Signe - Edition 21 by Signé

S I G N É

AN UNCONVENTIONAL RISE

FOUNDER OF DE GRISOGONO - FAWAZ GRUOSI PRESENTS HIS TAKE ON FASHION, DIAMONDS AND DESIGNING JEWELRY

A FUTURISTIC RIDE

TAKING A FEW STEPS BACK IN HISTORY, WE DISCOVER HARLEY-DAVIDSON’S UNMATCHED STORY OF HERITAGE

COASTAL CHIC

DISCOVER THE SCENIC SURROUNDINGS OF MONTE CARLO WITH SIGNÉ, AN IDEAL SUMMER GETAWAY

IN THE LAP OF NATURE

Exploring the land of Namibia, Africa with the trusted travel partner for off-road driving - Mercedes-Benz G-Class, Signé joins Mike Horn for a new adventure

WALK WITH TIME He was a traveler, experiencing all hours of the earth. Planning trips with such great care, he and Time had merged. Grateful to the man for walking with him, not around, Time reassured heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d arrive anywhere he was bound.

#MakeTimeYourOwn

Spirit of Big Bang All Black. Scratch-resistant black ceramic case. Automatic skeleton chronograph with sapphire-crystal dial. Rubber strap. Limited edition of 500 pieces.

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CALIBER RM 033

CONTENTS

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Savoir faire

Inspiring millions across the globe through his work and unprecedented success, Muhammed Ali leaves a legacy behind

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TRIBUTE TO A LEGEND

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EMBODYING THE ESSENCE OF FASHION Azzedine Alaia, having never followed industry norms, has made a mark through his unconventional designs and style statement

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INSURMOUNTABLE TRAILS From Amazon to the Equator, Mike Horn’s exploration spree continues breaking records. The ever-young explorer believes in conquering the fear of the unknown

ART ON CALL Vertu collaborates with the esteemed calligraphy artist Wissam Shawkat to launch a series of New Signature Touch special edition phones

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THE AUTHENTIC LUXURY OF TIME

SIGNÉ MAN Promoter Director of Mazaya Oman LLC, Zahis Al Hosni is the perfect embodiment of classicality, passion and style

042 Presenting a luxury take on both classic and contemporary furniture, Obegi Home has more to offer through its newly opened boutique in the heart of the city. Yordan Obegi elaborates

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046 SARTORIAL FLAIR Signé brings together selected individuals who redefine impeccable dressing with an attitude. This edition, we take a step forward and look into their lives and their untold stories

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In an interview with Pascal Raffy, owner of the watchmaking brand Bovet, Signé discovers the brand’s ideals, vision and plans of future expansion in the Middle East

POWERHOUSE OF DESIGN

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Sprezzatura

ESSENTIALS Explore the world of perfumery with the world’s longest lasting fragrance Forever Oud by Forever Rose, and nature inspired Colonia Quercia by Acqua Di Parma

054 HAUTE HOROLOGY We take a look at two of Richard Mille’s groundbreaking launches that have taken haute horology to another level– the RM 35-02 and the RM 68-01

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IN THE LAP OF NATURE Driving the irresistible Mercedes-Benz G-Class through the forest trails of Namibia, Africa, Signé experiences the pleasure of off-road driving with explorer Mike Horn

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A MANSION OF DESIRES Bringing the famous Billionaire marque to the region, Flavio Briatore launches the Billionaire Mansion and talks Signé through his expectations with the expansion

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For Her

Fawaz Gruosi, founder of de GRISOGONO, deliberates over his unique approach to jewelry in conversation with Signé

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A HOME MAKER’S TALE Founder of Etcetera Living, an interior designing company, Leslie Zaal delves deeper on her love for interiors, her work with Al Barari and her favorite projects

DRIVING EXCLUSIVITY The team at Al Jaziri Motors, dealers of Lamborghini, sit over an exclusive chat with Signé discussing their newly opened showroom and their distinct services

Art & Design

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WHEN TEXTURE SPEAKS

THE CUSTOMIZED LEAGUE

Lilian Afshar, through her eponymous brand L’Afshar brings textured and patterned clutches to town. The box-clutch designer talks about her journey

From bikes to cars and now to homes, Tarhan Telli’s passion for personalization knows no bounds. Through TT Motors, he translates the dreams of many into reality

TRANQUILITY UNDERWATER

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Encouraging a nature centric lifestyle, Vivek Vijayan’s acquascaping brings varieties of flora and fauna into your home and lets them evolve with time and you

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CONTENTS

La dolce vita 104 WITH HIGH SPIRITS Audemars Piguet brings together a team of famous golfers to honor their long term relationship with the sport

106 COASTAL CHIC Signé travels to the land of beaches and beauty – Monte Carlo – experiencing the charm of French Riviera

Haute Société

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A TABLE OF ART Sharing his love for cooking, the Michelin Star Chef – Vikas Khanna – gears up to launch his book Utsav and the Museum of Kitchen Arts

Heritage

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094 Harley-Davidson has been producing the finest quality of bikes for over a century. We unfold layers of their exceptional history this edition

Nerio Alessandri, founder of Technogym, explains the importance of healthy living, while touching upon the Technogym Village launched recently

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Engross yourself in the realm of harmony and relaxation at the Guerlain Spa at the One&Only The Palm

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A WELLNESS RETREAT

A FUTURISTIC RIDE

A HEAVENLY PLUNGE

NEW IN TOWN From dining to shopping to fitness and relaxation, Signé selects a few newly opened outlets for you to discover this month

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FIRST MOVERS WILL ALWAYS CHANGE THE WORLD. BUT WHICH ONE? >> Discover our approach at juliusbaer.com/visionary-thinking

Julius Baer is the leading Swiss private banking group and present in some 50 locations worldwide. From Dubai, Frankfurt, Geneva, Guernsey, Hong Kong, London, Lugano, Monaco, Montevideo, Moscow, Nassau, Singapore to Zurich (head office).

SCHOLARS

TRIBUTE TO A LEGEND

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TRIBUTE TO A LEGEND Born Cassius Clay, Muhammad Ali was a revered name in the world of professional boxing. Widely regarded as one of the most significant and celebrated sports figure of the 20th century, he was an inspiration both inside and outside the ring. It was at the age of 18 that he won his first gold medal in the light heavyweight division of the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome. His contribution to boxing made him earn the title of ‘The Ring magazine Fighter of the Year’ five times. Also named Sports Personality of the century by BBC, he was often addressed as ‘The Greatest’. Signé pays tribute to the legendary hero who continues to live in the hearts of many, not only for his boxing but for his activism and inspirational personality

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TRIBUTE TO A LEGEND

“I hated every minute of training, but I said, ‘Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.’ ” MUHAMMAD ALI

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SCHOLARS

E M B O D Y I N G T H E E S S E N C E O F FA S H I O N

EMBODYING THE ESSENCE OF FASHION Following his own conventions and ignoring fashion schedules, Azzedine Alaia is one designer whose prodigious fashion talent has made him one of the most famed couturiers, and his designs remain the aspirational zenith for many

Diksha Vohra Over the last half-century, Azzadeine Alaia’s body-enhancing designs have been the sole reason why the world’s most fashionable and adventuresome women have chosen him over all other designers. Thanks to the meticulous craftsman’s peerless adulation of the female form that adds a sense of beauty, sensuality and confidence to every piece he creates. He was actually the man who introduced wardrobe staples as leggings, decorative metal studs, bodysuits, bandage dresses and perforated leather. Having designed for some personalities like Michael Obama and Marion Cotillard, Alaia remains a name revered by people and designers alike. The Tunisia born artist had a knack for art and design ever since he was young. His grandfather’s best friend operated a cinema where Alaia would watch movies multiple times in absolute excitement. Later he would re-enact the films for his school friends in exchange for crayons, which he used to make his drawings. His actual love for fashion stimulated from reading the Vogue, which he sourced by lying about his age. This was also when he understood the form of a body and other characteristics of dressing. Then, his mother’s friend Mine. Pineau discovered his creative abilities and registered him at the local school of fine arts when he was only 15, where he studied sculptures. To his luck, through his friend Leila Menchari’s mother who knew important Dior clients, he acquired a position at the celebrated French couture house. But as destiny would have it, the glory lasted only for five days as the Algerian War had just ended and his Tunisian nationality posed a hindrance.

Following that, he worked for Guy Laroche for a while and then for Thierry Mugler, after which he opened his first atelier in Rue de Bellechasse. It was that time during the ‘60s when women would rely on skilled, nameless tailors for their wardrobes, much before ready-to-wear came in. To them, Alaia’s designs came as a sigh of relief as they became a secret weapon to ‘appearing beautiful’ for a growing clientele of artistic and aristocratic women. Where his sister Hafida oversaw his business, a saleswoman from Balenciaga introduced him to new clients. Cécile de Rothschild brought Greta Garbo to Alaïa, and director René Clair made him introduce to Claudette Colbert. He also became the dressmaker and friend of his idol, film siren Arletty, star of Les Enfants du Paradis. Alaia, apparently, never cared about money but focused on improving his technique of production to enhance every look. In the year 1979, he was commissioned by Charles Jourdan, a chic footwear designer, for a small ready-to-wear line. The capsule collection was composed of garments in leather, ornamented only with metal hardware such as zippers, grommets and buckles. Even though Jourdan rejected the collection as he found it too tough, Nicole Crassat, editor of French Elle, liked the collection and ended up featuring the black leather dress on the cover of her magazine and wearing it herself. Not only did Alaia work differently but he thought differently too. According to ‘50s haute couture mannequin Bettina Graziani, Aiaia was the one who first coaxed women out of loose maternity clothes to show off ‘the most beautiful curve of all’. It wasn’t

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about clothes for him; the relationship between him and his thread is much deeper. He understands women to the level of their intellect, emotions and biological facts, which enables him to design perfect dresses that effortlessly portray the mood behind them. His designs continued gaining popularity and by 1988, he had his boutiques in New York, Beverly Hills and Paris. Through his seductively clinging designs, he was referred to as ‘The King of Cling’ by the media and his clients. Alaia’s moment stretched into an epic decade-long phenomenon. Whoever Alaia chose as a mannequin became a superstar. “The shows were always a secret, never on the schedule set by the Chambre Syndicale, which he wouldn’t join. He got the coolest crowd in the world. You’d see Grace Jones, César next to Tina Turner. While prissy nose-in-the-air editors were at the Ritz eating lunch, the real news was happening at Alaïa,” says Michael Gross, a fashion writer for New York Times. Time, however, took a major turn and changed the course of tide for Alaia. The winner of two French fashion ’Oscars’ and many more accolades had suddenly disappeared from the limelight after his sister’s untimely demise. Alaia recollects, “I was working so hard I didn’t have enough time to see her at the hospital. Afterwards, I learnt that work shouldn’t come first. It’s why the fashion calendar bothers me—editors have no time for their families. I didn’t care about losing my house. I cared about losing my sister. It’s stupid to be so crazy about clothes.” After a decade of exile from the fashion industry, Alaia returned to the scene with a

runway presentation, of a magnum that had never been seen before, and a surprise. He sold 100% financial stake in his company to Prada. Furthermore, as a part of the agreement, the designer and the brand formed an Alaia Foundation to preserve both the master’s personal archives and his world-class vintage

couture collection. This did, unfortunately, not go on for long as 2007 witnessed Alaia buying back 100% of the company and selling it to the Swiss Richemont Group. Part geometer, part alchemist, Alaïa endeavors to tame material into behaving in a manner alien to its intrinsic nature. With

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knits assuming structure, leather softening to fluidity, his hands and fingers seem to have their own brains. Representing purest fashion and sophisticated designs, while making women feel comfortable, admired, confident and beautiful, his clothes continue being revered by one and many.

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I N S U R M O U N TA B L E T R A I L S

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INSURMOUNTABLE TRAILS From swimming across the lengths of the Amazon River unsupported all by himself to circumnavigating the globe at the equator unmortised, Mike Horn’s adventure tales are highly inspiring. An explorer, motivational speaker and an environmentalist, he believes in making everything that seems impossible, possible

Diksha Vohra Acknowledged as the world’s greatest modern day explorer, Mike Horn has taken his passion for exploration to unmatchable heights. From K2 to the Arctic Circle, to the Himalayan Mountains, Mike has seen more of the Earth than any other human has. Born in 1966 in Johannesburg, South Africa, the explorer has studied Human Movement Science at the University of Stellenbosch, Western Cape, South Africa. His passion for outdoor activities was evident during his childhood when he would climb trees, cycle for miles and go finishing with his siblings. Even though Mike did not like the idea of wars, he believes that his army training has played an integral part in making him what he is today. Encountering and observing death and the quest for survival at the mere age of 18, he began to believe in the power to outweigh the fear of the unknown. During his tenure in a sports science job, he felt the call of the wild. He was 24 when he quit his job and moved to Switzerland to follow his inner calling. His first ever expedition was the world’s mightiest river – The Amazon – in the year 1997. He navigated its entire length using a hydrospeed boat, hunting for food to survive and resting along the dangerous riverbanks at night. Backed by his breathtaking experience, his confidence grew as he continued scaling unprecedented peaks of adventure. The next expedition to follow was under the banner Latitude Zero. In the year 1999, Mike embarked a journey to circumnavigate the globe around the equator without motorized transport. He began by traversing the Atlantic Ocean from Africa’s west coast to Brazil on a 28 foot Trimaran.

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Then by foot, bicycle and canoe, he negotiated the ominous Amazon jungle and the daunting high altitude of the Andes, to Ecuador. Crossing the Pacific Ocean to Indonesia, he travelled to Borneo and Sumatra through dense jungles. Back on his Trimaran, it was then time to cross the Indian Ocean, which he crossed successfully. The last leg of the expedition witnessed Mike traverse the entire African continent on foot, through the dangerous drug zones of the Congo through to Gabon. Eighteen months of strenuous endeavour finally came to an end with Mike arriving at his original starting point, completing the unimaginable expedition. Years later, Mike decided to carve another niche for himself in the world of exploration and adventurous travel by circumnavigating the Arctic Circle by boat, kayak, ski kite and on foot. Lasting over two years, this expedition made Mike the first human being to travel the Arctic Circle without motorized transport, which also earned him a nomination for the ‘2005 Laureus World Alternative Sports person of the Year Award’. He completed a staggering 20,000km journey through Greenland, Canada, Alaska, the Bering Strait and Russia’s Siberia – all while pulling a Kevlar sledge laden with 180kg of equipment and food. What once began as a hobby had now taken the shape of a full-time profession. The man who starts dreaming and preparing for his next goal to accomplish while working on the present one; his efforts began to be recognized as the astounding pinnacle of human endurance. However, few know that the passionate explorer is an equally passionate family man. Sharing his drive to discover untravelled roads, he has

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EXPEDITIONS 1995 COLCA CANYON Became the first man to hydrospeed the deepest canyon in the world

1997 AMAZON Swam across the length of amazon for six months, alone

1999 LATITUDE ZERO Circumnavigated the globe at the equator on foot

2002 ARCTIC CIRCLE Circumnavigated the Arctic Circle by boat, kayak, ski kite and on foot alone

2005 BYLOT With his family, he crossed the Bylot island by ski

2006 NORTH POLE Travelled without dogs or motorized transport from Russia to the North Pole during permanent darkness of the arctic months

2007 HIMALAYA Climbed two peaks higher than 8,000m within two months in Pakistan without any additional oxygen

2008 PANGAEA The four year long expedition was carried out to promote environment conservation

2013 K2 Driving his way down to Pakistan from Switzerland, he summited the mighty K2

2014 MAKALU Unsupported and without the use of additional oxygen, Mike Horn climbed Makalu in Nepal

2016 POLE2POLE Starting from Namibia, Africa, he will be on his way to travel across the two poles, which will take approximately a year and a half

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conducted two expeditions with his family too. The first was in 2005 where, along with his family, he crossed the Bylot Island on skis and the second was by ski from Barneo base to the North Pole. Following his footsteps, his teenage daughters – Annika and Jessica – have become the youngest to ski to the North Pole. This year Mike is about to set off for another expeditions, this time across the North and the South Pole, called the Pole2Pole expedition. He is about to begin the groundbreaking journey from Namibia, Africa and is now preparing to enter Botswana. Following that, he intends to travel through South Africa and then through Antarctica, New Zealand, Australia, Papua New Guinea, India, Borneo, Indonesia, Kamchatka, and finally arrive at the Arctic Ocean and Greenland. It would take approximately two years to complete this expedition. Interestingly, this trip would also unfold two intriguing stories. While Mike would be busy crossing the countries and oceans, his 110-feet sail-boat will be moving towards his exit points. The boat will act as a platform for research, education and ancillary expeditions with other world-class adventurers and athletes in seldom-explored regions of the world. The extreme athlete has been associated with a few brands but his most notable association has been with the pioneers of adventurous automotive themselves – Mercedes. From scaling K2 in Pakistan to his ongoing Pole2Pole expedition, the Mercedes-Benz G-Class has been its

dependable companion through rough terrains. A traveller and explorer par excellence who knows nature in all of its extreme manifestations, Mike is dedicated to internationally raising awareness about the destruction of the environment and is passionately devoted to its conversation. For him, there are no limits to what people can do. Emotional barriers are countered with the question of what is possible. His motivational take on life has been an inspiration to many from the German National Football team to the IPL teams. In recognition of his spectacular achievements, he was elected as a member of the exclusive Laureus World Sports Academy in 2007. The latest addition to his to-do list is to share and impart his knowledge to younger generations, in order to educate them about environment presentation. He wants to focus on communicating the beauty and significance of what is now ‘their’ planet and preserve it for their future generations. During the last 25 years of his life, Mike has given the world a new direction to think, act and accomplish goals. Undoubtedly unique, his unrivalled years of hands-on experience with oceans, rivers and mountains, swamplands, tundra and ice or jungles and deserts, make him the greatest modern day explorer ever. Having achieved insurmountable heights, he continues writing new chapters daily in life.

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“ The impossible exists only until we find a way to make it possible.” MIKE HORN

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A SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENT Zahir Al Hosni, the director of Mazaya Oman is a man of few words. A discreet but passionate businessman, his classic tastes and minimalism is visible in every aspect of his life

Diksha Vohra Zahir Al Hosni has been associated with his family business since a young age. Grandson of the late Sheikh Saud Salim Bahwan, Zahir has been actively involved in diversifying the Bahwan brand into the hospitality sector. In an exclusive chat with Signé, Zaher opens up the pages of his untold story, redefining the legacy of success in his own terms. As an individual, how do you define yourself? Your surroundings echo a sense of minimalism. Are you someone who prefers minimalism and strict personal boundaries? I am a perfectionist. I like everything neat and clean, whether it is my aquarium, my office environment or my clothing. Details, to me, are very important and if you notice something present in my daily environment, there is a reason why it has been put there. While designing my office, I wanted neutral colors involving nature. It represents my taste, my personality and me. Blue is one of my favorite colors so you will come across different shades of blue throughout my home and office. I like to be unique in whatever I do. I grew up within certain boundaries but with time I have learnt to explore, redefine and create my own ones. I like to expand my horizons, step outside the box and eventually rethink the box! I am a person who is very passionate and delves into the details of anything I do. I am passionate about art. Modern art impresses me a lot and I don’t necessarily purchase them as an investment. Wildlife is something else I am passionate about and I am quite inclined towards it as it links back to art in a way. The color palettes that exist are such beautiful creations of God, and art is majorly derived from such natural inspirations. I have grown up observing nature rather than watching television. Connecting with nature brings me a sense of relief and calms me down. It makes me appreciate the finer things in life, which often go unnoticed.

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Where were you raised and where did you study? What prompted your decision to migrate to Dubai? I grew up in Muscat, Oman with my family. Then I moved to UK for eight years where I pursued higher studies in Global Business Management. In November 2014 when I had completed my internships in London, I relocated to Dubai and since then I have been working on different projects in the region through my venture called Mazaya Oman. I moved here because I feel Dubai is the right place in the region to launch new F&B concepts. A lot of people are of the opinion that the Dubai market is saturated but the reality is that if you look carefully there are plenty of opportunities. We have a multicultural audience here and in terms of the business vibe it exhibits, it’s transformed into a market quite comparable to London. Weslodge, our newest launch in Dubai, is filling such a gap in the market. It’s a fine dining modern American bistro restaurant concept, one that has never been seen before in the region. Similarly, through various brand introductions, I seek to fill gaps in the market and present something the regional consumer does not have access to currently. What was the thought process behind Weslodge? Weslodge is a concept introduced by Icon Hospitality group with their first location based in Toronto. We share a common philosophy of creating and presenting unique concepts and therefore joined hands to introduce the brand to Dubai. Everything I do has to be unique in every way and with excellence even in the smallest details. The idea behind Weslodge is to offer modern American Bistro experience to our discerning audience. We only use high quality ingredients and integrate flavors that will attract the regional diaspora. The staff are strictly instructed to make all our guests feel comfortable and at home. As far as future is concerned, we might have a few other concepts opening but I shall wait for the right time to spill the beans.

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“I grew up within certain boundaries but with time I have learnt to explore, redefine and create my own ones. I like to expand my horizons, step outside the box and eventually rethink the box!” ZAHIR AL HOSNI

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As a family business your core specialization is in the automotive sector. What’s the reason behind the sudden diversification into F&B? Diversification into industries other than Automotive is not something new for our group. The best explanation behind diversification is to not put all our eggs in one basket. In today’s fast moving global economy, not diversifying is risky. We still have a heavy focus on Automotive, but we have been investing in different sectors for quite a while now, especially into the hospitality sector. The F&B industry in the region has become quite homogeneous and that’s where we see many opportunities. It is also an opportunity to bring in innovation from other sectors into our core business. What drives you in your quest to setup new ventures and to achieve your dreams and goals? My grandfather the Late Sheikh Saud Salim Bahwan, has been the biggest inspiration in my life. He belonged to an average trading family and faced very tough times while growing up. At the tender age of nine, he ventured out into the trade of food and spices from India, Africa and many other places. He was one of the very first traders in Oman, and through his personal philosophy of excellence he achieved success and the reputation of being the finest in a short period of time. He always wanted to accomplish more in business; it was an endless road. He was a highly motivated man and through his persona and principles he served as an inspiration and motivation to those around him. Rome wasn’t built in a day. It took a lot of hard work, perseverance, continuity and sacrifice. Incorporating Japanese philosophy in his lifestyle, his day was always timed and he planned it according to the international markets. He took more interest in his business than himself. Two generations down we are thankful that we had someone with his personal philosophy and his excellence in business to set the path for us, and to this day we still follow the principles and the policies that he adhered to. The same passion and ideals were passed down to my mother who, in turn, inculcated them in us. She has been a big part of the family business and continues to be till date. Today, my mother is the Chairperson of the company and I have three other siblings who are also involved in the business. She taught me much more than schools ever have. Becoming the person that my grandfather was requires a lot of effort, and it is for us to continue on this path and grow in excellence and further his legacy.

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ART ON CALL

ART ON CALL Vertu has released a collection of New Signature Touch phones that feature iconic calligraphy art by Arabic artist Wissam Shawkat. The bespoke line launched during Ramadan reinforces the brand’s connection to art, its affinity for the bespoke and its belief in the Middle Eastern market

Beverly Pereira

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Vertu believes in creating the extraordinary. The British luxury mobile phone brand also believes in doing things very differently. A Vertu phone is a piece of art in itself, handmade by a single craftsman at the Vertu factory in Church Crookham, England, down to the last sparkling component. Each phone that comes out of the Vertu factory is taken up more than just a notch with the careful selection of high-end materials like sapphire, ruby and titanium, chosen not only for their looks but also for their strength. Vertu phones are also extraordinarily powerful and reliable, with a peerless performance to boot. One of Vertu’s most outstanding offerings, however, remains its bespoke services that allow Vertu users to personalise their handsets to the highest degree. Starting with its Made to Order service that presents customers with a selection of fine leathers, colours and designs,

this bespoke service goes on to offer engraving and monogramming services to make each phone that much more unique. Now, the latest Vertu collaboration with the renowned Arabic calligraphy artist Wissam Shawkat has taken this personalisation service to an all-new height. The collaboration, announced ahead of Ramadan, gives customers the opportunity to purchase a New Signature Touch handset that features one of the artist’s iconic Arabic calligraphy designs that honours the theme of ‘love’. Besides, Vertu is also offering its customers the opportunity to commission the artist to create art for a bespoke Vertu handset. The Middle East is one of the bigger markets for Vertu, and the luxury phone brand’s partnership with the UAE-based artist is as relevant as can be. Wissam’s calligraphic style stands out for its high

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level of craftsmanship, not unlike Vertu’s unmatchable level of detailing. His artistic style is easily recognised thanks to his contemporary interpretation of the art of calligraphy. Further, his modern approach is yet again in line with Vertu’s philosophy of offering the height of innovation through technology and services. Wissam, highly regarded as one of the modern masters of Arabic calligraphy, developed a fascination for the written form and the abstract shapes of letters during his childhood. It was this interest that led him to discover the art of calligraphy through the process of observation and the study of classic works of some of the greatest Arabic calligraphy masters. His colourful abstractions express a unique voice that speaks not only to the region but also to his growing international audience.

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ART ON CALL

“ The vanguard of shoemaking expertise from its genesis at the tail end of the 19th century till date ” MARCEL LEJEUN

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This isn’t the first time that Vertu has been associated with art. In fact, the British luxury phone brand has always held art and culture at its core through its various collaborations with notable institutions and relevant brands over the years. One couldn’t ignore the memorable collaboration between Vertu and the London Symphony Orchestra that resulted in exclusive ring and alert tones for Vertu users. Even the collaboration between the Vertu and the National Gallery for the release of high-definition wallpapers created from ten of the gallery’s most famous masterpieces can never be surpassed. Vertu’s partnership with Arabic artist Wissam is yet another integral part of Vertu’s larger global art programme that includes the collaboration with English-Lebanese artist Hania Farrell and that was launched at Beirut Art Week in 2015. Since 2009, Vertu has worked with some of the world’s most innovative design brands to create spectacular windows at its Montenapoleone Boutique during the esteemed Salone del Mobile show in Milan. This year, its partnership with Lisa Rampilli, a young Milanese artist who specialises in print patterns and textiles, reinforces Vertu’s vision to support young talent. Its connection to the arts also extends to Vertu’s association and support lent to the world premier of Peter Greenway’s project ‘Golden Age of Russian Avant-Garde’, a key part of the UK-Russia Year of Culture. According to Hutch Hutchison, Head of Design at Vertu, “This collaboration with Wissam is the ultimate expression of our

Bespoke offering, whereby customers can own more than just a unique Vertu, but truly a work of art. This exemplifies how Vertu is innovating with new and previously unheard levels of personalisation on mobile phone.” Indeed, the Wassim Shawkat for Vertu Signature Touch handset is truly unique. Wissam, who aims to elevate the art of Arabic calligraphy while maintaining the heritage of the traditional Arabic art form, says, “I’m honoured to be working with Vertu. The brand has changed the definition of what a mobile phone can be; from something very practical to an innovative, extremely personal object.” He goes on to point out

boutiques in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait and Lebanon from June 2016. The Dubai Mall and Mall of the Emirates in Dubai, Riyadh’s Kingdom Mall, Kuwait’s Salhiya Mall, the Villaggio Mall in Doha, Beirut’s Souk Beirut, and Stars Avenue in Jeddah are among the participating Vertu boutiques where the collection is exclusively available. The launch coincides with an exclusive travelling exhibition of Wissam’s limitededition art prints. Besides the availability of the New Signature Touch phones that feature Wissam’s art, Vertu has also taken into consideration its regional clientele who are always on the lookout for the

“This collaboration with Wissam is the ultimate expression of our Bespoke offering, whereby customers can own more than just a unique Vertu, but truly a work of art.” HUTCH HUTCHISON

that each Vertu phone is a product of fine craftsmanship and leading edge technology, which results in a sensorial experience in both design and function. Likewise, he aims to take a traditional art form and advance the aesthetic to something contemporary and modern with the newly launched bespoke collection of Vertu phones. The calligraphy collection that features special designs by Wissam has been made available for purchase at select Vertu

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ultimate in luxury and exclusive offerings. The luxury brand has accomplished this by giving its discerning customers the option of commissioning the artist to create a completely bespoke handset with a unique piece of art, and this service is available instore at select boutiques across the region. The ability to personalise phones with a unique design by artist Wissam is yet another reminder of Vertu’s promise of delivering bespoke services.

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THE AUTHENTIC LUXURY OF TIME

THE AUTHENTIC LUXURY OF TIME Precision, artisanship and the perseverance of excellence are just some of the esteemed values perpetuated by legendary Swiss watch brand Bovet. In an exclusive interview to Signé, owner Pascal Raffy talks about how his fascination for timepieces mirrors the house’s unique offerings, and his vision to expand in the Middle East

Beverly Pereira

The House of Bovet has a prestigious history that dates back to 1822 and its philosophy of craftsmanship, identity and quality also goes back a long way. The Swiss watchmaking house was awoken from a momentary slumber when the Lebanon-born Pascal Raffy, whose family hails from the French Ardennes region, invested in and bought the company in 2001. By carrying forward the unparalleled expertise of the in-house artisans, achieving vertical integration and the return of the movements made entirely in-house, the House of Bovet was restored to its former glory thanks to Raffy’s own passion for authentic luxury. The House of Bovet’s timepieces — that have a limited production run – have always been a favourite with collectors across

the world, and ever since the house regained its legendary position, its pieces have become all that more desirable. Along the way, Raffy added DIMIER 1738 Manufacture de Cadrans, DIMIER 1783 Manufacture de Haute Horlogerie and the Château de Môtiers to the House of Bovet. Tell us about your fascination with the world of Haute Horlogerie. Art and education with no barriers or frontiers is all about sensitivity to the beautiful, but the beautiful must be based on a deep sense of detail and good taste. In my family, my grandfather introduced me to watchmaking, and it’s shared right down to my children. I’m doing what I’m doing to prepare the House of Bovet for

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Amadeo Fleurier 43 Rider of the Apocalypse

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THE AUTHENTIC LUXURY OF TIME

Virtuoso VII-Double ambiance

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“ Your artisans are the first assets of your watchmaking house. They share a project of defending tradition and values; a project to please a collector; a project to be open minded to respect taste and cultures from all regions of the world. This is the House of Bovet.” PA S C A L R A F F Y

a transmission for my three children who are very sensitive to what we do today. So, it’s the tradition in the house — a tradition wherein a timepiece, a small item of 40-46 mm, allows you to discover the depths of watchmaking, recognizing the true soul of a house that has lived through the centuries, and where you perfectly understand that in luxury the way a human being acts is the essence of everything. It explains why I don’t want to do more than 4,000 timepieces per year in the future. I can go back to my childhood, when my grandfather once explained to me that luxury stands for clear identity, small quantities and the handcrafted. If you cannot answer these three main points, you are not talking about luxury. When you talk about industrial processes and globalization too, you would realise that quantity is the essence and marketing is the tool. What differentiates the House of Bovet from other watchmaking brands? We are in another world where you need two hands to turn. One is globalization and the other is art — art related to the world of watchmaking. For this, you can buy buildings and machinery, but there is one thing you can never buy however much wealth you’ve accumulated. It’s a sincere smile. Your artisans are the first assets of your watchmaking house. They share a project of defending tradition and values; a project to please a collector; a project to be open minded to respect taste and cultures from all regions of the world. This is the House of Bovet. The House of Bovet was in Mainland China in 1832. Since the last four decades, more or less, everyone has wanted to go to China. We were already in China two centuries ago, so we have a reading of time, which is different. We want to preserve our patrimony by doing well and through excellency. Quantity is not the essence; quality is everything. Our timepieces are not made for followers who, say, want to buy a car because their neighbor has it. Bovet is a house not meant for social codes of recognition but for the educational codes of recognition. Our clients are opinion makers not followers.

When you came back into business, what inspired you to purchase Bovet? The important thing for me is to study the past, to learn from it and to move forward. The reason for Bovet needing to go ahead was the vision, perhaps. The important thing today is to know where the house’s strengths lie. It’s important to recognize the respect paid by collectors across nearly 43 countries to the patrimony of the House of Bovet for its uniqueness, the density of tradition and values and, the attention to detail with good taste and machinery being at the service of the artisan and not the contrary —something that tends to disappear in this globalized world. Since Bovet had been a sleeping timepiece amongst prevalent watches, was there a fear that this deal might not work out or were you confident that you could take it ahead? The one lucky thing is my life is that I wake up every morning convinced that I don’t know everything. An artist who sings or plays an instrument improves everyday because in the act there is a path of fear. Fear can be a fantastic motivation. Did I know where I wanted the House of Bovet to go? Yes, very clearly. I believe just as much in destiny. The ‘80s and ‘90s were decades of the speculation of easy money. We don’t build long term on speculation; rather, we build long term based on true values. The House of Bovet is made for values and was made to transmit something valuable. It’s based on education and knowledge, ability and skills — not words. The first change you made in Bovet was reducing the production quantity. Why was that? How have the production statistics changed till date? Since 2007, we’ve been within the parameter of 3,500 pieces per year. Why? You cannot achieve that level of excellency when you produce over 4,000 timepieces a year. Time deserves time. Some timepieces deserve three to six months. If you want to break that rule of excellency, you start deleting the soul of your house.

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THE AUTHENTIC LUXURY OF TIME

Amadeo Fleurier 39 Burdocks

Am I interested in this? No, I’m not. It’s because as a collector I don’t want to have what everybody else has. I want to feel like I’m a member of a club, who feels like they run the globe and who has what everybody doesn’t have. You cannot do 10,010 Bovet timepieces a year. You also introduced the Amadeo system. Can you please elaborate on this system and its requirement in today’s saturated market? The Amadeo system is magic applied to the art of watchmaking without the use of any tool. For example, here’s a 22-day-reserve timepiece with two barrels. Just by pressing two pushers, I can adapt my strap and remove it. Without any tools, my miniature table clock and pocket watch becomes a timepiece. You can also wear it on both sides. I don’t need any machinery to rewind it. It is this uniqueness that represents Bovet. The Amadeo system took eight years to develop. If you’re in a public place and you happen to see some gentlemen wearing watches on another table, it’s easy to get confused with the brand names because a lot of brands, and not all of them, look like each other. You can never get confused with the Bovet shape. This is an aspect of true luxury and identity. Distinction deserves distinction, because you can have a unique design and yet not have uniqueness when it comes to the finishing or reliability in the mechanical aspect. What’s your favourite Bovet timepiece and which was the most challenging? Every single Bovet timepiece has been challenging. Is it about the mixture of decorative art and mechanical

skill? Is it more about the mechanical skills and less about decorative arts? It’s like the birth of a child — the experience always involves fear and emotion. Perhaps, my favourite Bovet timepiece is the one being produced for 2022 to celebrate 200 years of the House of Bovet. I’m thinking about a timepiece that will be symbolic as a tribute to Bovet’s presence in the last two centuries. And, I think I might have found it. In every piece, you’ll find something inspiring for a timepiece — maybe the dial, the case. Nevertheless, there is no difference between children. If you have 15 children, you won’t be able to say which is your favourite because they are all your children. What are some of the aspects that are peculiar to every Bovet watch? It’s identity and the continuity of what we’ve been doing since nearly two centuries. A dial is the face of a timepiece. If you look at Bovet’s pocket timepieces of the 19th century, we still defend the same techniques. I don’t want to say what distinguishes Bovet from other brands, but I can say that Bovet has such a unique design that you cannot compare it to another brand. At some point, you’re going to find that they don’t have something in common, which first of all is its identity and uniqueness. When you travel through the collections, you’ll always see artistic dimension in every single timepiece. The steel timepiece of Bovet 19Thirty is a steel timepiece of 42 mm, but is differentiated by a screwed case back with an open case back; one barrel for seven-day power reserve; dials in coloured enamel; and sapphire cabochon which is not synthetic. Thus, a very valuable Timepiece honoring our unique Watchmaking Patrimony.

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Récital 18

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POWERHOUSE OF DESIGN

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POWERHOUSE OF DESIGN Obegi Home is the last word in luxury home furniture and design. Its Chairman, Yordan Obegi, talks about what sets the high-end furnishing store apart from others in the Middle East, its design ethos and his take on bespoke design

Beverly Pereira The Obegi Group, a family business founded in 1905, has a diversified portfolio of companies that range from banking, consumer products, chemicals and agro-chemicals, to highend home furniture and design, introduced in 1973. Yordan Obegi is a member of the third generation of the Obegi family and the Chairman of Obegi Group, Obegi Home, Obegi Consumer Products and the CEO of Obegi Chemicals. Overseeing numerous companies in his portfolio, he continues to develop the family business while preserving its core values and motto of “Doing Business with Ethics”. When did the Obegi group decide to add luxury home furniture to its portfolio, considering that the group was already into various other sectors like chemicals and consumer products? It was about 45 years ago, in the 1970s, when the Lebanese got more interested in designing their homes in Beirut, that we thought of creating Obegi Home. It evolved from the period where furniture had a lot of plastic, plexiglass and shiny chrome. Now it’s more about matte finishes and less bling-bling. My father, Bechara, Uncle, Henry, and Aunt, Eva, wanted a company closer to the heart and passions of their customers. When you sell chemicals or consumer products, you base your approach on needs, but high-end furniture is never a basic need especially when you talk about luxury homes. It’s fuelled by passion and desire. Anybody can buy a bed, sofa or kitchen, but when you spend so much time, energy and money to create a desirable home, then it has to be more than serving a function. How is Obegi Home Dubai unique in its positioning? When we opened Obegi Home in Dubai in 2007, we brought a lot of knowledge from our mother company in Beirut. This knowledge collided with what we saw here, which was all about standard looks. You meet a lot of companies trying to sell ready-to-furnish packages. Our branding was that we looked, first and foremost, at the individuality of our customers, to give them something that wasn’t standard or common. So, when you visit our clients’ homes, you’ll see that they don’t look alike. This is the common denominator of a home designed and furnished by Obegi. We don’t promote brands, we promote good taste. We don’t want our customers to feel like they are in a closed box with fixed ideas that are not theirs. We want them to express their freedom and tell us what they like or dislike. We don’t impose our style, but we want to incorporate their style in a framework that’s tasteful and unique.

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POWERHOUSE OF DESIGN

“We do homes that feel truly yours and that you want to come back to, every evening with the same longing and pleasure, season after season.” YO R DA N O B EG I

Chairman - Yordan Obegi

The showroom has a great location – next to Burj Al Arab. Was it planned to open the showroom right next to one of the most prestigious icons in Dubai? Luck plays a big part in life. We’d been looking for a showroom that was more visible than the showroom on Umm Al Sheif Road, which opened in 2007. Even after 10 years, a lot of people didn’t know we were in Dubai. Of course, they knew of our showroom in Beirut as it is on the main highway but in Dubai, we needed to be much more visible. We wanted to remain in Jumeirah because it is less commercial and caters to high-end customers. Tell us more about Obegi Home’s offerings? Our company caters to transitional classic and modern contemporary. Our showroom is equally divided between these two styles. You can blend them together but you have to be skilful to do it without clashing. When you enter our showroom, you’ll see modern on the right side and transitional classic on the left side. This concept runs across both floors. We offer high-end kitchens and walk-in closets because today, design isn’t just in the living room or master bedroom, it’s in every corner of the house. Our customers spend a lot on their clothing so they need the right “shell” to keep them pristine, visible and accessible. In old times, the concept of a kitchen was a place meant only for cooking. Now, the new concept is an open kitchen or a clear glass visible kitchen, often seen in gourmet restaurants, that allows you to be part of the act of cooking even if you’re not a chef.

Amidst the current financial slowdown, how have you planned for the brand’s sustainability in the country? To be honest, we haven’t experienced a slow-down. When a slowdown occurs, it first hits the companies who did not have a long-term vision. I don’t want to sound arrogant, but in any economy, you have ups and downs. You need to anticipate so you can dampen the downs but that requires investment, forward thinking and courage. Our company, I believe, has got these traits. Ever since we opened, we’ve had more customers’ year after year, even when the economy was slowing down. People thought we were crazy to invest in a new showroom, they told us to be careful as a slow-down was coming. We didn’t listen and went forward and today it’s a one-of a kind showroom not only for Dubai, but also for the rest of the Middle East. Our suppliers, who travel all over the world, say that we are one of the ten most beautiful showrooms in the world. When you receive this kind of affidavit, you know you’ve done the right thing. What are the services you provide at Obegi Home? Our company will start by understanding the needs of our clients’ family, their way of living at home and their aspirations. We then blend all these elements with the space that is on hand. We listen a lot to our customers and then, we go to work. If the family comes with an architect or interior designer, we work hand in hand to do the final layout that is best suited with the furniture, carpets, curtains, wallpapers and paint colours. Additionally we offer the service of designing kitchens, wall systems and walk-in closets in the most practical and alluring manner. What is your take on ‘bespoke designs’? I don’t like these buzz words because today they’re in fashion and tomorrow they’re out. All I have to say to our potential customers is to come with your dreams and we at Obegi Home will translate them, into reality. We don’t like to say that our products are the best or that they are the most fashionable. Fashion is something that changes every season. We do homes that feel truly yours and that you want to come back to, every evening with the same longing and pleasure, season after season.

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SARTORIAL FLAIR

Fabrizio Oriani “Build Your Own Style” This Italian menswear influencer, aged 41, is also the Founder and CEO of GWD, along with being the co-founder of The Social Gear. Based in Milan, Fabrizio is very creative and he likes to mix different pieces, materials and brands in his personal style. With hats and rings as signature traits, he dresses for comfort more than anything. @gentlemen_wear_daily

SARTORIAL FLAIR Ever since fashion came into existence, men across the globe have impressed millions of eyes by their immaculate sense of chic styling and grace. Signé selects a few such individuals who accentuate the pleasure of dressing up, allowing their sartorial flair and attitude to speak for them

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Guillaume Bo “Satisfied with anything because I am accustomed to little” Of French and Canadian decent, Guillaume is a Sartorial Consultant. Aged 49, his sense of dressing falls into the ‘French Britalian Gentleman frame’ where he likes to mix all kinds of sartorial trends and influences, playing around with tones, colors and styles. @gui_bo

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SARTORIAL FLAIR

Danilo Carnevale “Some people dream about important things, others stay awake and do them” The 30 something style influencer, Danilo hails from Naples, Italy. Known for his acute sense of styling, keeping it clean, simple but refined in details and proportions, he has successfully established himself as one of the renowned menswear ambassadors around. @danilocarnevale

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Massimo Pirrone “Do well and put a lot of passion and dedication into your life” Founder of the eponymous tailoring brand PM Eleganza Milanese in Antwerp Belgium, Massimo works with some of the finest of Italian and British fabrics. Bringing his knowledge into his daily life, he believes in carrying a classic Italian timeless style with a slight modern twist in the fittings. @pirronemassimo

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SARTORIAL FLAIR

Antonio Turino “Style is not an innate ability but an art to everyone” With his mustache and beard expressing his quirky side, Antonio revisits classic men’s fashion through his personal style. Studying law and managing his family business by the side, he fancies working in the fashion industry one day. He describes his style as combining clothing and accessories in a harmonious, complex and an interesting way. @antonioturino

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Khaled Nasr “Life is a party, dress like it !” Born in Egypt and based in Los Angeles, Khaled Nasr is a man of fine taste. Professionally, he is an entrepreneur, owning multiple businesses in fields like technology, imports and distributions. He describes his style as classically influenced with a little bit of composed flair. @sartoriomertao

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ESSENTIALS

LASTING AROMA FOREVER OUD Surrender to the scent of roses in Forever Rose’s exclusive range of Forever Oud Fragrances. Inspiring passion and innovation, the brand’s latest offering is the world’s longest lasting fragrance. Made with pure first grade oud, the deep, spicy and exotic scent lasts up to nine hours on the skin and three weeks on clothes. Adam, the masculine men’s fragrance is a nod to the origin of man. Adam is derived from the finest Turkish roses, tamed by leather, and powered with a touch of the world’s finest oud essential oils. Designed to mix with the body’s natural phenomenon, the perfume creates an irresistible and a unique scent.

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NOBILITY BESTOWED COLONIA QUERCIA Acqua Di Parma’s Colonia Quercia oozes an irresistible and a powerful fragrance. Capturing the strength of a majestic tree, the fragrance encapsulates the eternal nature. In the olfactory development of this fragrance, the unmistakable citrus clarity of Colonia meets the scents of moss, the aromas of green and of light, which accompany a long walk in the woods. The fragrance is for those those who know how to recognize the true value of tradition, which remains beguiling and dynamic from generation to generation.

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HAU T E H O RO LO GY

THE CALIBRATED LEGACY The Jura-based company Richard Mille and the Spanish tennis champion Rafael Nadal, have joined hands once again to present the RM 35-02. The first piece to feature an automatic calibre in the collection, the timepiece coalesces the fruits of a constant quest for innovation with a unique design. Powered by the new RMAL1 calibre, the base plate and bridges in wet-sandblasted grade 5 titanium, which has been PVD/Titalyt® treated and stretched to ensure supreme rigidity and impeccably smooth surfaces. Its variable inertia balance wheel oscillates at 28,800 vph, and is driven by a double-barrel system for greater torque stability.

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IMPRESSIONS ON TIME Serving as a canvas for inspiration and creativity of the street artist Cyril Kongo, the RM 68-01 introduces contemporary art within the watchmaking industry. Creating history, the piece is defined as the ‘work of art for the wrist’. Richard Mille and Kongo succeeded in taking an art essentially associated with large-scale urban murals and translating it for the horological world of micromechanics and precision, thereby making a leap from city walls to bridges, baseplates and sapphire dials of watchmaking.

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FOR HER

A H O M E - M A K E R ’ S TA L E

A HOME-MAKER’S TALE

From being a hotel management graduate to one of the most sought after interior designers in the region, Lesley Zaal has carved a niche for herself independently. Encompassing the accepted aesthetics of luxury living, her brand Etcetera Living reflects her classic and elegant taste

Diksha Vohra The Zaal family has redefined the concept of luxury living through their magnificent large-scale venture Al Barari. Working alongside the family business, Lesley Zaal was one who chose to expand further into her independent interiors business called Etcetera living. A hotel management graduate, Lesley took up interiors once her family had flown the nest. She takes us through her journey of pioneering the industry throewing light over her brand and some of her distinguished projects. What made you enter the field of interior design? I have always loved interiors but I never thought of it as a profession. I have, in fact, studied hotel management. During the ‘70s in the UK, for a woman to get a management position in the hotel industry was absolutely unheard of. You could become a housekeeper or sit at the reception but positions like those of hotel managers and more were generally restricted only to men. I was not at all happy with this and after landing in another boring job, I moved to Bahrain for work. After 18 months I met my husband and my life changed completely. I moved to Dubai and settled into family life. Once my children grew up, I realized that I needed to do something to fill the gap. My friends kept asking me to pursue interiors because I loved it so much. Their casual suggestions lingered in my mind, which brought me back to England to study interiors. After the completion of the course, I returned to Dubai and started my company ‘Etcetera Living’ in 2002. We started with three employees and now have close to 45.

especially when I visit countries in Asia including Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia. They have some amazing artisans who craft unique pieces. I enjoy attending trade fairs too as I do get lots of creative ideas from there. Additionally, I send my team to shows in Milan, Paris and other parts of the world to explore the latest developments in interiors. Your brand has a very unique name. What’s the story behind it? My team and I were brainstorming on a name and I wanted to do something related to haven and such words. Then suddenly there was this light-bulb moment where Etcetera Living came up. It could mean anything and it stays in your mind. Now people, both local and international, know about the brand. It’s been 14 years. Which was the first project you worked on? It was a sofa for a young couple as far as I can recollect. We were so excited when we had delivered the piece, I can’t even explain. However, the first real project of ours was in a house in Emirates Hills where we designed the master bedroom and living room. The client was Brazilian and very accommodating. It was a lovely house to which we added some beautiful wallpapers and stunning embroidered silk curtains, with furniture from Italy.

Where do you get your ideas/inspirations? I travel a lot and I buy whatever catches my eye,

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How involved are you with the villas at Al Barari? Being a Design Consultant at Al Barari, I have designed all the villas here. However, since its family, my role is not only limited to being a design consultant. I have personally chosen the finishings for each of these including the tiles, taps, lighting and other wooden fittings – everything from A-Z.

Since you meet clients from different backgrounds, how do you manage to strike a balance between client requirements and your style instinct? The only way to do things right in such scenarios is being honest, which I try my best to be. I always tell my clients that when I design for you, I want people walking in to congratulate you on your amazing taste. On the other hand, I try my level best to incorporate their preferences in terms of colors they like and pieces they adore. If they have something in mind, I try to create

something similar which can do the magic. I also prefer communicating the budget requirements to the client well in advance. There are people who negotiate for a lesser cost and then compromise on quality, which I cannot do. For me, every place I design is a testimonial of my work and it would speak about me. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d rather focus on bigger projects, which do come along quite often, wherein I am investing similar time, effort and thought, and create the best rather than compromising on the essentials.

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FOR HER

WHEN TEXTURE SPEAKS

Inspired by her travel experiences, Lilian Afshar’s brand L’Afshar is all about adding an understated minimalistic touch to fashionable clutches. The regional designer sheds light over her journey, while describing some of her favorite signature box clutches

Diksha Vohra Classic, minimalistic and elegant are perhaps not enough to describe the beautiful L’Afshar clutches. Carrying a distinct style, showcasing unique textures that stand out in the crowd, Lilian’s designs are meant for those who let their accessories speak for themselves. Making a mark for herself in the global fashion industry, she enjoys playing around with different patterns and experiments with latest techniques only to deliver the finest quality of clutches. During her recent tenure with Design 971, Signé sat over a coffee with the talented designer, discussing the brand’s unique positioning and exploring some trending signature clutches. You have had an extensive travel history. Where did you spend your childhood? Are you able to recollect your first fashion encounters? I was born in London in an Iranian family. I stayed there until I was 10 years old and then I moved to Vancouver for a year and then to Spain. The

next stop on my route was Dubai, where I have been for the past 10 years and hope to continue living here for sometime. During my childhood, I used to take magazine clippings and make a collage out of them. I was also really fond of collecting buttons and I still have a huge collection of them stored somewhere. However, on a serious note, I always knew I wanted to study fashion and do something related to it as well. Fortunately, I ended up studying fashion designing and pattern making in Dubai and it was an unforgettable experience. Since fashion includes a wide range of products, what made you choose clutches? It wasn’t a planned approach, it happened to me. I was supposed to prepare a prototype of a fashion product for which I chose to do accessories and in that I wanted to design a clutch. That was when I actually visited factories and saw how they were made. The process inspired me to take it up but I

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wasn’t quite sure until I put up some pictures of the clutch on Instagram and people started showing interest. That’s when I decided to start my own brand and I produced the same clutch in three different colors and sizes. I am now running the seventh season of my collections. You have a very specific style of designing box clutches. What was the inspiration behind it? Textures for one have always impressed me and I wanted them to speak more than the shape. The box shape allows me to fully incorporate the texture between fixed lines so that they remain apparent and visible. My designs are very minimalistic and they carry a sense of comfort. If I were to work with any other shape, I feel it would distract my client’s attention from the texture. I tried working with a hexagon shaped clutch but that did not work out so I stuck to the original rectangular shape. It’s also very practical because you can

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FOR HER

WHEN TEXTURE SPEAKS

“ Textures for one have always impressed me and I wanted them to speak more than the shape. The box shape allows me to fully incorporate the texture between fixed lines so that they remain apparent and visible.” LILIAN AFSHAR

wear it during the day or night and with any kind of a dress. What kind of a woman adorns your clutches? I design my clutches for someone who has a very distinct taste in fashion. People, generally, do not understand the idea of clutches. They are more into leather products or handbags. So it’s for one who understands designs and lets her accessories do the talking more than her clothes. What’s your personal style like? I prefer a minimalistic dressing style. I admire the style sense of Natasha Goldenberg. She mixes and matches things very beautifully. In terms of clutches, I only wear mine.

Tell us about some of your signature creations… The first one is the Marble piece. The marble we use is resin and we make it in house. We take the resin in liquid form, mix colors into it and then hand swirl it to create the marble effect. This is available in black and yellow. The second is the Crushed Ice piece. I had launched it in the second season and since then it has been very popular. I wanted to give the effect of a crushed ice, one that would shine in sunlight. This one is available in metallic silver, purple and green. The third is the Classic White marble piece. I wanted to make this particular piece in white marble but the suppliers said it was not possible. So I used a lot of other materials

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to create the marble effect. After lots of trials, I finally got the marble look. Designing is my passion and I always look forward to working on unique pieces, ones that my cleints can feel proud of owning. Your clutches were on sale in a recent edition of Design 971, the pop-up boutique in The Dubai Mall? How was your experience? It’s been an amazing experience. Design 971 is a great concept, providing a public platform to so many growing regional designers. Emaar indeed has been very supportive in launching this initiative. It was great to showcase my collection with some of the finest designers the region has produced.

Design 971 is The Dubai Mall’s first pop-up boutique. Located in The Village, the unique indoor-outdoor streetscape within the mall, it is a platform dedicated to celebrating the work of local young designers.

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OBSESSION