Nour al Nimer, Founder of Nimerology discusses her latest tableware collections and her passion for design

Inspired by Founder Nour al Nimer’s love of gatherings with family and friends around the table, Nimerolgy is not just about beautiful homeware pieces, it is about providing a lifestyle and luxury experience for customers and bringing colour and vibrancy into their homes in the form of elegant tableware.

Nimeroloy’s collections bring together a medley of cultures, translated into elegant tableware that will add a sense of personality to your dining table. Whether you’re preparing for an elegant dinner party with friends, a casual family gathering, or a festive season event, Nimerology has a range of designs to suit every need. Al Nimer’s passion for travel can be seen throughout her collections, taking elements from various cultures and bringing them together in a unique combination. Born in Beirut to a Palestinian father and Turkish mother, al Nimer highlights the coming together of cultures and the East meeting the West through her creations. Here we find out more about the latest collections and why we all need a little Nimerology in our homes!

“Gül n’ Eloïse, The Dragon”

Tell us about the vision behind Nimerolgy and where the company is at today. 

My vision for Nimerology from the outset was about the appreciation and accessibility of beautiful things, be it in the collection’s designs, quality of tableware or even the table settings. I wanted to champion the importance of everyday luxury and beauty, to provide my customers with an elevated and functional experience, where form and function truly come together.

What first inspired you to set up your company?

A table is where we gather with loved ones. Where we engage with each other and create memories. I wanted to create high-end luxury chinaware without the

intimidation that often comes with beautifully-made pieces. My collections are to be used every day, an opportunity to share not only food but also to have an enjoyable experience with fine tableware.

Can you tell us about your creative process?

A new collection always begins with research in the form of real-life experiences. Exploring a museum, reading a new book or travelling to a new city, are all experiences that open my mind. With the latest collection “Gül n’ Eloïse, The Dragon”, however, I didn’t have to travel very far!

The process from start to finish is multi-faceted in terms of old and new techniques, taking the best of both worlds. We worked with some of the greatest traditional chinaware makers in the UK and we also used cutting-edge digital software to manipulate the designs and create complex patterns inspired by heritage and tradition.

Once the chinaware designs and the artwork have been established, these two worlds come together to create the Nimerology identity, a place where appreciation of high-end traditional know-how and craftsmanship merge with modern graphic design elements, creating collections that are both modern and steeped in tradition. It is this juxtaposition of old and new, luxurious and functional, that carves out the Nimerology niche.

“Gül n’ Eloïse, The Dragon”

What inspires you the most?

As a designer, I am compelled by my love of beautiful things, personal style expression, and willingness to enjoy the present.

What are you trying to bring to your customers with your collections?

The objective of my tableware collections is to help set the stage for self-expression. I like to encourage my clients to not be afraid to make their tableware personal by mixing and matching different collections. I always tell my customers to have items in their homes that put a smile on their faces every time they use them. It does not have to be all about patterns or bold designs; they can have discreet and understated pieces in a minimalist style that are equally beautiful. The key is to find pieces that provoke a feeling inside them. Fresh flowers are the ultimate finishing touch will always be fresh flowers. The pleasure and the loveliness of flowers are their ephemerality and their unique ability to create your chosen atmosphere. Life is short, and there is nothing I encourage more than making each moment a special occasion. Nothing is too fancy for the present, and “formal” tableware is perfectly suited to ignite sparkles to your Monday night dinner.

“Gül n’ Eloïse, The Dragon”

What do you think is the impact of having creative, artistic objects as part of our everyday life?

I believe that beauty nourishes the soul. When we interact with well-designed products there is a sense of appreciation and joy, and it goes some way in improving our overall quality of life.

What can you tell us about your latest collections?

A modern twist on classical symbology, our new series “Gül n’ Eloïse, The Dragon” combines motifs of dragons and roses (güls, in Turkish), which typically adorn Ottoman-era manuscripts, illuminations, textiles and porcelain. The dragon image is a quintessential Chinese motif in the blue-and-white porcelain of the Ming dynasty, which was later adapted by the Ottoman Empire in the 16th century. It was generally portrayed by large, saw-edged leaves to create the famous Saz style. In the East, dragons were considered spiritual beings who chased evil entities and rain and were therefore also depicted flying amongst clouds. Nimerology subverts this historical tradition by juxtaposing the mythical creature against floating, multi-coloured dots and roses.

Roses have come to epitomise Ottoman Turkish art. The flower signalled the coming of spring and has influenced Turkish culture throughout the ages, playing a special role in the culinary arts, fragrance, poetry and literature. Veering away from classical blue-and-white porcelain traditions, Nimerology’s new china collection is imbued with a vibrant, kaleidoscopic colour palette.

I love the image of the dragon recontextualized as a powerful, feminine figure, which we baptized Eloise. The mythical figure evokes strength and bravery but with a soft side, represented here through the colours we selected.

“Gül n’ Eloïse, The Dragon”

Can you share with us a little about the personalisation your offer with your products?

The customisation of our tableware is a service we are proud to offer. Our exclusive clients enjoy the creation of bespoke collections showcasing their unique style and taste within their homes, restaurants or hotels. Whether it is creating a design from scratch or tweaking readymade drawings, we strive to meet their expectations to create a uniquely personal collection.

What is something you would still like to achieve with your brand?

We have so much more to do. I want to believe that we are just getting started!

Moodboard

Where is your favourite place to travel?

Turkey, I have yet to explore so many more places there.

Who would you invite to your ultimate dinner party and which collections of tableware would you use?

It is often said that you shouldn’t meet your heroes, as imagination most often trumps reality. That said, for my ultimate dinner party, I would invite Louise Bourgeois, Amy Winehouse, Martha Stewart, Etel Adnan, Yayoi Kusama and Jane Fonda. I would be captivated by the combination of personalities. Dragons and roses seem particularly fitting for this group and so I would decorate the table with the “Gül n’ Eloïse, The Dragon” collection.

What is the professional motto you live by?

Rome wasn’t built in a day.

Moodboard

When or where are you in your most creative state of mind?

My collections are always personal and connected to my memories. I am inspired by the experiences of my travel and the discovery of new cultures. I also have an interest in history and research, which is important to me. Museum visits often trigger my inspiration in the early stage of my new projects.

What else is coming up for the rest of the year?

We are adding new items to our “I’m Off to Join the Circus” collection. The multiple design elements of the collection make it a joy to mix and match. You could create a different setup every day of the week and people really love that about it.

How would you describe Nimerology in one word?

Fun.

We find out more about the Lelievre Prints featured on some of the ready-to-wear pieces.

Dior’s Spring Summer Spring 2023 Ready-to-Wear womenswear collection recently debuted in Paris.

Designed by Maria Grazia Chiuri the collection features elegant Lelievre Prints.

The floral patterns were proposed by Tassinari & Chatel, an old French House based in Lyon whose textiles are among the most sumptuous, refined and sought-after in the world.

© Melinda Triana

The first pattern “Brocade Sown with Flowers” which was first created in 1861 featured light delicate floral motifs set against a solid black background.

The second design is the “Bird of Paradise Brocade”. Inspired by Japanism an artistic movement in France between 1860 and 1890, the pattern features an elegant arrangement of birds and butterflies.

© Melinda Triana

For the Spring/Summer 2023 ready-to-wear collection these two patterns were re-editioned on a selection of garments.

See more in the video below:

Mohamed Al Banna has had entrepreneurial spirit since he was a child. Born and raised in the United Arab Emirates, he expressed his forward-thinking business side at just 17 when he invested in a car to make money, along with his best friend and his brother.

At that time, he didn’t know this was an entrepreneurial business move, but it was a sign of what was to come. After graduating from University in Dubai, Al Banna began his career as a banker at RAK Bank, selling credit cards to customers. It was then that he realised that the way to navigate successfully in life was to work smart, not simply work hard, and he began to understand the importance of building strong relationships and gaining the trust of others. Despite being one of the most challenging, this was also one of the greatest experiences in his life that would prepare him for the future. 

After leaving the bank to work for a finance company, Al Banna became the youngest team leader in the company, and he realised that he was born for sales. He loved people, networking and building good relationships. At this point, he started to see life differently and realised he could fulfil his full potential by becoming a businessman. He believed that the secret to a successful business was to have the right people around him, as well as being human and honest. He decided to open a consultancy company to assist those who wanted to buy properties in the UAE. He would handle the logistical processes for them and charge a fee for his services. This was the beginning of his entrepreneurial journey and although there have been many ups and downs along the way, today he is the founder of a network of successful companies across many different sectors. Here, we find out more about Mohamed’s business journey, his most recent venture into the virtual world and the opportunities it can bring.

Can you share the beginning of your journey as an entrepreneur?

In 2008 I owned around twelve properties with my business partner as we used to buy properties together and flip them to make money. This was when the global financial crisis happened and it became scary as no one knew what was going to happen, so I wanted to come up with a plan. I spoke to my best friend (the same one that I bought the car with when I was 17), and we decided to open a restaurant. My thought process was that even if there is a crisis, everyone still needs to eat and drink. So, we invested in a restaurant concept together. The greatest part was that we made it happen, but the challenging part was that we did not assign the right people to the right jobs and unfortunately, we didn’t have the success we anticipated.

After six months, we decided to sell and exit the business and we lost a lot of money. It was a big learning curve and yes, it was a setback, but you must keep trying. A few months later, my best friend and his family were inspired by the restaurant, and they came up with their own concept and invited me to be involved. Of course, I said yes because we made a deal when we were kids that we would take on every business opportunity together. It was a great success and we started to make our money back within the first year. It helped my cash flow and allowed me and my friend to recover from the previous loss. This was a challenging period, which some might call failure, but for me, it was more of a challenge that we turned into success.

In 2016, I was selected to work as a senior director and decided that I wanted to create a platform to set expectations for companies that were entering the UAE. Dubai is an amazing hub, and everyone wants to bring their businesses here, but there is a challenging part that they don’t know about. People think they will come to Dubai and invest one million dollars and get ten million dollars back within a year. They think they can introduce a product or service, start selling it and immediately make money, but this is not often the case. I wanted to be that person who advises them on what they can expect because there are many things they will need to do to be successful. And because I had done it myself and failed, I could use my experience to advise others, as well as help them with the logistical processes.

Let’s say you come to the UAE with a product or service that you feel has great potential. You have two options: the first is that you do everything alone, but in my opinion, this is a risky option. The second is that you work with a strategic partner who has the experience, is trusted, and has a great network. This is where I come in; I will act as that strategic partner throughout the process to assist and make life easier for the business owner.  

Tell us about LEAD ventures and the vision of the company.

My vision was to create a one-stop-station for businesses coming from abroad. LEAD Ventures will assist with all aspects of the business from company formation, to marketing and PR, to business development and sales. We will be there through every step of the process and continue to be there after the company has formed. I always say that your network is your net worth and contacts mean contracts and we will also utilise our network to help the growth of the business.

I work closely with His Highness Sheikh Juma Bin Maktoum Juma Al Maktoum, who is a strategic partner which is a great pillar for new businesses in the UAE. One of the services we offer within our platform is the support of His Highness with certain businesses that have the vision of the UAE as part of their strategy. For these businesses, he will give his approval and support and as a senior advisor, I will take this forward and help with the development of the business. 

Once we set up your business, we will handle the PR and marketing strategy to put the spotlight on the person and the vision of the company. And of course, when you are seen to be aligned with successful people, you will immediately gain trust from others. We assist with anything related to your business plan and market research and we will also be available to help with business development. This is our unique selling point. Of course, we cannot guarantee success, but we will only work with companies that we think will be successful, based on our experience and knowledge. 

We know you have already expanded the company – what can you tell us about that?

My vision for LEAD Ventures was to be a one-stop-station for all industries. Over the past few years, a group of companies has been growing under LEAD Ventures and I want to continue this growth to be present in all relevant industries. My method is not to recruit people or outsource projects but to strategically connect and partner with the right people and therefore grow into a successful partnership. For example, one of the companies YMJ, an events company, was developed with partners that I spent time searching for in the market. I found the right people to work with and within a year and a half, we are competing with big names in the industry. So I am not just supporting companies coming to the UAE, if there is something that I really believe in, I will give you my services and investment and we will go into business together. 

Can you tell us about Connect LEAD?

Connect LEAD is a consultancy arm of the company that I set up after COVID-19 to make it easier to help those businesses who do not want to invest in our full services. With Connect LEAD, we again connect with businesses wanting to come to the UAE but we offer smaller packages to strategically fulfil their needs. We can assist with a three-month trial and test the waters with the business. I will take the product or service and instead of making initial investments we will study the market in real-time and see what the reaction is from potential clients. In this way, we can get feedback before any large investment is made and we can make the decision about whether to continue or not. I would love someone to do this for me if I was entering a new market with a new idea and I want to help others do the same. On the other hand, if I feel there is something I cannot do, I am honest and transparent about that and I tell them they will lose their money. I would never take advantage. 

What is the plan moving forward?

My vision is to offer 360 services. This means I will have a company in each sector, be it real estate, events, art, education, hospitality etc., my vision is to cover all in one place. We want a person or business to be able to utilise my services and lower their costs by coming to me for all their requirements. We are planning to launch Venture Capital which will allow us to build our portfolio of money and invest in start-up companies. 

I also have a consultancy side to my business which is more of a passion where I am working with a university as a mentor, and this is something I would like to do more of. I enjoy sharing my experiences and knowledge and being a mentor to students who have great ideas. I want to inspire others and I truly believe that everything we do in the world is connected and will come back around. 

What do you have coming up in the near future?

In October 2022 I will be launching Belvedere Art Space in DIFC. It is a gallery that I am opening along with my two partners. We want to turn it into a hub where people can be educated on art, how to turn art into NFTs and everything around that subject. We want to build a community around this and bring opportunities to artists both locally and internationally and develop their artworks into NFTs. We are also working with members of the royal family and showcasing their artwork and these are the kinds of initiatives I want to explore with this space. 

Speaking of the virtual world, we know you have started exploring new opportunities in this sector – tell us about that.

I had been thinking of starting something related to crypto and NFTs for some time, but I didn’t understand that world. I felt there was a gap in the market to educate people on NFTs – what to invest in, how to create their own wallet etc. and I wanted to do something even bigger than that. This is the ‘why’ behind my project Crypto Arabs, but I needed to find the right people who believed in my vision. I found a fantastic partner and we began working together. 

I knew I wanted to educate people and I learned that with any NFT project you must create a story and you have to create utilities (benefits). Once we had our team, we had to decide on a character for our NFTs. We wanted to create something emotional. I thought of my friend who is the owner of “Shaabiat Al Cartoon”, a 16-year-old cartoon that as Emiratis we watch every Ramadan. We decided to turn the characters of this cartoon into NFTs and immediately I knew it was a great idea. With this project, I want to build a community which will be there for many, many years. The platform brings interesting and successful people together in unique circumstances. The next step will be to create more utilities. The platform will enable us to educate people and bring this community together through monthly masterclasses for those who own our NFTs. These digital tokens are the tickets to the membership to be in the community. This is the greatest utility as it will open up access to people who are experts in their field.

What is your opinion on NFTs – long-term investment or a fad?

What I believe is long-lasting is the community created around NFTs and the opportunities that it provides and that is what we are trying to offer. You are not just buying something digital, you are paying money to become part of a community to learn and meet like-minded owners of the NFTs. This gives you the option to firstly make friends, and talk to people you may not have ever been able to talk to otherwise and then from this, you can benefit from the opportunities of meeting people within this network. 

And finally, we are working with The Rashid Center for People of Determination as our strategic partner meaning that part of the money made from the sale of the NFTs will go to the Center to help support their work and the people there. We will be announcing something very exciting around this soon. 

What is the plan moving forward with this company?

Once all of the NFTs have sold, if someone wants to be part of this community, they will have to bid to buy the NFT from another owner in order to join the community and that is how our NFT owners will make their money. It’s not just about buying the cartoon; it’s about being part of the community. I am now in the process of expanding our consultancy services to educate people on launching their own businesses related to the metaverse or NFTs. If we have experience and the right people, then I believe we can educate others and that is what we plan to do with the consultancy services. 

How do you manage your time?

I work very smart. I know how to manage and delegate and I have the right people around me. I book slots for each part of the business, and I also handle everything myself without my assistant. This allows me to keep on top of my time, manage everything well and create time for the things that I feel are a priority. 

Who or what inspires you?

When it comes to family, my father is the person that inspires me. He was the motivation for me to be who I am today. He failed many times and picked himself up and I believe I learnt from that. 

Secondly, I am inspired by the author Simon Sinek. He wrote a book called “Start With Why” and this is the method that I live by when it comes to business. I always start with the ‘why’ behind everything. I like to listen to his books and get inspired by them.  

What do you say no to?

At the end of 2021, I learned how to say no. Because I’m working in a platform where every day, I receive something amazing, it can be very hard to say no. I used to say yes to lots of things, but now I try to say no until I finish what I’m already working on. Right now, I have enough, so I need to say no! But if I can do something within my means then I will find a way to assign it to one of my businesses or delegate it to one of my team. I also believe greatly in partnerships, so if there is something that I can’t do, I will hand it over to one of my partners and that is why I have lots of amazing partners that I enjoy working with. 

What is the professional motto that you live by?

When it comes to business, people are always saying “the sky is the limit”, for me I say, “the sky is just the start.” I don’t see limits, I dream big, and I believe that it will happen. 

Secondly, “the more you give, the more you get in life”. I always try to give positively to others and eventually it will come back around. 

Why transparency and legitimacy of diamonds and gemstones is the industry’s trend that won’t go away.

Traceability has become one of the most talked about topics in the jewellery industry today. More than just a trend, customers are demanding to have full transparency on the origin and journey of the stones in their jewellery pieces, and for the industry’s key players, it is a win or lose situation, with many consumers already beginning to shun brands that do not offer the openness they are looking for around gemstones and diamonds.

For years the ethical (or not so ethical) sourcing of rare stones has been a huge topic of debate around the world. With many brands unable to share the full journey of gemstones and diamonds from the source to the finished piece for many years. Historically it has been difficult to trace the source of stones due to a corrupt industry in many areas of the world, as well as it being logistically a very complicated process. Today, customers are savvier and more demanding than ever which puts pressure on brands to go the extra mile to please them. This combined with new legislation in many countries requiring companies to reveal where their gems have come from has been a game-changer in the industry. As in many other areas of their lives, customers want to understand where their purchases come from and to know that they are not investing in something that has negative implications on the planet or human beings.

Tiffany & Co.

The journey of a stone or diamond is far from a simple one. Often stones will pass through many countries and owners before reaching their final destination. This creates a long chain of events that, especially in war tone countries, is not always easy to track. Over the past few decades, we have begun to see much more clarity around the origins of diamonds and gemstones used by global jewellers in the hope to keep up with the demands of customers and wish to make the world a safer place for all.

Diamond source initiative caseline display

Much of this has been thanks to newly developed advanced technology that has allowed the big players to offer a fully-automated and verifiable tracking of stones throughout the process. One of those is Tiffany & Co. who in 2020 became the first global luxury jeweller to disclose all of the countries where their sourced, individually registered diamonds of .18 carats and larger are crafted. The Diamond Craft Journey is one of the most advanced systems in the world and allows the stones to be tracked from the moment they are unearthed it to the moment they land on your finger. “All of our rough diamonds are sourced either directly from a known mine or from a supplier with a limited number of known mines. We encourage high standards in the mining industry to protect human rights and ecologically sensitive lands.” The brand explains on its website. Tiffany is also dedicated to giving back to those communities where the diamonds are found and improving their local economies with multi-million dollar investments in the local infrastructure. Not only does the Diamond Craft Journey ensure transparency it guarantees the quality of the stones. “We carefully check each diamond to make sure it meets Tiffany’s high standards of cut, clarity, carat and colour. If anything takes away from the beauty of the stone, we won’t accept it.” Explains Hanna Jee, Diamond Grader, Tiffany & Co.

Tiffany & Co. Rare Fancy Color Diamonds.

And the same applies to jewellers specialising in gemstones, which can often be even more difficult to track than diamonds due to their multiple locations and conditions around the world. At Bulgari, this is something that is continually being focused on and improved. The Italian jeweller is a certified member of the Responsible Jewellery Council; the world’s leading sustainability standard-setting organisation for the jewellery and watch industry. By following the standards set out by the council Bulgari is able to provide clients with the necessary information on the journey of their stones from mining to the store, and guarantee that it is managed responsibly. Bulgari is also a member of the Colored Gemstones Working Group which is facilitated by The Dragonfly Initiative, and brings together major brands in the jewellery industry with the common goal to develop tools and methods to enable a transparent and responsible supply chain for coloured gemstones. The brand is working with new technologies and practices to continuously develop its responsible sourcing methods and guarantee customer’s peace of mind when purchasing jewellery items.

But the work doesn’t just come down to the brands themselves. In 2007 Gemfields was founded as a mining company that would specialise in the transparent and legitimate sourcing of gemstones. Specialising in coloured gemstones Gemfields set out to change the industry for the better, working with international jewellers to provide the most ethically sourced rubies and emeralds. Over the years Gemfields has developed with the industry and new technology has been able to offer even more accurate tracing of stones and make the process a much more seamless one. Today, Gemfields oversee the responsible mining and marketing of coloured gemstones from some of the world’s finest gemstone deposits, while ensuring they benefit as many citizens as possible. As the operator of some of the world’s biggest mines, it is involved in many of the most significant findings and selling of stones today. But there is still much to be done. We talk to Elena Basaglia, Gemmologist, at Gemfields to find out more.

Elena Basaglia Gemmologist at Gemfields

As a gemmologist how do you strive to ensure full transparency of every gem throughout the supply chain? 

At Gemfields, we have always believed coloured gemstones should be mined and marketed with three key values in mind – transparency, legitimacy, and integrity. We see ourselves as custodians of our host nations’ resources and believe it is our duty to get the best prices for Mozambican rubies and Zambian emeralds so that we can funnel back the maximum proceeds to these countries of origin.

We sell our rough gemstones through private auctions, to which we invite the biggest names in the coloured gemstone world. This pioneering auction platform allows transparent and fair trading of coloured gemstones, with the market setting prices and vetted buyers allowed to inspect the gems for themselves before placing their bids. Most importantly, the process provides full transparency to the host countries’ governments, whose representatives attend and observe the entire auction process, viewing sales figures and calculating taxes due to host economies. This platform enables us to follow through on our commitment to offering complete transparency to host nations.

We are also always advocating for improvements to the wider coloured gemstone and jewellery sector. Whether working with international non-profits and industry associations or with brands in the Coloured Gemstones Working Group, we have been tireless in our efforts to help develop pioneering industry standards and initiatives to provide open-access tools, educational materials, and other resources to the industry. We feel this helps to improve supply-chain transparency and good practice.

How do you ensure that the partners you work with uphold the same level of commitment? 

We are committed to working with brands and industry partners to standardise strong, transparent practices across the sector. We carry out thorough supplier compliance due diligence process and audit this periodically. We always try to lead by example, by upholding our own high standards. We also take the time to vet every bidder at our closed auctions to ensure they share our values of responsible practice before they are invited to attend.

Pits and Surrounding Landscape MRM Mozambique

What are some of the new developments you are working on currently? 

In 2017, we pioneered the use of nanoparticles in our higher-quality emeralds, working alongside the Gübelin laboratory of Switzerland. For the first time, buyers in decades to come will be able to know which mine the emerald they purchased originated from.

This nanoparticle technology works together with Gübelin’s ‘Provenance Proof’ blockchain, in which data for each gemstone is checked meticulously, using sophisticated algorithms, and then entered on a network of distributed digital ledgers. This is an efficient and secure alternative to an unreliable paper trail, with access to this information only granted to the gemstone’s current owner.

Suitable for both emeralds and rubies, the blockchain provides peace of mind by enabling traceability and seamless documentation along every stage of the value chain from the mine to the final customer.

In your opinion how is the jewellery industry changing and what are customers looking for from their stones and jewels today? 

Increased demand for coloured gemstones has mainly been a response to consumers feeling more confident about how our gems are mined and knowing there is a reliable and regular supply of responsibly sourced coloured gemstones.

Jewellery is often bought to reflect a celebration or milestone, and therefore holds great sentiment and pride. The industry is rightly undergoing heightened supply chain scrutiny with consumers increasingly asking for certificates of origin. This has required retailers to step up in terms of their knowledge and the documentation they provide.

At an industry level, traceability is key to ensuring that only like-minded businesses are involved in a transaction. At a consumer level, it helps customers to better understand their gems. Knowing what a gem’s journey has been before it was set in a piece of jewellery gives consumers confidence and adds a rich layer to the storytelling around it, which is useful for marketing.

Gemfields has always been a pioneering company, championing responsible mining and marketing of coloured gemstones. We continually strive to be at the forefront of developments across the industry.

Gemfields

Which stones are particularly difficult to work with in terms of their traceability? 

Traceability information is mostly recorded for larger single gemstones and being able to show a customer the piece of rough from which a gem originates brings with it a great sense of pride for a lapidary. The ability to provide such traceability is achievable with the blockchain system that Gemfields uses. It’s worth noting that, when working with a parcel of minute rough gems to produce small-sized pavé-style gems, the challenge becomes quite obvious!

With responsible sourcing receiving ever more attention and becoming increasingly important to consumers, we believe gemstone provenance and Gemfields’ ability to demonstrate its responsible practices will help us to stand out from others when it comes to choosing coloured gemstones.

This issue is about innovation and technology – how is technology aiding Gemfields’ ability to be more transparent with consumers? 

Our ruby sort-house in Mozambique and our proprietary coloured gemstone grading systems, which have revolutionised the coloured gemstone trading mechanism, are just two examples of how we, as a pioneering company, seek industry-leading solutions using state-of-the-art technology.

More recently we introduced an alternative gemstone auction format and online bidding platform in response to the restrictions on movement that we saw during the pandemic. We always strive to improve awareness and delivery of responsibly sourced African-coloured gemstones all the way from mine operations through to the end consumer, while having a positive impact on the countries of origin.

Gübelin Gem Lab’s advances in blockchain technology have given a huge boost to this ambition by providing a secure solution for proving the provenance of gemstones – the only way to be sure of exactly how a gemstone changes hands throughout its journey.

We are pleased to have customers who care as passionately as we do about where their gemstones come from, and by adopting Provenance Proof Blockchain, we are able to give them the certainty that they deserve.

What does sustainability mean at Gemfields? 

At Gemfields, our approach to sustainability can be summed up in two words: responsible sourcing. This lies at the heart of our business and means implementing industry-leading policies and practices across operations, transparency in our auction sales process, playing an active role in working groups to modernise the sector, and creating projects to improve health, education and livelihoods for the communities around our mines and supporting conservation efforts to protect Africa’s wildlife and biodiversity.

We guarantee full transparency throughout the auction sales process and that all taxes and royalties will be repatriated to host countries, with full visibility provided to government representatives, who attend our auctions and receive full disclosure of the revenues and taxes due.

In July 2021, we pioneered the ‘G-Factor for Natural Resources’, a new measure promoting greater transparency about the percentage of a nation’s natural resource wealth that is shared with the host government. We published our full figures and encouraged other mining companies to do the same.

What in your opinion is the future of the gemstone industry? 

This year, our ruby and emerald auctions have seen record-breaking results – our auction revenue in the first half of 2022 stands at USD 181 million versus our prior first-half record of USD 93 million, set in 2018. While we would caution that second-half revenues are unlikely to match the remarkable first half, the results underscore the extent of the step-change being experienced in the market.

We expect vibrant consumer interest to continue, fuelling further growth in the sector. As an appreciation of their beauty, rarity and value grows, it is likely that demand for emeralds, rubies and sapphires will too.

Consumers are becoming increasingly interested in the journey a gemstone has taken before reaching their hands, and mining companies are at the beginning of this journey. Our use of blockchain will allow consumers to experience each of these steps virtually, taking in the different locations and workshops the gem has passed through.

What is your current favourite stone? 

Green is my colour, so it must be an emerald! I get lost for hours when looking inside an emerald, taking in its natural features and the magical world created within it. It’s quite staggering to think it was formed over 500 million years ago by the mesmerising work of Mother Nature!

Colour plays an important role in our lives, and I feel that we are drawn to different colours from day to day, which is refreshing. Gemstones are utterly unique, just like each one of us!

Whichever gemstone you select, it is important to buy from a trusted source in order to have full confidence that it has been sourced responsibly and that it is of the quality described. If it is a significant gemstone that you are purchasing, then you’ll need transparency about any treatments it has received – it should be accompanied by a certificate from a recognised, independent gemmological laboratory.

All major jewellery brands have a dedicated team of gemmologists and quality control departments who will be able to provide you with this peace of mind.

Seong Hyun Lee, President of Samsung Gulf Electronics discusses the benefits of integrating technology into every aspect of our lives

As technology develops, it is becoming more and more integrated into every element of our lives. Leading companies are looking for new ways to make our lifestyles not only easier but to offer us more options that are easily accessible from the palm of our hands. One company that is striving to offer technological alternatives for every element of life is Samsung. Over the past years, Samsung has been developing its systems to increase its level of bespoke processes to please even the most demanding of consumers. Going beyond your mobile phone or Smart TV, the Samsung SmartThings concept has entered the realm of luxury living, allowing users to create personalised choices within all elements of their homes. Beyond simply your electronics, this new system will help them live a seamless, stress-free and more sustainable life. As technology begins to flow through every aspect of our day-to-day experiences, we realise that it is becoming a necessity rather than a luxury. To tell us more, we talk to Seong Hyun Lee, President of Samsung Gulf Electronics.

Seong Hyun Lee, President of Samsung Gulf Electronics

How is Samsung tapping into luxury and personalised consumer technology? 

Our Bespoke design ethos prioritises helping users create personalised homes that truly reflect their tastes and aesthetics, to the end of providing evolved home life experiences. Together, the Bespoke Home 2022 lineup offers a vast array of colour and design options, across 20 categories so users can have new and different ways to express their evolving tastes, as well as have more options for home decoration.

In addition, our Galaxy Z series further enhances customer experiences through the Galaxy Z Flip4 Bespoke Edition, because one’s style and taste continue to evolve. Ultimately, we hope to empower users everywhere to be able to focus less on daily household tasks and more on living each moment more fully.

Can you tell us what the SmartThings concept means for the company and your consumers? 

SmartThings presents a fully-integrated home experience that connects not only Samsung products and services but also third-party devices such as lighting and window blinds to cater to individual lifestyles. SmartThings also helps consumers live a more sustainable life by suggesting ways users can save energy around the house by analysing energy usage patterns and more.

How can Samsung’s innovations help consumers to live a smarter life overall?

Every day, Samsung engineers and product planners work together to create products that are as unique as they are innovative and ground-breaking. Our mission is highly ambitious: to introduce new ideas and advancements in technology while raising the bar, year after year. Our Bespoke edition, for example, answers to the growing demand as users seek out more and more upgrades that are centred around personalised viewing experiences, design, and connectivity.

What can you share with us about Samsung’s drive to become a more sustainable company?

Our vision for a smarter life and a sustainable future has been integrated into our product categories across SmartThings, an intelligently connected ecosystem designed to protect the environment, support sustainable lifestyles, and empower customers to take control of their world. As such, our vision aims to offer an unmatched multi-device experience that enables users to express themselves fully.

How are AI systems being integrated into the company’s products?

We inherently believe customers deserve innovative new solutions in convenience, efficiency, and sustainability and as a result, we are always pushing ambitious new technologies that boost all three in our household appliances to make daily life more carefree. This is very much felt in our AI offerings. Looking at AI Energy Mode, a power-saving feature from Samsung’s SmartThings Energy is exactly this kind of solution. Using AI-enhanced systems aimed at creating the holistic home of the future today, with SmartThings analysing energy consumption and suggesting methods to conserve energy.

What are some of the innovations you are currently working on as a business that you can share with us?

Firstly, I wish to share how just last week, Samsung received two Golds, five Silvers and one Bronze awards, as well as 34 Finalists for innovative design solutions that elevate consumer lifestyles and experience at the International Design Excellence Awards 2022 (IDEA). We are very proud of the recognition of our product categories at the IDEA, which is one of the world’s most prestigious design awards programs. What’s more, our innovations never stop, we are very happy to be introducing our Galaxy Z series, next to the all-new Neo QLED 8K and Odyssey ARK.

Is there anything you are particularly excited about at the moment that the company is working on?

We are very proud to bolster a new environmental strategy. As such, our Vision stands to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, advance energy and resource-efficient products to empower consumers for sustainable living, and finally to invest in and develop innovative technologies for a better planet. We recently also announced our sustainability platform for mobile communications titled ‘Galaxy for the Planet’, which aims to advance green solutions in the mobile spectrum by 2025, from hardware to software, all the way to product packaging. Stay tuned for many more initiatives to come.

How have developing technologies over the past few years aided the company’s development?

We are staying focused on research and development (R&D) by navigating and testing emerging technologies with a user-centric lens. We study emerging social, cultural and technological trends across the world and quickly try out our research in the market. As a result, we derive insights to answer real human needs and maximize the potential of our engineering capabilities, ultimately creating valuable technology.

What does Samsung do to ensure it stays ahead of competitors or remains up to date with what’s happening in the sector as things continue to move so fast? 

We are seeing a once-in-a-lifetime shift in how mainstream culture, from professional to personal life, is perceived. Driven by the younger generations and adapted by all, today’s consumers are ditching the one-size-fits-all motif in favour of unique and custom experiences. We constantly listen to feedback from our consumers and update our devices to meet the needs of our users. While we don’t currently have anything to share on future products, we are committed to bringing Samsung users even more exciting and ground-breaking innovations.

What can you tell us about Samsung in the Middle East? 

We believe that innovation and growth are driven by an inclusive culture and a diverse workforce. We are building a better tomorrow for our customers and partners in the region. That includes building awareness to broaden perspectives, reframing mindsets to enhance objectivity, and practising inclusion to unlock innovation.

What are some of the trends in technology currently that are very exciting?

The demand for foldables continues to grow every year as Samsung takes these devices to mainstream audiences worldwide. Forecasts by analysts continue to grow with Strategy Analytics predicting foldable smartphone sales to reach 75 million by 2025. Next to that is our continuous commitment to bringing high customisation experiences to all our users, exemplified in our Bespoke category. The foldable Galaxy Bespoke Edition is an exclusive device customisation experience for users to create devices that are uniquely theirs. We want to create new technology that not only surpasses the expectations of what is possible but is available to as many people as possible. In fact, we created the first mainstream foldable devices and remain the market leader, from software to hardware to design to sales.

As the automotive industry continues to strive towards a more sustainable, planet-friendly future, brands are transforming their business models to accommodate the developing needs of consumers and also ensure they are working in the most resourceful way that also helps to preserve our planet.

One of those is the BMW Group which set out ambitious sustainability goals to drive forward the company’s transformation. The German brand is working towards the goal of achieving climate neutrality by 2050, something that can be achieved by recycling raw materials in a circular economy to achieve the best possible resource efficiency.

“We are consistently driving the issue of sustainability with our innovations,” says Thomas Becker, Head of Sustainability and Mobility at the BMW Group. “The current raw materials debate also validates our drive towards a circular economy. We want to make the best possible use of the raw materials in our end-of-life vehicles and recycle them in the production of new vehicles. We will continue to reduce CO2 emissions and conserve natural resources through maximum energy and raw material efficiency.” In the short term, the vehicle manufacturer is working towards targets of reducing its CO2 emissions by 40 per cent per vehicle by 2030 across the entire value chain, compared to 2019 values. One of the key steps in improving the environmental impact of the industry is to focus on the cars themselves.

The BMW Group is consistently driving forward the electrification of its entire fleet. By 2030, at least one in two cars sold by the BMW Group is to be fully electric and the MINI and Rolls-Royce Motor Cars brands will offer only fully electric vehicles from the beginning of the next decade. “However, sustainability means much more for the BMW Group than merely building and selling electrically powered vehicles,” adds Becker. “Only a comprehensive sustainability approach from resource to recycling actually achieves a bottom-line reduction of CO2 emissions.”

With the increased switch to electric engines, especially in city cars, this transformation is imminent. But there are more ways to reduce carbon footprint and lessen the impact the industry is having. An average of almost 30 per cent of BMW Group vehicles are already made from recycled and reused materials today, so-called “secondary raw materials”. In the longer term, the “Secondary First” approach aims to increase this figure to 50 per cent. CO2 savings in the supply chain are becoming enormously important as e-mobility ramps up, especially in view of the energy-intensive production of high-voltage batteries. With that in mind, the BMW Group aims to buck the trend by reducing CO2 emissions in the supply chain by 20 per cent by 2030, compared to 2019 values, and by as much as 80 per cent in production. The Group’s network is already carbon net-neutral thanks to selected offsetting initiatives.

These initiatives include using “Green Steel” which will reduce CO2 emissions by up to 95 per cent. The Group has also been sourcing aluminium from the UAE since February 2021 using electricity generated from solar energy. From 2024 onwards, all cast aluminium wheels for the BMW and MINI brands will also be produced using only green electricity. Carbon dioxide emissions are also being continuously reduced in the steel supply chain. From 2025 onwards, the BMW Group will purchase CO2 -reduced steel that is produced not using fossil-based raw materials such as coal but instead using natural gas or hydrogen and green electricity. Making the steel in this way reduces CO2 emissions by up to 95 per cent. This will reduce CO2 emissions by up to 400,000 tonnes per year.

The brand is also using innovative recycling processes as the basis for an effective circular economy. By reusing and recycling materials from up to 10,000 used cars every year, materials are put back into the production process and given a second life. The vehicles are dismantled in a standardised process that focuses on identifying reusable components as well as materials that are suitable for recycling. Innovative methods are also used to recycle high-voltage batteries from electrified vehicles.

And finally, when it comes to waste, the brand has established closed loops for steel and aluminium between its production sites and suppliers. As a result, around 70 per cent of the steel waste from the pressing plants and the aluminium residues are reused through a direct circular economy. The Group has reduced CO2 emissions attributable to vehicle production by more than 70 per cent since 2006 and all plants in the international production network have been CO2 neutral since 2021. Alongside this, water consumption and waste generation have also been continuously reduced.

While these are small steps by one company, they are giant leaps in innovation, environmental processes and the protection of our planet.

Lebanese-British actress Razane Jammal has been revealed as the new ambassador of Dior women’s collections in the Middle East.

With her magnetic aura, Jammal illuminates the latest creations dreamt up by Maria Grazia Chiuri.

New Dior Ambassador – Razane Jammal (c) Ali Kalyoncu

In new images, the actress can be seen wearing the Fall/Winter 2022 Dior Women’s collection, photographed by Ali Kalyoncu.

Razane Jammal who grew up in Beirut Lebanon began her career in the industry at the age of just 17. She has recently shot to fame thanks to her role as Lyta Hall in the new Netflix hit series “The Sandman.” Her vibrant personality and impeccable style make her the perfect ambassador for the Dior brand.

New Dior Ambassador – Razane Jammal (c) Ali Kalyoncu

She previously starred as Maggie Mckillop in the streamer’s Egyptian horror series “Paranormal.”

See more of the latest images starring Jammal below:

New Dior Ambassador – Razane Jammal (c) Ali Kalyoncu

New Dior Ambassador – Razane Jammal (c) Ali Kalyoncu

Gaia Repossi, Creative Director of Repossi, will join Fashion Trust Arabia’s 2022 Advisory Board.

The board is responsible for selecting 24 finalists who will get the chance to showcase their work before the FTA Jury before the final winners are selected.

Big names already make up the board including designers, fashion experts and industry insiders who will all be present for a series of events taking place in Doha, Qatar later this month.

Gaia Repossi joined the family business at just 21 and has helped turn Repossi into a brand beloved for its luxe minimalism and contemporary aesthetic. Gaia’s extensive involvement and networks in the world of fashion make her the perfect member to provide expertise and guidance for the up-and-coming regional talents in the competition.

Since its inception as a prize to support up-and-coming fashion designers from the Middle East and North Africa region in 2018, the FTA has made it its mission to support these local creatives by providing them with global opportunities and by creating a network in which they can participate in important conversations and the exchange of ideas.

Stay tuned for more announcements on the upcoming event as they happen.

On the final day of Paris Fashion Week and indeed the last day of fashion month, there was a sense of hostility in the air thanks to the overshadowing of Kanye West’s controversial statements throughout the day. But luckily some of the powerhouse brands still had their collections to present which would distract from the chaos. We reveal some of the highlights from the final day of shows in Paris.

Miu Miu 

Miu Miu’s Spring Summer 2023 collection “In Translation” builds on the instantly recognisable silhouette we have seen from the brand in recent seasons, but it has more of a practicality and functionality to it for Spring. Still young and fresh, but with elements of elegance, this collection is for the woman who is coming into her own.

Louis Vuitton 

For the Louis Vuitton Spring/Summer 2023 collection Artistic Director Nicolas Ghesquière invited his longtime friend French artist Philippe Parreno to create an installation at the Cour Carrée in Paris. The colourful stage featured a spaceship-style installation to set the scene for a collection that brings together the past, present and future. Ghesquière played with the proportions of fashion, exaggerating elements such as belts, zips, buttons and accessories and offering a new interpretation of the silhouette.

Chanel

For her Spring/Summer 2023 collection for Chanel, Virginie Viard was inspired by the iconic French movie from 1961, “L’Année Dernière à Marienbad.” The show opened with a new black and white film starring Chanel ambassador Kristen Stewart, followed by a collection of light and a fresh take on Chanel classics.

FRED Jewellery has opened a new exhibition in Paris that looks back at the history and story of the brand.

Located at the Palais de Tokyo this exclusive showcase tells the tale of Fred Samuel, the founder of the brand and the journey of the Maison over 85 years.

The exhibition tells the story of Fred’s life and how he spontaneously infused every facet of the Maison which was founded in 1936. Travelling through the history of the brand and exploring its heritage, the retrospective examines an elegant world of jewels and glamour.

Opening a time capsule, the exhibition playfully intertwines past, present and future to showcase more than 450 jewels and objects, and nearly 300 previously unseen archives, as well as loans from private collections and faithful friends.

View of the “Ocean of Colours” room in the exhibition “FRED, Creative Jeweller since 1936” at the Palais de Tokyo

Many of the pieces on show are the result of a global project to locate thousands of historical pieces of jewellery. The exhibition is a result of three years of searching and bringing together these pieces in a unique setting.

Set across 12 thematic rooms, mirroring the personality of “Monsieur Fred” as much as the FRED style, the retrospective also follows this precept, deconstructing the continuous line of time to better invent its own.

View of the “Exceptional Stones and Objects” room at the “FRED, Creative Jeweller since 1936” exhibition, Palais de Tokyo

Throughout the exhibition, light is a common thread. Omnipresent in Fred Samuel’s life, it has had a lasting impact on the history of the Maison and has influenced many of the brand’s designs over the years. Accompanied by scents and sounds evocative of travel, the light in the room alternates between twilight and midday sun, employing diffraction to reveal a spectrum of colours or, alternatively, reinforce the power of black and white.

Discover the world of FRED with this immersive experience. The exhibition runs from 28^th September 2022.

As one of the most innovative automotive companies in the world, Rolls-Royce was always going to be an early adopter of the move to full-electric vehicles, but electrification has actually been embedded within the brand’s DNA since the very beginning.

Its Co-Founder Charles Rolls foresaw the shift to electric cars over 120 years ago and predicted its domination in the industry. Today, the brand is preparing to make this dream a reality with its first all-electric vehicle the Rolls-Royce Spectre which is expected to redefine the image of electric cars when it arrives on the market next year. We find out more about the plans for an electrifying future at Rolls-Royce Motors with César Habib, Regional Director of Middle East & Africa.

In terms of innovation and sustainability, what are the main focuses for Rolls-Royce this year? 

This year was an exceptional one for Rolls-Royce Motor Cars as we announced our electrification plans with the most anticipated motor car in the marque’s history, Spectre. The concept of electrification is long familiar to the brand, our founding fathers were fascinated by all things electrified. Sir Henry Royce began his working life as an electrical engineer and dedicated much of his career to creating internal combustion engines that simulated the characteristics of an electric car. And it was Charles Rolls who prophesied an electrified future for automobiles after driving a 1900 electric car named the Columbia. Spectre is the fulfilment of this prophecy. 

Electrification has been the subject of constant consideration for many years, and we have been experimenting with an electric powertrain for some time. In 2011, Rolls-Royce showcased a fully-electric Experimental Phantom concept named 102EX. This was followed by 103EX, a dramatic design study that anticipated a bold electric future for the marque. Prompting a huge amount of interest from our patrons, who considered the electric powertrain to be a perfect fit for Rolls-Royce, throughout the years we have been continuously asked when we would go electric.

This response was received by a promise from Rolls-Royce’s Chief Executive Officer, Torsten Müller-Ötvös: “Rolls-Royce will go electric, starting this decade”, and this promise has been kept.  

In September 2021, Charles Rolls’ prophecy from April 1900 and Torsten Müller-Ötvös’ promise led to a historical moment, the reveal of Spectre and with it, the beginning of a new legacy. 

Our first fully electric car which will remain a priority for Rolls-Royce Motor Cars will deliver a truly authentic and elevated Rolls-Royce experience, propelling the world’s most progressive and influential women and men into an electrified future. 

Black Badge Ghost 

With a brand that has so much history, how do you balance that with the worlds of innovation and technology and ensure you are still keeping your long-standing customers happy?

At Rolls-Royce, we have always been proud of the true expression of our marque. Thanks to the unrivalled team of creatives, designers, and engineers at Goodwood, each one of our motoring masterpieces represents a feat of engineering and sits at the very forefront of innovation and design. 

Part of our ongoing success lies in our deep understanding of our clients as well as the worlds they live in. Our patrons are our lifeblood, they are part of an illustrious community who expect the very best from the brands that they interact with, and we take great pride in knowing all our clients personally. We go above and beyond a mere transaction, and curate a hyper-personalised, close relationship characterised by high-touch encounters and memorable experiences. It is these relationships that pave the way for the development of our motor cars, and which ultimately illustrate a deeper truth: Rolls-Royce is Bespoke.  

Spectre is the very representation of a response to our client’s demands, with a suite of advanced technologies further securing our marque’s relevance for generations to come. 

We know the brand’s all-electric car is currently being tested, tell us about that and when it can be expected to arrive on the market. 

We are proud to confirm that our all-electric Super Coupe will arrive in the market in Q4 of 2023. Led by our Director of Engineering, Dr Mihiar Ayoubi, Rolls-Royce Spectre underwent a 2.5 million km testing programme, embarking on an adventure across all terrains. From the extreme conditions of Arjeplog, Sweden, to more formal scrutiny in a location that reflects the Spectre’s everyday use, the French Riviera, new suspension technology has been approved that ensures Spectre delivers Rolls-Royce’s hallmark ‘magic carpet ride’. The results of the test drives were excellent, and to quote Dr Mihiar Ayoubi, Spectre delivers the Rolls-Royce experience in exceptionally high definition.

Black Badge Ghost

With a brand like Rolls-Royce where performance is so important, what have been the challenges that have arisen when it comes to moving to electric vehicles?

We faced opportunities rather than challenges, including the expansion of our centre of luxury manufacturing excellence at The Home of Rolls-Royce in Goodwood, UK. Our priority at Rolls-Royce is to provide unique experiences. We are always exploring, developing, and presenting new and ambitious interpretations of true luxury, resulting in some of the finest examples of contemporary craftsmanship, unrivalled engineering, and state-of-the-art technology. 

What is your opinion on the electric vehicle sector and how do you see the industry changing to accommodate this? 

Over the past few years, the industry has changed rapidly to accommodate the need for electric vehicles. At Rolls-Royce, we are on the right track and have already announced our plans for a new chapter in the marque’s history. With Spectre, we set out for the full electrification of our entire product portfolio by 2030. By then we will no longer be producing or selling any internal combustion engine products.

Black Badge Ghost

How do you find consumers are reacting to this shift?

Our client’s feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. Their excitement is further evidenced by the commitments and booking orders we received around Spectre, with our clients taking the first deliveries of the car in the fourth quarter of 2023.

What are some of the most recent demands you are facing from customers in terms of technology, innovation and sustainability?

Our client’s demands have been answered with the creation of Spectre. It really is no exaggeration to state that it is the most anticipated Rolls-Royce ever, for it is unlike any before it. This is not only because of its fully electric powertrain, but also its unprecedented computing power and application of advanced data-processing technologies. 

Spectre is the most connected Rolls-Royce ever and each of its components is more intelligent than in any previous Rolls-Royce. It features 141,200 sender-receiver relations and has more than 1,000 functions with more than 25,000 sub-functions. By comparison, Phantom has 51,000 sender-receiver relations, 456 functions and 647 sub-functions. Spectre is much more than a product. It is a symbol of our bright, bold electric future, and represents a seismic shift in our powertrain technology. 

Spectre

Tell us about the Rolls-Royce Private office which recently opened in Dubai? 

The opening of a permanent Private Office located outside of Goodwood is a testament to the ongoing evolution of our great marque and confirmation of its status as a House of Luxury. Further embedding our reputation as the world’s most client-focused luxury brand, the Private Office Dubai will offer our patrons across the Middle East effortlessly elevated design services that are on par with our products. 

For many years we have been inviting our VIP patrons to the Home of Rolls-Royce in Goodwood. Now, following significant demand, the marque is bringing Goodwood to the world. Located in the heart of Dubai, in the One Central neighbourhood, the new Rolls-Royce Private Office offers the flair and expertise of the Home of Rolls-Royce. Thanks to the materials on display, the marque’s renowned hospitality and the first permanent appointment of Bespoke Designer, Michelle Lusby, and Bespoke Client Experience Manager, Chris Hardy, a wonderful experience awaits. 

Visiting the Private Office Dubai is invitation-only, either by Rolls-Royce directly or via our partners throughout the region. Three key programmes will be the focus of the Private Office: the recently revitalized Rolls-Royce Coachbuild programme, High Bespoke Commissioning, and access to the Private Office Collection of one-of-one masterpiece motor cars.

How is this helping to improve your relationship with customers and what can you tell us about the technology being used here? 

We know that nothing can compare with a visit to The Home of Rolls-Royce in Goodwood. However, by bringing Goodwood to Dubai, we aim to close the gap and ensure that our clients have a unique experience in exquisite surroundings. The Rolls-Royce Private Office Dubai goes beyond the conventional dealership experience. With highly skilled experts on the ground, clients will be consulted to understand their requirements and vision. We then aim to create a unique masterpiece to reflect the client’s personal interest. In addition, we will also be leveraging the very latest technology to allow our Middle East-based patrons to explore our Home in West Sussex remotely and see their own Bespoke Rolls-Royce come to life. 

Spectre

Can you tell us about the Rolls-Royce Apiary project at Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club and how this aligns with the brand’s vision around sustainability?

This is an initiative that sits very close to the hearts of everyone in the Rolls-Royce family and is a project that aligns perfectly with the company’s wider environmental vision and practices. Last year we joined conservationists, naturalists, growers and apiculturists around the globe in observing World Be Day on 20 May 2021 by launching our Apiary project together with our partner Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Dubai (AGMC).

Modelled after the highly successful Apiary established at the Home of Rolls‑Royce in 2017, through our project we look to translate the amazing work done over the past four years at Goodwood to our region. Our Apiary is comprised of six beehives, made from cedar, and painted white to withstand Dubai’s high temperatures and humidity levels. Five of the beehives are named after Rolls-Royce models – ‘Phantom’, ‘Wraith’, ‘Ghost’, ‘Dawn’ and ‘Cullinan’ – while the sixth, ‘Spirit of Ecstasy’, celebrates the marque’s illustrious mascot. Each hive is home to over 60,000 honeybees, headed by an ‘Emirati Queen’ bee provided by the Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA) and carefully tended by experts from The Beekeepers Foundation, UAE.

Despite their importance in supporting food security and biodiversity, bees are under significant threat worldwide. Through this project, we look to shed light on the importance and heritage of the bees in the region, raise public awareness around the role they play in our lives, and ultimately safeguard these remarkable and highly vulnerable creatures.

What can you tell us about Rolls-Royce in the Middle East currently and what we can expect in the coming year?

Rolls-Royce continues to be the pinnacle of luxury. We are both delighted and proud of our performance across the Middle East, a testament to the long-standing relationship and trust we have with our patrons. As we develop further from automotive manufacturer to House of Luxury, we look forward to inviting clients old and new to draw closer to the brand and immerse themselves even further in the magical world of Rolls-Royce. With that in mind, we are incredibly excited about introducing Spectre to the market.

Spectre

What is a message you would like to send to our readers about the future of Rolls-Royce?

Our future is bright, bold, and electric. We encourage all our clients to stay tuned for Spectre – a Rolls-Royce first and foremost, and an electric car second.

Stella McCartney

Sports-chic meets elegant meets streetwear for Stella McCartney’s Spring/Summer 2023 collection. The collection pays homage to the iconic façade of. The Centre Pompidou where the show was held with bold colours and graphic lines. It also features the work of legendary Japanese artist Yoshitomo Nara.

Givenchy

Despite rain overhead, Givenchy presented its Spring/Summer 2023 collection at the Jardin des Plantes in Paris yesterday evening. Matthew M. Williams’ latest collection offered a feminine twist on streetwear. At times, looks were sharp and rugged, while others were soft and elegant.

Tony Ward

Tony Ward’s Spring/Summer 2023 collection “Untouched” pays tribute to the ever-changing natural landscape. A rainbow of colours and glistening fabrics, recreate the beauty of when day turns to night.

Zimmermann

Australian brand Zimmermann made its Paris Fashion Week debut yesterday with a colourful collection inspired by the vibrancy and bright lights of amusement parks. Playful postcard prints, dresses inspired by the circus and elegant lace designs make for a feminine and playful collection.

YEEZY

Kanye West divided fans with his controversial runway show in Paris last night. The designer presented his YEEZY SEASON 9 collection to an audience of just 50 selected guests. Kanye enlisted some of his friends including Naomi Campbell to take part in the show which featured a number of political statements including a controversial “WHITE LIVES MATTER” T-shirt. What do you think? High fashion or politics gone wrong?

AZ Factory

AZ Factory, the brand founded by the late Alber Elbaz continues its journey as a “solutions” brand offering women pieces that are versatile, stylish and comfortable. Last season the brand enlisted the help of lesser known designers Thebe Magugu and Ester Manas to create collections under the AZ Factory concept and for Spring/Summer 2023 the second chapter of the partnerships is revealed. Inspired by contemporary art, the collection offers clean lines juxtaposed with bold floral prints as it revisits everyday classics.

Hermès Middle East presents a limited-edition silk twilly to support the charity Education Above All Foundation (EAA) with its educational projects around the world.

The silk twilly “Chevaux en liberté” was designed by French artist Jean-Louis Sauvat and features a pattern of horses in the colours of the Qatari flag. The horse race one after the other as they flaunt the elegance of their momentum along this twilly which Jean-Louis Sauvat envisioned as a praxinoscope, where every sequence of galop is broken down with scientific precision and artistic lightness.

This limited-edition silk twilly will be available exclusively at the Hermès store in the Place Vendôme Mall in Doha.

Education has always been an important value to the Hosue and Hermès is actively engaged either directly or through its foundation, in programs with schools and higher education establishments and support projects locally around the world which will offer an opportunity to give access to education.

his limited-edition silk twilly will contribute to supporting the Education Above All foundation, working towards ensuring equal access to education and to harnessing the power of quality education for positive, sustainable, and inclusive change. Beyond education, EAA wants to shape children and youth into global leaders and agents of positive, sustainable change.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Foundation which has, to date supported over 12 million children and youth in more than 55 countries globally.

What to expect from one of Dubai’s most contemporary hotel destinations, known for its iconic design

Situated in one of the most iconic buildings in the UAE; the Opus by Omniyat and designed by Dame Zaha Hadid, ME by Melia, Dubai embodies a bold and vibrant spirit for creatives with a love of fabulous food, contemporary architecture and delicious cuisine. This uniquely designed hotel is different from anything else in the city and will keep you guessing throughout your stay. Zaha Hadid’s spirit lives throughout the property with a clear sense of extravagance and modern style. Her impressive architecture inspires the interiors and design details throughout the hotel.

Rooms & Suites

The rooms at ME by Melia Dubai are like no other. With futuristic space-ship-like designs, the latest technology and uber-modern finishes, you will instantly feel out-of-this-world! From day to night there are plenty of features within the rooms to keep you entertained and inspired.

The hotel features 74 rooms and 19 suites in total each with impressive views of the Dubai skyline and details that pay homage to the surroundings. The most extravagant of all is the ME Suite which comes complete with its own jacuzzi, pool table, bar and huge living area – if you like to party, this is for you! Those staying suites will also be able to benefit from the ME+ service which guarantees the highest quality of service throughout your day.

Food & Dining

ME by Melia Dubai has one of the most colourful offerings of restaurants in the city. Take a trip around the world and discover some of the planet’s best cuisines in five-star dining venues. Some of our favourites include Deseo which offers South-American dishes on an urban Terrace overlooking the skyline.

The menu is to die for and the service is second-to-none – let your waiter do the ordering for you so you can truly experience the best of this menu! Don’t forget to save room for dessert which comes highly recommended! The word “Deseo” means desire or wish in English and we guarantee you’ll be wishing to come back!

Elsewhere, the Central Cosmo Tapas and Bar, the hotel’s signature restaurant, is great for casual dining and Botanica on the ground floor is an inviting green space, serving fruity drinks infused with an array of herbs and botanicals. And finally, outside the hotel’s signature restaurants, you can find some of our favourites including social dining destination ROKA which is famed for its contemporary Japanese robatayaki menu, as well as The MAINE Land Brasserie, a Dubai resident’s favourite! We promise you won’t run out of options!

Spa & Wellness

The Wellness by ME spa is located on the fourth floor of the hotel, overlooking the incredible architecture of the Zaha-Hadid-designed building. This unique destination has the power to make you feel instantly relaxed and refreshed.

Spa treatments are provided by highly trained and certified professional therapists and are structured to relieve stress and improve overall wellbeing. If you’re done relaxing head to the modern fitness centre which is open 24 hours to unwind and burn some energy!

The Opus by Zaha Hadid, Burj Khalifa District, Dubai, UAE, Hotel Enquiries: me.dubai@melia.com, For Reservations: 04 5252500, For more information, please visit: www.ME-by-Melia.com

As the latest season of Paris Fashion Week continues, we bring you highlights from designer’s shows across the city.

Valentino

Valentino’s Spring/Summer 2023 collection “Unboxing Valentino” opens up the world of fashion to all no matter what their gender, skin colour, size, shape or style. With a cross-over between ready-to-wear and Haute Couture, designer Pierpaolo Piccioli presented a collection with the freedom to be whoever you want to be.

Balenciaga

Balenciaga’s Summer 23 Collection by Demna was presented in a muddy setting in Paris. Opened by Kanye West the show embodied Demna’s desire to express himself.

He explained his wish to “no longer explain my collections and verbalize my designs, but to express a state of mind. Fashion is a visual art and all we need is for it to be seen through someone’s eyes. Fashion in its best-case scenario should not need a story to be sold to someone. You either like it or not.”

The muddy set of the show was a metaphor for digging for truth and being down to earth. He asked for us all to “let everyone be anyone and make love not war.”

Givenchy

Despite the rain, Givenchy presented its Spring/Summer 2023 collection at the Jardin des Plantes in Paris yesterday evening. Matthew M. Williams’ latest collection offered a feminine twist on streetwear. At times, looks were sharp and rugged, while others were soft and elegant.

Elie Saab

Elie Saab’s Spring/Summer 2023 ready-to-wear collection “Summer Breeze” offers a colourful confidence and a sense of joy. exuding a timeless chic with a touch of garden freshness, the collection features soft textures and free-flowing silhouettes.

Victoria Beckham

Victoria Beckham was overcome with emotion as she presented her first runway show at Paris Fashion Week yesterday evening. Sitting front row was the designer’s family and fashion family who were there to support as she shared her Spring/Summer 2023 collection with the world. The collection itself featured bold colours and fluid silhouettes for an elegant understated style

Hermès

Hermès’ Spring/Summer 2023 collection debuted in Paris this evening. Undeniably elegant with a sporty edgy this felt like the beginning of a cooler, younger chapter for the Parisian brand.

Giambattista Valli

Giambattista Valli’s Spring/Summer 2023 ready-to-wear collection will take you on a journey. From Roman ruins, to the flower markets in Asia, the designer was inspired. by some of the emotions evoke when travelling.

Loewe

Loewe’s Spring/Summer 2023 collections puts focus on sharpening, stripping down and thinking forward. Strong graphic lines and symmetry combine with the curved lines of nature. The anthurium flower can be seen across looks used in unusual ways and contradicting the clean silhouettes of the pieces. A feminine and playful collection that blurs the worlds of art and fashion.

In 2021 Richard Mille and Ferrari joined forces to create a long-term partnership and bring together the need for excellence, precision, reliability and innovation from both brands.

Two brands with one common goal: uncompromising performance. The first creation born out of this partnership is the RM UP-01 Ferrari, an ultra-flat timepiece that pushes the boundaries of creativity, innovation and craftsmanship.

At just 1.75 millimetres thick, the RM UP-01 Ferrari constitutes a triumph of technical prowess and exemplifies a new approach to watch mechanics in which technicity more than ever dictates aesthetics. This watch was a result of many years of world, dozens of prototypes and more than 6,000 hours of development and laboratory testing to ensure that the brand was able to retain traditional architecture in which the movement is assembled within the case, rather than a construction in which the caseback doubles as a baseplate, in order to ensure under any circumstances total shock resistance.

“For such a project, it was necessary to set aside all the knowledge we had amassed over years of practice, and every conceivable standard of watchmaking,” explains Julien Boillat, Technical Director for Cases at Richard Mille. “This is precisely what we did throughout our collaboration with the laboratories of Audemars Piguet Le Locle. Shaving off those last hundredths of millimetres of depth was an extremely demanding and lengthy process.”

The RM UP-01 Ferrari features the best know-how of these two iconic brands, offering a combination of their ideas, understanding, respective developments and shared values. The choice of materials used to create this watch further expresses the partnership between Richard Mille and Ferrari. Much like Ferrari’s cars, this timepiece features porting mechanisms that are as elegant as they are immediately recognisable, contradicting current trends to create new aesthetical codes.

In order to meet the challenge of creating an ultra-flat watch with a traditional movement and superimposed gears and hands, there were many challenges that Richard Mille’s watchmakers faced. Richard Mille decided to distribute what could not be stacked over a broader surface area by creating a perfect symbiosis between the movement and case, each ensuring the necessary rigidity of the other. The RM UP-01 manual-winding movement with hours, minutes and function selector – capable of withstanding accelerations of more than 5,000 g’s – thus boasts a thickness of 1.18 millimetres, a weight of 2.82 grams, and a power reserve of 45 hours.

To ensure optimal functioning of the going train, the baseplate and skeletonised bridges are crafted of grade 5 titanium, to ensure perfect flatness without compromising on strength. The patented extra flat barrel is fitted with an extraordinarily fine hairspring and the architecture of the escapement was entirely redesigned. To reduce depth, the small plate of the balance and dart (guard pin) – two parts that prevent the anchor from slipping back during the free phase of the balance wheel’s movement – were eliminated. The new ultra-flat escapement replaced these ‘anti-reversal’ elements with an elongated fork with new horns, while the index was set aside in favour of a variable-inertia balance crafted in titanium alloy whose six weights allow for fine-tuned calibration of the regulating organ.

To deliver a watch this thin, it was also necessary to rethink the winding mechanism and eliminate the winding stem, whose minimum diameter of 1.5 millimetres precluded its inclusion in such a slim watch. In its place, the two crowns, one for function selection, and the other to utilise the selected function, have both been integrated into the case as movement wheels.

“Even in the realm of extreme flatness, we were determined to make a watch that met the same validation requirements as all our other models. In this quest for absolute flatness, we had to offer a watch that, far from being a ‘concept watch’, was up to the task of following a user’s daily life, whatever the circumstances,” concluded Salvador Arbona, Technical Director for Movements at Richard Mille.

The case was created in titanium, chosen for its lightness and resistance. The two sapphire crystals, one over the time indicators whose hands are directly affixed to the wheels, the other positioned over the regulator (balance wheel-spring assembly) to showcase the movement’s operation, were also reduced in thickness to two-tenths of a millimetre with a diameter calculated to ensure their resistance during testing phases. The narrow tolerance range and extreme slenderness of each part required the focus to be particularly meticulous and checked at almost every stage of machining. It was therefore natural that the decision to produce and machine the case in-house in our movement department was the logical step to take for the RM UP-01 Ferrari.

These 150 limited-edition timepieces in the RM UP-01 Ferrari series combine innovation with performance, strength and aesthetics.

Montblanc is one of Switzerland’s oldest watch manufacturers. The story began in 1858 when Charles-Yvan Robert founded his workshop in Villeret, in the Swiss Jura Mountains.

The Maison became known for its innovation, particularly in the field of pocket watches and stopwatches, for which it became a leading specialist. Montblanc specialised in monopusher chronographs, and subsequently invented the calibre 13.20, one of the first manually wound monopusher chronographs ever developed for wristwatches. It continued this innovation by designing the legendary calibre 17.29, one of the slimmest monopusher chronographs, measuring just 5.6 mm in height.

Today, Montblanc timepieces continue the journey of the brand’s over 160-year legacy in fine-watchmaking explorations with the Star Legacy, 1858, Bohème and Heritage lines. Led by Laurent Lecamp, Managing Director of the Watch Division, the Maison is continuing to innovate with its latest novelties while ensuring it honours the DNS and heritage of the brand. We find out more about the recent launches and what we can look forward to over the coming months.

Star Legacy Rieussec Monopusher Chronograph 43mm

Tell us about what you have been working on since you joined Mont Blanc in 2020.

When I joined Mont Blanc almost two years ago I wanted to bring something new to the brand but something that was close to our routes. I read a lot of books to understand the philosophy of the Maison – some about the brand specifically and some about high-end complications to understand the world around it. One of the points I was interested to explore further was the Montblanc emblem and the meaning behind it. Not many people know that the shape of this emblem is inspired by the Mont Blanc from above, it is a visual interpretation of a birds-eye-view of the mountain with six glaciers around it. This was very interesting for me to understand and explore how I could further integrate it into our watches. So, I went to the main glacier of Mont Blanc; the “Mer De Glace” or Iced Sea in English. I stayed there for a day and observed the surroundings. I took a picture and went back to my office and asked one of our suppliers to develop the first “glacier dial” in the watchmaking industry. And that was the beginning of the Iced Sea line.

Tell us more about this watch… 

It is a very interesting timepiece because it is connected to our routes. What we have managed to do is to recreate the image of Mer De Glace on the dial of the watch. It is something completely unique in the watchmaking industry. When the light hits the dial, you can see the depth and layers of the glacier. It offers a ‘wow’ moment. It is directly inspired by what you would see if you were above the glacier and the sunlight was shining on it. Within 0.3mm thickness, we managed to create the depth and details of this glacier and it’s really impressive. The collection comes in green, black and blue – and we chose these three colours as these are the hues that glaciers exist in. So once again we try to have a 360-degree story around our communication. With this watch, we are connecting everything around the heritage of the brand. The inspiration came from the emblem so it’s a full circle.

This Iced Sea is the only timepiece in the world with a steel bracelet with a V-shape appearance. The distance between the lugs is 20mm and at the centre of the bracelet, it’s 16mm, so it has a very unique design. We also have a system that makes it easy and quick to remove and change the strap as well as adjust the size, even on the rubber strap. On the case’s back you will find a glacier engraving to remind you of the ice – it’s three-dimensional and even features the silhouette of a diver. The reason for this is to remind the wearer that this is a diving watch; the first by Mont Blanc.

We decided to enter this category because of the name of the glacier (Sea of Ice), and we felt it fits perfectly with the story of the watch and was a great way to enter the category. If you want to enter the world of diving watches then you need to do it properly, so we decided to begin directly with the highest standard – the ISO 6425 certification – which only very few brands adopt. So, we are ISO 6425 certified which means we have the most technical diving watch you can find in the market. It is 41mm in size and is water-resistant up to 300m. The very special element of this watch is the sound that it makes as you twist the bezel – it is the sound of a dolphin. We developed this sound simply because we wanted to have something unique that was our signature. We spent a lot of time trying to get the exact sound right. The watch also comes with a watch pouch made from recycled materials.

And we understand you also recently launched a GMT watch… 

Yes, we also have the Montblanc 1858 GMT – the first of its kind in the world with no hand to indicate the second time zone. It is instead indicated using a red colour marker which is something completely new. It has the same strap concept as the Iced Sea which can be easily adjusted, and it has a unique design.

Montblanc 1858 Geosphere 0 Oxygen

Tell us about the recent launch of the Zero oxygen watch. 

As humans, every time we breathe, we get older. There is an oxidation process that happens to all of us, and the same thing happens with objects. So, with the new Montblanc 1858 Geosphere 0 Oxygen watch we have removed all the oxygen from the inside of the watch and replaced it with nitrogen. This means there is no oxygenation process happening inside the watch and so the ageing process. On top of that, this means there is no humidity inside – something that is particularly relevant to our customers in the Middle East. Why zero oxygen? Because our key inspiration is mountaineer Reinhold Messner, the only mountaineer in the world who has reached the world’s highest peaks without using supplemental oxygen. This is what inspired the watch and it is also why on the caseback you can find the list of the seven highest summits on the seven continents. We like to have a story behind our watches and that is what our customers are looking for.

Montblanc x Simon Messner – 1858 Geosphere 0 Oxygen

What can you tell us about ladies watches at Montblanc?

We have some very exciting ladies’ watches both new and timeless pieces. We have the Bohème collection which is a timeless classic. You can see the image of the moon which features a day and night indication as well as the date. We have several specific finishings for these timepieces and the option of diamonds on the dial. You can also observe the movement on the reverse side.

This year we are launching something very special as part of this collection – it’s a Bohème with a very romantic story to it. On this watch, once a day, the sun will kiss the moon. The two symbols meet every 24 hours at midnight. It’s inspired by a French song, and it has a very romantic story to it. The watch comes with a leather strap and Mother of Pearl detail on the dial.

But going back to your question in terms of men’s and women’s watches, we are seeing the lines blurring more. The Zero Oxygen watch, for example, is 42mm which is quite big, but we have seen great interest from ladies.

What can you tell us about the brand in the Middle East?

We have two launches this month, the Montblanc 1858 Geosphere 0 Oxygen and the Montblanc Star Legacy Nicolas Rieussec which also has a special boutique edition. This watch also has a very strong story. The design is connected to the invention of the first ink chronograph in the world, invented by Nikoli Rieussec in 1821. It started at the Champs-de-Mars horse racing track where he was testing out one of his new instrument designs when featured with two controls – sixty seconds and thirty minutes – the first of its kind invented to record these precise timings of horse races as they crossed the finish line. That turned out to be the first invention of the chronograph and that is what this watch is inspired by. So, these are the most current launches, both of which will be available in boutiques in the Middle East.

What is a message that you would send to your customers and clients in the Middle East?

I would like to share with your readers a philosophy that I discovered a few years ago and that I have begun to live by. It’s something I discovered when I lived in Japan. I visited the Ryōan-ji temple In Kyoto which features a zen garden that was created by monks in the 15th century. Within this garden, you can find a unique arrangement of 15 stones. Wherever you are in the temple you will only be able to see 14 of the stones – they have been placed in this arrangement, so you need to move to see the missing 15th stone, whatever position you are in. The concept behind this is that there is always something to be looking for or another piece to the puzzle. And this is a philosophy that I live by (I even teach it at a university). The idea is that you should always keep looking for the missing stone because when you think that everything is perfect, there is always something missing. And this is the way I look at Mont Blanc. It means that when I think everything is perfect, something is still missing, and I must find this. So always try to keep moving and search for what else is there.

Expo City Dubai has opened its doors to the public, offering not only a reminder of the legacy of Expo 2020 Dubai, but a look into the future of how cities could be. Expo City Dubai has retained around 80 per cent of the original Expo-built infrastructure and is part of the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan. The unique city is a clean, green, tech-enabled, human-centric city of the future and was designed as a blueprint for ‘green’ urban planning, driving innovation and action on its journey to net zero.

The city is based on a deep-rooted belief that a broad coalition of people, working together, can propel human progress to help create a more sustainable and dignified future for all. Expo City Dubai features and array of attractions for visitors ranging from education, cultural and entertainment offerings for all ages, and is the largest area in the world to be fully covered by a 5G-enabled network. When it is complete, the city will feature offices, leisure facilities, dining options, event venues, exercise grounds, and more.

Interior of Alif – The Mobility Pavilion, Expo 2020 Dubai. (Photo by Suneesh Sudhakaran/Expo 2020 Dubai)

With a focus on sustainability and green living, Expo City Dubai will retain more than 120 LEED-certified buildings and eight CEEQUAL-certified projects, each achieving the top ‘Excellent’ rating, epitomising the highest levels of sustainable design, construction and operations. The city is fully pedestrianised, improving safety and air quality with no cars allowed within the districts. It will also feature 10km of cycling tracks, a 5 km running track and 45,000 sqm of parks and gardens. It is the first community to be registered under the WELL Community Standard pilot. Developed by the International WELL Building Institute, this recognises communities that prioritise the health and well-being of all inhabitants and set a benchmark for healthy communities. It will also retain many of Expo 2020’s pioneering urban development initiatives, such as the world’s largest installation of MindSphere – Siemens’ cloud technology platform that uses smart metering and sensors to monitor energy consumption and efficiency of power, light, water and climate conditioning systems.

The initial openings on 1st September and 1st October respectively saw the Expo 2020 Dubai Garden in the Sky observation tower and the icons Al Wasl Plaza reopen to the public, as well as The Sustainability Pavilion which will as an interactive educational experience. Later this year The Opportunity Pavilion will become Mission Possible, the Expo 2020 Dubai Museum, celebrating the success of the six-month event. And visitors will soon be able to experience the UAE Pavilion the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Pavilion, the Women’s Pavilion, featuring female change-makers across the world and the Vision Pavilion, honouring the life and vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Details of several other Country Pavilions – including reworked versions of Luxembourg, Australia, Pakistan, India, Morocco and Egypt – will be announced in the coming months. In addition, the new ‘Stories of Nations’ exhibitions, based in the Opportunity, Mobility and Sustainability Districts will relive the Expo 2020 experiences of those districts and the country pavilions that were located there.

One of the focal elements of the city is to ensure the most advanced cyber-security strategy ever seen at a World Expo. In today’s digital era this is essential for the security and development of the City. As Vice President of Cyber Security and Resilience at Expo City Dubai, Eman Al Awadhi is responsible for defining and implementing this strategy. With more than 12 years’ experience in the industry and significant contributions in the field of cyber security, Al Awadhi is just the woman for the job. We find out more about the processes that have been implanted and the plans for the future of the city.

Eman Al Awadhi

Can you tell us about your role at Expo City Dubai and what it entails?

As Vice President of Cyber Security and Resilience at Expo City Dubai, I was responsible for defining and implementing the most advanced cyber-security strategy ever seen at a World Expo. I am now further advancing this strategy at Expo City Dubai – an integrated destination that will provide the physical, digital and virtual infrastructure to push innovation to new heights and promote a culture of collaboration.

Why is it important for Expo City Dubai to have a cyber security strategy such as this in place?

In today’s digital era, I am tasked with ensuring the security of Expo City Dubai’s technology infrastructure and data, as well as the privacy of all visitor data, which we regard as of utmost importance. Expo City Dubai continues the objective of Expo 2020, using the world’s most advanced cyber security strategies to protect the expansive site and all its infrastructure and technologies – encompassing ticket sales, AI-driven robots, virtual reality, mega screens and more – from unforeseen cyberattacks. As we transform into Expo City Dubai, the human-centric smart city that is repurposing more than 80 per cent of the site’s built environment, we also remain committed to bolstering industry and technology growth in the region.

Garden in the Sky from group level, Expo 2020 Dubai. (Photo by Mahmoud Khaled/Expo 2020 Dubai)

What are some of the biggest challenges you face in your role?

Expo 2020 Dubai – and now Expo City Dubai – offers a model of how to successfully build a sustainable, smart city, and a blueprint for cities of the future. The biggest challenge was to operate and protect a huge site, complete with new, innovative technologies that the world hadn’t seen before, while simultaneously managing a very complex digital infrastructure.

Ensuring that at least 75 per cent of Expo-built infrastructure used smart technology was no small feat, but we rose to the challenge, connecting more than 130 buildings through smart building management system that analyses and visualises data for intelligent decision-making. Expo City Dubai continues to offer a unique opportunity to understand how these smart infrastructure technologies can enable and deliver sustainable communities, inspiring other cities and communities across the world.

What still needs to be done that you are currently working on?

A focus at Expo City Dubai is to integrate office, social, cultural and collaborative spaces to create a smart and sustainable community – a cutting-edge platform that enables technologies such as augmented reality, big data, the Internet of Things, ultra-fast internet connectivity and a 5G mobile network.

Night view of Alif – The Mobility Pavilion, Expo 2020 Dubai (Photo by Suneesh Sudhakaran/Expo 2020 Dubai)

Can you share with us some of the new technologies that are being used on this particular system and how it differs from previous projects you have worked on?

Expo 2020 Dubai harnessed the transformative power of AI to make sure visitors experienced a smooth, safe and secure journey around the site. This included the use of specialist simulation and analytics software to model crowd behaviour and help forecast, track and manage crowd movements across the site. We are looking to fine-tune this further to ensure an even more seamless experience for visitors to Expo City Dubai, and ensure we are always ahead of the curve.

What is something you would still like to do in your role that you haven’t done yet?

We are very fortunate at Expo City Dubai that not only is everything devised and executed in a collaborative fashion but we have also always been aligned with the UAE’s development strategy, at the core of which is innovation. I’m looking forward to being part of more innovative partnerships – creating smart solutions that tackle challenges and prepare us for the future, embracing technology in support of the UAE’s wider diversification and growth goals.

The Dubai Metaverse Strategy kicks off with its first event in the city.

This month the Dubai Metaverse Assembly, organised by the Dubai Future Foundation (DFF), opened with an inaugural event held under the patronage of Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Dubai Future Foundation.

Sector Deep-Dive Opportunities in Virtual Real Estate

More than 500 delegates including government ministers business leaders and representatives of global corporations gathered for the first event of its kind in the region, to discuss and understand the metaverse and unlock its potential. The Dubai Metaverse Strategy aims to add USD 4 billion to Dubai’s GDP, support 40,000 virtual jobs by 2030 and attract 1,000 companies specializing in blockchain and metaverse technologies to turn Dubai into one of the world’s top 10 metaverse economies. The strategy further aims to boost Dubai’s economy and support the UAE’s vision to increase blockchain and metaverse companies by 5 folds in the upcoming 5 years. The Dubai Metaverse Assembly was the first event in this initiative and attracted experts in their field from the region and beyond.

His Excellency Abdulla bin Touq announced the launch of the Ministry of Economy’s metaverse office during the first panel session, in line with the UAE’s vision to become a global leader in the digital economy. “The UAE has the potential to become one of the world’s top 10 metaverse economies and a global centre for the metaverse community,” he said. “We are setting up a third office – this time in the metaverse – to complement our physical locations in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. The metaverse is a new economic equalizer and under the vision of our leaders, we will continue to pave the way for a new era of opportunities that accelerate our knowledge-driven economy.”

Building the Responsible Metaverse

In the presence of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, His Excellency Omar bin Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications revealed for the first time that five pillars will underpin the new Dubai Metaverse Strategy – tourism, real estate, education, retail and government services. “Dubai is serious about discovering the potential of the metaverse and sowing the seeds to ensure we reap the economic rewards in the future,” he said. “Our population in the metaverse is already the same size as those in India and China, despite our smaller geographic size. This shows that we continue to punch above our weight as a nation. And as we aim to become a top 10 metaverse economy, we will create a digital twin of Dubai to simulate our plans for tourism, real estate, education, retail and government services in the virtual world.”

His Excellency Khalfan Belhoul, CEO of Dubai Future Foundation, delivered the opening address at the forum. He said: “Technology has become ubiquitous, revolutionizing our daily lives and playing an existential part in vital sectors including education, finance, energy and even healthcare. By applying new technologies and tools, we can see improvement in living standards. The metaverse will likely infiltrate every sector in some way in the coming years, with the market opportunity estimated at over USD 1 trillion in annual revenues. Under the UAE’s leadership, Dubai can become as a testbed to build a network of technology leaders and create collaborations to build a metaverse ecosystem that will allow us to seamlessly connect between real and virtual worlds.” 

Metaverse 101 Unraveling the Metaverse and Its Future

His Excellency Sultan bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, DP World, took part in a fireside chat on the importance of building a backbone for web 3.0 technologies that will allow people and trade to flow seamlessly across the virtual world. “We are exploring how to deploy the metaverse across our services, including simulations of warehousing and terminal operations, container and vessel repair inspections, safety training, and other commercial uses,” he said. “Our customers will now be able to see and understand the whole supply chain from end to end with full visibility and take corrective action in case of logistics bottlenecks. We hope that using this technology, we will be able to keep trade flowing, increase visibility and minimize disruption to build trade networks fit for the future.” 

Over two days more than 25 sessions meetings and discussions covered various topics around the latest developments in metaverse technologies and explore strategic partnerships to develop digital infrastructure and anticipate how it can be used to create future applications for government services, finance, communications, and other industries.

Augmented Reality Revolutionizing the Conventional

One of the highlight discussions focused on real estate in the virtual world. It explored the virtual real estate sector, the opportunities to engage new customers and the types of activity we can expect to see. Another was focused on how to maximize the metaverse’s potential and examined its various building blocks, including decentralized technologies, platforms, and applications.

Every day we are overloaded with messages from beauty companies promising ‘effective results,’ ‘visible effects,’ ‘instant radiance,’ and so on. It goes without saying that many of us are looking for beauty products that work, but how can we know which ones truly do when we are given so many mixed messages?

In a world of messages and marketing, Dior is one of the few brands to not just follow the crowd, but develop its own research and methods to ensure scientifically proven outcomes. The brand is strongly focused on not only implementing science but promoting effective results, the innovations and the ingredients behind its products that, based on scientifically proven methods, offer true, honest outcomes. Dior’s skincare products are developed over years of testing and combine new innovations and technologies with the finest ingredients from nature, helping to provide solutions for some of the most pressing skin issues.

The Dior Science department is in place to ensure the research and development behind the brand’s products is shared with the world and explained in a way that allows women and men to understand the visible results of their products. As pioneers in the industry, the Maison is constantly developing new ways to bring effective results to its products and to reassure customers of their commitment to the brand. Virginie Couturaud, DIOR Scientific Communication Director, is one of those hoping to share the message, ensuring transparency and credibility from Dior’s skincare offerings. We find out more about how science and innovation combine with nature at Dior to produce some of the most ground-breaking products in the industry.

Can you tell us in your own words what your role entails? 

As the Director of Scientific Communication, my role is to make the science behind the products is visible and to explain the purpose of this science on the skin so that the consumer can choose her product according to her needs. Today, science is omnipresent and tends to reassure consumers that it is understandable. The accessibility of this science allows us to have the information (maybe too much information) and allows the free choice of its positioning. At Dior, our positioning is one of transparency, legitimacy and credibility. We work for the future of the skin and develop products to bring one or more essential benefits to it.

What are some of the latest innovations in the beauty industry that you are particularly excited by?

Subjected to strong efficiency stakes, the skincare market has been able to appropriate many aspects of scientific research, in particular human health research, to study skin physiology in-depth and provide ever more effective and credible solutions. Thus, measurement tools allow us to prove the effectiveness of our products. Vectorization galenics are becoming more and more advanced, as are the actions. For example, the use of a confocal microscope allows us to perform optical biopsies and to see collagen in a non-invasive way! For the Dior Prestige skincare line, we used a new skin model with 3D Bioimpression. We created skin (the same one that is now being experimented on for burn victims) to measure the effects of UV rays and propose active ingredients at all levels.

Another notion that pushes us to better know our ingredients and their effects on the skin is the ascension of natural and clean. Indeed, we are in a continuous process of researching ingredients that can bring sensoriality and efficiency from nature.

Dior Prestige

How have developments in technology aided the creation of new, more accurate products in skincare and beauty? 

Technological development makes it possible to implement three essential aspects in the design of a powerful skincare product. Firstly, it allows us to explore skin physiology in greater depth, and to decipher the biological mechanisms of ageing with greater precision. This is the purpose of our partnerships: since 2019, we have been working with CiRA to discover new cosmetic applications for the science of stem cells and cell reprogramming, based on a Nobel Prize-winning discovery from Pr. Shinya YAMANAKA. With Professor Vadim GLADYSHEV of Brigham & Women’s Hospital. We are interested in measuring and quantifying biological age, intending to reverse it. All these discoveries allow us to address new issues by targeting fundamental mechanisms of skin ageing.

Based on these discoveries, the design of new active ingredients is necessary to target these new mechanisms. As experts in floral science, it is clear that technological development is helping us capture the full power of our flowers, using extraction methods that are both more efficient and more responsible. The best example to date is the new fraction of Rose de Granville, used in the Dior Prestige La Crème, obtained by electromagnetic separation after extraction of fresh flowers is performed in situ in our Dior Garden. The extract obtained is made solely from the cellular content of the Rose, without chemical solvents, and thus presents a concentration of active molecules never reached before.

Finally, technological evolution plays a key role in the development of new galenic products. For example, vectorization and encapsulation are at the origin of ever more effective formulas in terms of penetration, bioavailability and, particularly at Dior; sensoriality. We were the first to integrate liposomes into our cosmetic products (Total Capture). This galenic approach is key in the development of a product, to allow the active ingredients to reach their target and deliver maximum action in real conditions of use.

How do you think science and nature complement each other when it comes to skincare products? 

Nature is an immeasurable source of molecular wealth. Life itself is the result of chemical complexity and performance unequalled by human science. It is therefore a constant source of inspiration, both in health and in cosmetics, and even more so at Dior, where flowers are at the heart of our innovation. On the other hand, science is necessary to go from the flower to the formula, starting with the extraction processes. The better we can extract the power, and therefore the molecular richness of plants, the better we will be able to shape a powerful active ingredient, capable of making real changes within the skin.

Science also allows us to better understand nature, and to see how ingeniously flowers develop resistance mechanisms that are not so far from those of our skin. For example, by deciphering the cellular mechanisms and molecules involved in the resilience of the Granville Rose, we were able to extract these molecules and infuse them into ROSAPEPTIDE, the flagship active ingredient of the new Dior Prestige Cream. From the flower to the skin, there is only one step, but this step cannot be taken without state-of-the-art science and the most advanced technologies.

With technology changing so quickly how does Dior ensure it keeps up with new developments and innovations? 

Dior is a house imbued with the pioneering spirit of its founder, which is why innovation is at the heart of our ecosystem. Dior science comes first and foremost from LVMH research, which has one of the largest cosmetics research centres in the world, Hélios, in Saint-Jean de Braye, where more than 600 researchers work together. In addition, LVMH research makes it a point of honour to initiate and develop strong partnerships with the greatest and most renowned research organisations in the world, such as CiRA, the CNRS, and the Brigham & Women’s Hospital in Boston. This way, we are not only aware of state-of-the-art advances but also participate in scientific advances in cutting-edge sectors of the life sciences, such as stem cells, inflamm’aging or Age Reverse.

At the same time, LVMH research has three innovation centres in Asia (Tokyo, Shanghai, and Singapore), whose objective is to be as close as possible to the expectations of our consumers and market trends and to generate an innovation dynamic that is relevant to our Asian customers.

Finally, the development of our floral science is also the subject of prestigious partnerships, to continue to uncover the fascinating power of Dior flowers and develop new extraction techniques that allow us to access their full skincare potential, and infuse it in our skincare products.

What is the biggest challenge you face in your role?

With the advancement of biological science, the biggest challenge is to make the effectiveness of our products credible. Dior science is a pioneer in research and we are the first in cosmetics to enter an innovative research territory, Age Reverse. Indeed, our life expectancy has been considerably extended thanks to recent advances in the medical field. Today, enabling the human body to maintain good health for as long as possible is a major research challenge. In this quest for good health, ageing, defined by the scientific community as a continuous process of alteration of the different functions of the body, seems to be a hindrance. Recent discoveries have shown that this process is not inevitable and that it is possible to slow it down and even partially reverse it. This awareness has led to the development of a new research area, whose objective is to explore the different ways to reverse the ageing process, offering new perspectives on human health: AGE REVERSE. In the long term, this work will make it possible to significantly extend life expectancy in good health.

For Dior, Age Reverse is part of a holistic approach to beauty, which involves above all, healthy skin. The goal is not to regain a disproportionately younger appearance, but to restore the functional balance and quality of youthful skin, at all levels. The new Dior Prestige High Repair Cream is the perfect start to this process: The structure of the skin as well as its organization are necessary to maintain its health. By targeting the essential structural biomarkers, Dior Prestige cream delivers a global action on the three levels of the skin (stratum corneum, epidermis, dermis) and allows it to regain the optimal functioning of younger skin. It defends itself better against aggressions and synthesises the key molecules to regain its structure, vitality and youthfulness. It is visibly more beautiful, stronger and regains a younger appearance.

What is something you would still like to do?

To go further in the demonstration of the Reverse Age and of course, apply it to our products. It is already possible to do it in our structure, but to be able to do it at the source would be a huge opportunity to see the number of diseases decrease. This is an incredible period of scientific research that is opening up!

We reveal the latest menswear looks from luxury brands that will take your style to the next level.

Photography: Sam Rawadi

Styling & Direction: Lindsay Judge

Model Bogdan at Bareface

Grooming: Lina Dahlbäck

Location: ME Dubai by Melia

 

Dior Men

 

Balenciaga

 

Ferragamo

 

Versace

 

Prada

 

Louis Vuitton

 

Givenchy

 

Zegna

As a new season approaches, we reveal some of the latest looks for men and women, perfect for wrapping up this fall.

 

Photography: Zownir Studio at JJ Media
Styling & Direction: Lindsay Judge
Models: Xannie Carter and Aaron Unknown at Select Models

Hair and Makeup: Katie Pettigrew
Production: JJ Media Group – United Kingdom

 

 

Prada

 

Hermès

 

Max Mara
Shoes, Louis Vuitton

 

Celine

 

Dolce&Gabbana

 

Fendi

 

Valentino

 

Givenchy

 

 

Louis Vuitton

 

Giorgio Armani

 

Miu Miu

When it comes to the future of luxury spending there is no denying that e-commerce players have been one of the biggest game-changers over the past few years.

The debate between physical and virtual shopping continues to divide the industry, but ultimately, in the current situation and moving forward, there seems to be plenty of space for both. Yes, the physical shopping experience offers glamour and service that many luxury customers are looking for, but more so than ever we are looking for convenience and fast results, as well as access to more brands and products than ever, and that’s where luxury e-commerce has found its space. While there are many players in the market today, each of the powerhouse brands is surely carving out its niche and the opportunities are endless. One of those leading the way is German-born luxury retailer Mytheresa.

Mytheresa began life as a physical store in Munich where it was a refined destination for the well-informed luxury shopper to discover a carefully curated offering of ready-to-wear and accessories. This soon developed into an online shopping destination which in 2006 took the same concept and transferred the experience to an online one. Over the past two decades, Mytheresa has seen global expansion but has stayed loyal to its knowledgeable customer base, by remaining refined and curated. The brand’s unique selling point is its ability to offer exclusive collections and experiences for its shoppers to establish a close relationship that’s built to last.

As the world of e-commerce continues to grow, technology is aiding the way for greater opportunities and ways to diversify the business. Leading this drive at Mytheresa is CEO Michael Kliger who is tasked with ensuring the growth of the business in a way that remains loyal to the DNA of the company. Here we find out more about the vision of Mytheresa and how the brand continues to succeed in a market that has fierce competition and an ever-demanding customer base.

Pre-Fall 22 Campaign WW

Congratulations on the success of Mytheresa tell us about what you have been working on this year so far?

At the beginning of the year, we had an amazing opportunity to meet our clients and bring brands together. Highlights included an event in Miami in partnership with Christian Louboutin, and one in Monte Carlo with Aquazurra – both turned out to be longer events than we anticipated and lasted two days instead of one. Everyone wanted to be out and that was clear as we moved into the next part of the year when clients were preparing for vacation. We saw our customers planning for longer and more exciting vacations and we provided them with exclusives from brands such as Zimmermann and Valentino. It was truly exciting to see customers wanting to experience things again. So, this has been a great highlight.

From last year, we saw a great demand for eveningwear, and many customers had the desire to go out again and dress up. We saw a great demand for dresses and heels and gowns, and this became a very strong sector for us. Then, later this year we saw an explosion in the demand for summer pieces and this was the case across the world except for some small pockets in Asia where travel was still not possible for everyone. Our customers are driven by occasions and now after returning from vacation, they are going back to dressing up because there is still a social calendar to make up for.

The second highlight in the last year was the launch of our home and lifestyle category. We wanted to further upgrade the offering for our high-end customers, and this was a great way for us to do it and also a chance for us to have a category that appeals to all genders. This has also allowed us to expand into the luggage sector which is an important element as a lot of our customers are constantly travelling. We were proud to be the global partner for Rimowa for three months, exclusively offering their new colourway. Lifestyle also includes pets and with that, we were able to exclusively launch the Gucci Pets collection. It’s great to have this separate category and we believe there will be more opportunities there.

The final highlight is that we have started construction on an additional central warehouse in Germany. We just opened the first building and then we have a second major part opening earlier next year. That will be a major exciting initiative because it will make our services even better in terms of delivery.

Can you tell us more about that? 

The unique thing about this warehouse is that it will be located directly at Leipzig Airport which is the location of the International DHL air hub. This enables us to continue taking orders on our site until 10pm and catch the late flights to hubs across the world. Some of these flights can leave Germany late at night and get into the United States hub of DHL at midnight for example, which allows them still to catch the planes to regional hubs in the US in time for the morning deliveries. This will greatly improve our delivery business and we will be faster than a US player that ships on land in trucks. It’s very exciting and will make us faster and more convenient internationally.

How in your opinion, do you think the digital world is changing the luxury industry?

First of all, I think it is the consumer that’s changing, and this is a consumer who has a lifestyle where he or she doesn’t have the time to go to stores, they want to shop in a high-end way but they also want convenience and I think that’s probably the biggest benefit of e-commerce. What we see and what we are focusing on as a business is that it must be luxury, but it must be convenient. Customers do not want a shopping journey of hours of discovery and therefore it needs to be perfect in terms of image and touch, but also efficient and quick. I think this is very clear. The quality of service also needs to be high because any reason for you to call or email customer care means we are doing something that’s not efficient. We don’t want it to be a hassle for our customers. I often have discussions that there is a fault line between bricks and mortar and online and I think that’s the wrong way to describe it. The fault line is experience or no experience. The outstanding physical stores will continue to thrive because if you go to a store as a customer, you have an amazing experience, and there are online shops out there that just don’t focus on the customer and therefore will fail. So, it’s not that online or physical stores will automatically fail because of the type of store they are, but more about the customer experience and a great customer experience is not translated into fussiness. It is about getting things done in a pleasant way.

How do you build a relationship with your customers when you’re not physically meeting them in person? 

On one hand, it is a lot about the user experience and the design of the page. I think everyone knows from their own experience that mobile phones are now so intuitive. No one reads the manual because they don’t need to, and that is the best compliment you can get about your site. But then, as customers spend more or are heavily engaging with us, we offer them personal shoppers – some customers don’t want one but many are delighted – and then, of course, it’s about creating an individual relationship that is defined by the customer and their needs. Some people want more of a concierge service, some want more of a personal shopper. It is important to have this personal interaction and to become a go-to person for the customer. Services can break down, but then if you have that person on What’s App to contact and have a conversation with who can help, it will give you peace of mind. Or you can get in touch with them to share your criteria for an event you have coming up, for example, there are many ways they can use our personal shoppers and build a level of trust with this person who becomes your go-to. And then on top of this, we offer real highlights in the form of physical events to our customers. This gives them something truly special in the form of money-can’t-buy experiences. It is also a chance for them to meet their personal shopper in person and that is how we build on this relationship, and our customers can really benefit from having someone they can depend on.

LIFE Seasonal Campaign

How do you stand out from competitors when there is so much constant development in the industry?

There are many aspects I could focus on here, but I think the heart of it is that we truly focus on the luxury segment and therefore on the luxury consumer. This is not the aspirational luxury consumer; this is the wardrobe-building-multibrand consumer and we focus only on them. We have a small assortment in terms of our number of brands, but we have the best-curated ones. So, if you look for Saint Laurent for example, we believe we have the best offering of Saint Laurent for you, but we don’t have 1,000 products by Saint Laurent or even 1,000 brands on our site. That is not the concept of our business. And as we focus so much on it, there are a lot of characteristics that follow that. We have great loyalty from our customers. These are people that don’t just buy once or twice, they buy constantly year on year. I always remind people not to look at us as e-commerce but as luxury and luxury tells a story. From that, we have high loyalty and high Average Order Value (AOV), and we are therefore more profitable, meaning we can afford to invest in excellent packaging and excellent service and so it becomes a cycle. Because we have this special, interesting customer, brands are interested to talk to and collaborate with us, and that’s why we have these incredible events and why we manage to keep our customers returning.

Partnerships and exclusive collections are very important to Mytheresa, how do these come about and what are the criteria when you are working on these collaborations? 

We have been in business now for many years and so it has become a continuous dialogue. Our buyers and marketing teams are constantly in discussions with the brands, so the collaborations and exclusive drops are often a natural evolution of a relationship that is already there, and the ideas are developed jointly with the brands. We did an exclusive event with Pucci in Capri for example, which was at the moment that the brand reinvented itself, and for these moments, brands are looking for partners to tell their stories. So, we start with the story and from there we develop ideas and the ones that we feel are exciting for our customers are the ones we want to share through a unique experience.

Tell us about some of the new technologies that you might be using or testing to help the business move forward.

Technology is a fundamental existence for our business, but it’s a means, not an end. No customer makes a deliberate choice about the technology they want when they are looking to buy an item. Different elements go on behind the scenes of course, but on a front-facing side what we are looking into now is the metaverse, because we feel it adds a new experiential layer. It’s not that we believe that virtual fashion is something that defines the future, but the technology is such that you can provide immersive experiences if you are embracing this world in the right way, and I think there will be even more opportunities to come. Our customers might not want to buy something virtually, but if they can escape to this world for ten minutes and be on a beach in Tahiti for example, wearing some stylish luxury clothes – why not? It has been scientifically proven that these experiences are today of such quality that they do change your blood pressure and your mood. There is an escapism element, and this is what we also know the physical version of fashion to be as well. We buy something because we want to bring joy to our lives, and I think this is the aspect we want to explore with the Metaverse. We are looking into this because it is another level of experience that we can provide our customers and we want to be the platform through which they can access these experiences, be it physical or virtual. I believe the physical world will always remain super-important but the virtual one allows us to add another layer, and this is a great option that I think our customers from benefit from.

What is your vision for the growth of the company and the future for the company? 

The vision is clearly to be the best destination for the digital luxury shopper. That’s what is driving our global growth and our expansion into new categories beyond just womenswear which for many years was our main focus. This will clearly also drive our view on services. The vision is that we want to be the one destination that comes to mind when you think about luxury – luxury inspiration, luxury shopping and luxury experience.

What can you tell us about sustainability at Mytheresa?

Again we are working on it because it’s important to our customers and also to our employees and investors. At the beginning of this year, we published our Mytheresa Commitments, clearly laying out our objectives and targets in this sector, and we have just completed our first fiscal year on which we will soon be releasing a report. It’s important for us in the sense that our customers don’t want to buy something exciting that they might have a negative feeling about. We don’t see sustainability as the main driver of buying a luxury item, but it could be a massive detractor. More and more people don’t feel good spending a large amount of money on something if they have concerns about the manufacturing of it, the materials, the conditions it’s manufactured in etc. We have made good progress, we will never be finished, but we want to limit the negative impact of our growth. We have become carbon neutral, we are committed to being plastic and waste-free in the sense that the waste we produce is recycled or prevented, to begin with, and there are also targets around diversity and inclusion which has been a major initiative inside our company. So, it is a multi-faceted project that reflects the interests of our customers and our shareholders and we are very excited about this journey but we are also very aware that it is a journey, it’s not something that will happen overnight. As with any business, there is always going to be a negative footprint but what we can do is to try to mitigate and limit this and at minimum be very transparent about it as that is what our customers want.

Kids FW22 Campaign

What can you tell us about Mytheresa in the Middle East and can we expect to see you back here any time soon?

We have the intention to come back in the coming months which is very exciting. The region is important to us for multiple reasons. One is the amazing customers that we have there in terms of their taste, and their spending – it is a wealthy region and a region that has high knowledge of luxury. The countries in the Middle East are advancing so fast and that gives us very exciting opportunities. If you look at the development in countries such as Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, some amazing things are happening and that gives us exciting opportunities as a company. We have started doing events in Saudi and Qatar and the level of education that people have in these countries is fascinating. Yes, we must respect the cultures in the region, but our teams and our personal shoppers are so impressed by the knowledge our customers have there.

With busy and constantly demanding lifestyles, women are finding it more and more difficult to make time for themselves. Women want real results, fast and they don’t always have time to go to the salon.

With that in mind, the need for results-proven beauty products that minimise time and avoid a complicated regime are leading the way. Two-in-one solutions that simplify skincare but ensure visible effects are the way forward.

Sisley’s new Exfoliating Enzyme Mask introduces a new beauty step that is a cross between an exfoliant and a mask. Reducing time and avoiding regular trips to the salon this Hybrid skin care solution incorporates a natural fruit enzyme with an exfoliating action.

The mask’s main ingredient is Papain. By means of its natural exfoliating properties, Papain breaks down the bonds between the dead cells that have built up on the skin’s surface. They are then instantly eliminated.

Skin is left supple, smoothed and velvety soft, and its hydrolipidic film is entirely preserved. Now exfoliated, it is ready to receive the benefits of subsequent skincare. As Papain is fragile and unstable, it quickly loses its properties upon contact with water. The only way to maintain its effectiveness was to design a powder-based formula.

This white powder becomes a creamy Exfoliating Enzyme Mask upon contact with water. Leaving it on the skin for one minute twice a week will leave pores appear tighter and the skin’s texture is refined and smoothed. Skin is visibly more luminous and even.

Now available at Sisley stores and online.

Dior presents La D De Dior Black Ultramatte, a new exclusive timepiece that celebrates the virtues of black, a colour that has been synonymous with the House of Dior since the beginning.

“I could write a whole book on black,” wrote Christian Dior in his Little Dictionary of Fashion, published in 1954. Today, Victoire de Castellane, Artistic Director of Dior Joaillerie, opens a new chapter in the history of the La d de Dior timepiece’s story with an elegant all-black version.

Castellane imagines the La D de Dior Black Ultramatte as a mysterious, yet familiar canvas on which to project a reflection of one’s personality. This bold yet understated timepiece is also available for a black diamond-set bezel, whose light-dark radiance appears as chic as it is precious.

The La D De Dior Black Ultramatte will is launching on 30th September 2022.

Loro Piana recently presented their SS23 collection in Milan at Casa Cipriani.

Both the men’s and women’s collections are effortless in motion, with a mix of textures such as cotton, cashmere, silk and wool highlighting an earthly colour palette of natural tones.

The brand also took over various areas across the city including the shop-window space in via Borgonuovo 1, the flower stands between Via Manzoni and Via Montenapoleone and in via Palestro which were transformed into hydrangea ateliers, where the creations of floral artist Mary Lennox was admired, and “live” compositions were gifted to passers-by.

The newsstand in Via dei Giardini, on the other hand, appeared as a small post office, transporting visitors back to the wonders of Italy and its most iconic sights.

From that post office, it was possible to send a series of postcards illustrated by the artists Emiliano Ponzi, Karolis Strautniekas, Antonietta Marrocchella and David Doran with the locations of five Italian regions (Piedmont, Tuscany, Liguria, Apulia and Sicily), which inspired the Spring Summer 2023 Women’s Collection.

See more of the collection below:

Paris Fashion Week is in full swing with international designers presenting their Spring/Summer collections on the catwalk. We bring you some of the highlights so far.

Schiaparelli

Schiaparelli’s Spring/Summer 2023 ready-to-wear collection, designed by Daniel Roseberry the collection is titled “The Extra Ordinary”. The bold offering features an array of everyday pieces with an extra-special elevated touch. Exquisite materials, luxurious silhouettes and lavish embellishment encourage even the most understated to embrace extravagance and flamboyance.

Chloé

Gabriela Hearst amped up the glamour with her Spring/Summer 2023 collection for Chloé. Leather was paired with ripped denim while chainmail dresses appeared in nude tones and black. Swipe to see some of our favourite looks.

Dries Van Noten

Dries Van Noten’s Spring/Summer 2023 presentation began with an array of all-black outfits before bursting into a rainbow of pastel-toned looks. Ruffle details and nonchalant layering offer an edge to the elegant collection.

Balmain

Olivier Rousteing’s Balmain Army just got even more iconic as he enlisted none other than music icon Cher to close his Spring/Summer 2023 runway show in Paris.  The collection itself features the iconic Balmain silhouette with Renaissance references and influences from the Far East.

Loewe has added to its Botanical Rainbow collection with the launch of Loewe Earth.

This new Eau de Parfum is inspired by the elements that connect what stays above and what lives below the ground, both visible and invisible, unifying the inner and outer worlds of nature.

With a Floral, ambery and musky scent, Loewe Earth features pear, elemi, mimosa and violet. This unique olfactory concoction is contained in a translucent glass flask vibrating in an intense shade of mauve.

The fragrance launches along with a new campaign shot by Tyler Mitchell, featuring actor Miguel Herrán, model Jeanne Cadeau and musician Ama Lou. The campaign images are bold and direct.

The new LOEWE Earth is available in selected stores, on perfumesloewe.com and loewe.com

Saint Laurent’s Spring/Summer 2023 show took over Paris last night with an impressive runway situated in front of the iconic Eiffel Tower.

Anthony Vaccarello’s latest collection was inspired by some of the brand’s iconic pieces and silhouettes from the eighties including the hooded “Capuche” looks.

Retro-inspired looks were given a modern update and a sleek, powerful silhouette.

Materials were fluid moving with the body. Silk jersey combined with more structured leather for a juxtaposition of textures. Outerwear had a masculine design to it with strong shoulders and sharp edges, also referencing the eighties era.

Floor-length dresses offer an elegant touch, while pyjama-inspired satin looks exemplify the sophisticated effortlessness that runs through the collection.

A neutral colour palette is broken up by rich warm tones and splashes of bold colour.

See more of the collection below:

Over the past few years, colourful timepieces have truly found their place in the watch industry as collectors are demanding something different and unique, and first-time buyers are looking for options that combine high watchmaking and fashion trends.

Adding colour to your wrist allows your watch to express your personality and act as an extension of your personal style. Whether it’s a bright-hued sports watch or a subtle touch of colour on an elegant timepiece, the options are endless. So if you’re thinking of adding some colour to your collection, we round up some of our favourite novelties that encompass all the colours of the rainbow.

Tag Heuer Orange Diver

Vacheron Constantin Traditionnelle Perpetual Calendar Chronograph

Panerai 44mm Submersible Quaranta Quattro eSteel

Bulgari Octo Finissimo Minute Repeater

Chopard Alpine Eagle Flying Tourbillon

Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF GMT

Hublot Big Bang Integrated Green Ceramic 42mm

Patek Phillipe Reference 5270 Perpetual Calendar Chronograph