Absolutely Absolute Events We Voice Fashion On Rami Kadi
fine art photographer, dreamer& survivor - Amani Al Shaali
MARYAM OMAIRA NEW COUTOURE AW 14 Ahmad Al Muhassin’s Magicaim
Khawla WRoadha’s Macaroons Collection Shamsa Al Abbar’s Arabic Typography Jewelry “Can pilates be my hobby?!” -Amal Bin Shabib
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W W W. DAS C O L L E C T I O N . C O M
16 Absolutely 80 Absolute Events We Voice Fashion 110 On Rami Kadi 32
fine art photographer, 90 dreamer& survivor - Amani Al Shaali
MARYAM OMAIRA 16 NEW COUTOURE AW 14 44
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Ahmad Al Muhassin’s 44 MAGICAIM
Khawla WRoadha’s 32 Macaroons Collection Shamsa Al Abbar’s 58 Arabic Typography Jewelry “Can pilates be my hobby?!” 98 -Amal Bin Shabib
Can You Keep A Secret? Sage & Amber Mayar Jewelry HINDANA GIFTS
67 72 74 76
The Consept Events 78
Noora Al Marri 86 Event Planning Chocolate Madness 106
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www.nafsdesigns.blogspot.com
Contributors
Editor’s Letter
Sarah Hamad Al Shaali
It’s out!
Founder & Creative Director
Rawda Jamal Buhannad Writer
Radar Magazine, a dream that became a reality,
created not only for my Graphic Design Senior Project course in Zayed University Dubai, but also as a network and a publication designed for young Emiratis who crave to be a part of something bigger.
Emiratis who are tying to make a name for themselves, searching for success, aiming to become independent role models for many others and put their talents on everyone’s RADAR, I know because I am
one of them.
Radar Magazine aims to provide a visual platform
that is necessary for Emirati youth businesses in the U.A.E. It provides various services such as promotion, which helps them advertise their products and talents, to create a supportive network, which enables Emiratis to get the word out there about their businesses, and to help market and expand them. This necessary platform comes in the form of a print and online magazine that showcases these products through interactive photography and graphic design.
Radar Magazine, through sleek, minimal and black & white graphic design, aims to give a sophisticated
sit back, relax and have a cup of coffee!
look and feel, that would help our readers
Through the help of my friend Rawda Buhannad, I was able to contact the amazing talent that you would be able to view throughout the pages of this magazine. Ranging from highfashion ‘Maryam Omaira New Couture’, high-end menswear ‘Magicaim’, experimental jewelry ‘Shamsa Al
Abbar’, event planning and health ‘Zen Kitchen’.
The young Emirati’s featured in our first issue are hand-picked specifically because they are obviously the public’s favorite and meant to get a wait
a
minute is that...?’ reaction. They have
and here many of you would get a view of how they did that, who helped them, and sincere words of advice
already established a name for themselves
because they support you too!
I would like to thank all the designer, artists and entrepreneurs who agreed to be a part of this project and especially for (taking my dream seriously!), I could not have done this without you! xo
www.skns-atelier.com
www.skns-atelier.com
Maryam
Omaira
A
fashion designer who sees beauty in the simplest things. Finding inspiration, to her, is a matter of instinct more than anything else and she loves to share her finds with the people who dress in her gowns.
M
aryam Omaira has always been a fan of whatever adds to the beauty of women and she found that gowns serve to do exactly that, and so, the first few ‘women’ were her dolls whom she dressed in designs she created using tissue paper as a child. “I knew, and so did those around me, that designing was not merely a passing phase but something I would make a career out of. Seeing as it is my passion, I took it as a chance to study at the first fashion university in Dubai where I took my first steps.” In times of need, when she would struggle to find the right dress to wear to a certain occasion, she would seek help from the designer in her whom she did not know existed then. She would wear the dresses she designed, and people would recognize them and show interest in them. She started out fulfilling the need of family, close friends and certain strangers by dressing them for occasions. One thing led to another and Maryam launched her first collection, which was literally a ‘collection’ of designs she custom made for those who showed interest in her gowns. “My success is a result of many aspects that I would narrow down to character and surroundings, both of which work together to make me a better designer.” Character wise, having confidence in her self and taking risks contributes to her success “as risk means innovation.” As for surroundings, she feels blessed, as what surrounds her is beautiful, from
people to culture to environment, she urges innovation to mark its place in her life and to make her the best at what she does.
mind when style and fashion are spoken of as her extraordinary outfits and looks are hard to forget.” As for designers, Maryam admires the work of the couture designer, Stephan “I am a person whose life and Rolan, as she believes that his career are non distinguishdesigns are unusual yet still able, in the sense that neither very wearable. “As for skills in would overshadow the other bringing out a womans best but would rather strengthen it.” assets through designs, I have She believes she has an adgreat respect for Zac Posen. vantage as her career and her Hussein Chalayan, as well has hobbies are interconnected. proven himself to be of great
“I do what I love; designing, & I incorporate it into my everyday life. My life becomes an inspiration to my designs and my designs become a reason my life is more interesting.” Maryam Omaira New Couture is defined as an experimental line. As everything has already been made, Maryam Omaira New Couture experiments with modernizing old silhouettes, giving new meaning to design, creating what hasn’t already been created.
Behind each and every collection she has launched is a story, which she creates to give her collections strength as viewers anticipate. The stories are mostly derivative of her culture in an unusual manner. Because the strength of any collection she creates lies in its story, the variety behind her collections lies in the content of that story and how it is told. While the concept behind most of my collections is her background, different elements of her background are represented in each collection and the variety is expressed through the change of colors and silhouettes. “Sara Jessica Parker comes to
wit in his intricate designs that merge between architecture and fashion, creating new meaning to design, and for that I have great respect.” Maryam introduces new designs twice a year, a set of designs for Spring-Summer and another set for Autumn-Winter, as well as custom made dresses by order throughout the year. “Basically, introducing new designs is an ongoing pattern that has no start and no end.” As for Maryam Omaira’s lastest collection, “I lent my designs beauty that I borrowed from natural elements that surround us here in the UAE.” Maryam was inspired by both the bold roughness and the delicate softness of nature, looking into elements in the desert like wild flowers, bushes and ghaf trees and representing them in abstract yet almost direct ways. She approached close to unconventional ways of representing those elements conforming to
“I lent my designs beauty that I borrowed from natural elements that surround us here in the UAE.� -Maryam Al Omaira
methods such us painting on leather and using mother-ofpearl sheets with embroidery to allow her inspiration to speak for itself. The challenge she faced while creating this collection was to be able to represent her inspiration, which is the desert, in an artistic way, far from direct and yet still be able to contain its essence. “Looking at the collection, I believe this has been resolved.” Before any designing takes place and during the process Maryam thinks of her ‘story’ for the collection, she think of possible elements and designs and begins to picture the person who would wear it, “My muse.” She would then sketch a design, and “tweak it as much as possible for it to become a design that has never been seen.” Maryam views mistakes as something that is occasionally acceptable, “Mistakes can sometimes be accepted, praised and incorporated into a gown and the actual dress would turn out to be far from similar to the original sketch.” Her personality and taste reflect on her designs “almost naturally” She considers her designs as a representation of herself without her knowing it,
“I design what I would be proud to wear myself.”
Maryam Omaira New Couture
C
an be found at Dubai Mall’s Symphony Boutique. Her next step is to grow in her career in everyway possible. She plans for her designs to exceed the limits of people›s imagination as well as her own and for her label to expand and be known worldwide due to that.
Khawla bin khedia, a senior student at Zayed University in Dubai, majoring in Communication and Media Sciences and specializing in Integrated Strategic Communication & Roadha bin khedia, a second year student at Zayed University majoring in Arts and Sciences and specializing in Fine arts and graphic design. Sisters, best friends and fashion designers!
W
Khawla
Roadha
What brought you to fashion design?
What would you say was instrumental to your success?
For several years we have been making our own clothes as a hobby. Family, friends and people started asking us where we got our clothes from and so after serious consideration and determination to pursue fashion, we decided to take our passion forward and launch the new prêt a porter line to serve modern fashion-conscious women.
The instrumental thing to our success is the hard work and the dedication we put into our work. It has not been easy to cope with university and work but so far it has been going well with great results.
How did you start your line? We launched the Dolls Collection in February 2013. It was inspired by Art Deco dolls, which were set from the 1920’s and 1930’s. We wanted the collection to represent different personalities, which is why every doll is different and unique in each dress. We were very happy with the people feedback and that is what kept us going. We also had allot of support from family and friends. Who helped you start and how? Our family and friends were a big support. Our mother would take us to her boutique, Farfalla Haute Couture and we would start playing at creating our own gowns and that is basically what got us started. She has always been the inspiration and what motivated us to get into the fashion world. She would always tell us what goes with what and what fabric works best with the different climates. So we learnt a lot from her.
Tell us more about yourselves, your personalities and hobbies? Both of us are very outgoing, fun, social, adventurous s we don’t like routine and we love taking on a challenge. We both love music and art is a great passion we have. What makes a design special is adding a personal touch into the design that is also what makes every designer different. We always tell are clients to dare to accessories we believe that accessories makes a huge difference in the total look. Always mix and match, every person has their own style and they should be able to express it. How do you define Khawla W Roadha style? Our style is always simple with a nice statement piece. Me, Roadha love graphic prints and love to wear vibrant color yet keeping it simple. Khawla is more simple and yet edgy We both love to accessories. How do you explain the variety in each collection you have launched? What makes our designs different is that we put our personalities in each collection we create. We always try to think
outside the box and create something new for our clients. Who would you say are your style-icons or favorite designer? Our Favorite designers are Jeremy Scott, Givenchy and Celine, every designer has their own style and that is what makes them special and different. How often do you introduce new designs? We launch 3 collections per year AW, Ramadan and SS. What is the process behind getting the idea on paper then onto a mannequin? In every collection we first start with a research. After that we go fabric shopping and create a mood board of the style and details that inspired us. We start sketching several outfits that we later limit to the pieces we want to launch. We then make a sample from each outfit that we alter until perfection after that we start with the production, printing and the embroidery. How does each sister’s personality & taste reflect on the collection?
us to get closer and think as one. We complement each other with our creativity so we work very well together. It was not easy to create a new fashion line but through hard work and dedication, we have accomplished so much and grown since our last Collections.” Where can we find KhawlaWRoadha? Our collection is available in Farfalla boutique Garhoud, Oconcept Store, and Candella in Jumeirah. Jewels Corner Abu Dhabi, Leos in KSA, the Dubai outlet Mall and Grafika online. Our readers can learn more about us on Instagram, Facebook and pinterest we always like to share with our followers were we travel to, our styles, what we are doing and wearing. They could also contact us info@khawlawroadha.com if they have any questions. What is the next step for KhawlaWRoadha? We are currently stocking in five boutiques in Dubai and GGC and our aim is to showcase in more boutiques worldwide. In the near future we will definitely take part in international fashion shows. We
“We complement each other” Says Roadha, “I come up with colors and ideas and Khawla work more on the style and design of the outfit. Cuts, pattern etc.” “She is also more business oriented than i am. So alone we wouldn’t have been able to complete our collection . The fact that we are sisters and share the same hobby allowed
are slowly expanding our brand and working hard to expand and showcase our designs all over the world.
“We would tell the upcoming fashion designers that it takes alot of hard work and commitment if you want to keep your line going, also that there is allot of competition. It is a life commitment and to be successful you constantly have to be open to inspirations in everything. Designers are getting younger and younger these days which is amazing, they just need to show they are great at business as well, which ultimately, comes with experience.� -Khawla & Roadha Bin Khedia
Macaroons SS 2014
“F
ashion started as a hobby and we both knew that we wanted to design since an early age. With the support of our mother we managed to learn and experiment and now have launched our fourth collection Macaroons.” KhawlaWRoadha’s latest collection Macaroons was launched on the 5th of May at Al Serkal Avenue’s very own A4 Space. The Macaroon collection is sophisticated with a touch of elegant simplicity. Utilizing mainly cotton and Cotton jersey the collection is a cocktail of trousers, long and short skirts, blouses, t-shirt dresses, tank tops and off shoulder tops. The entire collection consists pastel colors and is inspired by Macaroons, ice cream and cotton candy with a touch of tradition. KhawlaWRoadha used the Dirham Coin with a touch of embroidery to give it an elegant feel. Despite the sophistication the collection has a playful twist to it. “We get inspired from different places” Khawla says, “we love to travel alot and that always nourishes our creativity. We wanted to keep this collection simple with light colors so that our clients could add their own touch of colorful accessories to it. Some days you feel like making a statement other days you just want to be simple, this collection caters to both moods.”
Ahmad Al Muhassin’s
MAGICAIM A
unique men’s wear clothing line based in Dubai, which seeks to inspire and bring out elegance and style in men. This new and distinctive clothing line was launched in February 2014 this new and exciting clothing line as a direct result of his innovation, fascination with photography & deep passion for art and architecture. He has been quite pro-active as his hobby has taken him on trips where he visited sophisticated hotels and took photos of the detailed art that he witnessed. It is from this pastime that he decided to make this exceptional and state of the art fashion line. He achieved this dream by printing architectural arts onto men’s shirts, scarfs & trousers giving them an antique yet sophisticated finish because old is gold.
Magicaim’s P
roducts are exclusive because Ahmad uses luxurious fabrics such as linen imported straight from Belgium while the buttons are imported from Italy. The company’s sophisticated brand name magic is derived directly from the proprietor’s allure to and fascination with magic while the word aim comes from his initials. The company uses a distinctive brand signature of marble prints, which can be found on every piece of custom made clothing making them stand out from the rest in the industry. Ahmad ensures that the materials and fabrics he uses are of the highest quality by purchasing them from different parts of the world. The company’s state of the art designs are as well inspired by comfort, luxury and nature. The clothing also has amazing signature cuts and especially in the shirts, which makes an individual wearing them appear edgy and sharp. The designer can be observed to apply definite revolutionary techniques when designing his products such as the incorporation of nature and antique designs, which brings about an ancient but creative finish that is distinctive and tasteful.
This proprietor initially started this special clothing line after identifying a shortage in men’s wear in the region hence a need to introduce an exceptional and elegant clothing line. Ahmad feels that the introduction of an avant-garde clothing line, which appeals to the young people in the society, could put an end to the inadequacy in men’s wear found in the area. Moreover, the next-gen company mainly targets the youth aged between 17 and 25 as this group is the most interested in fashion. This organization will for the time being be located in Dubai because it is still new. Nevertheless, Ahmad plans on taking the company to greater heights through expansion so that it can reach other parts of the world where it is needed. This future market leader intends to introduce an online store where individuals can have a general idea of how the products look like and shop on the go. Magicaim is a high-end clothing line that features a rare array of bold t-shirt designs ranging from the Ocean Blue Bold T-Shirt to the Malachite Bold T-Shirt, all looking unique and in touch with nature. The company also makes scarfs
with one such example being the stylish Seychelles Marble Print Scarf. Furthermore, this innovative designer uses high quality materials such as the mother of pearl making the products expensive. These products are intended to take Europe, America and Asia by storm following the rigorous marketing campaigns undertaken by the company’s management. These countries clearly lack clothing companies that incorporate this form of art and designs, and as such, they will readily accept Ahmad’s work. His cousin Jassim is the managing director who manages the finance part of the business. The innovative designer was also interested in men’s wear and by applying the knowledge obtained in university and his creativity; he was able to design prints of patterns. The company is currently carrying out marketing strategies as it has begun marketing its products in various countries, in Europe. The designer mainly aims at introducing the products through fashion shows such as the one held at The Fashion vault Department Store in Dubai.
A
hmad Al Muhassin is currently a 21 year old student at the American University in Sharjah. He founded Magicaim with the aid of his cousin, as a menswear label, which started in February 2013 and was launched in February 2014. The meaning behind the label is the result of two very personal reasons, “magic” came from Ahmad’s fascination with the word, and “aim” is of course, his initials. When I asked Ahmad, “why marble?” there was suddenly an obvious change in his tone, something you can only find when dedication is involved. Ahmad referred to marble as a “timeless luxury”, which has evolved into his signature pattern. This “ideal concept” gives Magicaim the ability to “stand out and be different” within the highly competitive fashion industry. Ahmad mentions Carrera marble being Magicaim’s go to choice when it came to developing patterns however, there are “endless patterns that come from marble” as
he would take photographs of all the marble he can find and print them on fabric to create the beautiful patterns we see. Ahmad is also sure to add that the details and cut are incredibly unique, as well as serve the purpose of comfort in Dubai’s climate. The types of fabric used in Magicaim are mostly Belgian linen, which according to Ahmad, encourage the vibrant patterns of the marble to emerge from the apparel. Its obvious to see that Ahmad’s main concern is quality in his products as it “reflects on you” as a designer. The first launch of Magicaim was at the address hotel; Ahmad came up with the concept of using a drained pool as his space, which worked so well with the concept of his theme in the sense that it gave a mirroring effect. One of the most difficult obstacles Ahmad had to face was that at the beginning of his venture to create Magicaim,
his pouch got stolen which included his laptop, photos and money, all for Magicaim.
“Its not how you see it, its how you get over it” And Ahmad did so by finding investors and gaining his cousin as a partner in Magicaim. “Solving the problem” is the first step to success in this case. One aspect of Magicaim that makes it even more distinguishable in the UAE fashion industry is having men as the founders; needless to say it’s quite uncommon to the region. “When an individual is good at something, they must go for it because if they don’t like what they do, they won’t do well” and to “go for it, in any industry”. Ahmad proudly states that he has “support from everyone” because Magicaim not only incorporates business but its main purpose is that it is “creative at the end of the day”
because creativity is not specified just for men or women. When it comes to encouraging young Emarati entrepreneurs, Ahmad “supports them all the way and so does the whole country because there is so much talent in the UAE, so why not?” Ahmad’s advice is that “starting young is good, but its never too late”. Ahmad accomplished everything from scratch, which is why the concept is still huge for him. However, one of the most difficult tasks from Ahmad’s point of view is juggling university and work. Ahmad aims to further expand Magicaim and keep his designs “with the flow” of the seasons. Magicaim will be launching its 2nd collection in June and soon to be stocked in department stores such as Bloomingdales, SAKS and Harvey Nichols. One more thing to look forward to is that Magicaim will include a line for ladies clothings in it’s second collection!
By Rawda Buhannad
+97152 950 5353 reservedabayas@hotmail.com
S A
HAMSA
Al
A graduate of the American University in Dubai holding a Bachelor of Fine Arts inVisual Communication, Majoring in Graphic Design and a Jewelry Designer
bbar
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he young designer is specialized in branding, package design, layout design & poster design. Shamsa’s inspiration usually comes from the beautiful things around her, as she always tries to find beauty in the most unusual places. Her special interest is in creating beautiful patterns,she believes that patterns always have a way of beautifying her artwork. Shamsa also employs Emarati culture and traditions in most of her designs, mainly because it represents her & what she stands for. Her designs will not merely represent her however they will always be an essential part of who she is.
Get to know Shamsa Al Abbar
H
ow do you define your collection?
Shamsa Alabbar is an experimental line based on Arabic typography to create unusual beauty. What is your drive behind the creativity? My collection takes traditional Arabic calligraphy that has been an integral part of Arabic culture for thousands of years and reworked it to create something unusual and simultaneously beautiful. What is your inspiration and how does it come to you? As a designer I always had a huge interest in typography, especially Arabic. Arabic typography has lots of rules, and those rules have to be respected. I tried my best to follow the basic guidelines whilst at the same time adding something new to it. Does your collection have a theme? It is Arabic,edgy, modern,geometric and unusual. How often do you introduce new designs? For now twice a year Do you have any further plans for your collection?
E
xhibiting in Design Day Dubai was on of my dreams, and it happened! I was super excited for that! My next big thing will be exhibiting in Paris in September, and hoping to spread internationally. *inshalla* How did you start creating your business? It started out as a birthday gift for my best friend Alia. That night, I started playing around with different shapes: triangles, circles, semi circles, squares, and lines. Creating the name and trying to make it look appealing was hard. The difference between my first sketch and the how it ended up was huge! I created
the name by placing different Arabic scripts around my work area as a reminder of the basic rules of calligraphy. When I was finally satisfied with the outcome, I contacted one of my first supporters and mentor Fatima Al Qassimi owner of ‘Sough Jewels’ who guided me through this journey. Did you have any help starting out your business? Yes! First of all I had much support from my dad who encouraged me from the start and helped me with the production part, and with connecting me with the best jewelers! My two sisters have been very supportive through this, and with promoting my brand! I thank my sister Salama for
believing in my brand from the very start and stocking my pieces at her store, Symphony at The Dubai Mall. My mom is the one who has been helping me with design decisions, since I always look up to her and her exquisite taste in fine jewelry.
couple of different emerging business like Kadi boutique, and Maryam Omaira. And working with them, first of all made me proud since they were both Emirati business, and such collaborations made a huge positive impact on both my business and theirs.
Who was it that you could say, was instrumental to your success?
What would you consider to be your highs and lows in the business world so far?
I would say my best friend Alia, whom I did my first piece for.
I graduated as a graphic designer, so jewelry design is something totally new to me. Designing and coming up with ideas was fun, and easy to me, but production was a different story. Everything needs to be tested, diamonds need to be chosen, etc.. and I do feel lost sometimes! I am still dealing
How do you feel about supporting younger emerging entrepreneurs? I love the idea of supporting young emerging entrepreneurs. I’ve worked with a
with this, and I keep learning from my mistakes day by day. How do your initial designs differ from the ones you create now? I try to keep my designs consistent to have a strong image for my brand. I think the only difference is that my designs are becoming more complex than what they already are. What is next for you? My brand is abstract, next would be going even more abstract and complicated! My first launch will introduce basic pieces ‘the classics’, I am planning for even more unusual pieces & more wearable design!
Would you like to share any stories with us that could reflect you, your designs and your business more clearly to the public? The whole idea behind the collection is to introduce letters as an art form. All piece are not legible, they look like different geometric shapes put together to create a beautiful form. This experimental line has been designed for Art lovers! People who are well educated about art and design. People who are not afraid of change and being different.
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I graduated as a graphic designer, so jewelry design is something totally new to me.� Shamsa Al Abbar
“T
aking risks is mandatory in business decisions, playing it safe never gets you anywhere.� - Shamsa Al Abbar
Can you keep a secret ?
CYKAS Can You Keep A Secret? is a newly established line by two Emirati designers, Reem Al Nuaimi & Roudha Khoory, who aim to bring something different under the spotlight. This season we are focusing on turbans, inspired by the 1900›s era.
“We think its important for a lady to complete her outfit with that loud statement keeping eyes wondering for more!” - RR Cykas’s aim is to REVEAL each season’s mystery. So can you? CYKAS.
T
he young Emirati thought of creating an innovative way of accessorizing her clothing line. Only for the love of fashion, Fatma dedicated herself to bringing the latest trends from the fashion jewelry world to ladies in the U.A.E. Sage And Amber is the result of that dedication. Chosen carefully by Fatma and a team of fashion experts, all jewelry pieces are delivered from the U.S. in limited pieces in order to make the wearer feel unique and stunning.
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&
Sage
The story behind Sage And Amber began with a style icon’s desire to influence western fashion and make it more suitable for the Arabic female.
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Fatma Al Mehairi started designing her collection, a fusion of current fashion with local flavors. Her collection was a huge success & she decided to take her brand to the next level.
Amber
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1. Gold & Pearl Statement Necklace - Price upon request 2. Gold Chains and Crystals Necklace - Price upon request 3. Angel Wings Ear Cuff - Dhs. 99.17 AED 4. Coral Turquoise Braided Crystal Statement Necklace - Dhs. 220.38 AED 5. Golden Lions Neck Collar Price upon request 6. Multi-Color Flower Crystal Earring - Dhs. 55.10 AED
MAYAR Jewelry
A
dubai-based jewelry business and workshop that operates in one of Dubai’s oldest tourist sights, The Gold Souk. The Gold Souk provides a variety of diamonds and precious stones that allows Mayar Jewelry’s team to create high quality jewelry of 18k of gold. Mayar’s main theme is arranging diamonds into knuckle rings, in a classic solitaire seting, giving the whole brand a classic look to it where diamonds are shown in a certain setting to be the main focus of the jewelry pirece. Mayar then developed into a workshop that helps customers create their own jewelry design.
Hind Majjan &Dana Bin Byat’s
HINDANA
H
indana merges the ideas of two Emirati women, Hind Majjan and Dana Bin Byat into gift form. With an extreme interest in art but a minor background in it, both Hind, a civil engineer and Dana, a graduate of International Economics found themselves spontaneously entering the world of creativity and design. The concept of Hindana revolves around gift ideas ranging from gift boxes to letter blocks. Hindana focuses on the use of the Arabic alphabet in its designs.
the CONSEPT Event Planning
In
Dubai people have an eye to detail and are more demanding to get the best service from a company, we felt the need to have a small event company that caters to the smaller party projects which is a booming business here in the U.A.E. We take every client as an individual, creating a concept that matches their personality and vision and translate their dreams to an elegant setup, whether it was for birthday parties, gatherings, or bridal showers
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full service event management company where creative minds work hand in hand with their refined clientele to turn their visions into unforgettable events. Laila Bin Shabib, Cre, ative Director of Absolute Events first realized her passion for event planning while working with different companies in the marketing department and creating and managing different events. She started her company by working on freelance projects and events, and later on decided to start her own company, “I wanted to go forward and pursue my dream of opening a creative event management agency which is something that I found lacking in the market.�
Laila Bin Shabib’s
Absolute
Events
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aila Bin Shabib rejected all the help that was being offered to her in order to start her company, even though her family and friends were extremely supportive and always offered a helping hand, she wanted to do it on her own to prove to herself that her dream can be a reality.
ing background and has been involved in multiple entrepreneurial activities, keeping in mind what she wanted to pursue. She holds a double degree in Event planning from The Longevity Institute in New York in addition to a wedding planning degree through the vision on Preston Bailey, a celebrity wedding planner.
Laila values her clients, & states that they’re the reason behind her success, “I have an amazing clientele who want & desire something different in this field which is something that drives me to succeed” Laila comes from a market-
The Absolute team is a creative collective mindset, all driven by the same cause as their founder, to redefine the creativity that is essential in the events planning industry. Laila defines her work as individualized and personal-
ized, “We cater to our client’s absolute whims and desires in absolute precision while maintaining a creative outlook and atmosphere in any event.” Absolute Events have catered to various kind of events ranging from, exhibitions, product launches, conferences, art & cultural events, live productions, award ceremonies and national campaigns such as The Pink Caravan, a cancer campaign across the U.A.E which aims to vehicle for change by engaging all breast cancer related NGO’s to join together and unify U.A.E awareness efforts.
Absolute Events has started with only events but have branched out to many different fields related to events, which include marketing, furniture rental and also audio visual services. “We are a full service event management agency which basically means that we take care of everything from A-Z for our clients.” – Laila Bin Shabib Absolute clients is what drives this company because of how they are always longing for something distinctive and exceptional. Laila looks back to one of the events that she created, “I remember a client
coming in for a wedding consultation and bringing me an image of a blue goldfish which blew me away. She felt that this was the inspiration behind her wedding.Taking that amazing and unique inspiration and turning it into a reality without making it look like an under the sea costume party was not a challenge at all but an amazing push to take something that is so literal and implement it in a subtle and unique way. It was an event I will never forget.” After meeting the client, the Absolute team sits down and brainstorm ideas and a concept that best suits the client’s design aesthetic. “Each client
is different, whether it is an individual or an organization. We cater to our clients needs whilst still maintaining the visual appeal of the design.” Absolute Events’ next step would be to branch out internationally, which has already started to happen around the region with exhibitions in Hong Kong and India that were managed and executed by Absolute Events, “There are many more cities for us make our mark in in the future!”
“Just do what you love, don’t think about future obstacles that have not happened yet, you will face them when they arise. And at the end of the day, if your passion is strong enough, you will succeed with your own determination.” - Laila Bin Shabib
Noora Al Marri Event Planning
An
Interior Design graduate from Zayed University, “A wife and a full time mother of two beautiful kids.” Noora recently started a new business idea, an outdoor picnic table experience; perfectly setup anywhere and at any time.
“Honestly, I did not plan on starting a business out of something I enjoy doing. It just happened, mere serendipity!” Noora used to setup her own tables, lay the tablecloth, arrange disposable cutlery and plates, scatter some candles and vases filled with the seasons blooms and invite her family and friends for a fun outdoor experience. “It brought so much joy to me to see the people I care about were enjoying the setup and having a good time.” The picnic table setup idea is new by itself, and Noora did it for fun and for the love of outdoors. “It got so easy after setting up for so many times that I felt I have to step it up a notch.” Noora was constantly searching for new ideas, and implementing them with her dear ones. She always got
positive feedback from her friends and family and she thought it was a sign to share her knowledge and skills with other people and start her own business. “I was surprised at first to see that people actually love the concept I’ve introduced of the beach picnics. It made me really happy to see strangers walking around pointing fingers; stopping by to admire my work. It’s self fulfilling.” Noora has planned many occasions such as anniversaries, romantic dinners, birthdays, bridal showers, etc… She puts so much effort into each setup and pays attention to the very small details, from matching the napkins to the table cloth, carefully choosing the best seasonal flowers and creating personalized giveaways. “Its all worth it, it is my passion after all. Noora Al Marri has so many dreams that she wants to accomplish; but it is a strong belief of hers that everything happens at the right time. “With the support of my dear ones; I am very positive that beautiful things are coming my way.”
“It made me really happy to see strangers walking around pointing fingers; stopping by to admire my work. It’s self fulfilling.” -Noora Al Marri
AMANI
AL SHAALI An interior designer, fine art photographer, a dreamer, and a survivor.
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orn in the UAE, Amani studied Interior Design at the American University in Dubai & is now designing yacht interiors for a living. She developed a passion for photography at the age of thirteen, and through photography she discovered her love for editing. After graduating, Amani began to take photography more seriously, pursuing personal projects and developing her passion for fine art photography. Creating something out of nothing brings an exhilarating feeling that keeps her creating new work.
across the abyss
across the abyss
People say that there is a misunderstanding when it comes to photography. Photos are hard to believe now a days with the influx of technology and the faรงade that can overshadow any image. However, Amani seems to direct her vision from real life, to screen to a frame on the wall in ways most cannot fathom. The obviously talented young photographer brings forth more than a still photo but an image that truly speaks for itself through the deep components imbedded within and derived from the mind of an artist. Every passing photo not only mirrors the mind and subconscious of the photographer but also brings along a narrative for any eyes that fall on to it.
When and how did you first become interested in Fine Arts Photography? I realized my love for Fine Art Photography when I attended a workshop with Gulf Photo Plus. I’ve always loved conceptual photography& that, with Fine Art Photography is what I love to create. Who or what influences your art most? Everyday experiences and human emotions. I find inspiration in knowing that most feelings are universal, and we all feel the same thing at some point. What kind of art classes have you taken? Tell us about the different skills you have learned. At university, I took a freehand drawing class, a color theory class, and a creative writing class. What I studied was more on the technical side of interior design, so there wasn’t room for anything too “artsy”. But through these courses I realized the importance of self-expression through art, and I think they might be the reason I kept trying to find a medium
for that. Do you have a role model? Who? How do they inspire you? Yes! Brooke Shaden. I attended her workshop in November 2013 on storytelling and compositing, and it was incredible. Not only is she a wonderful Fine Art Photographer, but also an amazing human being. Her work always keeps me inspired, and her writing too. She always talks about promoting passion and inspiration and whenever I’m having an artist’s block, I turn to her blog for inspiration. Who would you say is your favorite artist or photographer? Again, Brooke Shaden. But I also love Lara Jade, she is now a fashion photographer, but starting out, she did a lot of conceptual work. And one of my all-time favorite artists is Rene Magritte. What are some of the challenges that you’ve faced while creating a piece? Shooting is almost always an adventure. I wanted to shoot
“Naive tells the story of a girl who’s pure and has been stricken by the pain caused by the ones closest to her. Her blindfold implies that she’s too blind to see what’s right in front of (or above) her - a rain of knives. Despite everything that’s happened to her, she’s standing strong. When I came up with this, I was doing an inspiration exercise where I’d stare at any object and think of all the words that remind me of it, whatever cross my mind. I was in the kitchen at the time and I saw a knife and wanted to challenge myself to do something based on that. The words that came into my head were amongst these: “knife, pain, hurt, stab, back-stab”. And I just built everything around that. A challenge I had while creating this was having photoshop crash halfway through, I had to start over. Also, I couldn’t get the top half of the girl and her hands in one shot, so I combined two different pictures – one with her head and hair movement, the second for the hand pose.” naive
in the desert once, with a ladder, and I think I attempted that shoot around 3 or 4 times. It’s never the same thing, but with that shoot (Across The Abyss), es I had a difficult time getting to the desert, getting the ladder into my car, getting stuck in the sand, and a bunch of other stuff. But I think the one challenge that’s common between all my pieces is being able to get it right. It almost never happens – what I visualize before shooting is different than what I end up with, but I’m almost always happy with the results! Would you say your artwork has a theme? What inspires it? Definitely. I’d say that most of my work is dark, yet hopeful and evoking. That goes back to what I mentioned earlier about human emotions. I want everyone to know that they’re not alone, that we all feel these things. I’m inspired by sadness and darkness, but I try to portray those feelings in a beautiful way. What do you do besides fine art photography? When I’m not at work or
shooting and editing, I read. I love poetry and fiction. What would you like to do besides fine art photography? I’ve always loved English literature – I think if I wasn’t doing photography or interior design, I would’ve wanted to teach English literature or creative writing at university. Is there any story you would like to add or share? Not a story but a message. All too often we get lost in the busy-ness of our everyday lives and we don’t take a moment to breathe; we forget to be kind, not even to ourselves. I just want this to be a reminder. Be kind, to yourself and to others. You are worth more than you know. What is the next step for Amani Al Shaali? At the moment I’m trying to get into a few exhibitions, but nothing is set yet. My next goal is to sell a piece to a publishing house to be used as a book cover. Wish me luck! gardens of insanity
gardens of insanity
ZEN Kitchen Amal Bin Shabib
ex-obese child yo-yo dieter current lawyer policy analyst founder of Zen Kitchen & a total convert for fitness!
A
mal Bin Shabib comes from a family that has a strong history of diabetes, obesity and heart disease. At a very young age, she was faced with the decision to give up, or give it all that she has got and change what her future looked like..
“The perfect party food! Vegan & gluten free, & can be paired with endless choices of dip! Our favorite is non-fat Greek yogurt with the fresh zest of a citrusy orange!” - Amal Bin Shabib
er depreciates, is your ability to continuously innovate and improve!” Amal Bin Shabib, founder of Zen Kitchen and FitFluential defines these two endeavors as her voice and ears to her community, “It is a beautiful platform where we not only
“I didn’t start off by taking all the right stepsI stumbled, I tripped, and I finally learned how to walk.” Throughout her journey, Amal realized that there is a growing gap in the market for nutritionally valuable food, which made her start her entrepreneurial endeavors. “When people diet all they care about is calorie-counting, when no one is really counting the benefit of what they’re eating. I was once on a long haul diet where I snacked on anything that was 100 calories (and that includes a kitkat!), my weight struggled as well as my health. When that turned into a fruit or a vegetable, I saw a difference. My energy levels were excellent throughout the day, my digestion was fantastic and I curbed that threat of diabetes! I would love to share that experience with everyone in my community and beyond, and I would love to highlight the importance of quality as well as quantity when it comes to food.”
Zen Kitchen’s Buckwheat & Flax Crisps, 60 AED with Greek Yoghurt dip.
Amal thanks her family for their tremendous love and support that helped her get off the ground. “I can’t say I’ve succeeded yet, but a valuable asset to have, that is more valuable than anything and nev-
share thoughts, victories and successes but also our failed trials! I wouldn’t define them any other way!” Amal started FitfFuential, a fitness instagram page, over a year ago in order to share information and communicate with the people and community around her. It helped her stay on track and keep focused, “a very demanding job that was definitely what I needed!” Zen Kitchen on the other hand, “I would say it’s the product of my love and appreciation of nature and food.” Zen Kitchen is used to remind everyone that a person can eat nutritionally rich foods, and still keep the teachings of the Prophet SAW at heart; “our menu is inspired by His Sunnah.” Amal would say that her family is what is instrumental to the concept of Zen Kitchen, “My
father, my mother, sisters and brothers are always inspirational with their food, they set the bar high and I wouldn’t have done it without them.” Zen Kitchen menu is designed to be seasonal, where it is almost through with its first season. “Stay tuned for our Ramadan menu!” Zen Kitchen products cover a range of food and beauty products “which are deliciously edible!” and it’s always inspired by what’s in nature around us. “It’s quite challenging to find quality ingredients to be honest, but we make it a point that nasties are not welcome in our kitchen!” Amal achieved her dreams and turned them into reality by taking a leap of faith.“It just takes that first leap of faith- if you believe it, you can achieve it!” Zen Kitchen is a home-based business that would “insha’Allah expand soon!” and can be tracked on Instagram @zenkitchen_ or through their website zenkitchen.ae. The next step for Zen Kitchen would to make it a storefront “and welcome people into our kitchen!” Amal Bin Shabib encourages entrepreneurs and inspires the by the legendary words of Nike,
“Just Do It!, don’t be afraid of anything - the world can always use an entrepreneur with an endless resource of creativity! Just remember to always be honest, and give your clients value for money - that counts for a lot!”
Zen Kitchen’s
Summer Essentials! “Try making these healthy and cooling treats for your guests (or kids!) it’s as simple as purée-ing your favorite fruits, mine include avocados and mangos, and putting them in your ice cream tins. If your fruits aren’t exactly ripe you can add a drizzle of honey or agave to sweeten things up! Also, some super seeds never hurt! My favorite is made with whole grapes & coconut water. The grapes freeze up and cocoon this wonderful blast of juice!” - Amal Bin Shabib
Amal’s Favourite
Health & Fitness items!
2. Magnesium oil: this is GREAT to cure any muscle pain & aid recovery, I love using it to relax my tense shoulders and it is also great to relieve stress! Available at Holland & Barret.
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“Can Pilates be my hobby?!” - Amal Bin Shabib
1. Nike Free Flyknits: the best shoes for running and indoor workouts - you might forget you’re wearing any shoes!
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3. Palmer’s Tummy Butter: the best cure for stretch marks and scars- I mean, let’s face it who hasn’t suffered from either! Use it RELIGIOUSLY and you’ll see results in as little as 3-4 weeks! And by religiously I mean daily after your shower. Available at supermarkets and pharmacies. 4. Lorna Jane’s Sports Bras: they are a girl’s best friend! Even the most bountiful lady would feel flat chested in any given sports bra, but these on the other hand have a wonderful shape to them that not only holds you in place but it also won’t have you mistaken for a man. 5. Polar: this watch gives you accurate heart rate details as well as designing a weekly program for you to reach your targets! Available at Saucony. 6. Orange Scented Coffee Scrub: my sister’s recipe in creating a blend of essential oils & natural ingredients to scrub your skin and induce blood circulation, it’s excellent to rejuvenate the skin and banish cellulite! Perfect for a beachy summer! Courtesy of Zen Kitchen
Hydrate! I can’t stress this enough! Don’t overwhelm yourself by downing a whole liter at Iftar, try dividing up your water intake across the night by drinking a cup or two every hour and try having some coconut water or aloe vera once a day.
Amal’s tips: How to stay healthy this Ramadhan!
Break your fast light. Have a few dates, some salad sprinkled with sunflower seeds, or a light soup. An hour later you’ll be able to workout and get your muscles going, however, make sure you recover your muscle with adequate protein, carb & fat! Yes all three are equally important! Some of my favorite protein powders are Blue Bonnet & Organigrowth, try blending them with a frozen banana (with chocolate powder), or berries (with vanilla powder) straight after your workout. If the above option doesn’t work for you, you can always break your fast light, and right before you have your Suhour put in an hour of exercise! Replenish & rest before the next day starts! Don’t starve yourself. Not eating enough will cause your body to hold in everything it can get, wether it’s water, fat or sugar, your body won’t let go! A great Suhour will consist of complex carbohydrates & proteins. Think of wholegrains and lean meats such as chicken or turkey, and for a vegan option try an avocado spread with some super seeds. Have a wonderful month & don’t forget to invest time in
Zen Kitchen’s
Orange Scented Coffee Scrub, 55 AED.
Where Can I Find It? Absolutely Absolute Events
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www.absolute.ae +9714 454 7339 i: @absolute_events Dubai, Prism Tower
We Voice Fashion On Rami Kadi www.wevoicefashion.com wevoicefashion@gmail.com i: @wevoicefashion
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“Can pilates be my hobby?!” -Amal Bin Shabib
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Can You Keep A Secret?
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Sage & Amber
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Mayar Jewelry
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HINDANA GIFTS
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The Consept Events
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Noora Al Marri Event Planning
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www.zenkitchen.ae orders@zenkitchen.ae i: @zenkitchen_
www.amanialshaali.com amanialshaali@gmail.com i: @amanialshaali
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www.maryamomaira.com info@maryamomaira.com +97155 555 0284 Symphony, The Dubai Mall
www.canyoukeepasecret1.blogspot.com canyoukeepasecret1@gmail.com i: @cykas www.sageandamber.com info@sageandamber.com +97155 522 0595 i: @sageandamber
mayar.jewelry@gmail.com bbm: 7d9613f4 i: mayarjewelry
Ahmad Al Muhassin’s MAGICAIM 44 www.magicaim.com info@magicaim.ae +97155 111 5125 i:magicaimdubai
Khawla WRoadha’s Macaroons Collection
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www.shamsaalabbar.com sales@shamsaalabbar.com i: @alabbardesigns Symphony, The Dubai Mall
fine art photographer, dreamer& survivor 90 - Amani Al Shaali
MARYAM OMAIRA NEW COUTOURE AW 14
Shamsa Al Abbar’s Arabic Typography Jewelry
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www.pinterest.com/khawlawroadha info@khawlawroadha.com i: @khawlawroadha
etchdee@hotmail.com +97155 555 5646 i: @hindana_
www.pinterest.com/theconsept theconseptdubai@hotmail.com +97150 255 9933 i: the_consept
noora_almarri@gmail.com i: noora_almarri
Chocolate Madness
+97156 635 9605 i:chocolatemadnessae
onradar.me info@onradar.me +97152 6414899 i: on_radar
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onradar.me info@onradar.me +97152 6414899 i: on_radar
CHOCOLATE
MADNESS +
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WE VOICE
FASHION
RAMI KADI in Dubai Fashion Week
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his season at Fashion Forward marks Rami Kadi’s second foray into the Dubai-based fashion week. The designer (who is a master of style himself), earned a place among several Lebanese couturiers for his ever-more glamorous gowns. His story? Kadi graduated from Esmod Beirut, worked alongside Rabih Kayrouz and Georges Chakra, then was finally selected by The Starch Foundation to help promote his designs. Name of the collection: ‘Le Royaume Enchante’ which means ‘The Enchanted Kingdom’.
Spring blooms: Kadi sent models down the runway in floral headpieces. Definitely made a statement! Fairy-tale fabrics: Tulle, lace, organza, mikado and silk-crepe were used to create the garments. Color-palette: Hot pinks, pastels, gold, white, grey-blue and lavender. The collection: Obviously, Rami Kadi definitely knows his way around gowns and demonstrates a great design ethic when it comes to creating luxurious pieces. The intricate detailing comes a long way, often spotted throughout. Lace was also big on the col-
lection, whether it was adorning neck-lines or incorporated into mini-dresses. A wide array of gown styles were featured: puffy, figure-hugging, wraparounds, or tents; some even hinted at couture. And that’s precisely what we love about Rami Kadi- he just manages to execute his designs perfectly. So much so that if you were to ask us which were our favourite, we simply wouldn’t be able to make up our minds.
by Asma Galadari & Reem Al Suwaidi
what is WE VOICE
FASHION .com ?
A
Courtesy of Getty Images
fashion critique website based in Dubai, by Asma Galadri and Reem Al Suwaidi. Besides other categories in fashion, the website mainly focuses on fashion designers & reviews their seasonal collections, whether they are just starting out or are already established in the industry. Asma & Reem have interviewed several designers such as Syo Kai, Shamsa Al-Abbar, and Taller Marmo to name a few. Besides the main page, the website contains other segments such as Fashion Philosophy and the Lookbook. In Fashion Philosophy issues concerning fashion on a deeper level are discussed, whereas the Lookbook is a series of high-fashion photos. Asma & Reem also provide their readers with editorial inspirations. They publish weekly posts titled “Pick of the Week” and “A quote that makes us say...” “What we personally like about critiquing designer’s collections is that we get to know the inspiration behind the themes they choose, the materials they use to create the garments and their design process. Each designer is different than the other, and we find each one fascinating because they use similar techniques but interpret them differently” Asma & Reem enjoy examining trends and writing about them, especially if they are unexpected. Through their website they aim to inspire their readers, and show them that fashion can be indeed broken down and discussed like any other important matter.
onradar.me info@onradar.me +97152 6414899 i: on_radar
w w w. s h a m s a a l a b b a r. c o m