FASHION
by high society throughout the ages. It is not just the oldest known textile fibre, with its use having been traced back to 8,000 BC, it was also highly regarded by the ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans. In fact, the Ancient Egyptians hailed it as the ‘woven moonlight’ because of its delicate beauty. It also happens to be the strongest vegetable-based thread at twice the strength of cotton, this despite its soft textural feel. The flax plant is one of the few fabrics that is still cultivated using natural methods and requires less water than conventionally made clothing. The story of 100% Capri is the story of Antonino Aiello, the brand’s young and dynamic founder. Born to a tailoring family in Sorrento near Naples in 1974, Aiello was immersed in textiles and tailoring since his childhood, particularly the Neapolitan style embraced by his family’s business. He also learnt early on to differentiate between noble and rough fibres. He left school at the age of 18 to join the family business. He was in his natural habitat and textiles became his passion. At the age of 23, he moved to Capri and in 2000, founded the 100% Capri brand with the opening of his first shop on the island. The clothing on display were the fruits of his personal creative ideas. He began with raw materials that were sourced from the highest quality organic cultivators of Linen in Europe. He has used 38 different varieties of the fibre over the years. The result is a lighter fabric with a better-defined shape and one that is not prone to wrinkling when compared to the traditional heavier and shapeless garments that are prone to heavy wrinkling. Aiello constantly continues to experiment with technologies that make Linen feel fresher and more pliable for high-fashion. In 2003, Aiello took his linen collection to the Hotel De Russie in Rome. The following year, he inaugurated a boutique in the island of St. Barthelemy, in the French Antilles. In 2006 he created the 100% Capri Home Collection, a range of items in linen for the house. In 2008, 100% Capri announced its arrival in the US in a big way; by opening a boutique in the most luxurious and the much sought-after retail address in the United States, the Bal Harbour Shops in Miami. Few years later, Alma LLC brought 100% Capri to Dubai. Alma was founded in 2014 by Abdul Hamied Seddiqi; equipped and dedicated to being the leading brand-building partner/retailer of niche luxury brands, by providing customised commercial strategies with an unparalleled commitment to excellence in retail performance. A key patron in the world of haute Horlogerie, Abdul Hamied began his career in luxury retail in 1979 when he joined his brothers at Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons. Since then, he has helped it grow into the largest retailer of luxury watches and jewellery in the region. Now, as the Vice Chairman of Seddiqi Holding, and as the founder of Alma, Abdul Hamied Seddiqi intends to transform the luxury retail experience in the region. 2019 JAN / FEB
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