A MOTIVATE PUBLICATION
APRIL 2022
UAE DHS25 OMAN RO2.70 BAHRAIN BD2.60 KUWAIT KD2.10 SAUDI ARABIA SR25
emirateswoman.com
THE INTEGRITY ISSUE
Strong Values
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jack de boucheron and quatre collection
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Obaid Humaid Al Tayer MANAGING PARTNER AND GROUP EDITOR Ian Fairservice EDITOR/ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Amy Sessions amy.sessions@motivate.ae SENIOR ART DIRECTOR Olga Petroff DIGITAL EDITOR Olivia Morris JUNIOR DIGITAL STYLE EDITOR Sarah Joseph GENERAL MANAGER PRODUCTION Sunil Kumar ASSISTANT PRODUCTION MANAGER Binu Purandaran PRODUCTION SUPERVISOR Venita Pinto CHIEF COMMERCIAL OFFICER Anthony Milne GROUP DIRECTOR Andrew Wingrove DIGITAL SALES DIRECTOR Sabir Khodabux GROUP SALES MANAGER Chaitali Khimji chaitali.khimji@motivate.ae SENIOR SALES MANAGER Anna Chipala anna.chipala@motivate.ae GROUP MARKETING MANAGER Joelle Albeaino WEB DEVELOPER Firoz Kaladi
HEAD OFFICE Media One Tower, Dubai Media City, PO Box 2331, Dubai, UAE, Tel: (+971) 4 4273000, Fax: (+971) 4 4282261, E-mail: motivate@motivate.ae DUBAI MEDIA CITY SD 2-94, 2nd Floor, Building 2, Dubai, UAE Tel: (+971) 4 390 3550 Fax: (+971) 4 390 4845 ABU DHABI PO Box 43072, UAE, Tel: (+971) 2 6772005, Fax: (+971) 2 6770124, E-mail: motivate-adh@motivate.ae LONDON Acre House, 11/15 William Road, London NW1 3ER, UK, E-mail: motivateuk@motivate.ae
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Editor’s Letter integrity /ɪnˈtɛɡrɪti/ the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles
exclusive interview with Sheikha Madiyah Al Sharqi Welcome to The Integrity Issue. in Integrity. Sincerity. Consistency on page 56, French Working with integrity is perpetually of paramount jewellery designer Charlotte Chesnais in Integral importance. I feel honoured to have a team that works Design on page 44 and with Ramadan just around the from the heart with drive and passion, never taking corner we curate an edit of the coolest abaya brands in the easy option. The result is evident in the issues you the GCC in Cool Cover on page 64. see and the attention to detail which allows us to work Beauty and lifestyle wise, we focus with the most incredible individuals on purity and depth with an exclusive and brands globally who embody the interview with superlative fragrance same work ethic. THERE IS NO brand Fueguia 1833 in A Pure Note This is an issue designed to focus BARGAINING ON on page 80. We also highlight the best on those with similar values, from VALUES. long-lasting fragrances from oil form brands whose true DNA remains in Essence on page 78 to candles in unwavering season after season to Immerse on page 94. This issue also sees the first emerging brands taking the slow but steady route installment of Personal Space on page 88 for which we without cutting corners. With this in mind we are grateful to Founder of ODEEM, Fatma AlOtaiba partnered with Tiffany & Co and cover star Fatma for sharing her office details. AlMheiri for our cover who together deliver a double In the month ahead full of reflection, we compile dose of elegance, poise and beauty. the best luxury hotels around the globe to help you We interview Joseph’s Co-Creative Directors find inner peace in The Wanderlust on page 108. Anna Lundbäck Dyhr and Frederik Dyhr in Less Take this month to define what life looks like going is More on page 38 and Isabel Marant in Integral forward with honesty, positivity and integrity. There is DNA on page 60, both brands whose aesthetic has no bargaining on values. remained true to the original vision. We also have an
Amy Sessions EDITOR / ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER
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CONTENTS APRIL 2022
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THE MONITOR
Monitor News p.20 Social Listings p.22 True Integrity – Cover Shoot with Tiffany & Co. p.24
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The Shape of Love – Loro Piana partners Emirati artist Mattar Bin Lahej for their Ramadan 2022 collection p.70
The Edit – Alternative Ramadan dressing p.36
Hot New Buys p.76
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Elevate – NET-APORTER’s Ramadan 2022 collection p.54
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FASHION
Integrity. Sincerity. Consistency – An exclusive interview with Sheikha Madiyah Al Sharqi p.56
BEAUTY& WELLNESS
Less is More – Exclusive interview with Joseph’s Co-Creative Directors Anna Lundbäck Dyhr and Frederik Dyhr p.38 Integral Design – Interview with French jewellery designer Charlotte Chesnais p.44 Core Value – Bottega Venetta’s limitededition collection for Ramadan p.50
Integral DNA – Interview with Isabel Marant’s CEO Anouck DuranteauLoeper p.60 Cool Cover – An edit of the coolest abaya brands in the GCC p.64 Tranquility – Bthaina’s SS22 collection p.66 Self-Expression – Interview with Rawdha Thani, Founder of illi Studio p.74
Essence – Fragranced oils p.78 A Pure Note – Fueguia 1833 p.80 Core Strength – Interview with Gaby Noble, Founder of Exhale Pilates p.82 Beauty Shelf – Jewellery designer Charlotte Chesnais p.84 AM to PM Beauty – Entrepreneur Mouza Alabbar p.86
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CONTENTS APRIL 2022
Personal Space – In the office with Fatma AlOtaiba, Founder of ODEEM p.88
Immerse – Candles with the strongest scent to infuse your space p.94
88
The Cover
Mouza Alabbar, Co-founder of Alabbar Enterprises p.98 Renew – Harklinikken brings signature Scandinavian design to the forefront of their superlative in-clinic experience p.100 LIFESTYLE
The Wanderlust – The best luxury hotels around the globe to help you find inner peace p.108
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True Self – Incredible women on how they stay true to their integral values p.96 An Authentic Approach – Exclusive interview with
Good Game – Interview with Co-Founders of The Matcha Club p.104 A Sophisticated Journey – Interview with Kathy Johnston, Chief Chocolate Officer at Mirzam p.106
HardWear graduated link necklace in 18k gold, HardWear link bracelet in 18k rose gold with diamonds, HardWear link bracelet in sterling silver, HardWear narrow link bracelet in 18k rose gold, HardWear micro link bracelet in 18k gold, HardWear micro link bracelet in 18k sterling silver; All Tiffany & Co.
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COMPILED BY SARAH JOSEPH
Built with Integrity
THE HERO BUYS
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Panthère de Cartier 20mm Small 18-karat White Gold Diamond Watch Dhs166,000 Cartier
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TO
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THE MONITOR – NEWS
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Ramadan at The Destination of Exceptional Taste This Ramadan enjoy a memorable Iftar and Suhoor experience in the heart of Downtown Dubai. · Iftar at Kitchen6 – AED 215 per person · Iftar at Rang Mahal – AED 225 per person · Suhoor at Bridgewater Terrace – A la Carte* · Special Banquet Menu for Group and Corporate Iftars – on request For bookings, call +971.4.414.3000 or email jwmmrr@marriott.com For Group Bookings, call +971.4.414.2000 or email jwmarquis.dubai@marriott.com
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Social Listings A curated guide of inspiring accounts to #follow
@bouguessa
@chaumetofficial
@lelabofragrances
@illi.ae
Cool & confident.
Embracing elegance and integrity since 1780.
The artisanal fragrance brand imbued with deep, strong notes.
This luxury fashion label delivers detail with integrity.
@harklinikken
@josephfashion
@fueguia1833
@mirzamchocolate
Newly refurbished and ready to deliver your hair of dreams.
Eternally cool, classic cuts.
Limited edition, sustainable fragrances created with exotic botanics.
Artisanal chocolate.
@isabelmarant
@charlottechesnais jewelry
@matchadxb
@madiyahalsharqi
Pure padel pleasure.
Approaching fashion with effortless eveningwear pieces that exude elegance.
This Parisian brand has an unmistakable aesthetic.
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Sculptural jewellery designed for the modern woman.
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C O M P I L E D BY: S A R A H J O S E P H
THE MONITOR
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Fatma AlMheiri, Communications Manager for Museum of The Future is fiercely feminine in Tiffany & Co’s HardWear collection
TRUE INTEG RITY WO R D S & C R E AT I V E D I R E CT I O N : A M Y S E S S I O N S
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P H OTO G R A P H Y: G R EG A DA M S K I
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G This page: HardWear link earrings in 18k gold, HardWear graduated link necklace in 18k gold, HardWear link bracelet in 18k gold; All Tiffany & Co.
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Left page: HardWear link bracelet in 18k gold; This page: HardWear graduated link necklace in 18k gold, HardWear link earrings in 18k gold; All Tiffany & Co.
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This page: HardWear graduated link necklace in 18k gold, HardWear link bracelet in 18k rose gold with diamonds, HardWear link bracelet in sterling silver, HardWear narrow link bracelet in 18k rose gold, HardWear micro link bracelet in 18k gold, HardWear micro link bracelet in 18k sterling silver; Right page: HardWear link bracelet in 18k rose gold with diamonds, HardWear link bracelet in sterling silver, HardWear narrow link bracelet in 18k rose gold, HardWear micro link bracelet in 18k gold, HardWear micro link bracelet in 18k sterling silver; All Tiffany & Co.
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This page: HardWear link bracelet in sterling silver; Right page: HardWear freshwater pearl ring in sterling silver, HardWear freshwater pearl lock bracelet in sterling silver, HardWear freshwater pearl link pendant in sterling silver; All Tiffany & Co.
How does integrity show up in your life with those you know? This question put a big smile on my face. I cannot stop but think of the people that are currently in my life and how they are far beyond blessings. I actually have a very dear friend, who only brings positivity into my life. That on its own is always a beautiful addition. Integrity for me can come in many forms
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whether its small actions or certain words. If I was to however emphasize one thing it would have to be always keeping promises to others even if it means making an effort to do so. I also value trust and would never want anyone to share another person’s secrets with me, this is a specific point I look out for when a new person comes into my life. It is of great im-
portance to me that the conversations we have about honesty, how we let our actions speak for who we are and what we believe in are always in the very fabric of my relationship with the people around me. I’ve been recently crossing paths with people who tell me how proud they are of me, and that makes me strive to do even better. It means a lot when someone doesn’t
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know you on a deep personal level yet sees what you have achieved and praises you for it. How do you operate with integrity in your life? I work really hard to practice what I preach. For example, I’m always one to keep promises and you can see that through my loyalty to my friends and family. In my professional life, I’m always ready to do the work I was trusted to
complete. Respecting others’ opinions even when I don’t agree with them and learning to be the bigger person is another way I try to operate with integrity. Having integrity makes me feel confident as I believe in everything I stand for. This is The Integrity Issue, what does integrity mean to you? It’s a way of living. You always need to do the right thing even when no one is
COVER STORY
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looking. That’s what truly matters. At the end of the day, it’s just you and yourself. Treating people with respect, helping others, never letting the situations modify your actions, and decisions in life, staying committed, implementing trust and being honest to yourself and everyone is something that you should always carry with you.
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Left page: HardWear double link pendant in 18k rose gold; This page: HardWear link bracelet in 18k rose gold with diamonds; All Tiffany & Co.
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COVER STAR: FATMA ALMHEIRI; MAKEUP & HAIR: MELANIE MEYER AT MMG ARTISTS; PRODUCTION: OLIVIA MORRIS; FASHION ASSISTANT: SARAH JOSEPH; VIDEOGRAPHER: MARK MATHEW; ALL FASHION AVAILABLE AT OUNASS
This page: HardWear graduated link earrings in 18k gold, HardWear link bracelet in 18k gold; Right page: HardWear link bracelet in 18k gold; All Tiffany & Co.
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THE EDIT
THIS PAGE AND OPPOSITE: @FATMAA
Alternative Ramadan dressing – cool cuts that cover
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Black Small Bobby 23 Tote Bag Dhs4,250 BOYY available at OUNASS
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WORDS & STYLING: AMY SESSIONS
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Re-Nylon Re-Edition 2000 mini bag Dhs3,800 Prada available at Level Shoes
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LeSS WORDS: AMY SESSIONS
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Joseph Ettedgui was renowned for his unique pared-down yet sophisticated aesthetic when he launched his first collection in 1983. Now under the vision of co-creative directors Anna Lundbäck Dyhr and Frederik Dyhr, the London label continues the founder’s original vision of balancing a fashion-forward viewpoint with a timeless appeal, breathing new life into luxurious wardrobe staples with its hallmark modern and minimalist approach
What do the first 30 mins of your day look like, your morning routine? FD: I am up and straight in the shower, then coffee and breakfast with the kids. AL: Coffee, always a coffee first! What is at the core of Joseph, the DNA of the brand? AL: The Joseph DNA is ingrained in our complimentary contrasts – i.e., black vs white, London cool vs Paris chic, masculine vs feminine – we strive to balance timeless design with contemporary aesthetics. FD: It was important to us to remain true to Joseph Ettedgui’s original vision for the
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brand – to create a curated timeless wardrobe of luxury essentials, and this remains our starting point every season for the collections. The brand is known for its classic pieces which transcend seasons. Which key pieces continue to drive sales season after season? AL: The Foundations Collection has some of our best sellers; they are designed with longevity in mind. They are building blocks for a timeless wardrobe, simple pieces – the classic wrap coat, a great cashmere knit, tailored wool or gabardine stretch trousers, a cotton white shirt – all seamlessly able to
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blend into an existing wardrobe. How do the commercial and creative sides of the business work together and do you feel particularly drawn to one side of the business? FD: Commercial and creative have to work hand in hand – you can’t have one without the other. We work very closely with all the commercial functions within the company which help inform the design process and ensure the collections resonate with the customer. The customer is at the centre of everything that we do. What has been the largest challenge to date and how did you overcome it? FD: Learning to work together as well as live together has been a new challenge, that I think we have embraced wholeheartedly. We work side by side very organically, we each have different areas of expertise so very naturally one of us will drive and the other will support, depending on the subject. It’s about patience, communication, and trust that it will all be ok in the end. Have you had any mentors along the way and if so, what has been the best advice they have imparted to you? AL: In my diverse career, I am thankful to have worked across different levels of the market. Every experience has formed me into the designer I am today. My very first experience working in fashion was with Tomas Maier at Bottega Vene-
ta. Tomas took me under his wing, showed me the ropes, it was an invaluable experience and taught me above all to love and appreciate quality and craftsmanship. FD: I would not say I have had “mentors” as such, but have been very fortunate to work in companies with great inspirational leaders such as Christopher Bailey and Angela Ahrends at Burberry and the man himself, Tommy Hilfiger The last year was a time that saw brands change strategy. Have you had to pivot as a business? FD: The pandemic encouraged us to look at things differently, the Joseph style remains, but we’ve thought more about the relaxed side of the brand. We are known for our knitwear, so we’ve looked at how we could develop knits across collections, not just through jumpers, but trousers, outerwear and within summer collections through shorts and dresses. We considered how we could keep the look polished and elevated but comfortable, to suit the changing needs of the customer. AL: It’s a balance – crisis or not – to provide clothes that women want to wear in all scenarios. Globally our daily lives have changed, and we wanted to focus on the future, remaining optimistic that despite everything, the Joseph woman would continue to want to look and feel good.
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What effect do you see social media having on the growth of the brand? AL: Social media is a fantastic tool for us to communicate our vision for the Joseph brand, by sharing inspirations, projects and collections directly to the global Joseph consumer. We hope that they in turn share with their followers and networks to connect us to a new audience. It’s a great tool for growing brand awareness. This is The Integrity Issue – what does integrity mean to you? AL: Integrity for us is being kind, treating others with respect, doing the right thing, even though it may not be the easy thing. FD: We are also looking at integrity through the sustainability lens. In recent years it has become more of a focus for us, so we are constantly challenging ourselves and the business to be better and do better. Over the last year we have been working on an initiative called the Waste Project, where we make use of waste fabrics and yarns, otherwise destined for landfill. Our most recent venture under the Waste Project is a collaboration with the social enterprise – Love Welcomes. With them we have created a capsule of accessories utilising surplus silk and all the pieces are handmade by refugee women. It’s a real labour of love, the crocheted silk tote alone takes over 28 hours to make and uses 22 metres of silk.
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Des gn Integral
WORDS: OLIVIA MORRIS
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Jewellery designer Charlotte Chesnais has carved her own space in the industry. Unique, distinct and one-of-a-kind, Charlotte has continually placed integrity above all else when it comes to designing
Can you talk us through your career from the beginning to where you are now? I started to work at 20 as a junior ready to wear designer at Balenciaga with Nicolas Ghesquiere – I stayed there for nine years and this is where I discovered and started to work on jewellery. When he left for Louis Vuitton, I left as well and started freelancing for different brands such as APC, Paco Rabanne and Dior. Then I decided to launch my namesake jewellery brand in 2015 when I was expecting my first son. How did you end up becoming an entrepreneur? Both of my parents are so I guess it’s a normal pattern for me. I didn’t really think about it as the launch of my brand was a very organic move. But today, managing almost 20 people, I realize what it means and the responsibilities that come with a company. You launched your eponymous brand six years ago – how has it evolved? As I said it was a very naive project at the beginning, with a strong wish to make beautiful and new jewellery but no business expectations. But the first collection was successful immediately, and I had to hire someone quite quickly, like six months later. The company has grown, of course, we are sold in 30 countries and have opened our first Parisian store last year, but I would love to keep the spirit of a small house as long as possible. What is the inspiration behind your designs? I don’t have direct inspiration, as my work is very personal and mostly comes from my head. But I am very curious when it comes to architecture and sculpture, and it’s not a secret I am fond of Jean Arp, Barbara Hepworth and Pol Burry that probably influence me a lot. What do you hope people feel when they wear a piece you designed? My work isn’t conventional, so I guess choosing my jewellery shows a strong personality. I hope people feel a bit special with them, con-
fident and I hope they enjoy wearing my jewellery as much as I enjoy creating it. There really is nothing else like your designs on the market. Tell us more? Well, I am glad you noticed it because designing something different and having a very personal proposal is what I have been concentrating on since the beginning. On the other hand, I have to admit that I see many ‘little sister’ brands, that would have probably taken a different direction without my work if you know what I mean. You’ve previously described your jewellery as “unexpected”. Can you elaborate on this? The unexpected part happens when you try on the jewellery. What you see on a tray is very different from what you see when the piece is on – there is a real interaction with the body. What is your design process like? It’s driven by the fact that my skill for sketching what I have in mind is quite low. To elaborate my pieces directly at the atelier, like a sculptor, I work with craftsmen people, bend, twist, dig the metal and the magic happens! How have you stayed true and integral to your unique design process? Going to the atelier is probably one of my favourite things in my job, so I always make sure I
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have time for this important step. Now I am also exploring a bit with 3D sketches on my computer. I did training during the first lockdown. It can be super helpful, but it doesn’t replace the real mock-ups. What is a philosophy that you live by in your professional life? We try to be on our best behaviour every day. Take one subject at a time and never procrastinate. Be regular on the work, to avoid the crazy and stressful moments. Our team is super kind, with great energy, but I value personal life. What are some of the key lessons you would like people to take from your career? The best one for me is to have worked in a quite big company for at least five to six years. It’s the best way to learn how the entire industry works. Looking back over your career, can you tell us about three hurdles you’ve had to overcome? I wouldn’t speak of hurdles but more of challenges. For example, one of the most difficult things, when a company is growing, is finding the good person that will join your team and keep expanding the structure with you. Also having 3 kids within the first 3 years of the company is quite a thing! Even if looking back, I think it set me up to have a good mindset. On the opposite end of the spectrum, what are your top three milestones to date? Well, it’s only been seven years so a throwback is maybe early, but I would pick The Andam prize that I have won – best accessory designer in 2015, the opening of my first store in 2020 and my collaboration with Sacai and Byredo. Do you have any mentors or guides who have helped you throughout your career? I have been working in the fashion industry for more than 17 years and most of my friends are also from fashion. They have different positions, from CEO to PR, or even designer. Some of them have been by my side since the beginning of the adventure, and I know that when I am doubting myself, I can call them. This is The Integrity Issue – what does this mean to you? I am a very faithful person, I believe in a strong relationship with my ateliers, and my resellers. For me, it’s key to stick to your value, to know where you’re coming from and be grateful for what you have.
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“My work isn’t conventional, so I guess choosing
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my jewellery shows a strong personality.“
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WORDS: AMY SESSIONS
P H OTO G R A P H Y: M A R K M AT H E W
C A O L R U E E
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ALL AVAILABLE AT BOTTEGA VENETTA; ART DIRECTION: OLGA PETROFF; STYLE ASSISTANT: SARAH JOSEPH
B O T T E G A S T R O N G E S T E D I T I O N
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V E N E T T A A S S E T S C O L L E C T I O N
S H O W S W I T H F O R
U S A
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L I M I T E D R A M A D A N
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ELEVATE
Over the last two years, NET-A-PORTER has been bolstering its link to the Middle Eastern region through continuous localization efforts, supporting successful launches of regional designers, as well as championing global designers with regional relevance. This Ramadan, their collection is en pointe and perfectly timed 54 emirateswoman.com
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01. Intrecciato leather cosmetics case Dhs4,600 Bottega Veneta; 02. Palm Beach tie-detailed satin-trimmed crepe kaftan Dhs2,700 Taller Marmo exclusively available at NET-A-PORTER; 03. Alessa embellished satin clutch Dhs2,811 Serena Uziyel; 04. Florentine 18-karat gold cuff Dhs22,626 Carolina Bucci; 05. Opyum leather sandals Dhs4,950 Saint Laurent; 06. Eau de Parfum - Moon Carnival, 50ml Dhs538 Vilhelm Parfumerie available at NET-A-PORTER; 07. Marley braided leather slides Dhs2,655 Gianvito Rossi; 08. Palm Beach satin-trimmed crepe wide-leg pants Dhs2,595 Taller Marmo exclusively available at NET-A-PORTER; 09. Dalel oversized washed-silk top Dhs10,760 The Row; 10. Crinkled-satin T-shirt Dhs1,429 Vince; 11. El Sol belted crepe kaftan Dhs3,630 Taller Marmo exclusively available at NET-A-PORTER; 12. 14-karat gold pearl ear cuff Dhs2,443 Mizuki; 13. Birdcage scented candle, 380g Dhs778 L'Objet; 14. Rubber Lido debossed leather mules Dhs3,350 Bottega Veneta; 15. Metallic woven and leather shoulder bag Dhs15,025 Tom Ford
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I N T E G R I T Y.
WORDS: OLIVIA MORRIS
C O N S I ST E N CY.
P H OTO G R A P H Y: A H M E D N A J E E B
S I N C E R I T Y.
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S H E I K H A M A D I YA H A L S H A R Q I, DAU G H T E R O F T H E R U L E R O F F U J A I R A H, HIS HIGHNESS SHEIKH HAMAD BIN MOHAMMED AL SHARQI, L AU N C H E D H E R E P O N Y M O U S B R A N D M A D I YA H A L S H A R Q I OV E R A DECADE AGO AND IS NOW A RENOWNED LABEL THE GLOBE-OVER. S H E D I S C U S S E S W I T H U S H OW S H E ’S STAY E D T R U E TO H E R U N I Q U E D ES I G N P R O C ES S OV E R T H E L AST 1 0 Y E A R S BY A LWAYS PUTTING INTEGRITY AND SINCERITY INTO EVERYTHING SHE DOES
What inspired you to enter the world of fashion and launch your own label? It happened quite organically; as I grew up, a lot of my interests and hobbies leaned towards design – where I could channel or appreciate creativity, such as reading classic novels, watching period plays and operas, travelling to places with a lot of rich historical landmarks. It wasn’t until later when I took up a degree in fashion design that I gained a deep appreciation for learning the technical skills behind it and realized it was something I could pursue professionally. You launched your label Madiyah Al Sharqi 10 years ago – how has this evolved over the last decade and what is the inspiration behind your designs? My collections have always been grounded on decadent, luxurious fabrics in subtle colour palettes, playful silhouettes and statement looks. A feminine aesthetic and a sense of everyday luxury continue to run through our designs. Our earliest designs heavily focused on applying these design pillars to formalwear using embroidered lace and while there is still an element of occasion wear present in our collections – in more recent seasons, we have put a heavy focus on incorporating more tailored separates into our repertoire. These are high contemporary pieces without sacrificing luxury standards of craftsmanship, which can be worn in the day and could make for a statement evening look too. What do you hope people feel when they wear a piece you designed? I often think about what women would be excited to wear in the next season, coming out of the few uncertain and challenging years we have been faced with. My hope is that our collections always bring feelings of enjoyment and adventure, and as a result a confidence that shines through their personal sense of style. How have you stayed true to your unique design process? As a designer, I’ve learned that while it’s essential to have consistent pillars that define the brand, it’s also important within the framework of our design process to be perceptive of the changing style needs of my market by challenging myself to try my hand at manipulating fabrics and experimenting with different silhouettes. Over the years, I’ve developed a consistent framework that I work within to develop the collections. We deal with international suppliers for sourcing fabrics, and the selection process is based on consistent pillars that have defined the brand over the seasons, as well as some references from mood boards and sketches I put together. I then work closely with my team of tailors in our atelier in Fujairah to create samples and then edit them down to create a final collection. We then shoot a lookbook, and at times the collection goes through another round of editing – based on cuts and styles that have always worked with buyers and clients in past seasons. You recently launched the Madiyah Al Sharqi x Karen Wazen Collection. Tell us more? Collaborating with Karen on an entire ready to wear collection was a first for us, and this second season of the
Madiyah Al Sharqi x Karen Wazen has been nothing short of another enriching experience. Teaming up with Karen for a second season came naturally; I think the pieces we designed in this collection are a result not only of the strong chemistry between the brand’s design philosophies and her personal style vision but also how we genuinely enjoy working together to realize an entire collection that was meant to bring back the joy of dressing up for day-to-day. How does it feel knowing your pieces are worn by incredible women the globe-over? It’s been really rewarding for me as a designer to see women who have been fans of the brand since its early days still showing a consistent appreciation for our newer collections. With the brand’s recent evolution, it’s especially satisfying and interesting to see how they’ve incorporated the more contemporary pieces into their everyday, personal style. Ultimately, our goal was to see the women who’ve always worn the brand for special occasions to be able to mix it into their daily wardrobe too. What is a philosophy that you live by in your professional life? I believe that any profession requires a lot of passion to be able to enjoy what you do. As a designer running a business independently, I think it’s also important to constantly seek out inspiration and feed your creativity and develop a strong business sense to ensure your creations are a commercial success. Looking back over your career, can you tell us about the hurdles you’ve had to overcome? As an Arab designer, I think it’s a continual challenge in the sense that ready to wear by local designers is a relatively young industry and category in the Middle East, and in the global landscape, we are also having to compete with several contemporary brands constantly emerging from the US and Europe to East Asia. Our region has some of the most celebrated evening wear designers but in recent years, I believe the reception towards contemporary design talents have broadened significantly, with a lot of brands who launched in the past decade setting a precedent for receiving meaningful attention globally. On the opposite end of the spectrum, what have been the key milestones to date? One of the biggest moments for the brand was when we actively made a decision to shift our focus on introducing a lot more contemporary, elevated separates as our market’s style needs evolved, and our audience in Europe and the US grew. Our earliest designs heavily focused on formalwear using embroidered lace, and while there is still an element of occasion wear present in our collections, there is a stronger focus on creating tailored, daywear pieces today. With a team accustomed to producing evening looks out of my atelier in Fujairah, it was a challenging but incredibly rewarding experience to take the brand to new heights. More recently, teaming up with Karen Wazen on an entire ready to wear collection for two collections now – the first collaboration of this kind and scale for the both of us – has also been an amazing and well-received phase in the brand’s journey.
“A feminine aesthetic and a sense of everyday luxury continue to run through our designs.”
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I N T E G R A L
At the core of Isabel Marant’s DNA is sincerity and integrity. Always staying true to their contemporary and cool designs, the brand’s CEO Anouck Duranteau-Loeper discusses the importance of a strong team and how this luxury label continues to stay ahead of the curve WORDS: OLIVIA MORRIS
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ment to invest in more retail stores. So, we expanded quite significantly at the time from 10 stores to 67. We expanded in China, Europe and the USA, so we were really into the brand to make sure that it was accessible and available for more women in the world – that was phase one. And then, of course, the pandemic hit and the attention went more on digital. Conversations came about on how to create a relationship with your customer, even if you’re distant. So, it was about acquiring all the tools that can help you start a conversation with your client, and really make sure that you can provide the store experience even if the store is closed. How does Isabel Marant continue to stay ahead of the curve? First of all, because the brand has always been relevant and modern. When it came to the pandemic, of course, the sales of evening pieces went down, but the size of casual pieces went up. At the end of the day, we’ve managed to compensate
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What inspired you to go into the fashion industry? It came quite naturally. I’ve always had a very precise idea of what I liked and what I didn’t like. From a young age, my mother was teaching me how to knit and that type of craftsmanship has always interested me. And then when you work in Paris, it’s quite easy to work in fashion at the end of the day, because it’s a big industry. So I started to work as a sales assistant and then I went to business school, and it came very naturally. What I love about fashion is the mix of creativity and business, blending in the creativity is super important, but at the end of the day, you need to make it real – it needs to make sense. You’ve been in your role as CEO of Isabel Marant for over five years. How have things evolved over that time? So, I would say there have been two phases during my time at Isabel Marant. The first phase was pre-COVID, where we found at the time it was the mo-
one by the other. The bottom line is, we’ve always made sure to be true to our clients locally. The business was not based on tourism, either here [Dubai], or in Paris, or in New York, we want to sell to the real women who live in the cities. Then in terms of styling, I think that’s one of the key talents of Isabel, she understands what people really want – she has a sense of what’s in the air and she’s really strong about that. So, she went more casual during the pandemic and now she’s going more evening. She has that type of intuition of what women will want next season. It’s really interesting to see her creating because she understands things, she feels things and then she tries to digest them and to see how it could be relevant for her and for our customers. Congratulations on the opening of the new flagship store in this region. What does the Middle Eastern market represent to you? For us, it’s still quite small, but a growing one, because we are basically relaunching the brand in the market. We previously had a store in Mall of the Emirates but in another location, but we are super proud to have this location that is way more visible and with a new concept. So I think for us, it’s the starting point of a new expansion in the area. I’ve recently been to Saudi Arabia and we are looking into that, I’m sure we can have a few stores there in the coming years. It’s definitely an important market for us for the future. What is it like a philosophy you live by in business? There’s a saying in French that means desire and disorder. It’s a question of what you want what you feel like having. We’re a very agile type of startup company and want to be very fast. So, it’s a little bit of a mess and we love it. We love the little imperfections of life, as that makes your life more exciting. During your time at Isabel Marant, what have you found to be the most important aspect of the brand? Your team is the most important asset that you can have. Because at the end of the day, you need to be happy to do the work and that happens when you have an excellent team. Isabel and myself have been incredibly proud, particularly through the pandemic, because, you know, it was smart working digitally, but at the end of the day people were craving to come to the office, to be around others. I think that’s what we’re really proud of, our team. This is The Integrity Issue – what does this mean to you? For the brand, we definitely have integrity, but one of our core values is also sincerity. It’s really something that we really value because we always want to stay true to ourselves and I think that’s integrity in whatever you do. You treat your customers, suppliers, and everyone well, you do things nicely and it’s going to pay off. So I think integrity and sincerity are very, very important values to us.
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C O M P I L E D BY: O L I V I A M O R R I S
AMAL AL RAISI
COOL GCC brands with exceptional pieces to invest in this Ramadan AMAL AL RAISI
Omani designer Amal Al Raisi launched her eponymous label in 2007 and has continued to be one of the most popular designers in the region for over a decade. Her latest collection for SS22 symbolises new beginnings, embodying the tranquility of the rising sun. Subtle touches of lace are seen throughout
the collection with flowing silhouettes and calming hues of lilac, rose and daffodil. AHLAM SHAHIN
Ahlam Shahin launched her namesake label in 2016 and has continued to champion her vision of understated elegance. For the Dubai-based brand’s SS22 collection, the
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designer took inspiration from a painting by Jackson Pollock entitled ‘The Moon Woman’ which feature a series of curved lines and vibrant colours, which are reflected in the pieces. Flowy fabrics such as chiffon and silky satin have been used in striking hues of yellow, orange, red and blue. SERRB
Founded in 2018 by Emirati sisters, Budoor, Noor and Sarah Al Khaja, Serrb’s SS22 collection embraces the nature of the modern, feminine woman encapsulating free-flowing silhouettes in natural earthy tones of brown and beige with touches of bright pink and red hues. NOOR AL BAHRANI
Omani fashion brand Noor Al Bahrani’s SS22 collection channels the warmth of the upcoming season, taking inspiration from the Gypsophila flower. A soft colour palette is present throughout the collection with hues of creams, white and yellow with hints of green and blue. 1309 STUDIOS
Founded by Ghada Al Subaey in 2015, this Qatar-based ready-to-wear label is known for celebrating feminine silhouettes, fluid shapes and minimal embroidery. However, for the brand’s new Abaya Drop 6, fitted silhouettes, enhanced embroidery and precise attention to detail are at the helm, whilst continuing to embrace its traditional Qatari roots.
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1309 STUDIOS
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WORDS: AMY SESSIONS
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B T H A I N A’ S S S 2 2 C O L L E C T I O N R A D I AT E S A N A U R A OF ETHEREAL ELEGANCE
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The Shape of Love WORDS: AMY SESSIONS
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For Ramadan 2022, Loro Piana partnered with Emirati artist
Arabic typography on a collection with love as the central theme
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Mattar Bin Lahej, dedicated to his love for calligraphy and
P H OTO G R A P H Y: O R I A N A L AY E N D EC K E R
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WORDS: SARAH JOSEPH
SelfExpression Rawdha Thani, Founder of illi Studio, on creating a luxury fashion label that delivers detail with integrity
What do the first 30 minutes of your day look like, your morning routine? I like to start my morning by setting a positive tone for the day. I say three things I am grateful for and three things I am looking forward to along with what I would like to get done in that day. I like to prepare a list of the things that need to be done as this helps structure my day. What inspired you to launch illi Studio and how did you know the moment was right? I always wanted to start illi for as long as I could remember, during the pandemic I found myself with more time to reflect and a strong creative flow of ideas. I knew this was the time for me to start working on it, so I went ahead and was instantly consumed by it. Can you talk us through your creative process? I like things that go back to a story or a memory. I’m a very sentimental person and direct my energy towards anything that’s meaningful. The majority of my collections are inspired by space and astrology and Morocco as my mother is originally from there. I have always been fascinated with space and stars and moons. My senior project was also inspired by the same as I designed a star
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gazing yacht. With colour playing a huge factor in my process, I take the colours that I love and execute them on my work according to the women I envision them for. I like to do a lot of sampling and love to try out a lot of things, as I work on my pieces for months until I’m happy with them. Your pieces preserve the UAE’s traditions. Was protecting this heritage a goal from the outset? I am very inspired by my heritage and being an Emirati woman is a great privilege, especially as I’m surrounded by so many strong creative women. I think it’s our duty as Emirati designers to preserve our traditions and pass them down to the next generation. You give traditional abayas a contemporary spin. Tell us about your attention to detail? I always say I design for the modern woman. As fashion changes all the time, and I believe modest fashion will always be evolving as well. Adding small details, slits, modern cuts, and bold colours adds a nice modern twist to abayas. I also style my shoots with immaculate attention to detail to make sure I bring in trendy elements to further show how you can follow trends and still dress modestly. This is The Integrity Issue – what does integrity mean to you? I think integrity is something key. It brings positive energy to the table and I am a firm believer in energy, strong morals and transparency. Transparency grows respect and trust which are principal responsibilities to me.
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Hot New Buys WORDS: SARAH JOSEPH
An edit of all the latest luxe beauty buys created with integrity
Instant Plump This innovative gel formula minimizes the appearance of discolouration and dark circles with natural moisture barrier restoration. Equilibrium Instant Plumping Eye Mask Dhs278 Hourglass
Inspired by the master perfumer, Iris Porcelana is a combination of sustainably sourced sandalwood with musky hints. Iris Porcelana 100ml Dhs805 Ex Nihilo
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INTENSELY ADDICTIVE
High Shine This high gloss formula with vitamin E extracts gives a mirror-like shine finish that hydrates the lips all day. Afterglow Lip Shine Dhs96 Nars
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Luminous Skin All the expertise of Phyto-Blanc skincare in a cushion foundation. PhytoBlanc Le Cushion Dhs457 Sisley
VEGAN FORMULA This timeless lipstick is the perfect option for everyday elegance with its ultra-glide application for a lasting colour. 209 Divorce Lipstick Dhs216 Byredo
Skin Guard This potent antioxidant serum imparts a breathable film to guard against airborne pollutants. Parsley Seed Anti-Oxidant Intense Serum 60ml Dhs345 Aesop
Transparent Tanning Packed with nourishing ingredients this rich creamy texture lets you achieve a sunkissed faux glow without any damaging effects. The Crème 65ml Dhs177 Tan-Luxe available at cultbeauty.com
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Sophisticated Notes This evocative fragrance combines delicate hints of jasmine with mystique oud elements for the ultimate aquatic scent. Ambar de Los Andes Eau de Parfum 100ml Dhs1,650 Fueguia 1833
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Ambre Perfume Oil 15ml Dhs1,948 Ex Nihilo
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Thé Noir 29 Perfume Oil 30ml Dhs440 Le Labo
Marrakech Intense Parfum 10ml Dhs355 Aesop
Beratan Perfume Oil 10ml Dhs294 Frama
Rose Perfumed Oil 15ml Dhs1,948 Ex Nihilo
Expression + Confidence Essential Oil 30ml Dhs165 Anatome available on selfridges.com
No. 10 Aboukir Perfume Oil 15ml Dhs220 Maison Louis Marie
Sleep Series Rise 10ml Dhs166 De Mamiel
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Flower Beast 20ml Dhs590 OJAR
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A Pure Note
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What do the first 30 minutes of your day look like, your morning routine? I very much adapt to the seasons and to the places where I find myself, but mostly, as soon as I’m up, I have an espresso, feed my cat, and go for a walk. What is at the heart of Fueguia 1833, the DNA? What lies in the heart of the company is a very conscious approach to everything that we do. I am an artist, and when I work, it’s as if I was working with a canvas, and a palette of colours. I am very attentive to exploring the variety of what nature has to offer, in particular, in South America. In this virgin territory, we have a process of outsourcing rare natural botanicals often used for the first time in perfumery. This enables us to explore all the facets of nature, and all facets of the olfactive journey we want to sublimate. This is also why we have more than 100 fragrances to ensure a creative assortment for each individual to be able to appreciate variety, versatility, but above all, for everyone to find their own scent. I invest significantly in R&D, ingredients production, plants research and technology associated with the pharmaceutical business of plant extraction, just to ensure that we preserve the best, and reveal authentic scents. My constant endevour towards research naturally demands to respect nature and to respect the raw materials during their availability: exclusivity is also what we stand for at Fueguia 1833, this is the reason why we produce only limited series of fragrances. Tell us how your past experiences led you to found your own brand? It all started as an artistic project and installation in a space I rented in Buenos Aires. It was part of my quest back then to experiment and showcase my work in order to express my artistic and creative vision. Like every artist, you tend to keep exploring mediums, pigments, textures, colours, so here I was, as an independent artist with an independent project, taking the first leap to reveal my work to the public, to portray Patagonian landscapes through a unique olfactory experience, distilling rare and exotic botanicals. This was the genesis of the whole concept. How did you know you were ready to make the leap and launch your own brand? The gallery showcase created interest and triggered in me an even greater creative and artistic thrill. I realized that what I had created could be explored further and could be
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layered in many more creative and artistic facets. I was also privileged to meet a woman that thought my project was too cool not to see the light beyond the gallery showcase. She became my first investor, and I began building and creating a bigger canvas: my company Fueguia 1833. Have you had any mentors along the way and if so, what has been the best advice they have imparted to you? The beauty of life is that it enables you to meet a lot of people and to connect with a lot of minds. I’ve had a lot of mentors along the way. My father is an artist, I have always been influenced by his vision, along with Victor Grippo (also an artist) that I have followed closely. My friends are also important. I pay attention to what surrounds me in general. It appears to me that my important people all had a very conscious approach, from their behaviours and actions – I am also very much the same, hence the combination of my personality and the personality of my mentors lead me to explore the foundations of a company that would be vertically integrated in order to translate my values. How do the creative and commercial sides of the business work together and do you feel particularly drawn to one side of the business? I definitely feel that I belong in the creative field, as my entire nature is an endless quest towards expressing my perspective on creativity and artistry. Creative and commercial are intertwined but I approach them very differently from one another. 100% of my decisions are shaped by my creative direction or sensibility, following that, the business side of things must be stringent in order for the verticality of the company to remain coherent. The numbers of each fragrance are limited – can you tell us about this strategy and was it a clear goal from the outset? It was definitely the essence since day one, it was also a reflection of the amount of ingredients we could tackle in our creative process given that each of the ingredients are available according to a certain limit. 400 bottles are created per batch: each creation features the year of production and a serial number and is manufactured in accordance with the availability of the natural ingredients. There are no expiration, nor preservatives used in the creations, which lead the fragrances to evolve with time, to mature and macerate,
providing exclusive scents. Some of these exclusive scents have witnessed 10 years of maceration and were carefully selected to be included within the “vintage cave” of the company, at the flagship store in Milan. What has been the biggest challenge since launching the brand and how did you overcome it? I’m not sure that I can mention one major challenge particularly; I believe that managing a company brings you challenges continuously. The fact that we are a vertically integrated company puts us at the forefront of every single business and creative angle that we need to address meticulously and with all fairness. I come from Argentina, where we do not have many resources, this is also a big part of my decision in creating the
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company in Argentina, because the lack of resources demands us to think outside of the box and makes us creative in finding solutions when we face challenges. The last year was a time that saw brands change strategy. Have you had to pivot as a business? Covid has impacted the world in shaping a new form of social thinking and behaviour, however, we remained focused and consistent in keeping the same strategy and creative direction. How has social media affected the business and which platform has been most useful? We take pride in growing a community of connoisseurs and of people that really understand and appreciate the essence of the brand. Our social media is very low key on purpose: we appreciate taking the time in growing a platform where progressively we will nurture and engage more. Do you see any buying trends globally in terms of scents and if so which? At Fueguia 1833 there are no particular trends in the purchase behaviours, I would say it very much depends on seasons, mindsets or cultural preferences. I truly believe that the quest in discovering different or new ingredients is constant as it enables us to create new emotions and memories. In the company, we do not create scents according to preferences or aromatic families, our creations are not influenced by trends. We adapt our creations according to what nature has to offer, and this is why our olfactive journeys can change and offer a lot. Which is your personal favourite and why? I do not have a personal favourite as it always changes. I believe seasons have an impact on my preferences. Currently, I wear Negus as I love resins and wood. I love nature, I love trees. Negus is the best illustration of those. This is The Integrity Issue – what does integrity mean to you? Integrity is not only a way of seeing things but more of our actions in the world. I believe that my integrity is seen in the way I have shaped and formed my company and integrated in it all of the values I stand for. I am very attentive to what surrounds me and very cautious in the way I explore things, this is why the products we offer need to remain true to what we believe in, nothing that can harm nature. My art is about exploring nature and sublimating the beauty of nature. All this has an energy, and I am very mindful of everything that has an energy. I always try to respect it and protect it. My investment, my consumption, my behaviour is very focused, meaningful and with as much relevance as possible. I buy old guitars, I work with a craftsman from Venice, I live in a house built in the XVII Century. I like everything that has a soul, as I think that it is everything that integrity stands for.
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What do the first 30 minutes of your day look like, your morning routine? My morning routine constantly varies due to the nature of my work and whether I am in London or Dubai. The four-hour time difference is indeed a luxury for me when I’m in the UAE, as I’m able to move at a slower pace before London wakes up. I usually wake up around 6am, and drink a glass of warm water with lemon to hydrate me after my sleep. While having the water I begin journaling and have found this activity to be an absolute game-changer. It actively quiets my mind as I set out my intentions for the day and write down all the thoughts that I have before engaging with anyone else. I enjoy a cup of coffee with oat milk, while going through my emails and messages. If my classes don’t begin early, I either workout in the gym, go to the Pilates studio or for a long walk. At some point during the day, I do the classical mat workout as it keeps my mind, body and soul in alignment. What led you to launch Exhale Pilates and how has it grown to date? Exhale Pilates all started by chance. After being in the wellness and hospitality industry for over 20 years and having been involved in the creation and launch of several global brands, I always knew I wanted to create my own. As an adrenaline junkie, I’ve always enjoyed that after effect after a spin or HIIT class, however, my body never did as I would always get injured and so I tried Pilates. What is at the core of Exhale Pilates and the DNA of the brand? Exhale Pilates as a brand is authentic, empowering and it holds integrity, similar to the Pilates we teach. We have built a reputation around trust and high standards, so that new and existing clients always have confidence in the quality of service and teaching they receive at Exhale. By combining a very friendly, warm and welcoming studio
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along with the most incredible team, we always ensure it remains a welcoming place. Many have conveyed how our studio environment has such an infectious energy and it feels like home away from home. Why did you choose to focus on classical Pilates? Initially because it healed me, and I experienced first-hand how powerful the system was. In my very early years as a teacher, I had a client who came to me after having a severe stroke. Unable to walk or feel one side of her entire body she had had nine months of physio without any positive change evident. After working with me three times per week for two months using the classical system as our guide she was able to walk 10 steps unaided and got sensation down her arm again. Why would I want to deviate from a system that works and is so powerful in transforming people’s lives like that? I also like to know the source, the original, the undiluted, unfiltered version of everything, although I put my spin on it sometimes but Joseph Pilates who created this system was a genius with the body and ahead of his time and I don’t want his legacy to die out. It has also been amazing how many contemporary teachers have come to Exhale over the years to retrain and bridge to the classical method, believing something was missing in their teaching and how feeling the classical method work in their own bodies using classical apparatus was completely different to anything they felt. You’ve been teaching Pilates for many years, how has it transformed your life over time? Not only has Pilates helped me personally in a physical sense but the tools you learn to move your body, help to be mindful in everyday life too. As cliche as it sounds to connect your body and mind is an incredibly empowering tool to have, especially as a woman. There are many facets to the practice that infiltrate how you conduct yourself and respond to situations in life. Pilates is not just an exercise method, it can truly help and prepare you for every aspect of your life. I’ve helped thousands of people transform their lives both physically and professionally through Pilates. From the Pilates novice, to professional athletes, people recovering from injuries, surgery and strokes to top models preparing for the catwalk, both my team and I help everyone to feel and be the best version of themselves through Pilates. To empower people, especially women through movement, changing their careers and watching mindsets shift is an amazing journey to be part of and incredibly rewarding. I’ve been able to travel the world, meet some of the most wonderful people who have not only become clients but friends and mentors. I’ll be forever grateful for Pilates being such a huge part of my life. Can you expand on the differences you see in terms of mat or equipment as a workout? Both are incredible workouts designed to build strength, muscle tone, whilst increasing flexibility and balance in the body. The original Pilates system was all about working the apparatus and mat exercises together. Joseph Pilates created the mat work to do as home work for his clients when they were unable to get into the studio. Mat work can be a lot harder by offering less support
for the body as you work against gravity and your own body weight while learning how to control your muscles in every exercise, whereas the apparatus supports you and gives feedback using the resistance of the springs. The apparatus is also great to help correct alignment so if you have any niggles, injuries or limited range of motion, the apparatus is a better starting point as it will help re-align you in a much more safe and effective way. Pilates apparatus is not just the reformer but a whole heap of other amazing things like the barrels, Cadillac, Wunda Chair, High Chair and more. There is definitely a craze around Pilates right now, particularly Reformer style workouts. But as this is the Integrity issue, it is critical to highlight the importance of doing your research when it comes to the best type of Pilates for you and your body. So many Reformer style workouts look more like HIIT training on an unstable surface rather than focusing on what Pilates is all about which is control and teaching your body to move from a strong and stable center. How many sessions does it take for a body overhaul? You can honestly feel the difference after one session but with Pilates as a discipline the more you practice the quicker you will see and feel results. We recommend at least doing two to three sessions per week, as Pilates is not a quick win, it is a lifestyle choice, and we have clients within the age bracket six to 92 years old. Doing Pilates can completely transform the way you look, feel and move by creating balance in the body and freeing yourself of tightness and stress. The body doesn’t just have a body overhaul, the mind does too. It’s amazing, and everyone should do it. You not only teach but train – tell us more? I absolutely love teaching as to have a skill to transform people’s lives whether that is by helping people get out of pain or making them feel better about themselves is addictive and incredibly rewarding. Currently the teacher training part of the business has accelerated, so I’m working more on that side of the business as I’m helping aspiring Pilates teachers fulfil their dreams and transform their journey in life, especially those who never thought it could be possible. I love giving people the confidence to believe in themselves no matter what their age. Do you have plans to bring this to Dubai anytime soon? I currently train people one on one when I am here and would love to have an Exhale studio in Dubai. I think it would be a huge success as Dubai attracts the best of the best from everything around the world. I am definitely looking into bringing my Teacher courses here this year as I’ve had a lot of interest – we may be doing this in Q2 this year! This is The Integrity Issue – what does integrity mean to you? Integrity to me is about having values, being honest and sticking to what you believe in regardless of circumstances or expectations of other people. I have built Exhale based on leading with integrity and sticking to what I believe in and am passionate about. Having integrity as a brand or as an individual is rare today, but it will hold onto the right relationships and always stand the test of time.
“Integrity to me is about having values, being honest and sticking to what you believe in regardless of circumstances or expectations of other people.”
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The Beauty Shelf Charlotte Chesnais, Founder of her namesake jewellery brand, talks us through her hero beauty products C O M P I L E D BY: S A R A H J O S E P H
Redefining Body Balm 180ml Dhs764 Tata Harper
I am obsessed with the smell and the rich texture, which moisturizes my skin when it’s feeling dry. I started using this when I was expecting my first son and now when I smell it, it sends me back to this magical time for a short moment. By reducing the appearance of fine lines, it gives that ultimate youthful effect. Cologne Indelebile perfume spray 100ml for Dhs1,075 Frederic Malle
He is undoubtedly my favourite perfumer, as the musk accords are both irresistible and sophisticated. This clean yet bold scent, is something my better half wears, as he knows it’s undeniably tempting. Frange Puff dry shampoo brush Dhs125 by Violette
much, this sunscreen meets all my UV deflecting requirements. During summertime, it’s perfect for hydrating my skin and
is weightless, scentless and is absolutely game-changing. Faucheur, the best facialist in Paris
For me this is even more impor-
Ecological Nail Polish Dhs58 Kure Bazaar
I am quite minimal when it comes to manicures and this nailpolish is ideal. Not only does it have the perfect transparent pink tone, but it also takes care of your nails.
L’essentiel Peau 60 capsules B Combeau
I try to take food supplements regulary and this one is perfect for all skin types. It’s rehydrating and prevents any signs of ageing. These capsules are designed to help you love the skin you’re in as it unlocks your natural beauty.
The Hand Treatment Dhs228 Augustinus Bader
By providing a softening sanctuary to my dry hands, this handbag staple is one I often carry. By protecting my skin against pollution, it’s truly a treat and this vitamin E formula also has age-defying properties.
Unseen Sunscreen SPF 30 50ml Dhs160 Supergoop!
As I have light skin and don’t expose myself to the sun too
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tant than beauty products. These two sisters have magical hands and provide the best kobido, a must try if you’re in Paris.
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I’m not a fan of washing my hair more than twice per week, so this magical powder makes my hair feel absolutely refreshed, no matter what the occasion is. By reinventing the traditional dry shampoo routine, this rechargeable tool gives me an effortless hair look anywhere and anytime.
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T O U C H I N G
T R I B U T E
T O
Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum: The Man, the Sheikh, the Father
Written by his daughter, HH Sheikha Latifa bint Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, this book allows readers a glimpse into the private life of the late Sheikh Hamdan.
AVA I L A B L E AT A L L M A J O R R E TA I L E R S A N D O N B O O K S A R A B I A . C O M
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MOTIVATEBOOKS
MOTIVATE_BOOKS
MOTIVATEBOOKS
C O M P I L E D BY: O L I V I A M O R R I S
AM TO PM BEAUTY
Mouza Alabbar, Co-Founder of Alabbar Enterprises, talks us through her beauty routine Talk us through your morning routine. The first thing I do when I wake up is make a cup of coffee, light a Jo Malone candle, and spend time meditating. In terms of beauty, I’m very minimalistic. I cleanse my face with Clarins Gentle Foaming Hydrating Cleanser, then apply the purifying toning lotion, and moisturize with the Silky Cream moisturizer. Following my skincare routine, I apply very natural makeup just to enhance my features and feel fresh. How does your evening routine differ? In the evening, I focus on unwinding from the day. I always light candles and spray Dakhoun. In regards to
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skincare my routine is the same, I cleanse, tone, and then moisturize with the Clarins restorative night cream. What are your go-to skincare products? My go-to skincare products include anything from the Clarins line, which I’ve been using as long as I can remember. I love that the products are straightforward and effective. Are you a fan of masks? I don’t usually tend to use face masks, I keep my skincare routine minimalistic. How would you describe your approach to makeup? I love wearing very natural makeup, I usually apply a soft base with the Clarins BB cream and
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Clockwise from top left: Gentle Foaming Hydrating Cleanser Dhs126 Clarins available at bloomingdales.ae; No.6 Bond Smoother 100ml Dhs117 Olaplex available at lookfantastic.ae; Rock N Kohl Eyeliner - Bedroom Black Dhs115 Charlotte Tilbury; Quelques Fleurs L’Original Collection Privée Dhs1,046 Houbigant Paris; Radiant Creamy Concealer Dhs96 Nars Cosmetics available at lookfantastic.ae; Hydra-Essentiel Silky Cream Dhs227 Clarins available at namshi.ae
Nars Creamy Radiant Concealer. I love to dress it up with a cat-eye using the Charlotte Tilbury Bedroom Black Kohl, and a full lash. What can always be found in your makeup bag? I always have nude lipstick and mascara on hand. Which fragrances are you loving at the moment? I have always loved Quelques Fleurs L’Original Collection Privée. This scent is very special to me, as it’s the scent my mother wore throughout my childhood, and still wears to this very day. Wearing it every day brings back fond memories, and it will forever be my favourite. How do you choose your evening fragrance? For the
evening, I love fragrances with musk, rose and iris. Talk us through your hair routine. My hair routine is to shampoo with the Kerastase Elixir Ultime Oleo Complexe Sublime Cleansing Shampoo and follow with the Nutritive conditioner. After the shower I apply Olaplex leave-in conditioner, then I dry and style my hair. I tend to go with a voluminous wavy look. What is the most unusual item in your makeup bag? To be completely honest, there’s nothing unusual in my makeup bag. My makeup bag essentials are my eyelash curler, and a beauty blender to blend my makeup throughout the day.
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In the office with Founder of ODEEM, Fatma AlOtaiba WORDS: AMY SESSIONS P H OTO G R A P H Y: J OAC H I M G UAY
Space Personal
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going to redesign the space and how to turn it into a boutique/ office. I used a mood board to develop the concept. My favourite peice are my upholstered arm chairs. Have you custom built any bespoke pieces? The arm chairs,
marble low console and the wall hung metal and marble shelves are all custom made peices. My coffee table set is a refurbished piece from home and I love that they found their way to the office. Describe your taste in 3 words. Modern, timeless and textured.
ART DIRECTION: OLGA PETROFF
How long have you lived/worked in this space? I’ve had the space for over 3.5 yrs. Did you have a clear concept from the outset and which key pieces are your favourite? When I moved into the space, it took me 9 months to decide how I was
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COMPILED BY SARAH JOSEPH
IMMERSE
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Candles with the strongest scent to infuse your space
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From top left: Palo Santo 14 245g Dhs214 Le Labo; Mahogany Teakwood Intense 411g Dhs100 Bath & Body Works; Leather Candle 260g Dhs213 Malin + Goetz; Cotton Poplin Candle 240g Dhs330 Byredo available on sephora.ae; Baccarat Rouge 280g Dhs450 Maison Francis Kurkdjian; Lime Basil & Mandarin Scented Home Candle 200g Dhs220 Jo Malone London; Wood Fire Interior & Exterior Candle 1500g Dhs1,303 Diptyque; Rose Candle 200g Dhs233 Aromatherapy Associates available on NET-A-PORTER; Jasmine Rouge Scented Candle Dhs482 Tom Ford Beauty available on ounass.ae; Left page: Shimmer Scented Candle Dhs558 Zaha Hadid Design available on matchesfashion.com
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C O M P I L E D BY: O L I V I A M O R R I S
TRUE SELF Some of the most incredible women we know tell us what integrity means to them
HER HIGHNESS SHEIKHA MARIAM BINT KHALIFA BIN SAIF AL NAHYAN
HER HIGHNESS SHEIKHA AMAL AL MAKTOUM FOUNDER & CREATIVE DIRECTOR OF AZZALIA @azzalia.ae
FOUNDER & CREATIVE DIRECTOR OF MKS JEWELLERY @mksjewellery This is The Integrity Issue – what does this mean to you? Integrity is about staying true to our core values as a brand, as well as what we value as human beings. It’s about showing who we are through the work we do and the products we produce, and also about being kind to the world around us. By bringing integrity into everything we do, our goal is to show that you can grow a brand while making a positive difference in the world. How do you implement values of integrity in your life? Personally, I always work to treat people how I would like to be treated myself. If someone is having a bad day or delivers a negative experience, I look to empathize and understand what could be going on under the surface that I’m unaware of. I also work to provide a fair, honest and transparent service in every area of my life so that everyone I connect with can see instantly what I stand for. Integrity is as much about how you do something as it is about what you do. My goal is to lead by example and constantly learn and grow along the way.
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NORA AL RAMADHAN CO-FOUNDER & CEO OF APOTHECA BEAUTY @apothecabeauty This is The Integrity Issue – what does this mean to you? To me, integrity means doing what is morally right, even when it is inconvenient for you or behind closed doors. Integrity is staying honest and truthful with yourself; holding yourself accountable and having the courage to appologise and admit when you are wrong. How do you implement values of integrity in your life? I do my best to keep my word and treat people fairly. I often ask myself, what is the right thing to do in a situation and what will help me sleep soundly at night. When credit and appreciation is due to others, I go out of my way to do it.
This is The Integrity Issue – what does that mean to you? Integrity and its value are interspersed in all aspects of our lives. It’s how you exist, how you build relationships, how you create businesses, and it is being honest. It’s how you build your entire life. How do you implement values of integrity in your life? For me, integrity is at the core of everything I do, especially in terms of how I’ve grown Azzalia. The quality of being loyal to my customers, giving them the very best of what Azzalia has to offer, and being consistent with it is how I implement values of integrity in my life.
NAJLA AL ANSARI ENTREPRENEUR & CO-FOUNDER OF NOT A SPACE @notaspace
This is The Integrity Issue – what does that mean to you? Integrity is an individual’s attitude and true character being reflected by one’s actions. Actions that show honesty, responsibility and fairness. How do you implement values of integrity in your life? Integrity is the essence in every action we take when working towards our goals. I always try to be honest with myself first before I act in a certain way with others whether they’re my colleagues or potential clients. And always choosing courage over comfort!
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NOORA SAEED FOUNDER AND MANAGING DIRECTOR, VIBE CAFÉ & LASH COSMETICS @noorasaeed
This is The Integrity Issue – what does this mean to you? Integrity to me means knowing what your values are and sticking to them, while managing to truly be your authentic self – and that can only happen when you remain self-aware, and 100% accountable for your actions. When you nail that, you will remain a consistent character, even in situations where external factors can add pressure to compromise on the things you truly believe in. How do you implement values of integrity in your life? I always keep my word, in my personal life as well as my professional life. As an entrepreneur, you must be reliable in your promises and commitments. I always look around me and evaluate my environment. Are the people around me reflecting my values? Can I say the same about my business? Do my employees feel valued and respected? The quote ‘treat others how you want to be treated’ is one that we’ve all heard a million times, but it holds true value. People with integrity value other people by showing them respect.
SHAIKHA NOOR AL KHALIFA AND SHAIKHA HAYA AL KHALIFA FOUNDERS OF NOON BY NOOR @noonbynoor
SHEIKHA AL MHEIRI FOUNDER OF MAD (MAKING A DIFFERENCE) HOSPITALITY This is The Integrity Issue – what does this mean to you? Integrity is a set of values and principles that drive actions and thought. To me, integrity means being myself and sticking to my values and principles, regardless of circumstances or expectations of other people. It can often be difficult, especially if my conduct or opinions may be misunderstood by others. How do you implement values of integrity in your life? Living every day with ambition and striving for confidence, truth and respect in relationships, career and family.
This is The Integrity Issue – what does this mean to you? The ability to stay true to ourselves – our morals and our values – regardless of the circumstances. How do you implement values of integrity in your life? By listening, learning, adapting and respecting differences, while never compromising the core values we grew up with.
SARA TAMIMI
FOUNDER OF HER NAMESAKE FASHION BRAND @saratamimiofficial This is The Integrity Issue – what does this mean to you? Strong morals, principles and values. How do you implement values of integrity in your life? Eagerness to accomplish rightful acts over comfort or personal interest. I do them for myself and god, not to gain recognition.
SHEIKHA DANA AL KHALIFA FOUNDER OF THE OVERDRESSED @theoverdressed This is The Integrity Issue – what does this mean to you? Integrity to me means upholding one’s principles and being honest in so doing. How do you implement values of integrity in your life? When you have a high set of principles you can be seen as difficult or very fussy when you try to uphold them. I don’t listen to the noise – I try to be as respectful as I can to the environment – I work with Jennifer Klein, a couture designer who provides the most magnificent service. This way I make sure my clothes last, they’re well-made and the correct people are being paid for their work.
SARAH ALAGROOBI ARTIST, DESIGNER & CO-CURATE OF THE BANAT COLLECTIVE @sarahalagroobi This is The Integrity Issue – what does this mean to you? Integrity is in essence, existential evidence of what the world has to offer. I am looking forward to seeing how core values and honour are explored. There are so many different trajectories and definitions on how people integrate integrity
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in their lives and this issue will echo their sentiments with dignity and grace. How do you implement values of integrity in your life? It is important to be able to conceptualise the ideal version of yourself so that you are able to operate from a place of authenticity and genuine rapport. That can only happen if you are able to create an integrated ideal of who you are so that you cement your life within certainty. This is intrinsically linked to your core being and once practised, everything in your life should fall into place. You are no longer looking at who you want to ‘be’, but rather, who you want to ‘become’. The difference between the two is one remains static while the other is a constant state of transformation. This is how I implement it in my life, through integrity, curiosity, purpose and meaning.
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An Authentic Approach
WORDS: SARAH JOSEPH
What do the first 30 minutes of your day look like, your morning routine? I start my mornings very early. I have three kids so setting aside time for myself is definitely an important part of my day. The first thing I do is make a cup of coffee, I then sit by the window and recite my prayers. To me, this is the most calming form of meditation and gives me a great start to the day. Can you expand on your career highlights to date and how integrity has helped you get there? I would say the biggest highlight of my career has been witnessing the development and growth of our homegrown brands. Rather than franchising, we’ve focused on zooming in on creating homegrown brands, which allows us to have control over every
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aspect of the business and customer experience. I would say integrity has played a huge role in our success, as it is a part of everything we do. By being authentic and showing integrity, people are truly able to resonate with not only the brand, but the people behind it. All your brands ensure that customers remain at the heart of it, how do you constantly strive for next level service when it comes to clients? I truly believe that the key to success is being detail oriented, and this is something we’ve strived to achieve with each of our brands. We have put an immense amount of time and thought into each and every aspect with details as fine as the feeling clients will have when sitting in the chairs in our boutique, to the overall customer journey, store offering, interior design, and location. We have also worked extremely hard with product development, to create flavours, and textures that are unique to our brand. When making decisions, my first thought is always my clients. My team and I work very hard to ensure that I provide everything they could want, and more in order to offer an elevated experience every step of the way.
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Mouza Alabbar, Co-founder of Alabbar Enterprises, is on a mission to empower women in the region
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Your artisanal brand Made by Two has brought a new meaning to chocolate. What makes the brand stand out? Made By Two is a brand very dear to my heart, it is something that I’ve long envisioned creating, and I have spent countless hours creating and testing each unique flavour alongside my team. While there are a number of chocolate brands in the market, I have personally never seen a combination of art, design, flavour, and texture comparable to what we have been able to create with Made By Two. Each and every chocolate has a story and meaning behind it, the Oman chips flavour for example was created to bring clients back to fond memories from childhood. Apart from flavour, we have innovated the chocolate experience by experimenting with different textures, to bring a new sensation to chocolate in general. Another aspect of the brand that is unique is the display, we carefully curated packaging that exuded the utmost luxury, to be perfect for gifting, or any occasions. In the Gulf we definitely love hosting, and gifting loved ones, so it was important to me that the brand included that part of our heritage. How do the commercial and creative sides of your brands work together, and which side are you drawn more towards? When developing a brand from scratch, we always begin with the creative side. While I enjoy both aspects, I personally love the creative side of business, I love to innovate and develop concepts, to create things that haven’t been done before. What advice would you give to upcoming female entrepreneurs in the market? The first piece of advice I would give to female entrepreneurs is to keep authenticity at the core of everything that you do, as this will be one of your biggest competitive advantages. People can sense when there is heart and authenticity behind a brand, and this allows your brand to sell itself. Always create from the heart, and this will shine through in everything that you do. The second would be to take risks and be fearless when it comes to innovation. There is nothing difficult about imitating a proven concept, but it takes a true entrepreneur to envision and create something new. I believe authenticity, and risk taking are the keys to success in this business. You ensure immaculate attention to detail is implemented into each brand under your portfolio. What’s the secret? Apart from dedicating countless hours and working hard to ensure every detail is in line with our standards, I would definitely say my amazing team plays a huge part. A business is only as successful as the people behind it, and it was very important for me to ensure everyone at Alabbar shared a strong work ethic, and genuine love for the brands they represent. Do you have any mentors or guides and how does this help navigate the right path? I wouldn’t say that I have mentors per say, but I definitely am guided by my amazing family. My siblings Salama, Shamsa, Rashid, my husband, and my parents have always been my guiding lights. This is The Integrity Issue – what does integrity mean to you? To me, integrity means to be true to yourself and those around you. Having strong morals, and being authentic in everything that you do, will allow you to live a prosperous and fulfilled life.
“People can sense when there is heart and authenticity behind a brand, and this allows your brand to sell itself.”
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WORDS: AMY SESSIONS
Renew
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plit over two floors, the pared-back overhaul is a testament to the minimalist nature of the brand – focusing on quality over quantity. The Harklinikken laboratory, the epicentre of the clinic, where all Harklinikken custom-made extracts are mixed for each client, lies adjacent to the reception with a sleek black panelled glass door, allowing customers a special glimpse of the complex, madeto-order process that goes into creating each one of their carefully customized extracts. Handmade wooden shelves are lined with an array of plant-based extract ingredients, in specially commissioned hand-blown glass Apothecary bottles, unique to Harklinikken, being both stylish and functional.
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Good Game
Co-Founders of The Matcha Club, Paul Vittecoq, Lucas Basset-Chercot, Waleed Alamir and Othmane Mekouar on bringing a boutique padel community to Dubai
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WORDS: SARAH JOSEPH
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What do the first 30 minutes of your day look like, your morning routine? OM: I usually start my day with a good workout, a bike ride or a HIIT session. Following that, I check the news and make myself a little juice and then eventually leave for the day’s work. I then arrive at The Matcha Club around 9am, walk around and then go upstairs to our offices where the team is. We love the branding and feel of The Matcha Cub – did you all feel aligned on this concept from the outset or did you seek external input? OM: Yes totally, we all wanted to do something different and original, not just a random padel club. As we had our own Design and Build Studio, Sikinch, it helped us to be on track and align things in order. From start to finish, we handled all the construction and design, as we wanted to build our own project, making it exactly what we imagined. The other co-founders Lucas and Waleed, had obviously the same vision as us and together we were able to implement this project that was so dear to our hearts. What was the catalyst for launching and how did each of your previous backgrounds and roles support this? OM: Basically, we are a group of friends who played a lot of padel together, but we were tired of never being able to find available courts and all of a sudden, we had an idea of opening our own club, but again, we wanted to do something different. By being social, we wanted to add that social side and create a real community and a place to hang out. Our backgrounds are all different and this worked in our favour, as Paul and I have a de-
“For us, integrity is a set of values that must be respected even when no one is watching.”
sign background, Lucas has a financial one and Waleed works in urban planning. You have solar heated showers and recycled wood. Was sustainability an important aspect of this venue? OM: Yes, sustainability is a very important aspect for us, we were all agreed on that. We are striving to become an even more conscious club and are constantly taking steps to live up to our ambitions. Moreover, we have a partnership with the brand adidas which is a brand that strongly supports sustainability. The food is also Japanese inspired – can you expand on how you focused the menu? OM: The menu is designed to fuse elements of both French and Japanese cuisine in a healthy and unique way. Japan and France both have strong culinary cultures that essentially share the same values and beliefs when it comes to cooking. Incorporating fresh produce, the elegant, rich flavours of the French cuisine merged with the diverse flavours of Japanese cuisine creates a refreshing fusion. The combination of the two cuisines allows for our customers to explore a variety of contrasting flavours and textures and gives us the opportunity to add a fresh palette of flavours to the Dubai dining scene. This is The Integrity Issue – what does integrity mean to you? OM: For us, integrity is a set of values that must be respected even when no one is watching. Principles around honesty, trust and doing what you say and saying what you do, are all part of integrity. It also refers to a person’s ability to live up to his or her commitments and principles, despite pressures to the contrary. As a moral concept, we associate integrity with honesty.
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A Sophisticated Journey
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Kathy Johnston, Chief Chocolate Officer at Mirzam on creating bespoke confectionary and the art of chocolate making
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LIFESTYLE
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WORDS: SARAH JOSEPH
Can you tell us about the concept of beanto-bar chocolate making and how well this has been received in the region and beyond? Craft chocolate or bean-to-bar chocolate is the concept of making chocolate itself, as opposed to a chocolatier who buys readymade chocolate. Be it the ingredients for truffles or any other chocolates, everything is handpicked. By making the chocolate ourselves with a focus on well-sourced ingredients, it gives an opportunity to our customers to connect directly with the core ingredients transparently. For us it’s important for everyone to see the process, understand where they’ve come from and learn more about the overall food manufacturing system. Within the UAE, we’ve discovered a wonderful community of dark chocolate lovers who are extremely knowledgeable and
well informed, as they’ve supported us along the way. Our chocolates are available internationally as well, and we’ve recently added a couple of international awards to our list, that now reaches a total of 22. Some ingredients belong to the spice route from 100 years ago. Tell us more? Dubai is located along the historical spice trading route. This is a sailing path, which follows the coast from the Arabian Gulf to Sri Lanka, India and then further afield through to the southern tropical tip of Japan. Dhows sailed along the route, with their captains using the stars for navigation (Mirzam is the name of a star) and gathered the spices from the places they passed, to sell in the markets and souks in our region. With integrity at the core, how do you consistently innovate whilst maintaining these values? Our cycle of recipe development and production looks to the historical spice trading stories to guide all of our themes, stories and creativity. This overarching brand theme, together with the quality of our pro-
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duction process and transparency, are a part of our commitment. With the factory always visible and open daily to the public to visit, it’s really simpler for us to communicate what we do to our customers and show them how simple it is to make chocolate with only two to three ingredients, never more. It needs to be a very natural product. Mirzam works with talented artists from around the globe – how do you approach these collaborations? When we have a planned collection in the pipeline, I start looking through the work of artists who’ve submitted their portfolios to us. It’s imperative to find someone with the right style to suit the recipes or seasonal collections that we’ve been working on. We always work with artists who create work by hand, be it illustration or painting, to reflect that the chocolate and art are both handmade. This is The Integrity Issue – what does integrity mean to you? Integrity means being transparent and credible, with every layer of what we do.
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The Wanderlust The best luxury hotels around the globe to help you find inner peace C O M P I L E D BY: O L I V I A M O R R I S
Below: Waldhotel Health & Medical Excellence, Bürgenstock Hotels & Resort – Obbürgen, Switzerland; Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat, Tallebudgera Valley, Queensland, Australia; Right and previous pages: Amankora, Bhutan Amankora – Bhutan
Amankora has been a part of the Buddhist Kingdom of Bhutan for over two decades and was the first resort in the country. Labelled “one of the happiest places in the world”, this five-star sanctuary, with five different lodges located over five different valleys, is dedicated to enhancing the soul and spirit of all guests. With a particular focus on health and wellbeing, guests can immerse themselves in the mountainous surroundings of Bhutan and the true spirit of the country. In particular, the resort runs a dedicated wellness programme with a focus on yoga and meditation. Monks from Bhutan’s local monasteries regularly visit Amankora to lead meditations, sharing their wisdom and teachings with guests. aman.com/resorts/amankora/ Waldhotel Health & Medical Excellence, Bürgenstock Hotels & Resort – Obbürgen, Switzerland
Taking a 360-degree approach to health and wellbeing, the Waldhotel Health & Medical Excellence has been a leader in the space for 150 years. Nestled in the mountains of Switzerland, this five-star retreat helps guests truly heal and relax through their diagnostic, therapeutic and rehabilitation services. The location itself helps guests forget the mundane stresses of everyday life, but the experts on-site are there to help and guide individuals on a path to self-healing and self-discovery. buergenstock-waldhotel.ch/en REVIVO Wellness Resort – Bali, Indonesia
Located in the lush surroundings of Bali, Indonesia, RE-
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VIVO Wellness Resort is an allencompassing sanctuary where true change can take place. Derived from the Latin language, the literal meaning of the resort’s name is “I’ll live again”. Encouraging guests to embark on a transformational change, REVIVO has a multitude of signature retreats available helping you target anything from an immune reset to sleep help to mindfulness and emotional balance. In particular, the Mindfulness and Emotional Balance Retreat aims to help you reset and restart the inner workings of your mind, in turn, aiding on the path to inner peace. With just 16 luxurious Balinese-style suites on the
property, this oasis, which is set across three hectares of teak tree forest, is the perfect place to truly retune your mind. revivoresorts.com/resorts/revivo-bali Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat – Tallebudgera Valley, Queensland, Australia
This luxury health retreat located in the lush bush of Queensland, Australia is the ultimate wellness destination aiming to help people live a healthier life and soothe the soul. Set on over 200 hectares of land in Tallebudgera Valley, at the core of the retreat’s philosophy is to support guests by re-evaluating lifestyle habits which don’t reflect optimum wellness and energy values. In the calm setting of the retreat, there is an array of accommodation to suit everyone’s needs from villas with private pools to rooms dedicated to meditation. The resort also offers an extensive range of retreat programmes ranging from one day to seven days targeting all areas of wellness. gwinganna.com
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Ojo Santa Fe Resort – New Mexico, USA
Left: REVIVO Wellness Resort, Bali, Indonesia
LIFESTYLE
Ojo Santa Fe Resort encourages guests to reconnect with nature on its lush setting on a 77-acre plot in Northern New Mexico, USA. Considered a true refuge to reset and recharge your mind, body and soul, where they bring guests together as a community to partake in a bevy of invigorating activities from yoga to guided tours to fitness classes to a play session with adoptable puppies. The resort also specializes in the “art of soaking” which is considered a natural exchange of energy between the individual and water which, in turn, connects us with nature. ojosparesorts.com/ojo-santa-fe
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WORDS: AMY SESSIONS
Dhs POR Repossi
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Repossi’s Chromatic Sapphires set in rose 18K gold are as precious as they appear
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