Octobar 2015
Octobar 2015
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DEMUR Magazine
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Editors Letter/Contributions
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the Disciples - How Deep Is Your Love
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Rukhsana shares her September Songs
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Taste of Japan - Zuma Restaurant
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The 5 top problems creative people have to face every day
14 Noreen Chada – Editor Exhibiting at Shirley Dee – Fashion Editor Pure London Isabella Queen Kay Samuel – Features Editor Nicole Samoto – Social Editor Stella Dzingai – Contributing Writer Miodrag Veljović – Graphic Designer Visit us at: www.demur.co Facebook: DemurMagazine Twitter: DemurMagazine Instagram: DemurMagazine TV: www.youtube.com/DemurMagazine Email: info@demur.co
Culture - Top five places to travel solo
18 Spring/Summer 16 Collections
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DEMUR Magazine
Fashion Pills
Jane Birkin gives the Hermès bags the go ahead. You may recall a little while ago PETA raised some concerns about the famous Hermès Birkin handy bags being “constructed from the skins of factoryfarmed and cruelly slaughtered crocodiles”. Of course as the bags carry Jane’s name it was only right she demanded an explanation from Hermès. Hermès have now confirmed that, in their manufacturing they will ensure “good practices for farming, procedures for slaughter, environmental management, social conditions of employees and the security of work conditions and infrastructures.” So all is well with Jane and the bags.
Victoria Beckhams’ wishes for her babies. When Victoria Beckham received news she was going to give birth to a baby girl four years ago, it must have seemed like a dream come true. Although as a mother she already adored her perfect family, Harper would be her little girl she would take shopping, all her fashion shows and bounce off her fashionable ideas. Unfortunately we hear, Harper recently said to Victoria ‘Mummy, I think I want to play football’. You can imagine how heartbreaking that must have been for Victoria who said “I have three boys who play football, come on, let one of them want to be in fashion”. Well whatever you chose Harper, pitch or catwalk, knock em dead lassie!
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Octobar 2015 Ed Sheeran from rags to riches indeed.
We hope to get an invite to the house warming parties. Ed Sheeran has been touring around the world, selling out arenas. It is only right that he has a place where he can lay his hat and call it home. Ed has splashed out on a new pad in North London for a mere £9 million. The four-bedroom converted factory that Ed has purchased, makes a whole difference from Eds’ earlier days when he used to sleep on the London Underground trying to break into the music industry. “I spent a week catching up on sleep on Circle Line trains…I’d go out and play a gig, wait until 5am when the Underground opened, sleep on the Circle Line until 12, go to a session, then repeat” As he said in the book” A Visual Journey.”
Kanye W e s t serves his time
Remember that occasion when Kanye West had an altercation with a photographer at Los Angeles Airport in 2013? Well that didn’t end so well for Kanye, as he was ordered to complete more than 200 hours of community service. Kanye completed his community service at Los Angeles Trade Technical College and the Dean of the college was so impressed by Kanye’s’ services that he had this to say : “The contribution of the hands-on community service Mr. West has completed with our school has been of great benefit to our students and program,’” Hate him or love him, we are proud of Northys’ daddy.
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Music Music
How Deep Is Your Love for the Disciples? Gavin, Luke and Nathan make up the trio Disciples. After releasing their EP Remedy in 2013, the boys have been firing off top quality tunes namely, “They Don’t Know” and their recent collaboration with Calvin Harris in “How Deep Is Your Love” We had a chat with the boys and they had a few things to share with us. What has your journey been like to where you are now, topping the charts and touring the world? It’s been painful. Haha, all joking aside it’s been a blessing and a real eye opener, we’ve discovered a lot about ourselves as well as being influenced musically by the different cities we travel to and the different DJ/producers we have meet. How did the collaboration with Calvin Harris come about? Luke and Gavin are signed to Calvin’s publishing company. We sent Calvin HIDYL for his feedback, next thing you know we’re flying emails back and forth getting it finished and he suggested we put it out together. Best decision we ever made. Did you have any input in the “How Deep Is Your Love” video? None whatsoever! And we are glad because 3 and a half minutes of the gorgeous Gigi Hadid trumps any idea we would have come up with. What is your favourite track of your EP “The Following”? They are all different. We like them all for different reasons. MASTERMIND is so Vibey and it features the Legendary Sir David Rodigan, FLAWLESS has such a cool stylised feel to it with a driving bass line. And APE is just all kinds of crazy - it’s a real crowd lifter. If you could describe yourselves as a fashion item, what item would you choose and why? A diamond encrusted Afro Pick
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Rukhsana shares her September Songs Rukhsana Merrise (pronounced “Ruk-sana”), is a singer-songwriter from West London, freshly signed to record label and promoter Communion. After Rukhsana released her debut EP last month, “September Songs”, Rukhsana will be performing songs from the EP at an intimate show on Thursday October 22nd at Servants ‘Jazz Quarters, London. The EP “September Songs” was born out of Rukhsanas’ ambitious nature. Rukhsana set herself the task of writing, recording and releasing a song every week of the month. The EP opens with the touching “So They Say”, which includes a chorus as hypnotic as clockwork. Across the EP, Rukhsana’s soaring melodies are meshed together with a signature heartfelt lyricism. Closing track “Soon” encapsulates the uplifting side to her songwriting. Now a year later, Rukhsana has now had a quarter of a million plays on Soundcloud, attention from BBC Radio 1, touring with Jack Garratt, Laura Mvula, Bear’s Den and Leon Bridges, and performances at Glastonbury, Somersault and Bushstock during 2015, September Songs is due an official release. Rukhsana is currently in the studio working on her debut album.
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DEMUR Magazine
Street
Octobar 2015
style
DEMUR Magazine
Food
Zuma Restaurant Zuma restaurant brings a taste of Japan right to our door step here in London. Zuma opened more than 10 years ago and it seems it is one of the most popular eateries amongst celebrities. We have also found it is the place to be for all you fashionistas. You can witness all the excitement of your food being prepared by the sushi chefs who work from an open plan kitchen.
to be. Zuma is contemporary Japanese cuisine, an informal izakaya style of dining in elegant surroundings.
Zuma Global Restaurant Director, David Bardot, took time out of his schedule to let us know why Zuma is the perfect restaurant to wine & dine.
If Zuma was a fashion item it would be a… Zuma would be something timeless, and fitting for any occasion, with a unique flair – I would have to say it’d be an LBD, with a Japanese silk lining.
The success of Zuma has received worldwide recognition, and we now have our award-winning restaurants in several locations - from New York to Hong Kong with some exciting new openings to come in the near future.
Zuma is the place to be because… Zuma is iconic, it’s more than just a place to eat, it’s an experience.
The menu at Zuma is made up of… The menu is designed to share at the table and dishes are created in three different cooking styles: from the main kitchen, Robata Grill and a sushi & sashimi counter.
W h e n creator and co-founder Rainer Becker opened his first restaurant in 2002, he had a very clear vision of what he wanted it
Freshly Seared Wagyu Sirloin Tataki with Black Truffle Ponzu 10
Octobar 2015 Rainer was the first to introduce the Robata Grill to Europe, where you will find our chefs grilling over open flames. This was so popular that he took it as the inspiration for the other ROKA restaurants. We have iconic dishes, which have been on the menu since day one but each individual Zuma around the world has its own dishes, tailored to our guests and the destination. But out of everything on the menu you should try the‌ If I had to pick it would be either the sliced seabass with yuzu, truffle oil and salmon roe; chicken wings with sake, sea salt and lime or the spicy beef tenderloin with sesame, red chilli and sweet soy.
Rib Eye Steak with Wafu Sauce and Garlic Crisps The kind of person you are likely to meet at Zuma is‌ Zuma has proved to be a huge success and still retains a loyal following of local clients, international travellers and has become the chosen restaurant of many visiting artists from film, music and media.
Zuma is located at: 5 Raphael St, Knightsbridge, London SW7 1DL For bookings call: 020 7584 1010
Spicy Beef Tenderloin with Sesame, Red Chilli and Sweet Soy 11
PROBLEMS creative people have
the C
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to face every day
reativity goes hand in hand with progress, innovation and improvement. We wouldn’t be where we are today if it wasn’t for all those creative people that came up with the ideas to make things better for everyone. They were the ones behind creating things such as computers and the internet just to name a few. So we believe these creative individuals should be celebrated and honoured by our society. Unfortunately this doesn’t happen very much; instead they come across many problems in their lives as people still aren’t used to change. Here we take a look at the top 5 problems creative have to face each day. 1. Stepping out of your comfort zone Creativity demands you to take a leap of faith and risk to chase your dreams, without the guarantee of success which means you’re going to have to step out of your comfort zone. Creative people should be courageous enough to dare! “The comfort zone is the great enemy to creativity; moving beyond it necessitates intuition, which in turn configures new perspectives and conquers fears”, said Dan Stevens. Though many of us will have the creativity in our minds we still lack the courage in our hearts to step out of our comfort zone and see what the future holds. 2. Breaking the rules Being creative means breaking the rules most of the time. To be creative you have to get rid of the illogical rules set by society and dare to do things your own way. There is going to be a lot of opposition to the ideas or work of your creative mind, at least, until you become successful. 3. The peer pressure to change Lots of parents love to hear their children say that they want to become doctors, engineers or any other ‘normal’ professions rather than hear their creative ideas. Many creative people give in to pressure and give up their passion to fit in with the rest of the world and please everyone else but themselves. STOP THAT!
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4. The criticism Lots of creative people face negative criticism concerning their work from every corner. Most people see creative ideas and work as inappropriate until they can learn to understand it better. They act in response by showering the creative person with negative criticism, which at times can have negative results on the person causing them to give up on their dreams. 5. No guarantee of success Creative people have to deal with much insecurity, especially their financial resources when they follow their creativity. Many tend to give up after being tempted by the prospect of being secure and falling into the race of career Luckily there are a few who do pursue their dreams and create jobs for thousands. ‘To be successful as a creative person, one has to overcome the fear of failure, fear of being wrong, fear of making mistakes or fear of being criticized. As creative people walk on the untraded path, they have to be prepared to end in wrong place a few times before finding their destination. The anticipation of failure and lack of assurance of being successful is an enormous problem faced by creative people.’
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DEMUR Magazine
Culture
Travelling is fun and inspiring. Meeting new people, learning a new language and exploring different cultures there is nothing like it. The experience is made even better when you have someone to share these experiences with. Unfortunately not everyone has a travelling buddy on speed dial due to different commitments etc, so why not go at it alone? We give you five of the best places to travel solo. Mexico, Tulum
You might have stopped by Cancun in your youthful days for Spring break. However Mexico has another hotspot to offer, Tulum in Mayan City. Tulum is the perfect get away on your own to gather your thoughts on the beach whilst doing yoga or taking part in a meditation retreat. Talk about time alone on your own, the Cabana hotels along the seaside have no televisions and as they are eco-friendly, they use electricity generated from windmills.
Tortola, British Virgin Islands The Caribbean is not only a place to celebrate your love, but it can also be the destination to find love. Tortola draws in a huge number of single tourist travellers as the nightlife there is something to brag about. Some resorts in Tortola offer the opportunity to island hop, allowing you to explore other islands such as Peter Island. You can relax and indulge in a spa treatment with aloe vera from the onsite garden, or group activities ranging from snorkeling and lobster catch and cook, to morning yoga class. New York City, United States The city that never sleeps and neither should you try to whilst you are there.
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New York City, United
There is so much to do and see in New York, much like here in London. Summer is obviously the best time to go to NYC, boat and rooftop parties are a many during the sunny weather. To get away from the busy city, hop on the Staten Island Ferry from Manhattan and go and check out the Yankees Stadium or the Staten Island States Mall. The ferry is free and rather frequent. You can also see the Statue of Liberty whilst you are on the ferry.
Bali, Indonesia If you are looking for peace and tranquillity, Bali is your destination. Relaxation, clear beaches, and street markets, Bali draws in solo travellers from many parts of the world. Everything seems so cheap in Bali, the food, the adventures and the souvenirs for your loved ones back home. As a top destination for solo travellers, the local people are friendly and helpful and you’re a re bound to bump into other single travellers exploring the world.
Melbourne, Australia It may take you a little while to get to Australia, but there is plenty to do once you get there. The only thing you have to worry about is, how to kill time on this long haul flight. For the energetic outdoor individual in you, Melbourne is waiting for you. You can almost commute to all the hotspots in Melbourne just by walking or cycling. The city is regarded as one of the safest cities in the world, so at least this should provide some comfort, although you should still take precaution wherever you go travelling. To unwind you can take a short stroll to the many beaches Melbourne has to offer.
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Christina Chi Iara Box Clutch £480.00
Selfridges - Neom Organics Skin Treatment Candle £36.00
Nike +Acronym Lunar Force 1 Trainers - £165.00
Harvey Nichols – Kah Tequila £12.50 16
Editors Picks
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Net-a-porter – Luxe City Guides Fashion Gift Box £35.00
Reebok Low Top Trainers £145.00
H&M – Men’s Backpack £29.99
Mango – Double Breasted Wool Coat £119.99
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Fashion
Isabella Queen
We love being out and about attending various events we get invited to. It gives us a chance to meet amazing creatives in person and create new relationships. On our stroll around Pure London in August, we stumbled upon this bubbly character manning the Isabella Queen stand. Isabelle had her first job when she was just 11 and this was an unpaid position at a local café. With such a work ethic we are certain Isabelle is on her way to creating a global luxury business.
Exhibiting at Pure London and being chosen as one of their brands to watch…
Exhibiting was so much fun! High energy, but lots of fun. The stand was heaving with interested parties - press, buyers, agents, photographers, bloggers and the like. We met every type of industry personnel and and we were super busy hosting them on the stand all day. It felt like minutes from morning till evening and the interest and positive feedback really blew us away! Being named one of their ‘ones to watch’ was really humbling. I’ve always believed in my brand identity and in the uniqueness of the products, but the real test of how close to reality your perceptions are about your brand and products is when you take the work of your hands and put it out there to hear back from the industry professionals if it truly measures up. For me that validation was priceless and just goes to show that there’s no replacement for hard work and good preparation.
The inspiration of the SS16 collection…
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My mind’s eye was my inspiration. I had seen dozens of collections in my mind’s eye that after researching nearly 400 brands, am convinced do not exist anywhere else. And so I have embarked on bringing those collections to life. I love white and I love gold. So that was always
Octobar 2015 going to be my starting point. I love black and gold together also, and that is what form the basis of the AW16 collection. I love the contrast of different colours and different types of hardware and very excited about how that will realise in the coming collections.
Isabelles’ celebrity muses…
I would choose Catherine (the Duchess of) Cambridge or Kiera Knightly. They are effortlessly elegant and for that reason, an ISABELLA QUEEN handbag would look perfect on either one of them.
The top essentials every woman should have in her handbag…
All things beauty and all things technology. These are the things that are essential to a modern woman. To name the top few, I’d go for her mobile phone & charger, make-up case, nail file, painkillers, travel-size deodorant & perfume, facial wipes, wallet, keys, sunglasses, diary, a pen, book of the moment and an umbrella for the unpredictable British weather.
What’s next for Isabella queen?
Lots! There is tons of work to do. Right now we are in the midst of finalising our SS16 orders and preparing to sample for AW16. We are also in talks with a potential investor which as a start-up is very exciting, and at the same time beginning to plan the AW16 photo-shoot. The work goes on!
Keep up to date with Isabella Queen www.isabellaqueen.co.uk Twitter: isabellaqueen Instagram: isabellaqueen Facebook: isabellaqueenlondon
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DEMUR Magazine Fashion - Mariana Valentina
Mariana Valentina will make a woman feel like a goddess with an innovative twist and a European sensibility. Since Nolcha last year, I have created two new collections. I showcased one in February and one recently in NYC. I also joined a showroom where I am working with the office to sell the line. I also did a show in China for Chinese Fashion Week and hoping to sell the new collection over in the Middle East this year.
www.marianavalentina.com Facebook: MarianaValentina My presentation in New York was to showcase the Spring/Summer 2016 collection which was held at a new lounge next to the Plaza Hotel named Beautique. It turned out to be a successful event where we offered cocktails, dinner and music. Not the usual serious runway show I do. It was refreshing to do something more intimate and celebratory. If I were to choose an ancient goddess muse it would be Amphitrite, goddess queen of the sea. Most of my inspiration and ideas come from the sea or while I am at the sea. The calmness, sensuality, and moodiness all reflect my collections. My latest collection was inspired by India- it’s land and its spices. The colour palette I used represents the colours of different soothing and sensual spices. The beading and design of each piece represent the moody and fiery volcanic land.
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Spring/Summer 16 Collections
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Spring/Summer 16 Collections
“PARADISE LOST” - Wilson PK’s SS16 collection is inspired by Dante’s “Divine Comedy”. Contrasting Art Deco with the notion of Christianity, the collection portrays the inner turbulence of the designer’s religious beliefs, whilst engaging with the psychedelic romance of his work.
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Edeline Lee SS16
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Charles & Ron are in love, in love with the Mediterranean, in love with their Maltese heritage and in love with beautiful feminine shapes. Spring/Summer 16 is a vibrant and colourful collection of graphic prints inspired by the traditional Maltese fishing boat called “ Luzzu “ .Sky blue and Buttercup Yellow in colour block patterns and stripes, silk satin and viscose crepe dresses in super feminine cuts paired with Charles & Ron hand crafted leather bags. 28
presents Spring/ Summer 2016, taking inspiration from repeating motifs in nature.
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Issa
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Danielle Romerill SS16
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Edeline Lee SS16
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Three Floor SS16
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“Acceptance is not just something that happens, it is a lifelong choice that requires one to be constant and consistent in their practice of compassion and empathy”… Kim Radons Kim Radons is SUPERWOMAN full stop. This brave woman is the Founder and Creative Director of the ACCEPT ME movement. ACCEPT ME is a philanthropic fashion brand that supports breaking the barriers of social marginalization through awareness and education. Every time you purchase a product from Accept Me, you are saying Yes. Yes to Acceptance.
My background…
is deeply rooted in Dentistry and child rearing. I have maintained a comfortable balancing act as a part time Certified Dental Assistant while being a full time mom to my 5 children. Yes that’s right… 5, and they are all mine. Hectic at times, but I wouldn’t change one bit of it. Dentistry gave me the intellectual and esteem feed I craved, while allowing me to give back to my community in the form of service and education. My 5 kids gave me true purpose. They taught me to show up every day, even when I didn’t want to. When I was ready to run, I showed up, when I was ready lose it, (I practiced calm), and then I showed up. But most importantly, they taught me that I am a compassionate giver and an empathetic advocate.
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Why did I start this movement…
A couple of years ago I found myself engulfed in a personal bullying situation that rocked me hard, slapped me to the ground and profoundly hurt me. I was also severely struggling with the rampant racism that is repeatedly voiced within my community and, on a global scale reported constantly. Then there are the anti gay activists, the religious haters, and all the other haters… and the list goes on. Ugh! I just couldn’t make sense of any of it. Why are people being so unkind towards one another? Then Nelson Mandela passed away, and I was beyond devastated. He was and continues to be, the world’s bravest anti-oppression activist of the 21st century. I just stared at the broadcast and wept. The interesting thing is that I just couldn’t shake these events or emotions. I couldn’t even put what I was feeling into words. I was just sad and reeling. After a few confusing days I knew I needed to do something to help myself get through the funk I was in. So I started mind mapping my thoughts, challenging myself, looking inward, compressing every word I had written until I landed on something that I didn’t even know I was looking for. ACCEPT ME WHO I AM HOW I LOOK WHOM I LOVE WHAT I BELIEVE and I knew I was on to something!!!!
How far have I come…
My goals are lofty, and as I sit here right now, I can see them coming to fruition. I live in Vancouver, you guys are based in London… This is a universal message and it’s spreading around the globe. I call that progress.
Why fashion as an avenue to reach out to people…
I just couldn’t think of a better billboard? Everyday people decide how they are going to be seen through the fabric they drape themselves with. Whether it’s couture or grunge, what you wear tells us a little bit about who you are.
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Octobar 2015 Fashion is art and it’s as individual as each and every one of us. I want my logo and branded products to be worn as a personal expression of style, while at the same time embracing the critical message of Acceptance behind each piece. My logo depicts a person breaking through the barriers of marginalization, and the art itself is chic and edgy, and we think that’s cool.
The root causes of marginalization…
Well I’m no expert, but I can tell you this. For years I have had, and will continue to have, very REAL conversations with very dear friends and family regarding specific types of marginalization; be it immigrants, race, religion and the bullying attached to all of this. With every chat I have had with them, FEAR is riding shot gun right beside them. Fear of the unknown, fear of “them” changing the statusquo within their communities, fear that “they” will take over. It leaves them paralyzed, with no recourse towards any level of understanding or acceptance. Fear breeds contempt and leaves no room for empathy to facilitate change. Education and awareness are key to help alleviate this.
I read Rohinton Mistry’s book “A Fine Balance” a few years ago. An enlightening historically researched novel set in India during the turmoil of the government’s “The Emergency” of the 70’s. This book, and others like it, have helped shape my view of different cultures, and in turn allows me the opportunity to understand and embrace the differences, ideals and morality of others. The root causes of marginalization are ultimately up to the academics. This is my armchair observation, but what I see is very real.
Keeping up with Accept Me…
Follow their progress on their www.acceptme.ca Social Media: Instagram: acceptme_movement Twitter: accept_me_ Pinterest: ACCEPT ME Facebook: Accept Me
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