Emirates Woman - November 2022

18K

The future of Fabulous

The future of Fabulous

Discover the latest in Contemporary style with our new collections. Explore our trendsetters in living, dining, bedroom furniture, accessories and lighting. See how we craft custom settings for you, bringing extraordinary experiences to life.

Discover the latest in Contemporary style with our new collections. Explore our trendsetters in living, dining, bedroom furniture, accessories and lighting. See how we craft custom settings for you, bringing extraordinary experiences to life.

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Obaid Humaid Al Tayer

MANAGING PARTNER AND GROUP EDITOR Ian Fairservice

EDITOR/ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Amy Sessions amy.sessions@motivate.ae

SENIOR ART DIRECTOR Olga Petroff

DIGITAL EDITOR Olivia Morris

FASHION EDITOR Daniel Robinson JUNIOR DIGITAL STYLE EDITOR Sarah Joseph

GENERAL MANAGER PRODUCTION Sunil Kumar PRODUCTION MANAGER Binu Purandaran PRODUCTION SUPERVISOR Venita Pinto

CHIEF COMMERCIAL OFFICER Anthony Milne GROUP DIRECTOR Andrew Wingrove GROUP SALES MANAGER Chaitali Khimji chaitali.khimji@motivate.ae

SENIOR SALES MANAGER Anna Chipala anna.chipala@motivate.ae

GROUP MARKETING MANAGER Joelle Albeaino

WEB DEVELOPER Firoz Kaladi

CONTRIBUTORS

Mark Mathew, Ahmed Abd El-Wahab, Guido Duken

HEAD OFFICE

Media One Tower, Dubai Media City, PO Box 2331, Dubai, UAE, Tel: (+971) 4 4273000, Fax: (+971) 4 4282261, E-mail: motivate@motivate.ae

DUBAI MEDIA CITY SD 2-94, 2nd Floor, Building 2, Dubai, UAE, Tel: (+971) 4 390 3550, Fax: (+971) 4 390 4845

ABU DHABI PO Box 43072, UAE, Tel: (+971) 2 677 2005, Fax: (+971) 2 677 0124, E-mail: motivate-adh@motivate.ae

SAUDI ARABIA Office 452, Regus Offices, 4th Floor, Al Hamad Tower, King Fahad Road, Al Olaya, PO Box 12381, Riyadh 6764, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Tel: (+966) 11 834 3595 / (+966) 11 834 3596, Fax: (+966) 11 834350

LONDON Acre House, 11/15 William Road, London NW1 3ER, UK, E-mail: motivateuk@motivate.ae

FLOOR STAR ATRIUM

DUBAI MALL

Editor’s Letter

Welcome to The Collectors Issue.

For our cover, we are proud to have partnered with Louis Vuitton, an incredibly fitting brand for the theme of this issue as their luggage is a multigenerational icon. We shot their CR23 collection with rising star and Saudi model Taleedah Tamer in Precious Pieces on page 20.

WE CHAMPION COLLECTED WISDOM.

In this issue we share an incredible collection of stories, women and voices. For us depth is a priority as without this there is no value. We champion collected wisdom, learnings and understanding as paramount in importance, as well as the aesthetic symbols which bring peace or sentiment.

We look at the iconic luggage pieces you should be investing in for the long-haul in Haute Heritage on page 38, we discuss how Van Cleef & Arpels is passing its legacy on to emerging

designers in A Fine Legacy on page 48, Valérie Messika, founder of Messika tells us what it takes to build a brand that breaks the rules while keeping it refined in The Cool Collective on page 40 and we curate an edit of protective charms to pass down for generations in Talismans on page 36. Her Excellency Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi speaks to the power of knowledge in A Leader in Literacy on page 104, Brian Kelly, founder of The Points Guy tells us how to win at the reward collecting game in The Points Game on page 122 and Leila Heller, founder of Leila Heller Gallery discusses investing in art in A Collector’s Eye on page 128.

The Wanderlust on page 136 highlights the best retreats for mountain air and serious slopes, so we can collect our thoughts.

Amy Sessions EDITOR / ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER

Double-breasted

grain de poudre wool blazer Dhs12,000 Saint Laurent

Flamenco leather clutch Dhs9,800 Loewe

Spiritus Sancti scented candle, 270g Dhs413 Trudon

Deodorant, 50ml Dhs87 Le Labo

Crystal quartz cluster Dhs1,232 Jia Jia

A Quintessential Wedding Destination

Design your dream wedding in exquisite style at The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort featuring bespoke venues for your celebration.

From beachside gatherings, to a glamorous gala ceremony at the largest banquet venue in Abu Dhabi, our hosts will meet every detail with meticulous attention and seamless ease.

The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, Abu Dhabi P.O. Box 54345 Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates t. +971 2 498 8888 stregissaadiyatisland.com

Breaking the Rules – The homegrown UAE jewellery brand honing the art of rebellion p.42

36

FASHION

Talismans – Protective charms to pass down for generations p.36

Haute Heritage –Louis Vuitton luggage is a timeless investment p.38

The Cool Collective – Exclusive interview with Valérie Messika, Founder of Messika p.40

Refined Edge –Interview with the founder of jewellery

brand Edge of Ember p.46

A Fine Legacy –How Van Cleef & Arpels is passing its legacy p.48

The Cyber Collective – Dolce & Gabbana FW22 p.58

The Watch Broker –Interview with Dubai-based watch broker Alexandra Vackenfeldt p.60

The Pre-Loved Collective – Entry level watches to start your collection p.62

Holding Value –The luxury handbags that make a smart investment p.64

The Silk Road –ODEEM delivers handcrafted silk to perfection for FW22 p.66

The Vintage Collector – Interview with Rae Joseph, Head Curator and General Manager of 1954 Vintage p.72

The Rare Piece – thegoodlife. is spearheading the UAE's sneaker community p.74

The Collector’s Piece – Chanel FW22 p.76

Sculpting Time –Max Mara Atelier FW22 p.82

Results-Driven –Interview with Petru van Zyl, founder of pHformula p.90

Dare to Excel –Messika delivered a runway show to be remembered at Paris Fashion Week p.52

The Energy Collectors

– Crystals have become something of a collector’s addition in the interior world as well as the spiritual p.106

BEAUTY

Hot New Buys p.88

The Skincare Collective – The Emirates Woman team share their ultimate skincare must-haves p.94

The Beauty Shelf – Fine jewellery designer Hiba Jaber p.100

AM to PM Beauty –Duha Al Ramadhan, founder of Aubade p.102

LIFESTYLE

A Leader in Literacy

– Exclusive interview with Her Excellency Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi p.104

Personal Space –At home with Haya Jarrar, founder and creative director of ROMANI p.112

Precious – Inspiring women tell us what sentimental pieces they value the most p.120

The Points Game –Interview with Brian Kelly, founder of The Points Guy p.122

A Great Vintage –Interview with Mazin Al Kahatib, Founder & CEO of Nostalgia Classic Cars p.124

From LA to Dubai –Hollywood hotspot The Nice Guy arrives in Dubai p.126

Strong Table Game

– The coffee table books to collect p.132

A Smooth Transition –Rimowa has been the travel wingman of choice since 1898 p.134

The Wanderlust –Mountain air and serious slopes p.136

A Collector’s Eye – Leila Heller, founder of Leila Heller Gallery discusses investing in art p.128

The Cover

Cover Star: Taleedah Tamer at VISAGE.CH

Crinkle Effect Metallized Trench Coat, Boxy Top with Shawl Collar, Mini Skirt, Empreinte Large Ring, Pink Gold, Empreinte Ring, Pink Gold and Diamonds; All Louis Vuitton

SARAH JOSEPH

This page: Crinkle Effect Metallized Trench Coat, Boxy Top with Shawl Collar, Mini Skirt, Empreinte Large Ring, Pink Gold, Empreinte Ring, Pink Gold and Diamonds; All Louis Vuitton

Right page: Fray Knit Cropped Pullover, Fray Knit Bloomers Bottoms, Side Trunk Noir, Empreinte Large Ring, White Gold Empreinte, White Gold and Diamonds; All Louis Vuitton; This page: Fray Knit Cropped Pullover and Fray Knit Bloomers Bottoms; All Louis Vuitton

Left page: Fray Knit Cropped Pullover and Fray Knit Bloomers Bottoms; All Louis Vuitton; This page: Fray Knit Cropped Pullover, Fray Knit Bloomers Bottoms, Empreinte Large Ring, White Gold Empreinte, White Gold and Diamonds; All Louis Vuitton

Both pages: Jet Ski Top and Graphic Accent Silver Calfskin Mini Skirt; All Louis Vuitton

Both pages: Cotton Drill Frill Sleeve Jacket, Neverfull Monogram Denim Gris and Empreinte Large Ring, White Gold and Empreinte Ring, Pink Gold And Diamonds; All Louis Vuitton

Left page:

Drill

Gold Weave

and Moon Denim

All Louis

Cotton Drill

This

Empreinte Ear Cuff, Pink Gold And

Collier My Flower

Empreinte

Ring, White Gold and Empreinte Ring,

Gold

All

Both pages: Molton Lava Top, Layered Mini Skirt, Petite Malle Denim Gris bag, Empreinte Bangle White Gold and Diamonds, Empreinte Bangle Pink Gold, Empreinte Bangle Gold, Empreinte Large Ring Pink Gold, White Gold and Pink Gold and Diamonds; All Louis Vuitton

Crinkle Effect Metallized Trench

Boxy Top with Shawl Collar, Empreinte Large Ring, Pink Gold, Empreinte Ring, Pink Gold and Diamonds; All Louis Vuitton

WORDS: SARAH JOSEPH

MATHEW;

ANIA PONIATOWSKA BY MMG

COVER STAR: TALEEDAH

Once COVID-19 hit, I decided to take a break from modelling and focus on my studies. As I was quite young and lacked self confidence, this also played a part in my taking a pause. I continued my university, working on a few projects that I re ally felt passionate about during this time. I have now graduated from university in the year 2022 and I’m working on my career again and working with my lovely mother agent Zineta Blank at Visage models, who’s supported me throughout this journey and from the very beginning, to whom I’m very grateful. For believ ing in me since the age of 15 when she received some polaroids of me taken by my mum in my home in Jeddah. My goal is to continue to work with these inspiring people and to be at the forefront, of this change, watching the industry flourish in the Middle East. Hopefully being a part of that change. I think modelling can be a wonderful job if you learn how to navigate it well. It can be very exhilarating as it constantly pushes you to try new things and step out of your comfort zone in order to create the art as an collaborative element, which inspires me. Once you start working on these projects, you truly start to understand and appreciate what an immense team effort it is. Each member of the team working their hard est to make that art happen. That is something that pushes me and inspires me to continue this work.

What do the first 30 minutes of your day look like, your morning rou tine? For the first 30 minutes of my day, I start off by drinking some water right after I wake up. I brush my teeth, take a shower and get ready for whatever I have going on that day. I’m usually in a rush so I make a pressed carrot and orange juice and head out. I’m generally not a big breakfast person so I usually don’t have breakfast and eat something later on in the day. If I have some time to spare, I’ll read some of the book I’m currently into in a quiet space or I’ll follow a Qi gong YouTube session in my room or go outside. Qi gong is a great practice that allows you to recenter your Qi or chi following soft and slow body movements and control over the breath. This really helps me energise my body and mind, gets my blood flowing and generally helps me feel ready for the day. Qi gong usually happens at varying times in the day depending on when I have time but it’s something I try to practice as consistently as possible. I think that’s about it, each day can differ but this is my usual routine.

You’re the first Saudi model to walk a couture show – tell us more.

When I was 17, I was asked by Antonio Grimaldi to open his cou ture show in Paris. Antonio and I had worked together in the past. Actually, the first job that helped me kickstart my career was in Jeddah with Antonio Grimaldi shot by a local photographer. After that, the behind the scenes videos and shots started to circulate. I was then approached by another luxury publication to be featured in one of their editorials which then led to me being on the cover of their August/September issue shot by Stefania Paparelli which was an experience I will never forget. I will forever be grateful for the opportunity and trust they showed in me during that time. To put it short, this is the story of how my career started and every one who helped me get to where I am along the way. Tell us how your career has grown since you’ve started and where you would like it to go in the future. Everything I mentioned above happened prior to COVID-19. I began working professionally for about a year and was also attending university during this time.

What piece of advice would you give to your younger self? That’s a great question. It’s a topic I’ve started to think about a lot, especially when it comes to my career. I think I started at a very challenging age, for me personally to which many could relate to. I lacked self confidence and I think that affected my work and me reaching my greatest poten tial. It was something I was aware of at the time but I didn’t understand how to fix it or make it better. I questioned my place and what I had to offer and I think that’s because I didn’t really understand myself quite yet. It definitely helped me grow, become stronger and more independent. However, what I would tell my younger self is that none of it matters. At the end of the day, I was enough with or without my job and other’s approval. It’s hard to communicate this to someone. It’s one of those things you start to understand in your own time and with experience. In the end though these are the experiences that build you up and I’m grateful for the path I’ve taken and the strength it’s taught me. This is The Collectors Issue. Do you collect anything, or which piece is most sentimental to you? I do collect several things and have been collecting perfumes since I was very young. I was always mystified by the different scents bottled up in the beautiful glass and finding different scents that appealed to me, something about it always felt magical. In recent years I’ve started to accumulate quite an anime and comic figurine collection. Animation is something I’ve always been really passionate about. It’s helped me tem porarily escape and get through many difficult moments. I never really understood the concept of buying figurines and displaying them but once i started with the first one, I was hooked. Seeing your favourite characters in real life, 1/8th scale, displayed and just learning about them always puts a smile on my face. Animation making is something I’d like to learn and try out in the future but we’ll have to wait and see.

Diamond, aquamarine & 14kt gold charm

Jacquie Aiche’s one-of-a-kind charm has a solid, raw-cut drop of aquamarine – a natural crystal that ranges from bright to pastel blue and is said to have calming energies. It’s handcrafted in the USA with an ultra-fine 14kt gold chain and pendant cap, set with hexagonal white diamonds with reflective rose-cut faceted tops. Dhs14,013 Jacquie Aiche

Right:

TALISMANS

Protective

Magnetic Twist diamond, lapis & 18kt gold charm

Cast from 18kt Fairmined gold, Viltier’s Magnetic Twist charm is part of the Magnetic collection, a label hallmark symbolising the creative union of founders Iris de La Villardière and Thomas Mon tier Leboucher. It’s handcrafted at the label’s Pa risian workshop set with with 0.14ct of diamonds and slices of lapis lazuli, then finished with con trasting bull’s eye inserts on the reverse side. Dhs5,516 Viltier available at MATCHESFASHION

Right: Resilience Baby

Medallion Dhs6,060

Foundrae; Small Tassel Charm Dhs1,040

Annina Vogel

Malo ruby & 9kt gold charm

The naturally imperfect ruby stone that defines Pascale Monvoisin’s Malo charm is sourced di rectly from Jaipur – the jewellery capital of In dia. It’s handcrafted in the label’s Paris workshop with a polished 9kt gold frame which is inspired by classic Parisian architecture. Dhs2,127 Pascale Monvoisin available at MATCHESFASHION

Custom Heart Love Token Oversized Medallion

Handcrafted in 18-karat Yellow Gold, a symbol of your choice punctuates the centre of the Oversized Heart Love To ken. Surrounded by pave diamond let ters, the oversized love token celebrates the seven classic types of love as defined thousands of years ago: Eros–romantic love, Philia–friendship, Agape–univer sal love, Storge–love between parent and child, Ludus–playful love, Prag ma–love founded on duty & reason, Philautia–self-love. DhsPOA Foundrae

Wholeness 18-karat gold necklace

Symbolic talismans are in high demand this season, and no one does them quite like Foundrae. This necklace is handcrafted from 18-karat gold and strung with a crestshaped snake pendant that represents growth and balance. The adjustable chain means it can be easily layered with longer or shorter styles. Dhs10,274 Foundrae avail able at NET-A-PORTER

From top: Dog Carrier 40 Dhs13,300 Louis Vuitton; Toilet Dopp Kit Pouch Dhs3,650 Louis Vuitton; Nice Jewellery Case Dhs6,150 Louis Vuitton; Perfume Travel Case 200ml Dhs2,710 Louis Vuitton; Keepall Bandoulière 45 Dhs9,200 Louis Vuitton

HAUTE

The Cool Collective

Founder & Artistic Director of Messika, Valérie Messika is as cool as the pieces she creates. We discuss DNA and what it takes to build a global brand with added edge

What is the core DNA of the brand? My goal since the very beginning of the brand, has been to reinvent the richly symbolic and meaningful diamond into a desirable and disruptive object that lends self-confi dence to anyone who wears it. Messika constantly innovates to realize this vision, creating new designs and new techniques – conceiving jewellery that is as individual as it is explosive. Our Maison has been successfully setting trends since 2005; bringing a liberating breath of fresh air to the jewellery industry. Our philosophy is making the dia mond come alive: making it move and dance. I want to make wearing diamonds everyday fun and never boring.

Tell us how the brand has evolved since it launched and how you main tain a sense of edginess in the brand aesthetic as it’s known for? My vi sion since the outset has been to make the diamond rock‘n’roll, in novative and easy to wear – making jewellery a medium to express our personalities. This sensitivity has always been present in most of Messika’s creations, both fine jewellery and high jewellery. Messika’s diamond is rock‘n’roll and accompanies women in all the moments of their lives. I like the fact that we evolved as a Maison to create our own rules and codes since inception as we don’t abide by the rules and jew ellery codes set by heritage brands; Our mission is to empower women to embrace their personal style and make the jewellery “theirs”. That’s the spirit Messika injects in every creation. Looking back, I like to think that we disrupted the industry and proved that there is no longer a unique approach when it comes to jewellery. How do you balance the creative and commer cial sides of the business, and do you feel more drawn to one than the other? After obtaining my diploma in communication and marketing from CELSA in Paris, I worked alongside my father for five years, and that’s when I learnt all the secrets of the diamond industry and how I was introduced to the world of business. Even though his wish was for me to take the reins of his business one day, I felt that something essential was missing: creativity. After some time, I felt a strong urge to start my own jewellery brand and that’s how it all started. Launching my own brand has allowed me to com bine these two universes that have always fascinated me, but I must say that I am more drawn to the creative aspect!

Which platforms now drives the majority of sales and how do brick and mortar stores compare? Our boutiques in the Middle East are doing very well and that’s the reason we keep expanding our physical pres ence in the region, to be closer to our clients and cater to their needs. We are also present on ounass.com which allows us to present our jew ellery to clients who prefer to shop online.

Do you see buying patterns globally or within the GCC and which pieces drive sales season after season? Our move concept has always received a lot of love from our global customers and especially in the GCC with the Move Uno collection being our best seller, followed by Lucky Move. This is due to the versatility of the pieces born out of this concept and the fact that it’s quite recognizable, making these jewels the perfect gift for oneself or loved ones. We’ve also seen an increase in demand in the region for our HJ (high jewellery) pieces due to the unique proposition of Messika in this area; with its unique edgy de signs and also the quality of diamonds used.

What have been the biggest challenges to date and how did you over come them? As opposed to the prestigious houses of Place Vendôme that have centuries of rich archives and distinctive styles, all of my creations start with a blank page. It allows me to create modern pieces and disrupt the codes set by the industry. At Messika, each new col lection is a real jump into the void. I am partial to certain jewellery techniques over others; however, I always start the process without a precise brief, which helps my team and I to push the limits of jew

ellery further and present something fresh and unprecedented every time. So, my main challenge is always thinking ahead and maintain ing the DNA of our Maison that makes us different from the rest. For example, the fashion direction we took in my last runway show in Paris this September is very different from what other established Maisons usually go for. I chose to mix my jewellery with street fashion and ath leisure and specifically Adidas, to present a new aesthetic, that has never been presented before in the world of high-jewellery. What is your approach to leadership and how do you ensure these val ues filter down through the company? I have been lucky to start this business with some of my family members and best friends, which al lowed me to create a family atmosphere in the company and a feeling of belonging that is very much felt by every employee. For my last show, I offered the opportunity to people from different departments such as marketing, finance, etc. to take part in the action of the runway show and assist our models in the backstage, as they have a desk job primar ily. I could feel the excitement in the air the moment I entered the space pre-show as well as a sense of pride in each one of them. This was one of the most rewarding moments I experienced recently as I felt that I didn’t only succeed in making this company successful but also in in stilling something far more meaningful in each member of my team. What do you look for in a hire? It is definitely important that each candidate has the skillset required to excel in the role they are applying for but I am always looking beyond that. We are a family business so I always pay more attention to the personality of each candidate and the en ergy they transmit as I want to make sure that each new hire can fit within our family. How do you approach scaling without com promising on quality? Quality has always been a primary concern at Messika. Our original profession as diamond cutters has always led us to select only stones with not only beauti ful colours and purity but also with the highest quality of cut to allow the stone to have the most beautiful brilliance. In addition, our designs are known for their light, graphic style with this way of setting the diamonds as if the gold tended to disappear. This stylistic signature can only be obtained if the setting is excellent. This means that the more we grow, the more we increase the number of quality control operations at all stages of production. Our grids of control points are constantly being extended to offer more than ever this level of quality which also makes the reputation of our House. Have you had any mentors along the way and if so, what knowledge did they impart? My father Andre Messika. From an early age, he commu nicated his passion for diamonds to me and my brother, Ilan. When I was little, I remember him bringing home incredible diamonds and let me play with them sometimes. He showed me how to look inside every stone and also taught me everything I know about diamonds. That is where my attention to detail and my sense of observation comes from. What advice would you give to your younger self? Never stop believ ing in yourself and your vision. Your passion and hard work can achieve miracles.

This is The Collectors Issue – which sentimental piece is most special to you and which Messika piece should be in everyone’s collection?

Move is the first collection of the Maison. It has gone from being an “it-jewel” to the signature collection, and a concept used also in High Jewellery. Its three moving diamonds, simplicity and lightness quickly made it THE jewel thanks to which Messika found its style. Easy to wear in the day as by night, at work or with a cocktail dress... its pre cious cage and the unusual moving diamonds are the very incarnation of the Maison’s philosophy. It’s also a representation for the love of yesterday, today and tomorrow. I have fun with its design and the col lection is enriched a little more every year with new variations.

“At Messika, each new collection is a real jump into the void.”

BREAKING THE RULES

WORDS: OLIVIA MORRIS

Talk us through your career. Both of us have the same academic background. We grew up in Morocco and moved to France when we were 18 years old and went to the same business school. That’s where we first met and got married a few years later. After graduating from business school, we start ed working in Paris, Rita in consulting then tech at Google, and Ibrahim in investment banking at Goldman Sachs. In 2012 and af ter moving to Dubai, Rita decided to leave her job, become a GIA Certified Gemolo gist, and start her first jewellery brand op erating in Morocco while Ibrahim contin ued his career with Goldman, before also leaving in 2021 to join forces with Rita and create Maveroc, which we just launched. When did you launch your eponymous jew ellery brand? Why did you want to launch your label? Rita has been thinking about launching a new jewellery brand in the re gion for some time, and what that brand could look like took a few years to mature in her mind. For her, there was a need for freshness in the jewellery market in the GCC outside big names, niche designers and brick and mortar jewellery stores. She needed a push to take the big step, which came when Ibrahim decided to leave his job in 2021 and join the project.

We started working on Maveroc in April 2021 and launched in October 2022 so it took us about a year and half to be ready. First, we started with designing our collections, with an incredible number of iterations and back and forth, as we wanted to make sure we were bringing something completely new and fresh to the market. Then we started manufacturing and making sure all our pieces are manufactured according to strict, high-end jewellery standards. Each design went through countless rounds of iterations and tweaks to perfect the shape, the stone setting, the band comfort, and the earring fit; every single detail was scrutinized and tested until the pieces were exactly right. Lastly, we worked on our visual identity and our e-commerce plat form. While we were both happy in our jobs, we had a burning need to express our creativity and step outside of our comfort zone and that’s what pushed us, at different stages of our corporate careers, to

leave our jobs and do something completely different and entrepreneurial. What was the inspiration behind your label? Rita is the creative mind behind Maveroc. Having spent extended periods of time travelling, Rita draws on her inspiration from across the globe when designing our collections. Her passion for symbolism and special-cut gems hails from her time spent living in Morocco, Mexico and Peru. Her love of art and geometric shapes comes from no other than Paris, a city steeped in eclectic beauty which ignited her love of art galleries and opened her eyes to the impor tance of sophisticated simplicity.

The Maveroc pieces are truly unique. How does it feel to be at the forefront of design? Thank you! We feel incredibly proud of our collections and are in love with every single piece we’ve released. We want our customers to feel the same which is why we designed pieces that can be worn day to night and tell a personal story. Many pieces across the collections can be flipped to give an entirely new look, with some featuring sophisticated mecha nisms that reveal – or hide – a secret message. People are not onedimensional, nor should jewellery be. The multiple looks that can be

“We appeal to people who openly – or perhaps secretly – want to challenge the status quo. Those who seek surprise, disruption, experimentation and innovation.”

“Everyone has their own story to tell.” This is the mantra behind UAE homegrown jewellery brand Maveroc. Born with the idea to break the rules and go against the grain, founders Rita Chraibi and Ibrahim Lamrini share the inspiration behind the jewellery brand and how it’s honing the art of rebellion

achieved by individual Maveroc pieces are symbolic of what it means to be human. Ev eryone has their own stories to tell. To you, what does Maveroc represent? Maveroc is all about the art of rebellion. We are a provocative, unconventional brand wanting to shake things up and bring a fresh, new perspective to jewellery. We ap peal to people who openly – or perhaps se cretly – want to challenge the status quo. Those who seek surprise, disruption, exper imentation and innovation. We think that for a long time the jewellery market has been stuck in a relatively traditional mindset, in terms of design ideas that have to comply with a relatively narrow set of unwritten rules, in terms of the frequency of new col lection releases (rarely) and in terms of the customer experience that often happen in luxury but somewhat uncomfortable retail settings. We think consumer needs and be haviours have evolved significantly over the last few years and so Maveroc is all about

breaking these rules: (i) Our designs feature bold colours and a wide variety of precious stones in special cuts and settings as well as sophisticated mechanisms, (ii) instead of releasing one or two collections per year, we release new original designs every month –there is always something new, and (iii) we sell online through a top-notch e-commerce platform bringing convenience and speed to our customers – we deliver in two hours in Dubai and next day in other Emirates and internationally. The meaning of the name Maveroc is symbolic of this, it is a combina tion of the words ‘maverick’, meaning doing things in an unorthodox manner, and ‘rock’, and it is also a nod to our country of origin, spelt Maroc in French.

What sets your jewellery apart from other brands? A few things! First, our jewellery features a lot of bold and unexpected co lours through the use of coloured stones and enamelling – the application of a glasscoloured paste to gold. Second, we often

combine an unexpectedly large variety of different precious stones in single designs. Third, we have sophisticated mechanisms such as the one in our Dial-up collection which features a half dial that smoothly turns to reveal a hidden message. Lastly, stacking, which we’re all about! We think it’s the combination of all these things that give our pieces their edge and uniqueness. What excites you about the fashion industry in the UAE and the GCC region? We’ve now been living in the UAE for over 12 years and the evolution of the local and regional fash ion industry over that period of time is re ally striking. There has always been incred ible talent in the UAE and the region as a whole but in recent years what we started witnessing is this talent being more utilized and put to work to create brands at the fore front of fashion with the potential of grow ing outside the regional borders. We think the same movement is happening in jewel lery and we want to be part of that.

You’ve clearly worked incredibly hard to get where you are today, where do you get your motivation from? What motivates us is re ally to see our pieces worn and loved by our customers. When you create every design from scratch, with inspiration drawing from your own personal experiences and life, it is a part of your personal story that you share with others and so it does feel really spe cial when we see our pieces being worn and cherished by our customers. What advice do you wish you had received on the beginning of your journey to success? Success is a long journey, we’ve now just launched and we continue to learn every day. We think what’s important is to really enjoy the process. When you try to build a busi ness and everything is on the line, it is some times hard to pause and see what you’ve built so far as you’re always looking forward. Looking back over your career, can you tell us about some major hurdles you’ve had to over come? There are so many! For both of us, at

different points in time, the most difficult thing was to act on our desire to create our own business and leave our well-established corporate jobs for the challenging world of entrepreneurship. Second, having to learn everything from scratch and finding a space in an industry that’s difficult to access, often

made of family businesses that have been passed on from one generation to another. Third, moving to the manufacture of our pieces in-house, which is something we’re in the process of doing, in order to master the full value chain from design to the final piece. On the opposite end of the spectrum, what have been the key milestones to date? A few things. For Rita, one of the key milestones of her career was to have launched and suc cessfully grown her first jewellery brand in Morocco over the last 10 years. For Ibrahim, simply having successfully developed as an investment banker over 13 years across three different countries. Last, it is the launch of Maveroc, which we did together.

This is The Collectors Issue – how do you cultivate your jewellery collection? Crush is the key word. When something catches my eye, I feel an impulse to add it to my collec tion – ASAP. I’ve also always been a crazy stacker especially when it comes to rings so this is definitely my péché mignon.

“Crush is the key word. When something catches my eye, I feel an impulse to add it to my collection –ASAP.”

REFINED EDGE

Lynette Ong founded Edge of Ember

Harnessing Social Media

We have stepped up working with influenc ers as we have found it a very effective way to increase brand awareness. It is also a great source of user-generated content for us, which we use on our newsletters and organic social channels. Our audience loves seeing pieces on “real” people, which compliments the model e-commerce photos we have on our website.

The Motivation

I’m not sure to be honest! I’ve always been driven. From when I was in school, to my early years on the trading floor, and now owning my own business. I hardly ever switch off – although this is something I’m trying to change, especially now that I have two kids! I think a contributing factor might be perhaps because I’ve lived in quite a few different countries – I grew up in Singapore, then moved to US, Hong Kong and now Lon don – and being in many new environments has moulded me to become very adaptable.

The Advice

Get as much hands-on experience as pos sible, and surround yourself with mentors.

The Hurdles

The Inspiration

Back [in 2014] I was still working in the fi nance world and wanted to find quality jew ellery that didn’t cost an arm and a leg, and I also wanted to know that it was made ethi cally, with sustainable materials. However demi-fine jewellery was still somewhat in its infancy stages then, most of the products in the market were either cheap costume throw away jewellery or super expensive designer ones. I have always wanted to do something creative and entrepreneurial, had just turned 30 and decided to bite the bullet and quit my job. I was inspired by the model of Warby Parker and Toms where social responsibility is at the core of their business, and I wanted to create a profitable and scalable brand that has social responsibility at the heart of it.

The Development

We’ve grown from a team of two working from my home to a buzzing team of 14, we’re still primarily an e-commerce brand and selling to more than 50 countries.

The Passion

I’ve always loved it, since I was a little girl playing dress up. To me, jewellery is almost like makeup – without it, I feel naked and my look isn’t complete! I’ve always preferred more fuss-free pared-back clothes, and jew ellery is what I use to jazz up my outfit.

The Creative Process

I have a massive ongoing moodboard of things I like, which I keep refining. I love to build upon previous collections. For new in spiration, I think about what I would want to layer and stack with and also get inspired by looking at others and how they dress. I love seeing other styles and how they use jewellery to express themselves.

The Edge of Ember Woman

She’s effortlessly stylish, has a subtle so phistication with an edge. She loves a good laugh, is comfortable in her own skin, has an interest in sustainability and how our deci sions impact the world around us.

I think the initial COVID-19 period posed a huge challenge to us, like many others. It was such an unprecedented time, and we were a smaller team then so the lack of pro cesses and frameworks resulted in more un certainty with the shipping of our orders. We closed our first round of investment last year – this wasn’t so much a hurdle, but it was a challenging time for myself as I had to juggle between running a business, being a mum to two toddlers, and having a full-on schedule of calls and pitches to potential investors (which is a full-time job in itself!). But it was so worth it, as that round of investment al lowed us to scale our business in a way that we wouldn’t have been able to if we had just relied on organic growth like we used to.

Cultivating a Collection

Go for pieces that are a reflection of your style (not just because they look good on someone else) and make you feel confident, then they will become a timeless part of your ensemble. I always love versatile items too – ones that you can wear with more casual daytime clothes but also accessorise your dressier outfit in the evening.

in 2014 intending to fill a gap in the market for demi-fine jewellery. Eight years on, she’s ensured social responsibility is at the core of her business model, while also creating a brand where the pieces work as a collective

“I love to build upon previous collections – for new inspiration, I think about what I would want to layer and stack with and also get inspired by looking at others and how they dress.”

This page: Media (left)wears Vintage Alhambra necklace, 10 motifs, yellow gold, onyx; Perlée pearls of gold bracelet, rose gold; Perlée watch, Yellow gold case, guilloché white mother-of-pearl dial, Swiss quartz movement; Perlée signature bracelet, yellow gold; Perlée clovers ring, yellow gold, round diamonds; Perlée couleurs ring, yellow gold, onyx, round diamonds; all Van Cleef & Arpels. Asma (right)wears Perlée couleurs transformable long necklace, yellow gold, coral, onyx, coral; Sweet Alhambra watch. Rose gold case, white mother-of-pearl dial, interchangeable rose gold bracelet, Swiss quartz movement; Perlée diamonds bracelet, yellow gold, round diamonds; Vintage Alhambra bracelet, 5 motifs, yellow gold, white mother-of-pearl; Vintage Alhambra ring, guilloché yellow gold; Perlée couleurs ring, yellow gold, coral, round diamonds; all Van Cleef & Arpels.

WORDS: OLIVIA MORRIS

A FINE LEGACY

Van Cleef & Arpels has been at the forefront of jewellery design and watchmaking for over 126 years and now the Maison is passing its legacy on to emerging designers

This page: Asma (left/front) wears Vintage Alhambra necklace, 20 motifs, guilloché rhodium plated white gold; Alhambra watch, rhodium plated white gold case, black satin bracelet, round diamonds, quartz movement; Vintage Alhambra bracelet, 5 motifs, guilloché rhodium plated white gold; Perlée signature bracelet, rhodium plated white gold; Perlée diamonds ring, 5 rows, rhodium plated white gold, diamonds; Vintage Alhambra ring, guilloché rhodium plated white gold; all Van Cleef & Arpels. Media (right) wears Vintage Alhambra necklace, 10 motifs, yellow gold, malachite, round diamonds; Alhambra watch, yellow gold case and bezel with round diamonds, white mother-of-pearl dial, dark blue satin bracelet, diamonds, quartz movement; Perlée couleurs bracelet, yellow gold, malachite, round diamonds; Perlée diamonds bracelet, 1 row, yellow gold, round diamonds; Perlée couleurs ring, yellow gold, malachite, round diamonds; Perlée couleurs ring, 5 rows, yellow gold, round emeralds; all Van Cleef & Arpels.

This page: Asma wears Perlée couleurs transformable long necklace, yellow gold, coral, onyx, coral; Sweet Alhambra watch. Rose gold case, white mother-of-pearl dial, interchangeable rose gold bracelet, Swiss quartz movement; Vintage Alhambra bracelet, 5 motifs, yellow gold, white motherof-pearl; Perlée diamonds bracelet, yellow gold, round diamonds; Perlée couleurs ring, yellow gold, coral, round diamonds; Perlée pearls of gold ring, yellow gold; Vintage Alhambra ring, guilloché yellow gold; all Van Cleef & Arpels. Right page: Media wears Perlée diamonds pendant, rose gold, round diamonds; Perlée couleurs pendant, rose gold, carnelian; Perlée Toi & Moi secret watch, rose gold case and bezel, round diamonds, white mother-of-pearl dial, rose gold bracelet, carnelian, black pietersite, Swiss quartz movement; Perlée couleurs ring, 5 rows, rose gold, round rubies; all Van Cleef & Arpels.

Heritage French jewellery house Van Cleef & Arpels is known the globe-over for its rich history and impeccable craftsman ship. With a legacy spanning over 126 years, the Maison is now supporting emerging jewellery designers to learn from the very best. In collaboration with Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foun dation (ADMAF), Van Cleef & Arpels launched a Dhs50,000 grant to cham pion young jewellery designers from the region. The award was bestowed on two talented Emirati creatives, Asma Almarri and Media Alfalasi.

As part of the grant, the pair trav elled to Paris for five days where they were educated in the very best tech niques of jewellery creation and watch making at the exclusive L’ECOLE Van Cleef & Arpels. The emerging design ers share with Emirates Woman what it was like to learn from the very best in the jewellery space, how they believe jewellery tells a story and their inspi ration for their creative process.

ASMA ALMARRI

What are your main passions in life? My passion in life is to feel con tent with my health and to inspire. To you, how does jewellery tell a story? The intense emotions behind the inspiration of jewellery tell a story that reflects on the design outcome and the feel the jewellery stimulates when it’s worn. How does it feel to be learning some of the best jewellery techniques in the world at the exclusive L’ECOLE Van Cleef & Arpels? I am grateful to have had an opportunity to learn the best jewellery techniques exclusive

ly at L’ECOLE Van Cleef & Arpels. It has been an insightful experience. When designing jewellery what inspires you? In my jewellery design, I feel inspired by my own experiences and what resonates with my emotions. What are your favourite pieces from the Van Cleef & Arpels’ Frivole & Perlee novelties and why? My favourite piece from the Van Cleef & Arpels’ Frivole & Perlee novelties is the “Frivole necklace, 9 flowers,” especially the one with diamonds, because of the petal’s soft silhou ette design and the feeling of delicacy on my neck. How would you describe the Van Cleef & Arpels woman? The women of Van Cleef & Arpels are honourable and majestic, and I hope to inspire passion in one’s life through transcendental experiences in my designs.

DAN ROBINSON; PHOTOGRAPHY: MARK MATHEW; MAKEUP: ANIA PONIATOWSKA AT MMG ARTISTS; ALL JEWELLERY: VAN CLEEF & ARPELS; ALL ABAYAS: KAMIN

MEDIA ALFALASI

What are your main passions in life? I am passionate about everything related to fashion design, sketching and embroidery. I love my Bed ouin heritage and the UAE’s culture. It impacts my design style. I of ten try to incorporate those aesthetics when creating new designs by looking at pictures of the old UAE or visiting some sites in the des ert. I love reading memoirs and history. I think such genres can teach us compassion and tolerance by allowing us to perceive perspectives other than our own. That is why I love my Bedouin heritage, which is

rich in history and storytelling. To you, how does jewellery tell a story? If you really think about it, storytell ing is immensely parallel with creat ing, giving, and presenting jewellery. When you craft a new jewellery design, you need some type of inspiration to guide your design. This inspiration comes from your own life experiences and journeys. Even simply giving jew ellery to a loved one can tell different stories. Jewellery has always been a way to express different emotions. How does it feel to be learning some of the best jewellery techniques in the world at the exclusive L’ECOLE Van Cleef & Arpels? It’s an honour and privilege to come this close to the craftsmanship of jewellery and pre sentation. I have been recently going through a creative block and observing the long process of different pieces that Van Cleef & Arpels crafts have ignited back my creativity and enlightened me with new ways to design better. You don’t see much Middle Eastern repre sentation within the design industry in Europe, but Van Cleef & Arpels made me feel represented and included. This type of connection with a Western company made me build a connection with Van Cleef & Arpels.

When designing jewellery what in spires you? My biggest inspiration in designing jewellery is personality. What people choose to wear as jew ellery and how they wear it can say a lot about their character, traits, ex periences, and passions. I like to ob serve different people in the street or at occasions and get inspired by how they carry themselves, wearing vari ous pieces. I think Van Cleef & Arpels has one of the most expressive pieces of jewellery I see today in the market. They really know how to show person ality and emotions within their crafts manship. For example, their Zodiaque Collection celebrates and mimics the constellations and zodiac signs. What are your favourite pieces from the Van Cleef & Arpels’ Frivole & Perlee novelties and why? My favourite col lection from Van Cleef & Arpels is their Perlee jewellery collection. Not only because I love gold in jewellery but also the modern, slick twist that the collection displayed. Van Cleef & Arpels has nailed it with this collection because it was made to show different person alities with the creative freedom of mixing and matching. How would you describe the Van Cleef & Arpels woman? If I can de scribe a Van Cleef & Arpels woman in one word, it would be unique. She is always a woman who is different, so she shines in a different light than other women. Individualism is very considered in this collection, and it’s crucial to have it in the jewellery industry. Only a woman with a distinct taste in jewellery would represent a Van Cleef & Arpels woman.

WORDS: AMY SESSIONS

TO EXCEL Messika delivered a runway show to be remembered at Paris Fashion Week, with pieces that nodded to a futuristic take on ancient Egypt

Previous page: Taylor Hill; This page: Imperial Move blue goldstone necklace - Beyond the Light collection; Right page: Naomi Campbell

For the latest instalment of her High Jewellery col lection ‘Beyond the light’, Valérie Messika present ed 29 silhouettes adorned with diamond sets, each more magnetic than the next during Paris Fashion Week. A show filled with femininity, modernity and avant-garde designs, playing on volumes, light ef fects and unexpected styling.

Naomi Campbell, Gigi Hadid and Taylor Hill to name a few who walked for the brand in one of the coolest runways shows during PFW, were all adorned with exceptional jewellery pieces inspired by a futuristic take on ancient Egypt. Size able breastplates, mouth jewellery, ethe real pieces that accompany movement, captivating multi-colours, transform able pieces... A show under the sign of an assumed ultra-luxury house, unex pectedly mixed with streetwear to add off-duty edge. These bold pieces embody the emblematic codes of the House: to dare, to surprise and to excel.

The show itself was set in the heart of Paris, in a raw and industrial set ting – the perfect juxtaposition for the pieces themselves. To close the evening friends of the Maison gathered together to celebrate this exceptional fashion show, with a DJ set by Diplo.

Left page: Emily Ratajkowski, Gigi Hadid, Valérie Messika, Carla Bruni; This page: (topand bottomright) Valérie Messika; (leftandbottomleft) Taylor Hill

The Watch Broker

Alexandra Vackenfeldt, known as Watch Out for Alex on social media, has made a name for herself in the watch space. While she “just happened” to fall into the watch space, Vackenfeldt has built quite the portfolio for herself and is now utilizing Instagram and TikTok to help others expand their knowledge of watches

WORDS: OLIVIA MORRIS

How did you find yourself entering the watch space? I was working in retail in my home country Sweden. So I started working as a part-time cashier at Zara, and I just up graded from there – both my title and work place. But it was when I started working at a multi-brand watch shop back in 2017 my watch career really started. What was your inspiration for becoming a watch broker? Well, it kind of just happened.

I had the watch knowledge, so I just built my network and got to know both watch dealers and clients. Now when I get an inquiry I just contact the watch dealers to see whoever has the watch my client is looking for.

Throughout your career in the space so far, what is one of the most special watches you’ve come across? That must be the RM 57-03 Tourbillon Sapphire Dragon. Ex tremely rare (and expensive) timepiece!

For those who are looking to invest in a watch for the first time, what is your advice? I think the most important thing is to find a model you know you’ll enjoy wearing. Do you want an everyday sporty watch in steel? Or do you want a classy gold watch you’ll only wear on special occasions? After you’ve figured out how you’re going to wear it, do your research

and see which models are interesting to you. Check the availability at an authorized dealer, and if it’s hard to get check the mar ket price on for example Chrono24. Some models increase a lot in value, some lose value. So it’s important to do your research!

As a female in the watch industry, are there any difficulties you’ve faced? Yes, definitely.

I think most women in male-dominated industries have to struggle a bit. But I’m grateful for how well and respectful I get treated in this industry here in Dubai. In my home country, the big watch profiles are not known for treating women well.

You’ve been posting watch content on social media for a while now. How have you found it helped (or hindered) onboarding clients? My best clients don’t even have social media, so I wouldn’t say it has helped me get sales. But it’s basically my portfolio so it has been great for me to show it when I’m network ing, just for people to understand what kind

of watches I’m selling. Also, I’ve got to know big watch profiles all over the world because of my Instagram page.

In business, what is a philosophy you live by? I love the quote: “If they don’t give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair.”

What have been the hurdles you’ve had to overcome throughout your career? Since I started working with watches I knew there was nothing else I wanted to do. But at one point I felt stuck and was considering changing my career, even if I didn’t want to. I’m very happy I didn’t give up. What have been the key milestones? Mov ing to Dubai to work with watches was a big milestone for me, especially because I now work with the most exclusive watches in the world. I made that decision when I was going to give up my watch career, so it literally went from 0-100. But I still have many milestones I want to reach! One of them is to be a part of a team and build something great together.

“If they don’t give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair.”

The Pre-Loved Collective

Pre-loved fashion is see ing increased growth year on year. In partic ular, the secondhand watch space has in creased twofold. With platforms like Watch Box, The Luxury Clos et, Watchfinder & Co. and more, never has investing in a pre-loved luxury watch been easier, partic ularly for those investing for the first-time.

Omega Classic Watch

This 14K yellow gold watch by Omega is a true classic, perfect to start off any watch collection. Dhs12,900 (approx) available at The RealReal

IWC Da Vinci Chronograph

This special timepiece features a 29mm stainless steel case sur rounding a white dial on a stain less-steel bracelet with a folding buckle Dhs14,070 available at WatchBox

Longines Lyre Stainless Steel

This Swiss watchmaker is one of the most popular for first-time buyers. This Longines Lyre fea tures a flattering 30mm case, a nine-piece link and a vibrant sunray blue dial. Dhs3,000 (ap prox) available at Bob’s Watches

Cartier Panthere Medium

Cartier first unveiled its line of Panthère de Cartier watches in 1983 and they have been iconic timepieces ever since. Dhs17,157 available at WatchBox

Rolex Datejust Lady

You can never go wrong with a Rolex – one of the most popu lar watch brands on the market. This vintage 1990 Datejust Lady in steel and gold is a true clas sic. Dhs17,000 (approx) available at watchfinder.ae

Cartier – Tank Francaise

This Tank Francaise by Cartier, estimated to be from 2006, fea tures a yellow gold face and calfbrown leather bracelet. The ide al classic timepiece. Dhs16,600 available at watchfinder.ae

Chopard White Stainless Steel Happy Sport 27/8236-23 Women’s Wristwatch

With a rich history dating back over 160 years, Swiss fine jewel lery and watchmaker Chopard is well-known for its timepieces. This pre-loved White Stainless Steel Happy Sport watch from The Luxury Closet is a dainty piece that is ideal for a beginner’s collection. Dhs13,300 (approx) available at The Luxury Closet

HOLDING VALUE

The Vintage Collector

Rae Joseph, Head Curator and General Manager of 1954

Vintage discusses sustainability and circular fashion in the luxury market

WORDS: DAN ROBINSON

What do the first 30 minutes of your day look like, your morning routine? I like to wake up early to take my time practising my morn ing rituals. I usually start my day with a five-minute morning meditation followed by a short read. I’m currently reading Eckhart Tolle’s A New Earth. I then do a morning stretch to allow my body to wake up properly and follow that with a solo morning walk with a cup of coffee. Once I’m back, I am ful ly awake, clear, and ready to tackle the day. How did you get into vintage collecting? I started vintage collecting coincidentally when I was 15 or 16. My sisters and I were taking a break at a cafe from a day of shop ping in New York City, and we happened to be sitting next to the owner of one of the most fabulous vintage showrooms in New York. We talked, and he offered to take us to his showroom. We walked in, fell in love, and the rest is history. Since that encoun ter, I’ve been collecting vintage and travel ling twice a year to hunt for unique vintage finds around the world.

What was the catalyst for your work with 1954 Vintage and how has it evolved under your leadership? I’ve always been a lover and collector of vintage. It’s something I’m associated with in my inner circle to an extent where they would ask me to source pieces for them and dress them in vintage for specific occasions. That said, I’ve al ways kept vintage collecting as a side pas sion because leaving law to focus on a side

How have you found social media has supported brand growth? Education and raising awareness are one of the main challenges for vintage, so social media was the perfect me dium to introduce customers to vintage and help them under stand its value and magic.

Have you had any mentors along the way and if so, what knowl edge did they impart? With respect to vintage, unfortunately not. What we were doing was new to the market and therefore there weren’t many people to offer guidance particularly in the vintage sphere. However, we drew inspiration from suc cess stories around the world and saw them as fuel to push forward and keep going.

What advice would you give to your younger self? Just go for it! Follow what you love. Follow what makes your heart sing. Are there any particular brands and pieces you source that are popular with client’s season after season? Top-selling brands vary by season and are affected by what is happening in the fashion industry; however, certain brands like Louis Vuitton and Chanel are consistently top sellers.

What have been your biggest challenges to date and how did you overcome them? The biggest challenge is education and raising awareness about vintage: What it means, its value/why it’s special, and how it is necessary for the fashion industry’s quest to become more sustainable. For many customers, vin tage remains a concept, an idea, something they hear about or see on red carpets. Only a few shop and own vintage outside what their mothers or grandmothers passed down to them.

While it is much better now as vintage is getting increasingly popular, we still have some work to do, but we are up for the challenge. It will be worth it!

passion was too big of a risk for me to take. Until one day, while drowning in a legal file, it hit me! Regardless of how well my legal career was going, I knew that I would never forgive myself if I didn’t give my passion a chance to explore new possibilities, which is exactly what I did. I am happy and proud to say that under my leadership, the brand introduced the Gulf to vintage fashion in a way that never existed before: a way that is curated to their palate, a way that is up, close and personal. We also partnered with major luxury e-retailers regionally and globally to bring vintage fashion closer to local customers. Including partners like Ounass, for whom we launched the vin tage segment, a segment that continues to thrive till today, and Farfetch, for whom we were the first vintage partners in the region.

With a shift in focus on sustainability and the re-sale market, luxury brands are also now moving into re-sale and vintage offerings. What is your view on this and circular fash ion? I think it is fantastic. Unfortunately, fashion is one of our planet’s biggest pollut ers, so celebrating and encouraging circular fashion is something I will always support.

Seeing luxury brands re-sell their old col lections is excellent for the environment and the industry as it solidifies the value of vin tage and legitimizes it in the eyes of many customers who are still skeptical about buying vintage or pre-loved pieces. I’m all for it. The more, the merrier!

What would be your advice to budding entrepreneurs looking to make a similar move? Follow your heart, listen to your gut and get to work!

The Rare Piece

WORDS: SARAH JOSEPH

Known for pioneering the sneaker culture in the UAE, the team at thegoodlife. tells us about Dubai’s growing streetwear community

Tell us more about the concept? thegoodlife. started in Beirut 15 years ago as the first store of its kind in the region. We wanted peo ple in the region to have access to products they might not be famil iar with and open a lifestyle that wasn’t fully available. thegoodlife. adds to Dubai’s growing sneaker community. Was this the vision from the outset? Our vision was always to be able to offer the best footwear releases to the community, whilst releasing them in the fairest possible way. We also wanted to nurture the community as a whole. Our overall ethos is to be fair, we don’t prioritise community members, we don’t gatekeep, we want the shoes we sell to go to some one who wears them and not to resellers who are out to make a profit. With collab culture at an all-time high, what makes a sneaker collabora tion stand out to you? Perhaps a controversial outlook, but collabo

rations don’t stand out much anymore. We’re more interested in gen eral releases and what comes without a cosign. It seems that there is too much pressure for a collab to impress, and it’s detrimental to the outcome. Designing for design’s sake, and it steps away from the core principle of what footwear should be, fo cusing on the material, the core makeup. Which sneakers brands sell out season after season? We’re seeing New Balance surge as an up-and-comer. Of course, there’s Nike and Jordan that has a strong presence in the region, along with adidas’ new silhouettes NDM S1 and classics like gazelle. Sneakers have become a world-wide investment tool for many – tell us your thoughts? It’s great that shoes are seen as investment-grade assets. But it’s not the beginning, it’s not the end, it’s not what it was, and it’s not what it’s going to be. It’s just a snapshot of con sumer culture at the moment. Is it beneficial to a sneakerhead? No. When it comes to collecting sneakers, what piece of advice would you give? Buy what you like, wear what you like, step away from social media, influencers, and whoever isn’t you who is telling you what you like. It doesn’t have to have a swoosh or three stripes to be cool. There are brands like Karhu, Saucony, ASICS, that have so much to offer. There are so many things that you can possibly enjoy simply because you like them. First and foremost, wear for you, if you hap pen to have people who engage with you or like what you like, that is a bonus. However, you should never buy into what you think other people want you to collect.

“You should never buy into what you think other people want you to collect.”

SCULPTING

WORDS: AMY

Hot New Buys

WORDS: SARAH JOSEPH

All the beauty buys that will last you this season and beyond

Restore

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INTENSE REPAIR

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Clean Base

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SHEER SHIMMER

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Exfoliate

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Even Tone

A potent yet lightweight serum enriched with Vitamins B, C and E. Exalted Eye Serum Dhs390 Aesop

Restructure

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Hydrating formula

This soothing lip balm is the ultimate solution for cracked, dry lips to provide that silky slow. Lip Balm Dhs198 Dr. Barbara Sturm

pHformula is the skincare brand designed to control the resurfacing of the skin with all the products designed to work in tandem.

Having recently entered the GCC market, founder Petru van Zyl shares the story behind the results-driven beauty brand

Talk us through your career. I first became aware of my passion for skincare when I developed acne in my late teens. I became a qualified skincare therapist and skin specialist and worked hard to understand the skin, skin disorders as well as the sci ence behind formulations that work.

My personal struggle with acne skin and my understanding of how negatively this affected my self-confidence inspired me to want to help others struggling with skin disorders. I cannot overstate how important self-confidence is to women. I was so inspired by the impact and posi tive change in my life that this became an intention-led focus to develop a resultdriven skincare line for the professional.

As a skin specialist and educa tor, I have always taken in as much as I can from the experts and professionals around me. Understanding the histology of the skin is the most important aspect. Identifying skin disorders and guiding clients toward the proper solutions is ful filling and can have a huge impact on a clientʼs life – This is my inspiration. How did you find your way into the beauty space? I can honestly say that it was my personal battle with problem skin and the difficulty of finding results-driven prod ucts on the market, that got me passion ately involved in the skin health space, more than the beauty space. What I will say, is that healthy skin is beautiful skin. What inspired you to start your own brand? Working as a skin specialist I felt that, in the professional space, there was a fun damental lack of options to customise products and treatments according to the needs of the clientʼs skin. With my handson experience and working with so many different skin types, I soon realised that all skins have more than one skin disorder or concern that requires treatment.

have undesirable side effects; especially when one is working with strong acids and darker skin phototypes.

This was a compelling and big moti vation for me to start my own brand with pHformula’s philosophy of a product line committed to controlled skin resurfacing as opposed to chemical peeling. How have things evolved since you start ed pHformula? I’m very happy to say that I’ve seen more and more skin profession als realise that stronger is not always better. And in the market, there has been a growing realisation that healthy skin is a lifelong commitment and a lifestyle. A realisation that healthy skin is not about going to an aesthetic specialist or doctor for a once-off treatment for results or to only start a skincare regime in one’s later years. Today, women from all age groups are very aware of the health of their skin and they’re committed to taking care of their skin, they’re committed to using products that do not only smell or feel great, but because they show positive skin health results.

WORDS: OLIVIA MORRIS

I felt very frustrated with the results I could achieve with the limited protocols available on the market – and the fact that I could not customise treatments. Added to this is the fact that the only re sults-driven treatment options available at the time were traditional chemical peelings. I worked for many years with this and, while chemical peelings have amazing results and benefits, they also

The entire brand is designed to work as a collective. How does each product work with one another? At the heart of pHformulaʼs philosophy is the fact that we design products for the professional skin specialist. We empower skin specialists to start a treatment regime by testing their clients’ skin sensitivity levels. Only once they have a clear indication of a client’s specific skin tolerance and sensitivity lev els – as well as skin phototype – can they select the correct chemical skin resurfac ing treatment which is applied accord ing to the diagnosis. Specific treatments are multifunctional because they contain pHformula’s unique delivery vehicle com plex which has the function of controlling inflammation. Why is this important? Inflammation or prolonged inflammation is a precursor to post-inflammatory hy perpigmentation (PIH) and this is espe cially pertinent to darker phototype skins. Further, every treatment that we apply has multifunctional properties that also treat signs of visible ageing. Our skin resurfac ing treatments are supported by a range of specific home care products to support the prescribed treatment. These home

Results-Driven

care products are designed to work in synergy with professional treatments and our unique delivery vehicle complex. How these prod ucts work together, creates a unique solution where one plus one equals three. How has pHformula changed the skincare game? Most brands in our industry are fo cused on home care, while pHformula is focused on the treatment room – in other words, the products used by professional skin specialists. I believe that in many ways, we have changed the game by moving away from traditional skin peeling and replacing it with controlled chemical skin resurfacing with the function and properties of rebuild ing skin rather than just chemically peeling the skin. By rebuilding the skin, it becomes healthier, more resilient and more respon sive to a maintenance regime.

You recently entered the GCC market. What was the motivation behind this? Because of our products and pHformula’s worldwide repu tation – we started to get more and more en quiries from people wanting to buy our prod ucts in the GCC market. Even though we are based in Barcelona, I grew up in South Africa and as a result, I’ve been working on an array of different skin phototypes all my life. It is a fact that darker skin phototypes are much more prone to the risks of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH). I also identify per sonally with extreme weather conditions that inevitably lead to skin sensitivities.

Considering this, pHformula’s product line is perfect for this market. I believe that our product line is well-suited to the GCC market where there is a great need for luxury results-driven, professional products like ours. To bring pHformula to the UAE specif ically, we are partnering with beautician and

What, in your opinion, are the brand’s hero products? Every single product in our product line is a hero in its own sense, but if I had to highlight a few I’d say:

The SP Complex – A professional treat ment product where we test skin sensitivity levels. It is key that we test sensitivity levels before our customised treatment regimens can commence.

The CR Complex – A unique, professional treatment specifically for sensitive skin and to remove underlying inflammation.

The AC solutions – To treat acne or acneprone skin as it is an excellent multifunction al treatment.

The MELA powerclay treatment line for hyperpigmentation. Because it is based on controlled chemical skin re surfacing, we avoid a negative feedback system where pigment darkens as you will find with harsh treatments.

The EXFO Cleanse – For home care use, this is so much more than a cleanser. It’s also a skin conditioner, mild exfoliator and a mask.

skin specialist Jane Varto, who is the Found er and Owner of Beauty Akademiet. Jane has over 30 years of experience in the industry and has the reputation of the ‘skin whisperer’ for the transformational results she creates for her clients. We are excited to have Jane on board as she shares my vision for pHformula and my passion for healthy skin. What beauty and skincare trends do you see are present here in the region? I believe that women aren’t only looking to use luxury brands. They’re looking for products that will boost their self-confidence – and noth ing boosts a woman’s confidence as much as a healthy, beautiful skin. It’s also critically im portant for a client to be able to visit a quali fied skin specialist to assist her with sound de cisions around appropriate treatment plans. I can relate to this desire for self-confidence and informed decision-making when it comes to the products we use or the treatments that are applied to our skin. I believe that pHfor mula is ideally suited to skin phototypes of the region with its inherent challenges.

And all our homecare prescriptions – these are unique and ex tremely effective and popular, our Vitamin ABC line combined with our serums are products that have a great demand worldwide. Throughout your career in the beauty space, what have been the chal lenges you’ve had to overcome? We’ve had challenges over the last 10 years, but we also overcome challenges every day. To mention just a few: we’re playing in such a rapidly evolving industry where there are different regulatory changes in the different markets we serve. There are new products in the market every day, but it is so important to know if they are sci entifically correct and honest. As a woman – to stand my ground, work hard every day, to never lose confidence or focus no matter what challenges we must overcome. And the milestones? I think one of the biggest milestones we’ve achieved is that we’ve never lost focus of who we are and what we stand for which is our cornerstone philosophy of serving skin specialists with our product lines and our skin resurfacing treatment ap proach. Being in operation for more than 10 years, I celebrate the team that’s been with me since the start. I am proud of the fact that we fiercely protect our culture of being a pHformula family. We’re a professional skin care company serving 45 international mar kets with spectacular growth that’s largely as a result of word of mouth – that is a mile stone. The opening of our skin academy for professional skin specialists in Barcelona, Spain. Finally, I am proud of the milestone that we’re empowering women as skin spe cialists and business owners and that we’re giving women the self-confidence and con fidence in their own skin that they deserve.

“Specific treatments are multifunctional because they contain pHformula’s unique delivery vehicle complex which has the function of controlling inflammation.”

“Being in operation for more than 10 years, I celebrate the team that’s been with me since the start. I am proud of the fact that we fiercely protect our culture of being a pHformula family.”

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Sage & Cedar

Treatment

at

Olga Petroff

Senior Art Director

MIRATES WOMAN & EMIRATES MAN

Parsley Seed Antioxidant Eye

Dhs315 Aesop available at OUNASS

Above: La Crème Main Texture Riche Dhs240 Chanel available at bloomingdales. ae; Below: Purifying Face Wash Dhs164

Lee available at OUNASS

Above: Hydrating Oil 30ml Dhs256 Anastasia Beverly Hills available at OUNASS; Below: Skin Filter Dhs220 The Nue Co available at Apotheca Beauty

Above and right: Advanced Night Repair

Multi-

30ml Dhs270 Estée

available at NET-A-PORTER; Contour Firming Mask

Dhs514 111Skin available at NET-APORTER; Vitamin B5 Antioxidant Moisturiser Dhs175 Skin Laundry

The Dewy Skin Cream Dhs295 Tatcha available at Apotheca Beauty

Abeille Royale Double R Renew & Repair Advanced Serum Dhs723 Guerlain available at bloomingdales.ae

Right: C.E.O. Glow Vitamin C & Tumeric Face Oil Dhs155 Sunday Riley available at sephora.ae

Rescue Peel Pads Dhs265 Eve Lom available at Apotheca Beauty

Olivia Morris

Digital Editor

EMIRATES WOMAN & EMIRATES MAN

Right: Phytoactive Cleansing Balm Dhs376 Royal Fern available at bloomingdales.ae; The Dewy Serum Dhs367 Tatcha available at Apotheca Beauty

Above: Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm Dhs230 Elemis available at Cult Beauty; Below: Jet Lag Mask Dhs235 Summer Fridays available at Apotheca Beauty

Below: Pro-Collagen Eye Revive Mask 15ml Dhs320 Elemis available at Sephora.ae; Celestial Black Diamond Lifting and Firming Treatment Mask Dhs125 111Skin available at bloomingdales.ae

Below: Vitamin C Ester PhotoBrightening Moisturiser Broad Spectrum SPF30 Dhs246 (approx) Perricone MD available at Cult Beauty; Right: Eyelift Peptides 15ml Dhs215 Medik8 available at lookfantastic.ae

Dan Robinson Fashion Editor

EMIRATES WOMAN & EMIRATES MAN

Crystal Retinal 3 Serum 30ml Dhs245 Medik8 available at lookfantastic.ae

Above: Shower GelSantal 33, 237ml Dhs230 Le Labo available at mrporter.com; Below: Exfoliating Face Scrub Dhs289 The Grey available at Mr Regimen

Right: Serum Repair mini 5ml Dhs81 Dr Sebagh available at Selfridges; Super Anti-Aging Serum Dhs1,298 Dr Barbara Sturm available at Apotheca Beauty

Vitamin

Sarah Joseph

Junior Digital Style Editor

Right: Water Jelly Hydrating Face Primer Dhs143 Huda Beauty; Fabulous Face Cleanser 100ml for Dhs115 Aesop available at OUNASS; Below: Exalted Eye Serum 15ml Dhs390 Aesop

Right: Juno Antioxidant + Superfood Face Oil Dhs140 Sunday Riley available at sephora.ae; The Dewy Skin Cream 50ml Dhs301 Tatcha available at sephora.ae

Below: Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Multi-Recovery Complex Serum 30ml Dhs270 Estée Lauder available at NET-A-PORTER; Fat Water Hydrating Milky Toner Essence 150ml Dhs115 Fenty Skin

Night Oil 30ml Dhs360

by Kim

COMPILED BY: SARAH JOSEPH

The Beauty Shelf

Fine jewellery designer Hiba Jaber shares her top beauty picks

Ambre Nuit Fragrance Dhs1,500 Christian Dior

This has been my favourite per fume which I keep for special occasions and that I have been using for more than two years. I switch between this and other Dior fragrances for different occasions.

Huile Prodigieuse Multi-Purpose Dry Oil Dhs120 Nuxe

This is my favourite oil as it makes my skin feel refreshed and nourished.

Lash Clash Mascara Dhs180 YSL

YSL has always been my go-to when it comes to mascaras as they all give such great volume, length and curl to my lashes.

Instant Light Natural Lip Balm Perfector Dhs60 Clarins

For an effortless daytime look,

I use this super hydrating balm which gives a hint of colour to my lips.

Unscented Face Wash 100ml for Dhs81 Emulsion

I always like to end my day by taking off my makeup with this face wash which leaves my face feeling fresh.

Photoderm Max Crème SPF 100 Dhs144 Bioderma

I use this sunscreen before ap plying my makeup as it gives a really nice shine to my face and

works as the perfect base.

Anti-ageing HydraSilk Mouisturizer Dhs237 KJ Serums

I use all the serums in my sk incare routine and love the Hy draSilk cream which makes my skin look fresh and plump.

Pearl and Rose Hyaluronic Essence Dhs360 AgentNateur

I instantly fell in love with this toner from the moment I started using it. When kept cold, it gives a refreshing uplift to my face.

Nail Polish in Nude Dhs96 Essie

In my opinion, this is the best nude polish. It’s timeless and great for everyday wear.

BY: OLIVIA MORRIS

COMPILED

AM TO PM BEAUTY

Duha Al Ramadhan, founder of Aubade, talks us through her daily beauty routine

Talk us through your morning routine. I start every morning with a workout to get my blood flowing. I don’t drink coffee so I always say that’s my caf feine kick! Post-shower is when I really focus on my skincare routine. I start with a hydrating serum, followed by a mini facial using the Solawave Wand (a red-light therapy device). Then it’s a brightening eye cream, a rich moisturizer and finally, I finish it off with an SPF 50 sunblock.

How does your evening routine differ? With my eve ning routine, the products I use are always a bit stron ger and richer to ensure maximum absorption over night. I generally double cleanse after a long day, first with a cleansing balm and then a gel. Then I apply an exfoliating toner, followed by a vitamin C serum, and then a moisturizer with anti-ageing properties. I love

finishing off my evening routine with face oil and fi nally a face mist for ultimate hydration. Oh, and I al ways have to apply a lip treatment before going to bed. What are your go-to skincare products? I absolutely love The Rich Cream and Face Oil by Augustinus Bader. I’ve also been recently using Biologique Re cherche’s Lotion P50 1970, which is a great exfoli ating toner. Are you a fan of masks? Absolutely! I love that sooth ing, cooling, hydrating sensation you feel the second that mask hits your skin. They’re perfect after a tir ing week or during a long flight. How would you describe your approach to makeup? I’m into super minimal makeup, my go-to is a nomakeup makeup look. And although I love makeup shopping, I find that I’m always buying the exact

Clockwise from top left: Lotion P50 1970 PoA Biologique Recherche; CC Me Serum Dhs315 Summer Fridays available at ae.apothecabeauty.com; The Rich Cream Dhs1,099 Augustinus Bader available at bloomingdales.ae; Smudge-Free Straight Up Volumizing Peptide Mascara Dhs115 RMS Beauty available at thesecretskin.com; Signature for Women Eau de Parfum Dhs545 Chloé available at namshi.ae; The Face Oil Dhs976 Augustinus Bader available at THAT Concept Store

same shades of nude or barely-there colours! In general, I like to feel good in my makeup and not feel like I have anything heavy weighing my skin down. I never wear foundation, I choose lightweight mas caras and prefer blush sticks over powder because they feel more natural and give a beautiful dewy ef fect. I also tend to wear tinted lip balms over lip sticks because they’re super hydrating and give just the right amount of colour. What can always be found in your makeup bag? My makeup essentials are concealer, mascara, blush stick, and tinted lip balm. Which fragrance are you loving at the moment? I’m so loyal to the fragrances I wear. I’ve been wearing a scent by Chloé for years, and I have no intention of changing it anytime soon.

How do you choose your evening fragrance? For eve nings and special occasions, I tend to go heavier with the scents I wear. I gravitate toward traditional oud and musk-scented fragrances. Talk us through your hair routine. My hair routine is straightforward, I use a sulphate-free shampoo for coloured hair, followed by a conditioner and/or a hair mask depending on the time I have. After it’s washed, I apply a serum and a heat protectant spray before styling it in my go-to undone waves. I try to get Olaplex treatments at the hair salon or use the K18 leave-in mask every now and then. What is the most unusual item in your makeup bag? I wouldn’t say it’s unusual, but I always carry a face mist. I love to spray it throughout the day to keep my skin hydrated and to give myself a little pick-me-up.

A Leader in Literacy

Her Excellency Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi is a leader in the publishing space. From being the founder and CEO of Kalimat Group to being the first Arab woman to become president of the International Publishers Association, Sheikha Bodour is leading the way for women both in the region and on a global scale

Talk us through your career. I first began working in publish ing 15 years ago. In 2017 I set up Kalimat Publishing Group, initially to create high-quality Arabic children’s books. I then established the Emirates Pub lishers Association with some Emirati publishers, which start ed my journey into the regional publishing sector, leading even tually to international work across many committees in the International Publishers As sociation (IPA). Two years ago, I became the President of the IPA, and only the second wom an up until now. Throughout my career, my focus has been to support women professionally and socially. So, in 2019, I set up PublisHer, a platform dedicated to helping women succeed in the publishing sector and senior positions based on merit. What inspired you to enter the world of publishing? As your readers may know, my father is a big champion of reading and culture. He developed Shar jah around the idea that culture and reading are essential to healthy and vibrant societies, so books were a huge part of my life from an early age. In this context, I had an eye-opening conversation with my firstborn daughter, who complained that

the Arabic children’s books I was reading to her were boring and old fashioned. She was much more attracted to English books then, with modern stories with beautiful or fun illustrations. It was a wake-up call for me as a mother, and I decided to do something to change this situation. That’s how I entered the world of publishing. You’re the CEO and founder of Kalimat Publishing Group. What made you want to become an entrepreneur? I think when a powerful idea drives you, something else almost takes over, so I didn’t think neces sarily I wanted or planned to become an entrepreneur. I just knew I had to create attractive Arabic children’s books. When I began to follow my instinct, the process unfolded. I believe when you have a pas sion for something, it’s an exciting pro cess to make that idea a reality. I always encourage people to listen to their callings and live outside their comfort zone from time to time, as amazing things could happen. My publishing career is a living example of this philosophy. How did your childhood/growing up shape your outlook on life and approach to busi ness? My upbringing has had a profound influence on my life. My parents instilled in me and my siblings the love of books and the values of understanding and respect. Books and learn ing allow people to live in other people’s shoes and take a deep dive into their contexts, which is a vital step toward acceptance and tolerance of differences. More importantly, it leads to an appreciation of the richness of the human experience, no mat ter what the language or colour of people. These values have in fluenced my approach to busi ness. I am deeply rooted in my culture, but I am always open to listening to new ideas, I em pathize with the challenges of others, and I accept differences. This has helped me to develop a balanced view of the world and allowed me to work successfully at a global level.

You’re a trailblazer in the pub lishing world. What’s the key to success? Focus and determi nation. Throughout my 15 years in publishing, I thought of stopping and moving on to some thing else because the hurdles were not only complicated, but they didn’t need to be there in the first place. But my deter mination to continue and focus on the mission helped me deal with those moments and keep moving forward.

In terms of books, what are the most special reads you have collected over the years?

I have eclectic tastes, but to summarize, I would include some of the Kalimat Group titles, which I am proud we published. I also love reading new young Arab writers and sometimes discovering old texts that have only been recently uncovered and published. Elif Shafak is a good friend and someone I admire deeply, so I always read her books. There are also some excellent young writers coming out of Africa too. I love reading their perspectives and about their lives through books. There is a real drive now in the publishing industry to have a much wider variety of voices, so I am very much drawn to reading about different cultures, female writers, and other perspectives. I’m also very interested in spiritual matters and books that try to help us understand ourselves and the planet, so new thinking and ideas always appeal to me.

You founded PublisHer in 2019. Talk us through this concept. The seeds of PublisHer first began when I started travelling internationally on behalf of the International Publishers Association. I was often quite shocked to be the only woman at seniorlevel meetings. That’s quite something for a woman coming from what is perceived to be a male-dominated culture. When I spoke to my female peers from different parts of the world, I realized we had similar stories. There was and still is a great deal of frustration because women made up most of the publishing workforce, but the pic ture at the senior management level told a completely different story. So, we began to meet, at the sidelines of book fairs, to see how we could help each other as women in the industry. It evolved into PublisHer, a movement and a platform that continues to go from strength to strength in empowering female publishers throughout their careers. We launched a few initiatives to address the main challenges facing female publishers. For example, we launched the diversity and inclusion practices tool kit, which helps publishing businesses assess their hiring and HR practices to imple ment a more inclusive approach. We also launched a mentoring and a reverse men toring programme, through which leading female publishers and young talent learn from one another through a structured mentoring programme.

A major milestone for you was being appointed to lead the International Publishers Association (IPA). It’s an incredible achievement for yourself and for the re gion. Would you agree? I was delighted to be elected as President of the IPA. For me, it is a testament to the strength of my upbringing and my roots in Shar jah and the UAE. I do feel a sense of achievement, even more so because I was only the second woman in this role and the first Arab Muslim in 125 years. I sincerely hope to inspire other women in publishing or elsewhere to strive to achieve their ambitions or make the best of their gifts and talents.

Through this role, how do you hope to represent Arab women on an international scale? I think what is important to me is to send out the message that it’s okay to be yourself and to have a successful in ternational career. If I can be a role model for oth ers or just inspire one single woman to step forward and find her place on the international stage, then I would be so proud. We are a global family, and there is room enough for other points of view, opinions, and beliefs – the most important thing is that we respect and try to understand one another. The Arab world

WORDS: OLIVIA MORRIS

has some incredible women achieving great things, so it’s time to get the message out there and continue creating a truly diverse and inclusive international community in all sectors. As well as being a businesswoman, you’re also an avid philanthro pist. What causes have you been involved in over the years? I focus most of my philanthropic work on literacy and book accessibility.

Through the Kalimat Foundation, which we established in 2016, we bring Arabic language books into the hands of children who have been the victims of war or forced displacement. We also pay par ticular attention to visually impaired children by including books in accessible formats such as braille or audiobooks. I am happy to say that our work has brought a smile to the faces of thousands of chil dren in the region and other parts of the world. Most importantly, we gave them the powerful tool of literacy, so they have a fair chance to turn around their lives in the future. Would you agree the UAE really is pioneering women in business and other organizations? Absolutely. Over the past ten years, we have seen a great deal of change with female ministers and ambassadors appointed and pioneering businesswomen in all sectors emerging on the scene. The UAE has successfully created an environment where women are accepted and welcomed in these roles while ensuring a healthy balance with our culture and values. This is why UAE has be come an example now in the region and why others are looking at our story to inspire positive change and progress in their communities.

“The Arab world has some incredible women achieving great things, so it’s time to get the message out there and continue creating a truly diverse and inclusive international community in all sectors.”

The Energy Collectors

Known for their energetic healing powers, crystals have become something of a collector’s addition to the interior world as well as the spiritual

How long have you lived in this space?

For almost two years.

Did you have a clear concept from the outset, and which key pieces are your favourite? I knew exactly what I wanted from the start… the coffee tables I designed. I feel they are more like pieces of art.

Have you custom-built any bespoke pieces? Coffee tables, dining table, some of the stools around the house, my bed and dresser have all been cus tom built.

How do you think your interior reflects you/your brand? The colours of the house are very neutral yet the design of the house is very bold which mirrors me as a person. And just like Romani (my clothing brand) every piece in the house is memorable and fun.

Describe your taste in three words. Raw, daring and controversial.

PRECIOUS

FATMA ALMHEIRI

Founder & Creative Director of Venus The Label

What is the most sentimental piece of jewel lery that you own? My mum’s vintage ring, it’s a yellow gold band with the words ‘I love you’ engraved with diamonds.

What’s the story behind it? I’m actually not sure where she got it from or if it was passed on to her, but the fact that it reads ‘I love you’ makes it more special. My love for my mum is infinite and I’ve also been taking the ‘love’ approach to life. Love is the absence of judgement; love is not what you say but rather do. How you love yourself is how you teach others to love you.

What’s your approach to timeless invest ments? I’ve been investing in classical piec es that I’m sure I will wear no matter how long I have had them for and hopefully pass them on one day. I gifted myself a diamond tennis necklace for my birthday earlier this year and will surely invest in a timeless piece for the next one.

SALAMA KHALFAN

Jewellery designer

What is the most sentimental piece of jewel lery that you own? I have quite a few pieces of jewellery in my safe that mean so much to me. They have stories behind them and they remind me of people, feelings and places that I have experienced with them. However, I think the closest one to my heart and the most sentimental one is a diamond necklace; a diamond with a beautiful emerald heart at the centre of it that my father gifted to my mum after his first trip to Belgium.

What’s the story behind it? I think it was during the seventies and I grew up watch ing my mother wear it without knowing how special it was to her. After my father passed away, she took it out of her safe and gave it to me. I feel very sentimental when I wear it and get overwhelmed with emotions. I wear it on days when I really miss him and need to feel closer to him.

What’s your approach to timeless invest ments? I think due to the pandemic, people shifted their buying mindsets away from fast fashion and more into timeless pieces. More than the value they hold, we buy jewellery for the way it makes us feel hence we should buy pieces that elevate us and make us feel great when we wear them.

FATMA AL OTAIBA

Founder of accessories brand, Odeem

What is the most sentimental piece of jewel lery that you own? I have several but the most recent would be a set of pearls, ruby and dia mond, gifted to me by my mother.

What’s the story behind it? It’s a set that I grew up seeing her wear since I was a child and years later as an adult. She doesn’t wear her pieces any more and decided to gift us, her daughters, a set each. I love the set that she chose to gift. Although it was an emo tional decision for her to give these pieces up willingly, it carries a lot of fond memories and feelings.

What’s your approach to timeless invest ments? When I invest in pieces, it has to evoke an emotion and not follow a trend. For instance, I would buy a piece when I’m on a trip, so it holds a valuable memory for me. I love non-traditional pieces and that is timeless to me.

Inspiring women tell us what sentimental pieces they value the most

WORDS: SARAH JOSEPH

HONAYDA SERAFI

Saudi fashion designer

What is the most sentimental piece of jew elry that you own? It is an antique brooch, an authentic Hijazi brooch that I wear very often. It has traditionally been passed on in my family from one generation to another. What’s the story behind it? It was initially my mother’s brooch, and she had this idea to de sign the same one for each of her daughters and granddaughters as a sign of attachment to our precious family. I share an emotional connection to this brooch as it holds beau tiful memories and happy moments. I can remember my mother wearing it to our gath erings and my siblings’ weddings and I hope the ritual keeps running in the family. What’s your approach to timeless invest ments? The emotional attachment is the main value of it. It is what makes the piece a timeless one. Jewellery must speak to you, spark a special feeling in you, in that sense I find it very similar to art pieces, there are creations that move you. For a fact, I actu ally love to borrow pieces from my mother, and lend pieces of mine to my friends. I gave one of my very close friends my wedding tiara to wear it at hers, because sharing these with family and friends is what gives those pieces a profound meaning and this timeless value.

HIBA JABER

Jewellery designer

What is the most sentimental piece of jewel lery that you own? It’s a jewel my husband got me on my 30th birthday. What’s the story behind it? It was a vintage Longines watch with a mystery dial from the year 1958, which is the year my dad was born (he passed away in 2013). I was actually speechless when he showed me and explained to me what was so creative and so meaningful. What’s your approach to timeless invest ments? When it comes to jewels; I like to build up my basics, and I focus on jewellery that has meaning. When they have a story, they become timeless, they are relevant to you in every time and space. In terms of fash ion and bags, I go for classic styles that are iconic and that show great craftsmanship and have proven great growth over the years, they truly translate into investment pieces.

YASMIN BAKER

First Emirati aerialist

What is the most sentimental piece of jew ellery that you own? Although I don’t wear them often, I have a few pieces of jewellery that I was gifted and are of sentimental value to me. These include traditional gold neck laces from my grandmother, gifts from my mother, and my wedding ring.

What’s the story behind it? These pieces mean a lot to me because they signify the person I received it from, the memories I share with that person, their attributes, and the sense of closeness I have with them. The jewellery represents what I keep with me and can access at any time I choose.

What’s your approach to timeless invest ments? I view timeless investment much in the same way that I regard the timeless gifts I have been fortunate to receive from loved ones – how can I leave a part of me with someone who matters? How can I leave a symbolic message that resonates with that person, even when I am not physically present?

THE POINTS GAME

What do the first 30 minutes of your day look like, your morning routine? When I’m at my house in Pennsylvania, I like to have a cup of cold brew coffee with almond milk to get me going and then I like to go out and say good morning to my horses. Their energy is the best way to start the day.

What inspired you to launch ‘The Points Guy’? I’ve had a good understanding of how to maximise points and miles since I was a young child. When I started working in Corporate America, I realised I could start earning a lot of points for myself through work travel. In 2010, I started The Points Guy as a blog for fun and never in a million years did I think it would grow to what it is today. I get great satisfaction out of helping people unlock the power of points and miles. It’s the best job in the world to help people explore this amazing earth.

What’s the best way to get started when it comes to building points for an enthusiast?

Sign up for hotel and airline loyalty pro grammes as most are free and a great way to earn points when you fly and stay at ho tels. Second, credit cards are the biggest way to earn points from not only travelling but through everyday purchases. The best way to earn lots of points sustainably is to have a multifaceted approach – earn from travel, earn from everyday spending, and book smartly.

What are the top 3 tips you can share to get started? My top three tips to get started are firstly, it’s important to get the right credit card that rewards you for what you spend the most on. Secondly, always shop through online shopping portals for extra miles and points and lastly leverage social media and travel platforms to find the best deals such as Scott’s Cheap Flights, The Points Guy and Google Flights.

What piece of advice would you give to your younger self? Don’t be afraid to go off the beaten path. Some of my best trips have been to less popular destinations such as Israel and Rwanda that really open your eyes to amazing and different cultures, wildlife, and cuisines.

What is the best thing you’ve been able to afford though the points you’ve collected?

It’s been amazing to travel with my parents and take them on memorable trips. For ex ample, we flew the Emirates A380 together and I made my mom take a shower to ex perience doing so at 40,000 feet in the sky. We also use points and miles to support an amazing nonprofit organisation called PeaceJam and visit their communities in Ghana, Liberia, South Africa and Guate mala. So, using points and miles to both give back and travel with my parents has been the ultimate dream.

Brian Kelly, founder of The Points Guy, knows how to work the system when it comes to collecting and

SARAH JOSEPH

VINTAGE

Mazin Al Kahatib, Founder & CEO of Nostalgia Classic Cars, discusses how he turned a passion for collecting and restoring vintage cars into a thriving business

What do the first 30 minutes of your day look like, your morning routine? I begin my day by reading the newspaper headlines to have an understanding of what’s happening around the world. Next I read through the sales report and workshop reports of the previous day to make a list of what needs to be done for the same day. I then have a quick meeting with the admin, sales and workshop supervisor for 10 minutes.

What inspired you to launch Nostalgia Clas sic Cars? It has been a dream of mine since I was a banker. I knew that after complet ing what I wanted to achieve in my bank ing career, I could convert my passion to a business.

Every car should tell a story. Does this im pact your decision when buying a car?

When this was a hobby of mine, that was the case. Now, when I look at it from a busi

ness perspective, I buy according to the de mand and market needs. Of course, when it comes to collecting classic cars, the story plays a big role in the purchase. The concept is located in one of Dubai’s key artistic hubs. Was this the plan from the start? I consider my collection as pieces of art and when I was thinking and deciding on a place, of course Alserkal Avenue came to mind, as it’s one of the first “art hubs” of Dubai. Hence, the decision was made to be located in Alserkal Avenue.

What was the first car you restored? The first car I restored was the 1948 Packard. You’re the first of its kind in the UAE. How did you see a gap in the market? I learned my lesson the hard way as the say. When I was a hobbyist, I would struggle to find the best denter or the best mechanic or the best painter and my car would move from

one place to another. This made me always think of having a one stop shop that covers everything when it comes to restoration. Nostalgia Classic Cars Workshop does ex actly that. Any project we do, the car never leaves the premises until the job is done. If we require additional support, we subcon tract it to other shops. Everything from A to Z is done under one roof, this is what dif ferentiates Nostalgia Classic Cars from all the other players in the market.

What advice would you recommend to those who wish to invest in collecting vintage cars?

When it comes to investing and collecting vintage cars, it’s important to choose the right brand and the right model. Try to have a detailed history of the car as much as pos sible. It’s imperative to prove the originality of the car and its parts, including the inte riors, mechanical and the body.

With a never-ending A-list celebrity guestlist including Gigi Hadid, Justin and Hailey Bieber, Kylie Jenner, Kendall Jenner, Nicki Minaj and more, The Nice Guy has opened its first-ever venue outside of Los Angeles right here in Dubai. Launched in partnership with MKIA Hospitality, the group’s managing partner and cofounder, Mohammad Irshaid discusses what The Nice Guy has in store for its Dubai debut

From LA to Dubai

Talk us through your career. It all started at the age of 21 when I travelled to New York to license the brand Sugar Factory, I did my training in NY, LA and Las Vegas, and a year later franchised Dum Dum Doughnuts from London. In between, I consulted for

brands such as Bora Bora Juice Kuwait and Pizza Factory DIFC on menu development, brand concept creations and many more. Then around two years ago, the idea of The Nice Guy was presented and here we are. Where does your love for food come from?

Throughout my childhood, I spent a lot of time in the kitchen with my mother, who is an amazing cook and would constantly be experimenting in the kitchen. From prepping lunches and dinner gatherings to late-night snacks. Other than being physically present in the kitchen I had a natural curiosity about the process of cooking and how flavours came together. This established the founda tion of my passion for food and beverage. You’ve just opened the iconic LA hotspot The Nice Guy in Dubai. How long has this been in the works? Why Dubai? We started the conversations around two years ago during COVID-19. Dubai is home and is an emerg ing F&B hub of the world. Yet with every thing around, I still felt there was a gap that The Nice Guy could fill. A place with an old school ambience, a good Italian vibe, great music and most importantly, a place to meet and connect with like-minded individuals. Talk us through the concept of The Nice Guy. The Nice Guy Dubai will follow suit of its LA predecessor as a highly sought-after, reser vations-only destination, complete with a world-class lineup of classic Italian cuisine offerings for lunch and dinner, including signature menu items and crafted cocktails.

In true The Nice Guy fashion, dining hours seamlessly transition into a nightlife back drop with regularly programmed live enter tainment and DJ sets.

What are the hero dishes at The Nice Guy? Diners can expect distinctly Italian plates with a unique LA spin such as the kale salad, cacio e pepe, Margherita pizza. I would say that the meatballs and lobster pizza are the must-try dishes. We also developed special dishes and versions of dishes for the Dubai location that aren’t available in LA such as beef carpaccio and burrata salad.

What sets the F&B industry in Dubai apart from the rest of the world? Dubai is a cosmo politan melting pot of multinationals that come from all over the world to live in this city. Having people from all over the world based here creates a natural and constant demand for all types of local concepts and franchises to open and do so well here.

What are your hopes for The Nice Guy Dubai in 2022 and beyond? My hope is for The Nice Guy to be an essential spot for anyone living in Dubai, but also for all the visitors. Our plan is for The Nice Guy to be a land mark spot in the region and to constantly give our customers what they want.

A COLLECTOR’S EYE

WORDS: SARAH JOSEPH

Leila Heller, founder of Leila Heller Gallery discusses investing in art

Talk us through your approach to curating an art collection. Collecting is definitely an art in itself and one has to be focused on the oeuvre and progression of artists they are collect ing. There should be a theme or connection between the artists in one way or another. Personally, as a woman I collect many female artists or art that has women as the sub ject. Some examples include Shirin Neshat, Marilyn Minter, Soraya Sharghi, Francesca Pasquali, Nan Swid, Mia Fonssagrives Solow, Rachel Lee Hovnanian, Ran Hwang, Mouna Rebeiz, Reza Derakshani, Gulay Semercio glu, Rob Wynn, Melis Buyruk, Hadieh Shafie, Aref Montazeri, and Ana D’Castro. I love abstraction but also texture and my collec tion has largely become based on materiality and what the work is made of. I also have a theme of modernist artists and contemporary

masters such as Damien Hirst, Keith Haring, Andy Warhol, Fernand Leger, Andre Lhote, Claudia Bravo, Marcos Grigorian, Manoucher Yektai, Farideh Lashai, Henry Moore, Gleize, Renoir, Matisse, and more. What advice would you impart to those start ing their art collection? My biggest advice to art collectors is to love the work you buy. It has to be a love at first sight. Then you do your research. Is it in a museum collection, part of biennales or curated shows? This shows the probability of the artist’s success going forward. But first and foremost, it must start with a passion and gut-feeling. What is the most recent piece the gallery has added to its art collection? One of the most re cent works I have added to my collection is Efe Alatin and Melis Buyruk, two Turkish artists who I have added personally to my collec

tion but also to the gallery’s roster of artists. NFTs have rewritten the rules of the game. How has this impacted the art world? They became a craze but like many other trends they have stabilised. Nonetheless, they have now been written into the cannon of art history and definitely speak to this new age of technology. How do you suggest collectors take care of their pieces? In order to keep works of art in perfect condition for years to come, the best is to make sure they are not exposed to extreme temperatures of heat or cold as that can dam age paintings, works on paper, and sculpture. Additionally, any work on paper should be behind a museum glass so that any sunlight does not discolour the paper and any bronze or metal sculptures should not be exposed to extreme humidity as they may rust. When cleaning art a feather duster is a good idea

to gently remove dust from sculptures and paintings. No chemical cleaners or solutions should be used to clean any artwork at home. What value can working with an art consultant have on the curation process? This is a tricky question as there are different types. I know many extremely professional art advisors who are very educated in the field of art and have great experience working in museums, gal leries, or other respectable art venues. Then there are others who call themselves art con sultants without true knowledge of the art world, art history, or the art market, but use their connections to sell art. There are very honest and straightforward art advisors who have a fee structure they discuss with the cli ent in advance and try their best on behalf of their client to negotiate down the price. However, there are many art consultants who

get fees from both sides which isn’t done pro fessionally. It is misleading in every way and prejudicial as they are paid from both sides.

An art consultant can impose their own views on their client, so a client has to be aware and do their own due diligence and research to make sure it is a beneficial purchase. Some times art consultants can be biased in their recommendations due to financial gain. How ever, I do work with many art consultants who are extremely knowledgeable and helpful to both the buyer and the seller. If one would like to hire one, they should make sure to do their research to find a reputable person. What is your approach to art curation for an event? As I have worked in several muse ums, I have been trained as a curator. This experience has been a big help to me curat ing my own shows in the gallery or curating

shows in other venues and locations. I will come up with a concept or idea, and ev ery artist I choose has a connection to the theme. A well curated exhibition is a delight to view and a badly curated exhibition can be a detriment to the exhibition and the artist it features. Every show in my gallery, unless I have a guest curator, is curated by myself and I take great joy in doing so. The place ment is all hand-chosen by me and I try to always find the synergy between each work included. When I work with a collector, I also often curate the works in their home, plac ing the works to create a dialogue between them and ensuring everything flows. Light ing and framing are big components of a well curated exhibition. Works need to have room to breathe and show themselves in all of their glory to create a cohesive presence.

an

Since its establishment in Cologne in 1898, RIMOWA has been the travel wingman of choice due to its resil ience, lightness and stability. For its latest campaign, the brand is celebrating what truly enables lifelong jour neys everywhere: its German engineering.

With the iconic Classic Cabin front and centre, the luxury Maison is returning to its roots. Titled ‘Ingenieurskunst’ – a word that only exists in German which literally translates into “The Art of Engineering,” RIMOWA aims to reveal the true poetry of

the process, materials, and manufacturing that enable its superior functionality.

The campaign takes us on a journey around the world, with kinetic installa tions in various locations giving an ode to RIMOWA’s signature aluminium, and show casing German engineering like the world has never seen it before: as art. Made from 6000 rivets, 180 sheets of anodized aluminium, and shells of the Classic Cabin suitcase, the installations pay homage to the meticulous craftsmanship of the iconic luggage: from the harmony of the raw, chrome, and matte materials used to create the products, to the symphonic relationship between heavy ma chinery and the delicate handcrafting that has been mastered by RIMOWA engineers.

“The topic of German engineering might be considered dry or technical” says Emelie De Vitis, Chief Marketing Officer at RIMOWA. “But as our head engineer describes, ‘it is more like a symphony’. We wanted to show that German engineering –which is at the core of who we are – is truly considered art at RIMOWA.”

The Luxury European Destination

Madrid is the leading desti nation in Europe and with the fall/winter season in full swing, it is the perfect place to visit. With a vibrant and welcoming atmosphere, the capital of Spain has a rich heritage, incredible gastronomy and an iconic cultural scene. But especially, Madrid has a whole host of shopping avenues for visitors to explore: from designer to cus tom-made to vintage treasure hunters. This is exactly why it’s the luxury capital of Europe.

Where to start

Begin your journey in the centre of Madrid which is home to the city’s main shopping areas – namely Gran Vía avenue, Puerta del Sol and streets like Calle Carmen, Calle Pre ciados and Calle Arenal are the perfect places for shopping, even at weekends. Explore both the old heritage spots and the newer areas.

Several streets pay tribute to the city’s tradition of trade including Bordadores (embroiderers), Curtidores (tanners) and Botoneras (button-makers). While they are a reminder of the medieval guilds that first settled in the heart of the city, the tradition continues to be carried on by numerous cen turies-old establishments and studios owned by new artisans. For visitors seeking a newer shopping experience, the Galería Canalejas, a complex between Calle Alcalá and Calle Sevilla has become a hub of luxury in the city. Here you’ll find 40 shops selling fashion, ac cessories, fragrances and fine jewellery by the world’s most prestigious luxury brands.

The Premium

Looking to shop some of the most premium and luxury brands, both international and Spanish? Head to Barrio de Salamanca which

is home to what’s known as Madrid’s Golden Mile. Here you’ll find brands including Calle Claudio Coello, Calle José Ortega y Gasset, Calle Jorge Juan and Calle Serrano. The wide pavements and elegant facades in this neigh bourhood, a benchmark for 21st-century urban quality in Madrid, make a wonderful backdrop for a perfect day spent shopping.

There’s also a plethora of other neigh bourhoods to explore including Las Salesas, which offers a bohemian alternative to Barrio de Salamanca. As well as this, the streets Calle Argensola, Calle Almirante, Calle Conde de Xiquena, Calle Bárbara de Braganza and Calle Fernando VI are the perfect place to enjoy not only a day of shopping but also other activi ties like eating at a trendy restaurant, enjoying a cocktail, visiting an exhibition, listening to music or getting an up-close look at the arti sanal work of young designers and artists.

Made in Madrid

To make your trip extra special, why not opt for a ‘Made in Madrid’ one-of-a-kind take?

Explore the areas of Barrio de Las Letras (Literary Quarter), Madrid de Los Austrias (Hapsburg Madrid), Lavapiés, La Latina, Chueca, Malasaña, Conde Duque, Las Sale sas and Barrio de Salamanca where you’ll find artisans who can tailor-make clothes and other goods just for you.

All of these neighbourhoods are home to establishments that are parts of the city’s living history, such as Matarranz, which spe cialises in bed, bath and table linen, Capas Seseña, Sombrerería Medrano and Guitar ras Ramírez, which has been in business for over 100 years selling capes, hats, guitars and more, all of which goes hand in hand with quality, design, detail and passion. Meanwhile, at Glent visitors are able to find unique, custom-made shoes made out of ma terials like bamboo. In Barrio de las Letras you’ll find Andrés Gallardo who creates cus tom jewellery. All of this and more are prime examples of the Made in Madrid boom.

As well as shopping, immerse yourself in Madrid’s culture, art, heritage, gastronomy, local fashion and more, which all creates an unforgettable experience. For more information visit esmadrid.com

WITH THE FALL/WINTER SEASON IN FULL SWING, MADRID IS THE IDEAL LUXURY ESCAPE FOR TAILOR-MADE SHOPPING ALL ROOTED IN THE CITY’S DEEP TRADITIONS

The Wanderlust

Aman Le Mélézin –Courchevel 1850, France

In the heart of Les Trois Val lées, Aman Le Mélézin offers an exceptional ski experience with all the classic traditions of the finest French châteaux. Ris ing four storeys into the pinescented air above the village of Courchevel 1850, the hotel en joys an enviable setting directly on the Bellecôte Piste.

THE WHY: Every small detail is thought of, with unparalleled ski-in, ski-out access. The spa is also exceptional, with Japa nese accents and a cold plunge to sooth your muscles post a serious ski day.

Clockwise from top left: Amangani, Badrutt’s Palace Hotel, Les Airelle and CampZero

Amangani –Jackson Hole, USA

In the foothills of the Grand Tetons, near the snow-sports paradise of Jackson Hole, Amangani looks out across the mountains and plains of the Snake River Valley. Evoking the pioneering spirit of the Old West in its redwood and sand stone architecture, the allseason retreat invites guests to discover outdoor adventure and the extraordinary natural beauty of Wyoming.

THE WHY: Amangani’s Ad ventures in the Wild experience is the perfect escape for na ture-enthusiasts seeking im mersion in the vast wilderness of Wyoming. Book the 4 night trip and prepared to be amazed by nature.

CampZero –Champoluc, Italy CampZero, from the ice climb ing wall that encases the out side of the striking glass and larch-clad hotel to its treehouse massage room, has been cre ated to blend luxury with ad venture. If you’re accomplished enough, the helipad will allow you to capitalise on the excel lent local heli-skiing.

THE WHY: If you fancy a change to the usual locations.

Badrutt’s Palace Hotel – St Moritz, Switzerland

Badrutt’s Palace doesn’t skimp on extravagance, possessing all the perks one expects from a St. Moritz hotel. The glamor ous alpine hideaway overlooks the ski resort’s famous lake and has been the go-to destination for celebrities and royalty since it first opened in 1896.

THE WHY: The plethora of on-site restaurants, meaning you can hunker down and get cosy in-house every evening.

Les Airelles –Courchevel, France

There is a perfect spot just outside of Courchevel – where the magnificent ski slopes meet the Jardin Alpin – where Airelles is situated. From the outside, this sumptuous hotel looks like an austro-hungarian castle in a fairy tale.

THE WHY: The first ski resort to be established in the TroisVallées, come here to feel a real sense of history and regality.

THE DIRECTORY

A

Accessorize (04) 3399098

Adidas (04) 2325690

Aerin (04) 4098888

Aesop (04) 3293030

Agnès b. (04) 3520391

Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons (04) 3398881

Aigner (04) 4341333

Alberta Ferretti (04) 3398957

Aldo (04) 2328162

Alex Perry +44(0) 2039622362

Alexander McQueen (04) 3398760

Alexander Wang +44(0) 2039622362

Alexandra Rich (04) 4098888

Alexandre Vauthier (04) 409 8888

Alexandre Birman (04) 3951200

Alighieri +44(0) 2039622362

Altuzarra Online at Farfetch Anita Ko +44(0) 2039622362

Amina Muaddi (800) 5383573

Antik Batik (04) 4343080

Areej (04) 3405223

Armani Exchange (04) 3399472

Assouline (04) 4384546

Aquazzura (04) 3882367

Ayesha Depala (04) 5136415

B

Banana Republic (04) 3398462

Balenciaga (04) 3951769

Bally (04) 3231643

Balmain (056) 1883796

Bambah (055) 224 1538

Baruni (050) 4579249

Ba&sh (04) 3854557

BCBG Max Azria (04) 4340627

Benefit Cosmetics (04) 3951978

Blaze Milano (800) 044 5703

Bloomingdale’s Dubai (04) 3505333

Bottega Veneta (04) 3951201

Boucheron (04) 3410039

Boutique1.com (04) 3951200

Burberry (04) 3998243 Bulgari (04) 3308834

Byredo (800) 74676277

BySymphony (04) 3106900

C

Cartier (04) 3951000

Carolina Herrera (04) 3398132

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Chanel (04) 3818400

Chantecaille (04) 4098888

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Charlotte Olympia (04) 3994122

Charlotte Tilbury (04) 4190100

Chaumet (04) 3398758

Chloé (04) 3300700

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Christian Dior (04) 3235322

Christian Louboutin (04) 3990998

Church’s (800) 5383573

City Walk 800 637227

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Cos (04) 4190858

CVC Stones (800) 044 5703

D

Damas (04) 4459468

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Dior (04) 3308739

Diane Cordas (800) 74676277

Dione Lee

Online at Farfetch, Ounass

DKNY (04) 3414343

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Dubai Mall (800) 382246255

Dr Sebagh Online at noon

E

Elie Saab (04) 3951600

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Emilia Wickstead (04) 3106900

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Emporio Armani (04) 3951373

Escada (04) 3279191

Estee Lauder (04) 2995600

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F

Fendi (04) 3399782

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Francesco Russo (800) 5383573

French Connection (04) 2273848

Furla (04) 3410285

G

Galeries Lafayette (04) 3399933

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Gianvitto Rossi (800) 5383573

Giorgio Armani (04) 3951373

Giuseppe Zanotti (04) 3413117

Givenchy (04) 4227073

Globe Trotter Online at matchesfashion Golden Goose (04) 3355218

Gucci (04) 3398576

H

H&M (04) 4190346

Harry Winston (04) 3398972

Harvey Nichols – Dubai (04) 4098888

Hermès (04) 8181390

Hervé Léger 800 382246255

Holland & Barrett (04) 3882401

I & J

Ibn Battuta Mall (04) 3621900

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Jacquemus (04) 3951200

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Jaeger-LeCoultre (04) 3398769

JetSet (04) 3995005

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Jo Malone (04) 4190287

Joseph (04) 8803433

Juicy Couture (04) 3475591

K Karen Millen (04) 3398608

Kate Spade (058) 1030866

Kenneth Cole (04) 3555872

Kenzo (04) 3308455

Khalil Al Sayegh (04) 2276555

Kiehl’s (04) 2886376

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Kurt Geiger (04) 3413883

L

Lacoste (04) 3410575

Lanvin (04) 3555310

Le Labo (04) 4190953

Level Shoes (800) 5383573

Loewe (04) 3253754

Loquet Online at thelabelhunter Louis Vuitton (04) 3950431

Lucas Hugh+44 (0) 2039622362

M

MAC Cosmetics (04) 4190856

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Maison Des Fleurs (04) 2765886

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Mall of the Emirates (04) 4099000

Mango (04) 3414663

Manolo Blahnik (04) 3398122

Marc Jacobs (04) 3951281

Mark Cross +1 8885509675

Marks & Spencer (800) 62637

Maria Tash (04) 8817885

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Marysia (04) 3951200

Massimo Dutti (04) 3399070

Max Mara (04) 3882070

Messika (04) 4255575

Michael Kors (04) 3253491

Missoni (04) 3951400

Miss Selfridge (04) 3398016

Miu Miu (04) 3249276

All Things Mochi (04) 4433451

Moncler (04) 3300280

Moschino (04) 3398079

Montblanc (04) 3304810

Monica Vinader (04) 3951700

N

Namshi.com (800) 626744

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New Look (04) 4340740

Next (04) 4190522

Nike (04) 4342683

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O

O Concept (04) 3455557

Off White (054) 4541546

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Ounass 800 686277

P

Paris Gallery (04) 3308289

Pandora (04) 3235607

Pastels Salon (04) 3883534

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PE Nation (04) 3951200

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Prada (04) 3049700

Proenza Schouler (04) 448344

R

Ralph & Russo (04) 874 8593

Ralph Lauren (04) 3308347

Rami Al Ali (04) 3945607

Reiss (04) 3410515

Rene Caovilla (04) 3253677

Repossi (04) 2771392

River Island (04) 3399415

Rivoli (04) 3413121

Roger Vivier (04) 3475695

Roland Mouret (04) 5519356

Rolex (04) 3627500

S

Saint Laurent (04) 3410113

Salvatore Ferragamo (04) 3411022

Sandro (04) 3951281

Samsonite (04) 3398690

See by Chloé (04) 3951880

Sephora (04) 3951978

Sergio Rossi (04) 3324829

111 Skin (04) 4068800

Smythson (800) 589

Sonia Rykiel (04) 3308464

S*uce (055) 3447270

Stella McCartney (04) 3399179

Sunglass Hut (04) 3995824

Swarovski (04) 3685573

T

Tabitha Simmons

Online at Farfetch

Tata Harper (04) 5245555

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Temperley (04) 3398169

Temperley London (04) 3339943

The Attico (04) 4483444

The Body Shop (04) 3410551

The Nail Pavillion (04) 4229791

The Nail Spa (600) 544001

The Dubai Mall (800) 382246255

The Outlet (04) 4264900

The Row (04) 3951200

Tiffany & Co. (04) 3398350

Tips & Toes (04) 3412020

Tod’s (04) 3413033

Tommy Hilfiger (04) 3410260

Toni&Guy (04) 3303345

Topshop (04) 3399802

Tom Ford (04) 3400347

Tory Burch (04) 3253670

V

Vacheron Constantin (04) 2406323

Valentino (04) 3471890

Van Cleef & Arpels (04) 3398001

Valextra (04) 3308030

Veja (800) 74676277

Versace (04) 3398285

Versace Jewellery (04) 4341570

Victoria Beckham (04) 3951200

W

Wafi Mall (04) 3244555

Whistles (04) 3410951

Wolford (04) 4232832

X, Y & Z

Yves Salomon (04) 5245555

Zadig & Voltaire (04) 3399186

Zara (04) 3308567

Zayan The Label (04) 3440104

Zimmermann (800) 74676277

Dhs POA Tiffany & Co.