius Caesar) in Kuwait. In 2013 he co-directed his first show The Woman in Black at Boxhill Theatre. In 2015 Hamad won the part of King Creon when One World Actors Centre represented Kuwait at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2015 with the 4-star bilingual Antigone, an Arabian Tragedy based on the play Antigone by Jean Anouilh and which was filmed by Al Arabia TV. The show was nominated for an Amnesty International Award. Hamad returned to the Fringe in 2016 as The Father in One World Actors Centre’s The Blue Box - Memories of Children of War which received 5 star ratings. Based on the stories of The Blue Box by teenager Emma Abdullah, the show raised thousands of dollars for charities and talks are underway in regard to a forthcoming tour. In each role Hamad imbibes his characters with truth and humility.

Notable for his input with the One World Actors Centre UK, he works closely with its Founder and CEO Alison Shan Price who says of him, “Hamad Al Jenaie personifies the word ‘professional’ in the field of theatrical arts not only as a performer or producer but also in his generosity towards drama students at One World Actors Centre”.

Keen to engage local audiences, his attention and interest turned towards musicals. Kuwait had enjoyed many lowerkey musicals over the years, and has showed an eagerness for the genre whenever the opportunity arose.

“In 2014 we performed Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Evita to sellout audiences”, he recalls. “That’s when I began to realise that people’s appetite for musicals had returned. I felt that theatre here needed to offer something beyond the dance shows that have become a staple of entertainment. I saw that we had an opportunity to perform something new. It was a tough challenge we set ourselves, but I knew it would

help focus a lot of attention on us and on the growth of theatre in Kuwait”.

A tough challenge indeed – but one for which audiences have thanked him and the One World Actors Centre in droves – the recent performances of Sweeney Todd were also sold out… and long before opening night.

“This was a show that I’d been turning over in my mind for the past ten years. I felt this was a show that would go over well here. It’s a great musical, and a two-hundred-year-old story.

It’s almost become a legend”.

Between himself and Alison (who would ultimately direct the show), along with Kuwait’s artistic power-couple of Harriet and Richard Bushman (with the Ahmadi Music Group), they decided to secure the rights to perform Sweeney Todd in 2016.

For Hamad, the challenge would be intense – not only did he produce the show, he also took the lead role. A tricky balancing act ensued, but he approached this as he does every aspect of life – in detail.

“To do this right, it was clear I’d have to know the story, insideout”, he says. “Each character, every setting. But remember this story has been in my mind for the past decade. I felt I already knew every character”.

Based on the Tony and Grammy award-winning Broadway production, it would be a difficult show to produce –- but he never doubted its success. A key to this was the strong team that developed within the production – the actors, the director, the technical and support teams – Hamad is keen to stress that each played a highly valuable role and highlighted the work of production designer Diana Sfeir for her support, as well as choreographer Yousef Al Nasser and Balqis Duvall who played Mrs Lovett so wonderfully well.

Far from seeing his work within English-language theatre in an Arabic-speaking region as divisive, he sees his work as complementary. A huge supporter of Arabic-theatre, he sees great similarity between both, and indeed is keen to mix both when the opportunity arises – witness the earlier performances of Blue Box and Antigone. “What we achieved in both of those was something very unexpected. And a big success judged by the responses. We added a new dimension. That’s something we’re always aiming to do”.

Theatre in Kuwait is currently on the crest of a multi-talented and multi-faceted wave. Across cultures and generations, it is inspiring new audiences. For those passionate few devoting themselves to the growth of the art, such as Hamad Al Jenaie, the clearest way we can show our gratitude is by supporting their shows through our attendance. The good news for all of us is there’s currently no shortage of interest in what he and others will do next.

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Saïd Zeineddine Guardian of the Archive

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azira Zeineddine was a Lebanese feminist and daughter of Judge Saïd Zeineddine who fought for justice, democracy, and who supported his daughter in becoming a pioneer in the Arab World through her two groundbreaking books that defied society’s strict norms: Al-Sufoor Wal Hijab (1928) and Al-Fatat Wal Shuyookh (1929).

Their detailed stories would not have been as widely known without the effort of a man who took upon himself the role of spreading their contributions to society across the world. His name is Saïd Zeineddine, the grandson of Judge Saïd Zeineddine and nephew of the feminist Nazira Zeineddine.

Na zira Zeineddine’s original books

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122 year old book of a collection of poems writ ten by Mohammad Zeineddine, the brother of Judge Saïd Zeineddine (1312 Hijri)

A rare photograph of Nazira Zeineddine with the famous singer Asmahan (Circa 1930)

Histor y is all about myster y: stories that carr y the essence of the past that are waiting to be told. Not ever y person’s tale will be known and sometimes, they will simply dissipate, leaving no trace behind.

Poetically, histor y is all around us – but what if it truly does surround you?

The military certificate in topography of Lieutenant Kamel Zeineddine, Saïd Zeineedine’s father, dated 1944

Saïd Zeineddine’s family flame was never extinguished, leaving a desire burning in his hear t for more knowledge.

He grew to understand more about his family and the impact they lef t on society through his thirst for answers – something that led him to discover who originally Saïd Zeineddine and Nazira Zeineddine were.

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THE LUXE ART

A handwritten poem by the calligrapher of King Fouad I of Egypt addressed to Nazira Zeineddine, 1929

Letter to Nazira Zeineddine from “Al-Ourwat Al-Wouska”, Aleppo 1929

How did your passion for the family heritage start and what propelled you to revive the past?

My father and I were two generations apart, so we had a huge age difference that stood between us. This made it very difficult to relate to each other on a conversational level, as I was far too young. Everything that could have been was prevented by a gap of 50 years.

Due to this drastic age difference, I was basically born into a world where I did not have the luxury of getting to know my extended family. I had never gotten the chance to understand who they were and see firsthand how they touched the lives of many.

When my father passed away, I had only just begun to truly mature in thought. At that time, I was involved in things that every young man in college was – sports, gatherings, and so on. So, I never got to the point in my life where my father had the chance to tell me more about my family.

However, this did not prevent me from discovering the secret tales that lay hidden around me. I felt that it was my right to know. So, as I grew into a young man, as did my curiosity about the family I never truly knew. Primarily, what ignited my interest to discover their untold stories was the praise people continuously shared of the achievements of my family as important public figures.

Letter to Nazira Zeineddine from the Syrian Prime Minister, dated 1928

Each person who spoke of my family members gave me bits and pieces of information that led to the discovery of the stories behind several objects that once belonged to my relatives. From rare photos, books, certificates of appreciation, letters, and so much more, there was an abundance of history waiting for me to discover.

From then on, I did extensive research, looking at articles, news pieces and people’s recounts to try to put the pieces of the puzzle together. My sole aim was to justly understand the family I always had but never truly knew.

Are you planning to write a family history or organize an exhibition?

I am not a writer but I plan to preserve my family’s history through making their words remain alive. One of the many objects I found, were my aunt’s two books. They were the only copies left, so I took it upon myself to republish the books with a special twist: by adding the letters of praise she received that I had come across in my search.

I have also approached several publishing houses abroad in an attempt to translate my aunt’s books into English and French. I feel that it is my responsibility to keep history alive through her words, not mine, as they hold the true essence of the past through her passion.

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A postcard of Judge Saïd Zeineddine & his wife Hala (Circa 1900)

The 500 year old Zeineddine home in Ain Qani, Mount Lebanon

I was also behind the publishing of a judicial biography on my grandfather. It was the first in Lebanon, which was a great honor and tribute to my grandfather who held a very reputable position in the Lebanese society back then. The author Miriam Cooke also approached me for an interview in order to contribute to her book Nazira Zeineddine: A Pioneer of Islamic Feminism.

Time is an important element in our lives – I definitely understand that. Whilst I am delighted to be part of my family, it was just unfortunate that I never got to appreciate their wisdom whilst they were alive. I was unable to feed off their knowledge but I suppose that history is beautiful because of its mystery – one that I was able to uncover with time.

I do not plan to create an exhibition for the collectables that I have found at this stage. However, I plan to revive history from where it all started: my 500 year old house in Lebanon where my family lived.

Are you following the steps of your family in making a difference within the community you live in?

How did your aunt’s books and grandfather’s history touch your life?

I think that my emotions were first stirred by people’s praise of my family. This was mainly a feeling of pride being related to noteworthy public figures that contributed to making a difference in the country I was born in, and possibly the world.

Upon finding the historical documents, objects and learning more about the era they lived in, the pride subsided to make room for an indescribable overwhelming emotion that was coated with disappointment.

I felt frustrated that I only got to understand and know more about my family at such a late stage. I definitely experienced a lot of nostalgia due to the fact that I never got the chance to experience their stories firsthand.

I work in advertising, which is about storytelling. I suppose that, now that I think about it, I have subconsciously plunged into a world where I always have to tell the story of a brand through advertising. Whilst the tale I am telling is not related to my family’s history it is still a part of me that I hold dear to my heart. My quest for answers has helped me unlock many brands’ stories that were waiting to be told – so, I suppose my family has continuously been a guiding and helping hand, whether I noticed or not.

If I were to pinpoint a story that I will always tell, it would be that of my family. I want to ensure that my kids feel the same sense of pride that I do when they refer to their ancestors. If I could think of one thing that I am sure I will do for the rest of my life, it is to continuously contribute to keeping their memories alive.

After all, it is my duty as the guardian of the archive.

By Pamela Azzi.

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THE LUXE YACHTS

Kuwait Yacht Show 2017 At Marsa Al Kout

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he Kuwait Yacht Show is a solid fixture on the calendar of the region’s annual shows, and returns in 2017 for its Fifth Edition with a new end-March date. Opening on 28th March, the Show runs through until the 31st and will be open from 4.00pm until 9.30pm each day.

THE LUXE YACHTS

The Kuwait Yacht Show (KYS) provides the one annual opportunity for the public in Kuwait to meet, view and buy from local, regional and international marine industry companies. There’s also plenty more besides – including the best of fine style, automobiles and timepieces in Kuwait.

A private initiative by PH7 Group, it has nonetheless secured enthusiastic support from the states Ministry of Commerce and Industry – a sure sign of the value Kuwait places on the marine economy, and an official acknowledgment of the value this now well-established yacht show has imbued on the international image of the nation.

For 2017, KYS moves to a new home – Marsa Al Kout Marina, at Fahaheel. Here, you will experience the largest landmark and lifestyle destination in Kuwait. Stretched over 1.6 km of pristine beachfront, the new Al Kout features a variety of experiences blended into one truly great place. The new Al Kout is one of the finest waterfront developments in Kuwait and as the lifestyle destination of choice, embodies the essence of Kuwaiti cultural and social life.

Explore the timeless and perfectly balanced Al Kout Mall with expansive mall ways that open into delightful triple atria, stroll through the vibrant hub of community at Souq Al Kout with its stunning views of the marina and be captivated by Nag’at Al Kout, the traditional fishing wharf where fishermen moor and ply their trade in timeless tradition. Al Manshar Rotana with its 5-star service and generous facilities is a cultural reference of modern Arabian society while Sahel Al Kout, the pristine beachfront, offers uninterrupted views of the Arabian Gulf and blends with the state-of-the-art luxurious yacht club, Marsa Al Kout with its high-level marina facilities for over 150 boats.

Visit kuwaityachtshow.com for more information, and be sure to check out our pre-show sneak peek in the March edition of Men’s Passion.

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THE LUXE TRAVEL

Beirut; My Paradise Not a Moment to Waste, with Lama Karam

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controversial city that is nothing less than inspiring and stimulating to one’s senses. One of the oldest cities in the world (circa 5,000 years), Beirut has lived under many empires; overcame numerous battles; and underwent major reconstructions. Time after time, the city and its people have risen only to become stronger, more resilient and more flourishing with a hopeful and unconditional love to their country. A passionate Lebanese residing in the Gulf, this is Lama’s idyll 48 hours spent in her hometown Beirut.

For me Beirut is my home and my identity; a city at once stalked by the past, wary of the future, but always determined to live in the moment.

Where to stay: Albergo boutique hotel.

‘Must-try’ street food: mana2ish, falafel, shawarma, knefe.

Words that best describes the city: diverse, cultural, friendly, modern, chaotic, brilliant, real.

What to expect: nothing but the best.

Day 1: 9 am Typical Lebanese “Man2oushe” for breakfast.

Wherever you stay in the city, you will find a Lebanese bakery within walking distance where you can treat yourself to the typical and most authentic thyme flat bread (or man2ouche) for breakfast. I recommend adding some fresh vegetables and Lebanese yogurt-based cheese “labneh” to it.

10 am Head to the revitalized downtown area at the centre of the action. Make sure to pass by Martyr’s Square in the heart of Downtown Beirut, see the martyr’s statues and visit both St. Georges Maronite cathedral as well as the Mohammed Al-Amin mosque: landmarks symbolizing both religion’s coexistence.

Keep your head high while strutting the streets, as you will be pleasantly surprised by unexpected graffiti covering bulletridden shells of buildings ravaged during the civil wars. A pleasant synchronization between the ugly and the beautiful.

Artist to watch closely: Yazin Halwani.

THE LUXE TRAVEL

11 am Continue to Beirut Souks, the major commercial district of the city, and enjoy a wide range of boutiques for shopping and entertainment.

If you are lucky, you will stumble upon the farmer’s market or “Souk El Tayeb”. Held every Saturday at the souks, you can treat yourself to many organic foods prepared by different Lebanese farmers and small local businesses from all over the country. Do not miss getting jams, fruits, vegetables and Lebanese delicacies… all promoting Lebanese food traditions and heritage.

1 pm Have lunch in the trendy “Beirut Central District” area - a busy neighborhood with up-and-coming restaurants. My goto choice would be L’Avenue for international French cuisine or Kampai for tasty and exotic sushi.

3 pm Grab coffee and go for a walk on the corniche (known as Raouché). Feel the authentic Beirut spirit with the sea on your right, the city on your left and corn-sellers as well as joggers crowding the pavements of the sidewalks. Make sure to pause halfway and gaze at our natural landmarks, “The Pigeon Rocks”.

6 pm Watch the sunset, unwind and grab a drink at Zaitunay Bay as you enjoy the stunning view of the moored yachts at Beirut’s marina on one side and the city building’s lights on the other.

5 pm Cross the road and visit the oldest university in town, the American University of Beirut (AUB), which recently celebrated its 150th anniversary; the most beautiful and charming campus that still has a transformative impact and adds an institutional resilience to the region’s education scene. I can never deny that I have spent the best years of my life at AUB!

9 pm Get your glam on and be ready to experience Beirut’s most cosmopolitan nights. Head to the Mar Mikhaël neighborhood; a sleepless area full of street restaurants. My dinner suggestions would be Baron, Tavolina or L’Osteria. If your energy level is still up, you can head to O1NE - the city’s main nightclub located at the entrance to BIEL.

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THE LUXE TRAVEL

Day 2 9 am Wake up and have breakfast at Falamanki café in the Sodeco area. Sit in the garden and enjoy the perfect adaptation of traditional Lebanese culture and the revitalization of old Beirut into a modern-day restaurant.

11 am Visit the Sursock museum in Ashrafieh. This modern and contemporar y ar t museum in the hear t of Beirut is over a centur y year old and has been recently expanded and renovated. A must-see stopover for ar t lovers who want to discover the Lebanese cultural scene and local ar tists’ works.

1 pm Have Lunch in “Liza Beirut”, an upscale Middle Eastern restaurant that occupies the 2nd floor of a 19th century palace in the capital’s stylish Ashrafieh neighborhood. Other than the tasty cuisine, the interior design plays a big role in the venue; let your eyes wander at the exotic avant-garde decoration, the high ceilings and arches that evoke the old heritage of Lebanon.

3 pm Stroll around the Ashrafieh neighborhood, notice all the beautiful hidden architectural gems and discover one-off

THE LUXE TRAVEL

concept stores where you can shop local designers such as: Depeche Mode, Sarah’s Bags, Vanina, Nada Debs and many more… don’t forget that Beirut is the region’s fashion hub with a truly unique shopping experience.

5 pm Try the world’s best ice cream: Hanna Mittri on Mar Mitr street in Ashrafieh. I am not exaggerating, nor being patriotic, it is in fact the world’s best ice cream. While strutting the street you will stumble upon a white-painted, one-room shop in a battered old building, where a whole family has been dedicated to making ice cream for the past 60 years! Flavors to try: milk, amareddine, rosewater and chocolate.

7 pm Have a sunset break at Iris, on the rooftop of Al Nahar building. Enjoy the relaxed post-work vibe in the middle of the city.

9 pm Continue your evening in one of the best French restaurants in town, Centrale. It has been a long-time favorite due to its unique atmosphere, trendy crowd and edgy architecture designed by renowned Lebanese architect Bernard Khoury.

After dinner, take the elevator pod up a level to extend your evening with an intimate view of old Beirut through the retractable roof.

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THE LUXE TRAVEL

The Big Apple - Take a Fresh Bite

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he Capital of the World, The Big Apple, The Melting Pot, The Modern Gomorrah, The City That Never Sleeps. Call it what you will, for more than a century it’s been the world’s greatest city.

Not the biggest, not always the most stylish, nor even the safest. But throughout the years, and today, it’s delivered vibrancy on a scale that no other city can match. Yet, as with every city we visit, we prefer to deconstruct it a little and admire it one street, one store and one coffee at a time. Here’s a guide to the best of the current crop of New York’s nooks and crannies that simply shouldn’t be missed.

Shopping Kinfolk, Williamsburg Kinfolk was formed in 2008 by friends from New York, Los Angeles and Tokyo, Japan. The concept of a “Kinfolk life” evolved from their desire to create products and experiences they’d imagine but couldn’t find to purchase.

Combining experience from a variety of disciplines, the group set out to source the highest quality designers, builders and techniques to develop lasting products and unique experiences. As the Kinfolk family continues growing by the day, the missions of working hard and having fun remain steadfast. Even if they don’t always unfold in that order. Visit the store at 90, Wythe Avenue.

Apolis, SoHo Apolis (uh–paul–is) means “global citizen.” These guys are a socially motivated lifestyle brand that empowers communities worldwide. In 2004, brothers Raan and Shea Parton founded Apolis with a simple idea that business can create social change. Their travels abroad immersed them in personal stories of struggle and survival and inspired them to create a business model that bridges commerce and economic development. Along with their commitment to global advocacy, they also understand the importance of sourcing and manufacturing locally.

Whether it means partnering with manufacturers in Uganda, Peru, Bangladesh, or around the corner in Los Angeles, the Partons have used their model of “advocacy through industry” to empower people to determine their own future.

They’re in Los Angeles but, more importantly for us right now, on SoHo’s Center Street.

Culture The New Museum, Bowery The New Museum is the only museum in New York City exclusively devoted to contemporary art. Founded in 1977, the New Museum is a centre for exhibitions, information, and documentation about living artists from around the

THE LUXE TRAVEL

world. From its beginnings as a one-room office on Hudson Street to the inauguration of its first freestanding building on the Bowery designed by SANAA in 2007, the New Museum continues to be a place of experimentation and a hub of new art and new ideas.

The Studio Museum, Harlem The Studio Museum in Harlem is the nexus for artists of African descent locally, nationally and internationally and for work that has been inspired and influenced by black culture. It is a site for the dynamic exchange of ideas about art and society. The Museum’s permanent collection includes nearly two thousand paintings, sculptures, watercolours, drawings, pastels, prints, photographs, mixed-media works and installations dating from the nineteenth century to the present.

Dining Breakfast: Irving Farms, Lower East Side Although they’ve expanded to 7 (soon to be 8) locations across New York, the guys at Irving Farm have managed to avoid falling in to the ‘coffee chain’ pit, imbuing each of the venues with a unique style. Our favourite – on LSE’s Orchard Street – retains enough of an effortless and authentic whiff of ‘hipness’ to keep us going back for their great coffee and delicious oatmeal breakfasts.

Lunch: Red Rooster, Harlem With a great location in the heart of Harlem, Red Rooster serves comfort food celebrating the roots of American cuisine and the diverse culinary traditions of the neighbourhood.

You’ll find great steaks and generous and juicy ‘Crispy Bird’ sandwiches. Their servings are not for the faint-of-heart, and the chances are you’ll end up sharing a table with strangers.

But what could be more fun than eavesdropping while tucking into a plate of Sister Fanny’s Crab Bread?

Pizza: Joe’s Pizza, Greenwich Village There are few food-types as personal and divisive as a pizza, but we can unequivocally state that 75-year old Joe Pozzouli’s

NY-slice joint at the corner of Bleecker and Carmine Street is one of the very finest in NYC – indeed, GQ labelled them amongst the 25 best in the world.

Bagels: Black Seed, Nolita There are other excellent bagels in the city but, no matter how many we try, Black Seeds remains the benchmark to which the rest are compared. Their outlet on Elizabeth Street is easily our favourite, and heading our wish list as we shuffle slowly (there’s always a healthy queue – a good sign!) to the counter is their Sable, Lox & Dill Cream Cheese, Butter Lettuce, and Onion on ‘Everything’ (a hand-rolled and wood-fired bagel made with poppy, caraway, and sesame seeds, plus salt, garlic, and onion, well, with everything).

Where to stay: Wherever you go in the city, your experience will be tempered by the place you choose to lay your head. In New York, you’re in the greatest city in the world. Avoid the big names and spoil yourself with a choice from one of these two hotels which take style and comfort to another level.

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THE LUXE TRAVEL

The Greenwich Hotel, Greenwich Village This project is the result of a collaboration of many creative minds. Initially conceived by the Owners and the Rockwell Group, the public spaces and façade were re-envisioned and designed by Grayling Design, while the rooms were designed and completed by Samantha Crasco. The Spa area was conceived and designed by Mikio Shinagawa, who also supervised a contingent of Japanese craftsmen to implement the design.

Common Areas: The common areas of The Greenwich Hotel set the tone for craftsmanship throughout. In the lobby, leaded glass windows and beams of reclaimed oak create a comfortable setting for morning coffee or evening cocktails.

Just around the corner is the Drawing Room, similar in style.

With twelve-foot ceilings, bookshelves and a wood-burning fireplace, the Drawing Room is the perfect place to host a casual meeting or an intimate lunch. Lining one side of the room are antique mirrored glass and French doors that lead to a small courtyard, where guests can dine beneath latticed vines, or just look out at the greenery. To maintain its availability, this room is reserved only for hotel guests.

Guest rooms and Suites: The Greenwich Hotel has 88 rooms, of which no two are alike. The Greenwich Hotel has thirteen suites, some with saunas, others with working fireplaces. There are two duplex suites: The Greenwich

Hotel and the N. Moore. Conceived as artist ateliers, both have soaring 30-foot skylights, chef’s kitchens, two master bedrooms with two bathrooms, stone fireplaces, and offices with separate entrances. Each of these duplex residences can be expanded to accommodate up to five bedrooms.

Furnishings: The furnishing have been drawn from a wide range of cultural influences – from the hand-loomed Tibetan rugs to the patterns of Moroccan tiles, to the hand-made Italian terracotta floors, to the reclaimed pine, oak, chestnut and hemlock wood details throughout, natural materials have been used. Rooms have Dux beds, oak floors, soaking tubs and small libraries – all of which create a blend of style and substance.

Amenities: The amenities and services are as well considered as the hotel design. Houseguests can opt for in-room check-in, daily newspapers, and a refrigerator stocked with specialty items of their choice. Additionally, The Greenwich Hotel offers a full array of amenities that sophisticated travelers have come to expect. This includes HDTV, iPod docking stations, free wireless internet, and bath and body products developed especially for the hotel.

Restaurant: Locanda Verde is a casual neighbourhood Italian inn adjoining The Greenwich Hotel, serving Andrew Carmellini’s riffs on Italian cooking. It is an air y, bustling, high-ceilinged space, flooded with light and

THE LUXE TRAVEL

open to the street. Locanda Verde serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, in addition to providing 24-hour room service to the hotel.

The dining room has shelves of wine and books, comfy banquets, wooden tables, and a view of the woodburning oven and the open kitchen. In summer, Locanda Verde has outdoor cafe seating on Greenwich Street’s broad sidewalks.

Spa and Fitness Centre: Shibui Spa is a true haven for relaxation and rejuvenation at The Greenwich Hotel.

Accessible to both hotel residents and outside guests, the spa houses a lantern-lit swimming pool and lounge under the roof of a 250-year old wood and bamboo farmhouse that has been reconstructed in the hotel by Japanese craftsmen, some of whom are “Living National Treasures” of Japan.

There are four separate treatment rooms, as well as a room for relaxation either before or after treatments. Shibui Spa has a shiatsu room; a traditional bathing room with a large tub for Japanese bathing rituals; a wet room that includes a shower for wraps and scrubs; and finally, a treatment room where massages as well as facial treatments are offered.

The fitness room is over 1,000 square feet, with more than 15 pieces of equipment. Its design has been integrated to fit the concept of Shibui, serenity, with old hemlock floors and hidden lights, coupled with the most state-of-the-art equipment. Trainers are always available.

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REAL ESTATE REPORT

Property Events to Fuel Kuwait Real Estate Sector

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ith Cityscape Kuwait RIE and Cityscape KIPS launching this year, Kuwait’s real estate market is expected to receive a substantial boost.

REAL ESTATE REPORT

Kuwait’s real estate sector is well-poised to face the current climate as growth in the country’s non-oil sector is expected over the coming year.

The non-oil sector is to maintain a growth of 3.5-4% in 2017 and 2018 on strong investment, according to National Bank of Kuwait (NBK). Non-oil growth is expected to hold up well under current conditions and is expected to continue an improving trajectory, says the bank in its latest report.

One of the country’s strongest non-oil sector is the real estate industry. In November, last year Kuwait’s real estate market received a significant boost from the commercial sector pushing the monthly sales above the USD 660 million mark for the first time in six months. The boost is motivation for real estate in the country and signifies a demand in the market, notwithstanding the current economic environment.

Real estate activity in the country will be propelled even further in 2017, following the partnership between Informa Exhibitions, organiser of the Cityscape real estate events, and Top Expo Group, organiser of the Kuwait Real Estate & Investment Exhibition (RIE) and Kuwait International Property Show (KIPS).

Both exhibitors have joined forces to launch two of the country’s largest real estate events; Cityscape Kuwait RIE, taking place from April 10th until the 14th, and Cityscape Kuwait KIPS, taking place October 9th until the 13th. Both events will be held at the Kuwait International Fairgrounds.

“The events are expected to connect over 100 exhibitors from Kuwait and countries across Europe, Middle East and North Africa with thousands of receptive real estate investors,” says Ahmed Zakaria Cityscape RIE Exhibition Director.

“As we get ready for Cityscape Kuwait RIE in April, we look forward to the opportunities that this event will bring to the real estate market in Kuwait, especially as the government looks to diversify its economy in preparation for a post-oil era.

Already, the government is addressing these issues, under its economic development blueprint Kuwait Vision 2035. The country aims to develop sectors such as finance and real estate to make them even more competitive internationally, and we hope to play a part in this process through our real estate exhibitions this year,” he adds.

Kuwaitis are also diversifying their investments in overseas markets. Over the last few years outward foreign investments

by Kuwaitis have helped boost the Gulf country’s economic leverage in both the region and in the world. It’s an advantage for the country, with industry experts stressing the need to maintain such an approach so the country can benefit from the leading Kuwaiti investments abroad.

Kuwait is the Middle East’s largest and the world’s seventh largest foreign investor, according to the World Investment Report of 2015, released by the United Nations Conference Trade and Development. GCC is the prominent investment hub for Kuwaitis along with major investment from both the private and public sector into UK real estate, France and Germany.

According to a report released by the Dubai Land Department in January, in 2016 citizens of the GCC contributed AED 35 billion, with investors from Kuwait and Qatar approaching the AED 2 billion market; based on investments from 770 Kuwaiti investors.

Turkey is another major investment destination for Kuwaitis following a decision by the Turkish government to legalise real estate ownership for GCC nationals in 2012.

As a result, Cityscape Kuwait RIE will include exhibitor brands from key markets including UK, Cyprus, Dubai, Turkey and Egypt.

For more information visit: http://www.cityscapekuwait.com/

This article is supplied by Cityscape Magazine.

Cityscape magazine is the Middle East’s leading real estate investment title and is owned and published by Informa Middle East Limited. For more information, please visit www.cityscape.org Visit Cityscape Kuwait, the only international real estate investment event in Kuwait for buying your dream home.

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THE LUXE ZEITGEIST

ZEITGEIST Good design, where form and function come together so exquisitely, should always be celebrated.

This month Men’s Passion features some of the most desirable and well executed products that define the times in which we are living.

Light Rider 3D Electric Motorbike

THE LUXE ZEITGEIST

Airbus subsidiary AP Works has designed a 3D printed street bike—the first of its kind. Yes, you read it correctly: 3D printed. And using aerospace technology to build a lightweight electric motorcycle. Don’t worry: The Light Rider isn’t made of plastic; the frame was created using bionic algorithms and thousands of thin layers in a metallic powder bed. Its futuristic design was built with Scalmalloy, a corrosion-resistant aluminum alloy that is as strong as titanium, so the Light Rider Weighs 30 percent less than most e-motorcycles. It’s also an emissions-free ride, powered by a 6-kilowatt electric motor. This street bike rides up to 50 miles per hour and travels 37 miles on one battery charge.

If you want to be one of the lucky few to own the first 3D printed e-motorcycle, note that only 50 models will be produced, and a 2,000 euro deposit is required to reserve your very own Light Rider—the street bike of the future.

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THE LUXE EVENTS

The New Porsche Panamera Range Launched in Kuwait A sports car and luxury saloon in one, the new Panamera launch phase officially begun. Porsche Centre Kuwait, Behbehani Motors Company, marked the introduction of the new generation by unveiling two all-wheel drive versions: the Panamera 4S and Turbo to attendees at a special event in Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel and Spa. Guests had the chance to discover the new features of the Panamera range by sitting behind the wheel.

THE LUXE EVENTS

Vacheron Constantin The ‘Falcon’, a Middle East inspired timepiece created by the world’s oldest Haute Horlogerie manufacture, Vacheron Constantin has landed in Kuwait. The press conference was held in collaboration with the watchmaker’s luxury retail partners Ahmed Yousif Behbehani and took place at the Vacheron Constantin boutique in Salhiya Complex.

The event had in attendance Vacheron Constantin’s Brand Director for the Middle East, Alexander Schmiedt, who introduced the timepiece that depicts one of the most iconic symbols of Arab culture; the falcon.

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THE LUXE EVENTS

IWC Boutique at 360 Mall IWC celebrated their partnership with the Behbehani family by launching a special edition exclusively for the Kuwaiti market – the Portugieser Automatic 7 Days.

This unique edition was designed in partnership with the family to create this unique green color and the transparent back holding the golden medallion featuring the letter ‘B’ of Behbehani. The collection is limited to 98 pieces, which pays tribute to the date of their partnership, which is 1998.

THE LUXE EVENTS

StartUp Kuwait This fall semester 2016, The Arab Open University, Box Hill College Kuwait, Gulf University for Science and Technology, Kuwait University, Kuwait College for Science & Technology, and The Public Authority for Applied Education and Training took part in StartUp Kuwait’s semester long program.

Throughout the program, Program Directors and faculty members at each university received training as well as collaborated with external expertise in sourcing students with ideas they wish to pursue and enrolled them into the program. Throughout the program, they received mentorship regarding the pursuit of their ideas and how to present them to external independent judges. Program Directors from each university served to provide guidance and support to their student teams in coordination with resources provided

by StartUp Kuwait.

The student teams applied with ideas ranging from e-commerce, new applications for genetic testing, to hardware showing a broad sector focus of business ideas, health sector, and F&B. At the end of the semester, each university’s student teams participated in a pitch competition at their university and presented to a panel of judges alongside other student teams (the internal competition was during the last two weeks in December 2016). Those who wan at each university’s competition proceeded to compete at The National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Challenge (end of January 2017) where student teams from the participating university competed for equity free seed financing, the successful teams received non-cash advisory services on IPs, finance, legal, and accounting.

StartUp Kuwait is preparing for the spring 2017 semester (starting February for 90+ days business plan idea preparation and pitch) and expanding the program to additional schools or colleges within the current consortium of universities, to encompass more students in Kuwait and is looking forward to engaging with more students, faculty, and players in the Kuwait’s StartUp ecosystem. This is the second semester that StartUp Kuwait has run the program and has seen unprecedented progress with students and currently working with over 90 student teams.

On the 18th of December, Dr. Moudhi AlHoumoud, President of Arab Open University opened the AOU’s internal competition which was held at AOU, where 3

teams pitched their ideas to a distinguished panel of judges including Mr. Mohammad Albahar, CEO of Boubyan Petrochemicals; Mrs. Noor Al-Qatami, CEO at SAVECO; and Sanjay Gautam, the COO and Chief Strategist at KAPICO. GUST internal competition, opened by Dr. Salah AlSharhan, Vice President for Academic Affairs was held at GUST on the 19th of December where 15 teams pitched to the same panel of judges and proceeded to the National Innovation and Entrepreneurship Challenge. The events of AOU and GUST were well attended by the management, faculty members, and students of respective universities along with top management from Kuwait University. The internal competitions for BHCK, Kuwait University and Public Authority for Advanced Education & Training were held on January 3rd, 2017. The winners of all the internal competitions advanced to the National Competition end of January 2017.

Dr. Redha Behbehani stated that StartUp Kuwait was proud of the good efforts exhibited by all universities, and the achieved results at the National Competition of fall 2016 (end January 2017).

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THE LUXE EVENTS

Maurice Lacroix at Trafalgar Boutique Swiss brand Maurice Lacroix has landed in Kuwait in partnership with Trafalgar. The brand representatives David Sanchez (Product/R&D Director) and Marcel Gut (International Sales Director) launched their newest collection in the Trafalgar boutique at The Avenues, and introduced the press and VIP clients to their products highlighting the special women’s collection which will be a focus this season.

THE LUXE EVENTS

Montegrappa’s Alchemist Pen at Alma Boutique Montegrappa revealed in a special event the Alchemist Pen, a tribute to the Paolo Coelho novel. Like the book it represents, The Alchemist Pen operates on many levels, and its owners will continue to discover its many details in subsequent studies.

Charles Nahhas, Managing Director of Montegrappa Middle East, explained to the guests the special features of this collection. The Alchemist collection is available at Alma boutique in Al Hamra Mall.

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THE LUXE EVENTS

The Protégés 6th Edition Discussed at KIPCO Tower Kuwait Projects Company (KIPCO) held a press conference in December 2016, at KIPCO Tower to discuss the sixth edition of The Protégés program and its Waseelah project.

Abeer Al-Omar, Corporate Communications Manager at KIPCO, the main sponsor of Generation 6 - noted that KIPCO is keen to invest in Kuwaiti youth and the development of their skills and announced the renewal of its partnership with The Protégés, a youth mentorship program, for the next seven years.

KIPCO will host a ‘Job Shop’ workshop - established by Sheikha Al-Zain Al-Sabah, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Youth Affairs, where Kuwaitis will have the chance to learn more about the company and its subsidiaries and get exclusive one-on-one time with representatives of each company for job opportunities.

THE LUXE EVENTS

The Protégés Sixth Generation Graduation Ceremony Kuwait Projects Company Holding (KIPCO) recently organized the graduation ceremony for the sixth batch of “The Protégés” students at Yarmouk Cultural Center.

The Minister of Social Affairs and Labor, Hind Al-Subaih, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Youth Affairs, Sheikha Al-Zain Al-Sabah and other prominent figures, attended the event. Also present at the ceremony were Youssef Khaled Al-Marzouq, Editor in Chief of Al-Anba newspaper, KIPCO’s Vice President Faissal Al-Ayyar and heads of management of its subsidiaries, along with the graduated students and their families.

The event not only celebrated the students and their achievements, Protégés also took the opportunity to thank their various partners for the support and encouragement shown to the mission through the year.

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THE LUXE EVENTS

‘Still Departures’ at Sultan Gallery George Awde’s first solo exhibition in Kuwait chronicled the transitory existence of a group of young men and boys – many of them migrant laborers, emigrants from Syria living in the context of Beirut from 2007-2016. The exhibition was a voyage into the lives of these men and guests had the chance to live some of the suffering portrayed in the photographs.

THE LUXE EVENTS

Zenith and Behbehani Group Launch El Primero “Legend Of Cohiba” After celebrating the 50th anniversary of Cohiba with the creation of three commemorative limited editions, the Manufacture Zenith is paying tribute to this Cuban legend with the production of a watch that fits into the very heart of its collection. The El Primero “Legend of Cohiba” embodies the excellence, precision and expertise that unite Zenith and Cohiba.

Lovers of beautiful objects and fans of blue swirls, for which cigars are a rendez-vous with time and pleasure, are sure to fall for this subtle blend of pink gold and Havana hues. For this occasion, the Manufacture Zenith and Behbehani Group, have celebrated the launch of this watch in Kuwait City in an exquisite event gathering distinguished guests and watch and cigar lovers.

Shahzad Gidwani, GM of Behbehani Group welcomed the guests while George Bechara, Regional Brand Director of Zenith watches, talked about the relentless quest that both brands pursue and their priorities to enhance the customer experience.

Invitees had the chance to taste good cigars while viewing the beautiful new EP Cohiba 36’000 VpH in Rose Gold.

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‘Intimate Reflections’ at Dar Al Funoon Dar Al Funoon hosted a solo exhibition by Nurieh Mozaffari ‘Intimate Reflections’ on January 16 in the presence of the artist. This art exhibit was designed to lift the spirits of the guests and take them into a passage of time and memories through several works where time and stories are told in a very subtle way. Mozaffari is an Iranian painter who lives and travels between Canada, USA and Europe.

KRM: Four Hands at Sultan Gallery KRM is a French-German artist collective duo, known otherwise as Chérif and Geza. Together they create imaginary walls on wood and their concept and style, also known as ‘Esprit Du Mur’, is a rebellious, urban art, based on human tragedy and the complexity of existence.

In a new exhibit at The Sultan Gallery in Kuwait, the pair revealed a portrait of city life that freely expresses interior contradictions – suffering and joy.

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THE LUXE LISTINGS

Listings Our carefully curated monthly list of events not to be missed.

Once Upon a Time What: Ballet - Musical Where: British Academy of International Arts (BAIA) When: Saturday, February 4, 2017 / 14:30 – 18:00

Cartography Workshop What: A workshop, on cartography Where: Institut Francais, Jabriya When: February 5 – 14, 2017

Once Upon a Time is a dance gala of Fairy tales based on the stories from the Brothers Grimm and Hans Christian Anderson, bringing dances from their classics like The Snow Queen, Cinderella and Hansel and Gretel with a modern twist. In Act 2, Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker will be presented with a special ballet extravaganza. For tickets contact the BAIA office: +965 50962809 - +96525623604 Ext. 2177/2178.

Convened by Alia Farid, this workshop is styled to offer an overview on the history and evolution of mapmaking. The objective is to acquire an understanding of how maps are made in order to engage in cartographic processes. Participants in this workshop are expected to render their own map of Kuwait highlighting territories based on feeling, experience and participation, in any medium of representation.

Cats What: Musical Where: National Theatre, JACC When: February 9 – 12, 2017

Marble Poster Design - Silk Screening What: Workshop, with Haya Al Abdulkareem Where: The Print Room When: February, 15, 2017

Based on T.S. Eliot’s Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s classic musical tells the story of the Jellicle cats and each cat’s individual quest to be selected as the lucky one who will ascend to “the Heaviside Layer”. This enduring West End and Broadway hit musical arrives in Kuwait for the first time, with the city’s most fabulous cultural stage as its home and venue.

In this workshop, part of Nuqat’s Studio Nuqat series, participants will learn several silk screening techniques. They will start with mapping out the composition of the poster from geometric shapes. Then they will move on to learning the art of screen printing. They will learn how to create the effect of marbleising through screen printing and give that aesthetic to geometric shapes that they have already composed on the poster.

Before The Silk Road What: Lecture by Henri-Paul Francfort Where: Yarmouk Cultural Centre When: February 20, 2017 / 19:00

Until, by Ghadah Alkandari What: Art exhibition Where: CAP, Shuwaikh When: thru’ February 22, 2017

This lecture will discuss the ‘global’ ancient historical phenomenon that was the Bronze Age trade network. During the second half of the 3rd millennium BCE and the first quarter of the 2nd millennium, a large network of long distance exchanges was established and flourished. It was interconnecting the cultures and civilizations of Middle Asia, from the Levant to the Indus Valley, and from Arabia to the steppes of Central Asia.

There’s still time to catch the final three weeks of Alkandari’s residency at CAP. One of Kuwait’s most prolific artists, and certainly its most forthright, she says of this show, “As I prepared for this exhibition, the mood of my work kept shifting from purpose to purpose. Until love, until peace, until I’m settled in a place I want to be. Always waiting for the big Until”. This is 2017’s big ‘don’t miss’!

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- Sharq

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- Kuwait City

- Sharq

- Fahaheel International intoptique Optique