Assouline publishes a new book celebrating Louis Vuitton’s exceptional craftsmanship and its talented ateliers

This month Assouline will publish a new coffee table book “Louis Vuitton Manufactures”, showcasing the ateliers of Louis Vuitton and the artisans who create the Maison’s exceptional pieces. The House’s ateliers span the length and breadth of France and beyond, from Geneva (Switzerland) to Fiesso d’Artico (Italy) and even Texas (USA) in a pursuit to find the finest in expertise and excellence.

Louis Vuitton Manufactures

In a quest to produce the highest quality products the brand works with only experts in their field and works to foster and nurture talent that has been passed down through generations. This new publication celebrates the excellence of savoir-faire at the brand and its workshops across the globe.

Abbaye Vendome – Olivier Pilcher

Featuring photographs that have been commissioned exclusively for this project Louis Vuitton Manufactures showcases the extraordinary locations and buildings of Louis Vuitton’s ateliers and the equally extraordinary artisans who express their talent through Louis Vuitton’s creations and the incredible techniques that they use.

Place Vendome – Olivier Pilcher

“Fundamentally, it’s not about luggage, it’s about innovation.” Explains Michael Burke, Louis Vuitton Chairman and CEO.

The book which is part of the Assouline Spring 2022 Classics Collection is dedicated to these inspiring ateliers that work and have worked at the Louis Vuitton workshops for generations.

A classic version available in French and English from February 2022 in bookstores. A large-format collector’s edition is available in French: in a limited edition of 500 numbered copies presented in a poplar wood presentation box. Available at Louis Vuitton stores and online.  

Today marks the beginning of the Chinese New year of the Tiger. Characterised as a strong independent animal the Tiger represents strength and agility.

To help you dress in style we round up some of the fashion collections inspired but the occasion.

Gucci

Gucci

Gucci presents the Gucci Tiger collection, a range of ready-to-wear and accessories for men and women celebrating the Chinese Year of the Tiger and offering various interpretations of the animal. A new print inspired by a print from the late 1960s depicts the tiger against a colourful backdrop of greenery and flowers in a pastel colour palette.

Gucci

The print is presented in an all-over variation across the ready-to-wear assortment from outerwear and denim to shirts and dresses among other items. In a more subtle inclusion, it appears in the lining of a trench coat. A tiger and ‘Gucci Tiger’ wording are seen in patch form on pieces and prints, patches and embroidery can be seen on accessories.

Valentino Tiger 1967

Valentino

Valentino represents its iconic animal print which first came to life in 1967. The print was first brought to life by Veruschka, who donned the tiger coat for Vogue USA (October 1967) in an image shot by Franco Rubartelli.

Valentino

This new capsule collection sees the print reimagined on contemporary items including shorts, hoodies and accessories as well as Valentino Garavani Roman stud bags.

Dolce&Gabbana

Dolce&Gabbana

Dolce&Gabbana pays homage to the Year of the Tiger with a selection of new prints with a contemporary and dynamic flavour, enhanced with a colour palette recalling the vivid colours of wild nature.

Dolce&Gabbana

The iconic Dolce&Gabbana leopard print intertwines with the tiger pattern in different colours, enriched by an exquisite drawing of tigers with their noble and fierce look.

Salvatore Ferragamo

Salvatore Ferragamo

Tiger in Wonderland is a project by Salvatore Ferragamo inviting Chinese artists Sun Yuan and Peng Yu to create a unique print inspired by the 2022 Zodiac Tiger.

Salvatore Ferragamo

The print will be integrated into iconic accessories, launching a brand-new 2022 Chinese New Year Special Capsule Collection, paying homage to the brand’s long history of uniting the worlds art and culture with fashion.

Michael Kors

Michael Kors

Michael Kors honours the Chinee New Year with its 2022 Lunar New Year campaign, celebrating the Year of the Tiger in bold fashion. A new selection of accessories features a are picture in front of a special tiger motif designed exclusively for Michael Kors by Chinese illustrator Ji WeiRan. Featuring striking brushstrokes and rich colours, the tiger is seen throughout the campaign as the backdrop for specially curated Lunar New Year products.

Moschino

Moschino

Moschino was inspired by none other than the iconic cereal box character Tony the Tiger for an exclusive Lunar year capsule collection.

Moschino

The collection for men and women features bold cartoon-style prints and embroidered renditions of Tony the Tiger donning the classic Moschino logo gold chain and peace sign pendant.

See the latest skiwear looks for men and women in our latest editorial shoot.

Watch the video here…

Louis Vuitton

Christian Dior

Louis Vuitton

Christian Dior

Christian Dior

HE WEARS:
Dolce&Gabbana
SHE WEARS:
Moncler Grenoble at Net-A-Porter

Christian Dior

HE WEARS:
Loro Piana
SHE WEARS:
Chloé X Fusalp

Loro Piana
Goggles: Stylist’s Own

Balmain at Net-A-Porter

Balmain at Net-A-Porter

Dolce&Gabbana

Chloé X Fusalp

HE WEARS:
Zegna
SHE WEARS:
Loro Piana

HE WEARS:
Zegna
SHE WEARS:
Loro Piana

Bulgari is one of the few uber-luxury brands that has successfully diversified into the hospitality sector thanks to its impressive portfolio of hotels around the world.

The latest addition to Bulgari Hotels & Resort’s offering opened its doors in Paris in December 2021 Located at the heart of the city on Avenue George V, this modern property combines sophisticated French design with Italian lifestyle. A coming together of Roman glamour with Parisian sophistication, this luxury destination is set to become the must-visit address in the City of Love. As The Bulgari Hotel Paris opens, we find out more about the future of the brand’s hospitality portfolio with CEO Jean-Christophe Babin.

Congratulations on The Bulgari Hotel Paris tell us a little about this project and its location?

We wanted this hotel to be within the Golden Triangle, but we also wanted to offer a product that’s very different to the existing hotels in this area. It has the same level of high-end hospitality but it’s more special in terms of offering a lifestyle, and the warmth of the Italian Dolce Vita. We also offer something that hasn’t been seen before in terms of space: most of our rooms are suites and they are very large, especially in Paris. We have a huge 1,000 square-metre penthouse. Clients want not only more space but to discover the interior design that perhaps has features and uses unexpected materials. We wanted to be contemporary but also in fitting with the style of the Parisian apartments. There is a chandelier for example that a few clients have already wanted to buy!

BVLGARI Hotel Paris

It is immersive, contemporary, and sophisticated, but at the same time, it embodies the informal, friendly Italian way of life. We want clients who want to feel at home or even better than at home, so our rooms are more like apartments than hotel suites. We have paid utmost attention to details, using very beautiful, precious materials, some of those featuring Italian or French craftsmanship, as we like the idea of blending the two cultures. So, we’ve tried to involve our craftsmen and women in this project and showcase the best of French decoration. This hotel is a piece of modern art.

What can you share with us on the hospitality portfolio at Bulgari so far?

It has been seventeen years since we opened our first hotel in Milan and we have seven properties now. On one hand, it has developed very fast but on the other, it has been slow because we have never been driven by the goal of having too many hotels. We believe that our concept is strong, and we will have a few more in the future but we want to choose our locations carefully. Our clients are nomadic people that like to travel, and they want to roam the world and stay in places they cherish, and they want to experience the best from a hotel. Therefore, as of now, we have identified 25 locations in total that could be fitting with their desire and be consistent with the style that we are after. So far, we have seven, five more properties are now under construction: Moscow and Tokyo will open at the end of 2022 or early 2023. Then in 2024, we will open Miami, and then LA in 2025 and we are actively working on developing our profile across the world.

BH Paris-Lobby

You were one of the first luxury brands to diversify and introduce a hotel sector of the business – while others have followed in your footsteps what sets you apart and what does a client get from staying at a Bulgari hotel?

Yes, there are many other brands, but it is extremely difficult if you don’t do it properly. A hotel is a big investment, so it must be done right. I think what has made us successful is that the concept is unique. From the beginning, we positioned our hotels as uber-luxury, and we have been the most expensive hotel in each city that we opened. We have kept a very strict pricing policy and this is very important image-wise. It’s like in our jewellery stores, we want clients to feel special, exclusive, and well-treated. We want our staff to know them personally, so we always limit the number of rooms we have. This way they feel very cocooned in a very friendly way. There is no dress code, it’s a very relaxed environment and this is really the spirit of Bulgari. We want our guests to enjoy themselves in a unique atmosphere that combines the best of the best with a friendly approach.

Being a jeweller, we must maintain our excellence and one of the missions of our hotels is to further reinforce us as a brand and to get our clients even more involved in the experience of the hotels that are a very strong contributor to the image of our brand. Then there is the aspect of finding new clients who can discover Bulgari jewellery through our hotels, so it opens us up to new prospective customers. At the end of the day when you leave a hotel all you have is a memory, it’s not like when you buy a piece of high jewellery and you keep it forever, and this is the ultimate challenge for us: to ensure that memory is worth the price.

BH Paris Penthouse Dining Room Terrace

After COVID-19 the immersive experience has become very important to clients…

Yes, it’s a journey they take, they want to live life to its fullest. Fewer people are spending than before but when they do spend, they want the best and they want something extraordinary.

What are the challenges you face today in keeping this excellence across all of Bulgari’s properties? 

Firstly, we are always learning and improving, and each hotel is adding a new layer of experience that we then use for the next project. We are always trying to take things to the next level with each property through the materials we use, the size of our facilities, our offerings within our food and beverage etc. We are responsible for bringing together Italian culture and the culture of the city we are in and we want to surprise our clients and exceed their expectations. That’s why we take our time.

With this hotel in Paris, we have a unique, large spa. We have a beautiful garden which for six months of the year will add a very special twist to the property. Post-COVID a hotel with a garden is something that people appreciate. And then obviously we have the penthouse, which is a unique offering in Paris, especially because of its size. It’s can also be rented for parties or events, and it has the only garden of its size in Paris with a 360 view of the city, it’s really special. And last but not least, it is a way to showcase Italian culture in Paris and it is an alternative to more traditional hospitality.

BH Paris Il Bar View Restaurant

Moving onto the jewellery sector of the business, we recently had the launch of the Jannah fine jewellery collection in Dubai, tell us about the Jannah project?

When we first started working on the Jannah high jewellery collection, Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan insisted that the project should evolve into a line that is affordable so more people can discover it. So, step one was the high jewellery collection and positioning Jannah where it should be. Then step two with the fine jewellery is very precious because it continues the story.

Will you consider rolling the line out on a broader scale outside the Middle East?

We started as you know in the UAE, and we have already sold many pieces. Then we are planning to roll out across the GCC and obviously, upon success, which seems to have had a good start, we are considering having the collection in around 30 flagships worldwide. We are choosing locations where we have a combination of Arabic and local customers. We have found so far that 45 per cent of customers of the collections are not local UAE customers so we know that it’s not just appealing to our Arabic clients. People may not necessarily know the story about the mosque in Abu Dhabi, but they see them as beautifully crafted pieces and this is what they buy into. So, I think Jannah has potential and we have been caught by surprise with the fast reaction. Now we need to increase the creation and craftsmanship during a period where we have a very large demand. This is a good problem to have but it also slows down a rollout that we would also love to see happen quicker, but we need to have the manpower to make these beautiful pieces.

After the success of Jannah, are you planning to look into different markets around the world to offer localised collections?

I think Jannah is extraordinary and it’s just the beginning of the story. The first step was highly successful, the second is also a success so far. We have invented many things as a brand that others have followed and at the end of the day, there is a lot of growth potential for everyone in this industry. So, we do it in our way and for sure it’s in our DNA to dare, to explore and we are open to doing more collaborations, but not necessarily always with a royal family. We did something previously with Zaha Hadid, it could be a designer, an architect, a creative, we are very open to any kind of fresh ideas coming from the outside that can enrich our creativity in all sectors of the business.

BH Paris Spa Pool

It’s been a tough period over the past two years, what’s your direction for Bulgari for the coming year and moving forward into the future?

I think there is room to further enhance the desirability of Bulgari to really become an iconic name that is a mandatory must-have for many people. I think it comes not only from our jewellery but also by artfully playing with the hotels, the high jewellery, the watches, and the accessories and using all these aspects to our advantage. Also not only playing on the fact that we are Italian but also the fact that we are the only high jewellery brand that offers this 360-lifestyle approach with our seven categories and ensuring they complement each other. Our core is high jewellery, and we don’t want to lose the history of the brand as this has been the thread where everything started. This is something unique as I don’t think our competitors use their codes as systematically and we want to continue to share our fascinating history, as I think we are the only ones who can claim their roots started more than 2,000 years ago.

We recently saw the collaboration with MB&F at Dubai Watch Week, tell us about this and what can we expect from the watches sector in 2022? 

This project was a coming together of talents and it’s very interesting to see quite a big brand working with a niche brand that’s very visionary. Maximilian Büsser, founder of MB&F is an extraordinary person and working with him allowed us to give birth to something different, something that combines innovation and creativity with the femininity of Bulgari. All the watches have been sold by the way!

BH Paris Bulgari Suite Living Room

Can you tell us anything about the coming year at Bulgari?

This year we had good growth compared to 2019. In 2019 we launched the Seduttori watch and therefore it was challenging to follow up on this. But next year we will initially be focused on ladies’ watches where we want to push the jewellery dimension of our watches. Then in April, during Watches and Wonders, we will have our own showroom in Geneva where we will be presenting more masculine pieces. And then we’ll be back at the end of August for the third edition of Geneva Watch Days. So, we have planned to sequence the year into three different moments so that we can pay attention to three batches of novelties. And then the high jewellery will be revealed in Paris in May and the pieces will be introduced around the world in the year.

For Fendi’s Spring/Summer 2022 collection Artistic Director Kim Jones took the brand back to its roots taking inspiration from the eternal city of Rome.

Combining fantasy and reality this beautiful collection celebrates the historic codes of the city and the beauty of old-age Italian craftsmanship techniques.

Kim Jones

When you walk down the street in Rome, you are constantly moving back and forth in time,” explains Kim Jones. “Where we work feels very modern, but you pass monuments on the way there. There’s a total timelessness to the city: a historic vein which runs through it, but also a movement that is projecting forwards.”

Combining old and new Jones applies lavish craftsmanship to futuristic silhouettes, while ceremonial asceticism overlaid with astral fantasy.

Fluid fabrics are draped over shimmering bodies, while hand-embroidered tights appear as a second skin. Luminous, glistening fabrics offer an otherworldly feel and create magical energy.

“Rome has a certain spirituality as a city,” notes Jones. “Not necessarily just something religious, but something present in the layers of its history.”

The designer draws upon time-honoured techniques that perfectly complement modern craftsmanship to create a collection that connects history and the future.

The ghostly shadows of opulent fabrics, photographed and distorted, are printed atop Duchesse silk and organza and illuminated with traditional beading and mother of pearl, while the classical statues located outside of FENDI’s Palazzo della Civiltà Italiana are hand-painted in dramatic chiaroscuro onto sheared mink and velvet.

Heat-moulded leathers, embroidered with micro sequins, mink and pearls, echo Corinthian reliefs; exposed underpinnings reveal the very essence of couture: its construction.

The archaeological remnants of ancient civilizations are unearthed: volcanic stone and hematite inset into bags; natural crystal geodes and amethyst shooting from jewellery.

The visual language of power is embedded throughout, from warrior-like armour, now crafted in Persian lamb and leather, to the imperial majesty of floor-sweeping trains. After all, says Jones, “that’s what my vision for FENDI is all about: celebrating the power of women.”

See more of the collection below:

Self-made entrepreneur, public speaker and social media sensation Gary Vaynerchuk has spent the last twenty-five years going against the norm and setting his own trends in order to be a successful businessman.

He’s a serial entrepreneur with dozens of businesses in his portfolio including Vaynermedia and VaynerX and his most recent business venture VeeFriends which sees him entering the universe of NFTs. Gary is also a sought after public speaker and a five-time New York Times best-selling author. He is admired by his millions of followers (ten million and counting) for his out-of-the-box, pioneering way of thinking and his ability to turn the traditional mindset on its head and encourage a new outlook on life business and culture.

Gary is considered one of the leading global minds on what’s next in culture, relevance the internet and most recently, the Metaverse. He is always one step ahead of the game, constantly moving keeping up with what’s new and what’s next predicting what the future will hold when it comes to technological investments. He specialises in accurately recognising trends and patterns early to help others understand shifts in the market and predict the next course of action. He understands how to bring brand relevance to the forefront and how to become successful in business at moments where others would get left behind. His early investments over the years have included businesses such as Facebook Twitter, Tumblr, Snapchat, Coinbas and Uber and his savvy-minded approach rarely seems to fail him. His latest business venture VeeFriends sees Gary entering the world of NFTs something that he feels very passionately will be an essential element of the future of business. He has created his own business to bring to life his ambitions of building a community around his creative and business passions using NFT technology and their smart contract capabilities.

This month Gary will be in Dubai to promote his new book “Twelve and a Half” at the Emirates Festival of Literature. He will be holding a session based on the theories in his book and understanding how emotional intelligence can accelerate business success. Here we find out more about what his newest book has to offer and why we should be living in the future now.

We look forward to having you in the Middle East for the upcoming edition of the Emirates Festival of Literature – why did you decide to take part in this festival and what can we expect from your session?

I decided to take part in the festival because I’ve desperately been trying to get back to Dubai and COVID has not been allowing me to do that! I want to be in the region and Dubai specifically as often as possible, so when there are high-quality events that I feel are worth my time and they can work with the calendar, they will always be highly considered. When it comes to what can be expected, I think it’s what you can always expect from me; plenty of passion and energy and always a strong pulse on the current: what is happening right now and what does it mean for entrepreneurs, businesses, culture and so on.

Tell us more about your love for Dubai?

I find it very entrepreneurial and I’m an entrepreneur, so it works for me. In a way,  Dubai has a very “yes” culture and I think people in Dubai are ambitious and on fire. It’s gorgeous – there’s a lot to like!

What can you tell us about your newest book “Twelve and a Half”?

The book is focused on an idea that’s been in the back of my mind for a while and the COVID-19 pandemic gave me the time to sit down and extract it. That is how the combination of positive human virtues and attributes are the singular most effective ingredients to be successful in business. And what has historically been considered the “soft skills”, I believe are the hard skills. I believe that empathy and patience are very hard skills and when deployed properly in business, can give outlandishly successful results. I think that people consider being nice is something that’s just nice to have, but it is quite the opposite it is a fundamental aspect of success in business. I don’t understand why anyone thinks yelling at someone in a business meeting is a good idea. I really don’t. Especially if they are doing it in front of others. What is the benefit of that? I think too many leaders have for too long thought that fear is an effective motivator to business results, and I believe it’s the reverse – so I wrote a book about it!

I cover 13 different ingredients including tenacity, ambition and more – it’s not a book about just being nice or a spiritual ideology that isn’t practical. It’s incredibly practical but it does have a very poignant point of view on the opportunities of doing things differently. Whether it’s as an entrepreneur, a manager, an employee, a CEO, a parent, or as a human being in general. It applies in all aspects of life.

What can you tell us about your mindset for 2022 and what should we all be considering as we enter this new year? 

I think there is so much opportunity. Consumer blockchain is now here, and that creates radical opportunities for people. I think people have the potential to be dramatically more grateful if they put into context what happened during COVID-19. However, I do feel like a lot of people are also equally choosing to see the negative. I’m very aware that many are in tough spots, but I think that’s an opportunity to have the right conversations about perspective. In general, I’m quite optimistic about what’s going on in the world. Yes, there is a lot of tension and conflict, but there’s always been tension and conflict, it’s the human truth. I think if you look deeper, the opportunity and optimism are extraordinary and if people lean into those opportunities and take on accountability, that’s where the real opportunities are.

How do you manage your time and how do you keep up to date with the latest in technology and innovation when trying to run multiple businesses? 

My secret is simplicity. I think I’m incredibly driven by gratitude not taking things too seriously is part of that. Obviously, I’m very proud and thoughtful about my profession and my life in general, but when I think about the simple things like knowing that the people I love the most are healthy, what else could I really ask for? I think with a lot of ambitious entrepreneurial go-getters, we don’t see that part of them but many of them have it. I’m wildly simple. I don’t take things too seriously. Of course, I don’t want things to fail or go off the rails, but I’m incapable of making them so serious that they need to become a huge negative, and in that simplicity, I guess it becomes much easier for me to operate at the speed in which I operate. If you’re not scared of some things breaking along the way, then you’re going faster and doing more so you will only gain.

Who has been your biggest inspiration or mentor over the years?

My mum is always the first person I go to when I’m asked this question and that’s really because it’s true. Going back to my book, so much of my success comes from my emotional intelligence which not only did my mum pass on to me, but she also cultivated as a parent. My father’s work ethic also inspires me. And then finally, believe it or not, the market is a great source of inspiration. I feel that my true mentor is the rest of society. I’m a very big observer and listener of behaviour and so, I’d rather watch what everyone is interested in and doing as a source of inspiration or guidance, more so than asking someone who did it in the past. I value the current state of the market too much and I feel like I have a tremendous grasp of the principles that matter in providing value to others and customers, so I don’t need mentorship from a wisdom standpoint. And then after that, mentors often speak about how they did things, but the problem is, it’s not 1990 or 2006 anymore and things are constantly evolving. So, in the macro, emotion is timeless, but in the micro, I need to know what’s going on right this second.

What is the biggest lesson you have learnt throughout your career? 

Something that I was very vulnerable about in this new book and I’ve struggled with historically is candour. I’m very good as it as a public figure when I’m talking to the masses, but as an individual, not so much. So, I think the biggest lesson I’ve learned is that trying to navigate around the issue can only take you so far. Early on in my career, I thought I could find a way to make things better with a person without having to tell them things that might upset them and at the end of the day, a lot of the time that does work, but it doesn’t work enough to not lead to resentment and severed relationships, and I don’t want that to be the case. So, I think the biggest thing I’ve learned is the value of kind candour and I’m building on that.

What is something we can all be doing every day to keep ourselves moving forward with the world?

Have curiosity. There’s too much happening in the world and so people need to lean into curiosity and to say yes or even maybe – I think too many people are in love with the word no. For example, they hear “NFTs” and they immediately say “no that’s a scam”. Instead of what I do which is to say “this is probably something,” then I try to talk myself out of it and find the reasons why it’s not something and then I move on. But if that probably turns into a yes, that’s when it becomes something that I put a lot of my time and effort into. So I think that is probably the single biggest piece of advice I could give: build a level of curiosity and a level of “yes” and focus on that.

Speaking of NFTs can you give us a crash course on them and why they are so important in business and on a personal level today and moving forward? 

First of all, let me tell you why people struggle with them: everyone tries to deploy internet logic to the blockchain world. So when people say; why would you want to own it? Can’t you just click on it download it and save it? Etc. They are deploying internet logic: you can’t own digital items on the internet because of the way the servers are structured. Whereas on the blockchain you can, because nobody owns the servers. So if nobody owns the servers and it’s just a global network where servers are talking to each other, actual validation works.

The second important thing is that people need to communicate through the things they buy. If you believe in Mercedes Benz or Louis Vuitton for example, then you already believe in NFTs. Because you would not be buying these things for the prices they are unless you were using them to communicate and be part of a tribe. The same logic applies to NFTs. However, with NFTs, the scale of digital is so much greater. It’s the same as why social media took off. People always took photos of themselves on nice vacations, but they could only have four of their girlfriends come over for tea and show them the photos. With social media, they could show everybody and that’s why it got so big. Most people want to communicate through their photos or their purchasing behaviour, which is why NFTs will become so popular.

And the third point is that NFTs are contracts and utilities. Memberships, tickets to events, receipts etc. can all now become NFTs and have value. Your traditional receipt is the thing that you throw away immediately. But what about when you buy a Louis Vuitton bag at Dubai Mall and they give you an NFT as your receipt and the artist is an emerging artist who goes on to become famous and that receipt is now valuable? What if you sell that receipt for a thousand dollars and Louis Vuitton makes ten per cent commission on it? When I fell in love with the internet, it was because I believed it worked for both parties. I think the same thing is going to happen today. That is why the blockchain is valuable for both parties. It’s valuable for Louis Vuitton because they have royalty on it, and it’s valuable to you because you have an extra asset that you got when you bought your bag.

What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs who might be afraid to take the leap they have been thinking about? 

I would tell them that regret is poison. That as scary as it is, it will be much scarier when you’re 77 or 86 or 91 and you will regret not trying. The only reason you’re scared is because of the judgement of people around you. But you need to understand that it’s your failure, not someone else’s, and if you fail, then you fail, but you tried. People just worry about what others think of them and that’s what scares them.

What is a message you would send to our readers on why they should visit your session in Dubai or read your book or invest in what you have to say?

Well, I think that there is a 25-year track record of a whole lot of innovation that has become true and a lot of happiness and success along my path. There’s a reason all this stuff is happening to me and the people in my communities and I think it would be fantastic if people took a glimpse at why this is the case. But I don’t love convincing people, I’m not interested in that, I’m more interested in having conviction and executing it and letting it come to me. Like I said to my brother the other day, at the end of the day, they’re all going to end up here anyway, whether they believe me today or not, one day it will all play out. There is a saying that says, “measure twice, cut once”, I think I move so fast and so hard and loud that people judge that as chaos and lack of thoughtfulness. I would argue that I measure 100 times and cut once. Because I’m petrified of being historically incorrect. And so much of my confidence comes from that, even though it’s incredibly difficult to see.

Dolce&Gabbana presents its Alta Moda, Alta Sartoria and Alta Gioielleria collections in AlUla with a celebration of ancient equestrian heritage.

As a destination filled with beautiful landscapes, thriving culture and rich heritage, AlUla in The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia offered the perfect backdrop for Dole&Gabbana to present their latest Alta Moda, Alta Sartoria and Alta Gioielleria collections. On January 27th 2022, the Italian fashion house invited visitors to a spectacular runway show, showcasing these collections as part of the AlUla Moments festival season. The Ikmah Fashion Calvary Show, an event that was part of the Winter at Tartora season showcased the brands latest couture designs and also celebrated the ancient equestrian heritage of the region.

“Our first fashion show in AlUla was the perfect combination of exquisite elegance and nature. With the Ikmah mountain and date palms framing the runway under a perfect starry night, the result was breathtaking. Thanks to Dolce&Gabbana for choosing AlUla to showcase their Alta Moda, Alta Sartoria, Alta Gioielleria collections. AlUla is a cradle of creativity with artistic endeavour stretching back thousands of years – we are now once again a place to welcome and inspire all areas of arts.” Said Phillip Jones, Chief Management and Marketing Officer, Royal Commission for AlUla.

The presentation of the collections was set against the stunning backdrop of AlUla’s magnificent sandstone mountains; one of the most beautiful landscapes in the world. A large sun-shaped structure represented the majestical moment its rays touch the earth. The collections, magical in their design and luxurious in their precious fabrics, reflected the twilight setting and refracted the light onto the millenary sandstone rocks. This was an invitation to be fascinated by beauty and a great celebration of the elegance and craftsmanship of the Italian tradition, combined with the magical nights and heritage of Arabia.

The nobility of princesses and the delicacy of nature in full bloom materialise in unique clothes and jewels, made even more special by the search for detail, the use of the finest materials and the meticulous study of proportions. The boundary between reality and fantasy dissolves, the two worlds are reflected in each other: the creation of shapes, artistic inspiration and refined handcrafted decorative techniques make each creation an authentic work of art.

In addition to the show, the brand also exhibited a one-of-a-kind collection in the iconic location of Maraya; the world’s largest mirrored building, surrounded by rolling sand dunes and historical landmarks. Guests had the opportunity to visit the space and meet with the Dolce&Gabbana première and master tailor to share their choices from the unique and customised collection.

Ikmah Fashion Cavalry Show is a special exhibition celebrating the extraordinary spirit and tradition of Arabian horses, famous all over the world for their unparalleled beauty and elegance. Jabal Ikmah, which is considered one of the main historical and archaeological sites in AlUla, was host to this special evening dedicated to handmade fashion design creativity with an all-Mediterranean flavour. The show also showcased a full parade of twelve Arabian horses with customised horse accessories and attire, highlighting the harmony between horses and models and impressing the attendees with a unique show.

Winter at Tantora runs from 21st December 2021 to 12th February 2022, offering both international and local visitors an exciting six weeks of music, cultural and equestrian events.

The Ashi Studio Spring Summer 2022 collection “Heaven Scent” was unveiled through a digital documentary as part of Paris Haute Couture Week.

The documentary was split into three parts, showcasing the collection as well as giving an insight into the designer’s creative process that ultimately brings inspiration to life.

The collection which was created in the Paris atelier of the couture house- includes 14 looks total with five looks for men, marking Ashi Studio’s first presentation that caters to men, as well as women.

A symphony of artisans worked in Paris to transform the hand-drawn sketches to hand-crafted couture masterpieces, that came to life in a sea of silk in black, white, grey and hints of vivid colours such as red and white.

The collection features the Paris-based brand’s classic intricate draped silhouettes that utilize the meticulous craftmanship yet revisits it with an eye of minimalism and simplicity.

Dior’s Spring/Summer Haute Couture collection was inspired by the coming together of the worlds of art and fashion.

Creative Director Maria Grazia Chiuri celebrated the art of embroidery as she worked with the Chanakya School of Craft in Mumbai. The attention to detail in the looks was impeccable.

The below video explores the details and savoir-faire behind some of this intricate embroidery specifically focusing on looks 59 and 5.

Working with embroidery specialists Maison Vermont in Paris, the House of Dior was able to create these beautiful, ethereal looks with embroidery on the most delicate materials, finishing with sparkling gems.

Discover more below and see the full review of the collection here:

Look 5

Look 59

Elie Saab’s Haute Couture Spring/Summer 22 collection is an ode to the Mediterranean.

Titled “Eden on Earth” this joyful collection offers colour, beauty and charm through its intricate, feel-good designs.

The Mediterranean in spring truly is “Eden on Earth” with its blossoming blooms, rich colours, rich heritage, beauty and charm. This landscape has long provided a sense of joy to the Lebanese designer.

Elie Saab HC S22

And it is clear to see elements taken from this beautiful region in his designs. From the glistening blue sea to the rich fuchsia of wild bougainvillaea.

A bright spectrum of colours evokes a sense of excitement and happiness. Striking silhouettes give way to feathered ballgowns and elegant dresses that capture the magic of the moments where the sun tints the skyline with beautiful hues. Embellished details give the sense of the light reflecting on the sea at the break of dawn or the moment of sunset.

Elie Saab HC S22

Plunging necklines and mermaid tales also take this inspiration from the sea but this time within its rich blue waters. Layers of fuchsia, blush and chartreuse taffeta explode into large off-the-shoulder rose petals and peony bouquets that exaggerate organic feminine curves.

Strong structured shoulders reflect colonnades of ancient temples, and sleeves continue into graceful gloves embroidered in a sun-kissed, sparkling sea of aquas and mints usher us forward, while tassels and fringe swish and sway to myths of the Greeks and Romans.

Elie Saab HC S22

Threads of silk are braided into intricate patterns that move across the body in geometrical arabesque-like curves.

The finale: a divine pearl white bride, enrapturing in feathers, floats in on a mist of organza and tulle billowing from below.

See more of the collection below:

Elie Saab HC S22

Elie Saab HC S22

Elie Saab HC S22

Elie Saab HC S22

Elie Saab HC S22

Elie Saab HC S22

Elie Saab HC S22

Valentino’s Spring/Summer 2022 Haute Couture collection “Anatomy of Couture” celebrates the beauty of all women, whatever their shape or size.

Pierpaolo Piccioli enlisted women of all different body frames and ages to showcase his collection in Paris expressing an open and inclusive side to an industry that has notoriously been quite the opposite of that.

In the show notes the brand recognised how the body is something that changes over tie and no two people are the same. “Driven by the urgency of rethinking the rituals and processes of Couture in order to create a canon that reflects the richness and diversity of the contemporary world and promoting an idea of beauty that is not absolute, Creative Director Pierpaolo Piccioli imagined this Valentino Anatomy of Couture collection not on one single and idealized house model, but on a variety of women with different body frames and ages.” It read.

The collection was created with the bodies of all women in mind. Pieces that could not only be worn by models but that would complement any shape or size and make a woman feel beautiful within her own skin, whatever that may be.

Valentino’s codes of couture were presented throughout the collection: voluptuous shapes, bold colours, attention to detail and a feminine approach, but all were carefully constructed to be worn in new ways and for an audience that may not always be a size zero.

This was not a restriction, in fact, quite the opposite; creating haute couture clothes for real women allowed Piccioli and his team of ateliers to discover new silhouettes and shapes that have never been seen on a haute couture runway before.

During Paris Haute Couture Week, Chopard has presented a truly exceptional gemstone.

The Chopard Insofu Emerald is one of the most extraordinary rough stones ever to be presented. At 6,225 carats this rare stone discovered in the Kagem mine in Zambia is one of the most important ever found in terms of both its weight and quality.

Remarkable jewels will be carved from this extremely rare emerald as part of the upcoming Haute Joaillerie collection.

Zambia is known for its renowned landscape and incredible fertility of its geological strata. It is estimated that the precious stones to come were already forming their nourishing cocoon 500 million years ago and leading gemstone mining company Gemfields has learned all the secrets of this biotope through respectful exploration.

Chopard Insofu Emerald ©Eric Sauvage

In an open-pit mine in Kagem at the heart of a rich and well-preserved biotope, that this rare emerald was found.

Insofu is a name showing respect for this emerald’s land of origin, since it means “elephant” in the Bemba language because of its shape evoking the animal’s trunk.

Unlike a diamond, which can be analysed with precision to determine how the final stones will look, emerald is a dark stone that will only reveal its full potential during the cutting process. It is also the most fragile gem of all: a wrongly positioned impact can shatter the stone into a multitude of irrecoverable fragments.

This traceability of this stone enables Caroline Scheufele to accompany each stage of its development right the way through to the final piece of jewellery.

Kagem Mine in Zambia

She says: “It is profoundly moving to be confronted with the beauty and mystery of such a treasure, collected from the depths of the Earth, formed millions of years ago, and which has come to us at last to be enhanced by the hand of artisans who will reveal the full extent of its beauty while transcribing the emotions it arouses”.

“Ever since I was a child, I have been fascinated by precious stones and lucky enough to work with some of the most beautiful in the world. For reasons that escape any form of rationale, some of them blow you away immediately, but the feeling that overcame me with the Insofu Emerald surpassed any emotion I have ever known. From the moment I saw it, I knew that it would be a hugely important stone for Chopard and I am immensely excited to begin this adventure today.” She continued.

Chanel presented its Spring/Summer 2022 Haute Couture collection in Paris on 25^th January 2022.

To the surprise of the audience, Charlotte Casiraghi, a princess of Monaco and granddaughter of Hollywood icon Grace Kelly, opened the Chanel Spring/Summer 2022 show by riding a horse down the runway. A known rider, she was riding her own horse, Kuskus while wearing a Chanel jacket made of black tweed and sequins to the delight of the audience at the Grand Palais.

Charlotte Casiraghi

Casiraghi was reiterating the theme of this season’s collection as set in place by Virginie Viard. That Chanel (even Haute Couture), can be worn for any occasion.

The show’s décor which was the basis for Viard’s inspiration for this collection was created by French artist and sculpture Xavier Veilhan who is a close friend of Casiraghi and also uses horses within his artistic universe. Together with musician Sébastien Tellier who was performing live at the show using oversized instruments imagined by Veilhan, the three came together to form a close family around this collection presentation.

The collection itself was as always, very Chanel, very French, very Haute Couture, but it had a distinct sense of modernism to it. A feeling of freedom, of going beyond the boundaries of couture as we know it. Contrasting the ultra-elegant with the real to create something that women truly want and will wear today in all aspects of their lives.

The geometric lines of the scenography were reflected in the looks; Virginie Viard explains: “These geometric shapes made me want contrasts, a great lightness and a lot of freshness: ethereal dresses that float as if suspended. Lots of flounces, fringes, macramé, bright lace, iridescent tweeds, colourful jewelled buttons.”

This was juxtaposed with feminine accents. A pink tweed jacket with white stripes, straps composed of white braid embroidered with beads or silver chains, two- tone Mary-Janes with heels inspired by the 1920s revisited via the 1980s. Geometric embroidery brought together these feminine and graphic elements.

All of the House of Chanel’s embroidery partners collaborated on this collection, “one of whose key pieces is a dress entirely embroidered by Lesage with constructivist camellias in black, white and coral beads, worn with a little black jacket”, Virginie Viard explained concluding: “These references also belong to Gabrielle Chanel, of course. It’s like a conversation that crosses time.”

See more of the collection below:

Dior’s Spring/Summer 2022 haute couture collection by Maria Grazia Chiuri celebrates the crossroads of art and craft and the beauty of experts coming together to create something as beautiful as a Haute Couture collection.

For her “Art in Dialogue” collection Creative Director Maria Grazia Chiuri wanted to shed light on her creative dialogue with India, by bringing together two artists: Madhvi and Manu Parekh. The objective was to highlight the complementary notion of male and female.

The showspace featured the work of the two artists, covering the entirety of the walls bringing together the work of the two to create a unique new art piece in itself. This coming together is the basis for Chiuri’s collection which celebrates the craft of embroidery.

The House of Dior worked with Chanakya School of Craft in Mumbai. The school’s embroiderers worked closely with the Creative Director to elevate the savoir-faire of the collection which revisited Dior icons and offered a new take on the coming together of femininity and masculinity.

Dior Couture

The collection itself came in a striking colour palette of black, white and greys, with iridescent fabrics adding a touch of sparkle and a sense of joy. Embroidery was of course a key element of the offering and could be seen in many different ways throughout the pieces.

See more of the collection below:

Dior Couture

Dior Couture

Dior Couture

Dior Couture

Dior Couture

Dior Couture

Dior Couture

Dior Couture

Dior Couture

Dior Couture

Arcadia, the fragrance brand founded by Emirati entrepreneur Amna Al Habtoor has revealed a new fragrance collection inspired by boxing legend Muhammad Ali.

The collection titled ‘Thunderous’ was inspired by the icon’s commanding presence and charisma that attracted attention and admiration wherever he went.

“We created Thunderous as a reflection of this exceptional man who left a lasting impression of strength and peace with every encounter. The greatest in every respect, Muhammad Ali left a legacy of grace, integrity and resilience,” said Amna Al Habtoor, founder of Arcadia.

Thunderous perfume’s top notes are grapefruit, violet leaf and cardamom, with heart notes of lavender and pepper and base notes of oakmoss, amber and sandalwood. The perfume is available in two sizes: 100ml and 15ml. The collection also features a scented candle and a steel travel tube embossed with Ali’s signature.

To coincide with the launch, The Scent Library in Dubai’s Al Quoz district hosted a three-day event, taking visitors on an immersive journey in celebration of the new fragrance.

As part of the official launch, visitors will experience the concept behind the fragrance, which is based on Ali’s famous quote, “Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee…” A remark he made in 1964 before winning the world heavyweight crown for the first time, which propelled him into an international sporting icon.

The new collection will be distributed through Arcadia’s flagship store in Dar Wasl in Dubai and marketed internationally online at www.arcadiabyamna.com. The collection will also be available exclusively at THAT Concept store for a limited period in Mall of the Emirates and Mirdif City Centre.

Rami Al Ali has unveiled his spring/summer 2022 couture collection via a digital presentation, paying homage to the dawn of spring. The 22 unique looks explore the beauty of landscapes as they evolve from one season to another.

Representing new beginnings the collection features fauna in bloom and the grey fields of winter transitioning to a lighter more vibrant mood. Warm beams of light filter through the trees while the mist rising from melting frost subsides in the morning sun.

Rami Al Ali

Dubai-based designer Ali Ali aims to capture this precious moment and he uses his craft to showcase the beauty of this seasonal shift.

Delicate yet structured shapes appear in a soft, elegant colour palette. A mystical tone embodies the collection while modern forms perfectly highlight sculptural and tactile tailoring.

Al Ali seamlessly illustrates a structural shift, transitioning from moulded to fluid in one effortless design. Silhouettes dance between sleek cylinder forms to voluminous multi-layer skirts.

A sensibility is felt through the incorporation of draped tapestries. Delicate fabrics including muslin, tulle, satin, silk and organza bring lightness to the collection. Soft transparencies are given a frost-like effect through the inclusion of crystals. Intricate beads in geometric patterns to give the illusion they are melting off the gowns.

Rami Al Ali

Unique designs exuding modernity and classic style stand out against a muted palette of pastels. Mint greens, citrine yellow, pale rose and icy blues are thoughtfully interspersed with black to provide a level of depth and a moody undertone.

See more of the collection below:

Rami Al Ali

Rami Al Ali

Rami Al Ali

Rami Al Ali

Rami Al Ali

Rami Al Ali

Schiaparelli opened Paris Fashion Week with its Spring/Summer 2022 Haute Couture collection. Designed by Daniel Roseberry the collection is the epitome of feminine elegance and celebrates the finest in couturier.

Titled “The Age of Discipline” this collection was the Maison’s first return to a physical show since the beginning of the pandemic.

Schiaparelli

Roseberry wrote in the show notes; “after two years of thinking about the Surreal, I found myself instead thinking about the empyreal: The heavens as a place to escape from the chaos of our planet, but also the home of a mythical high priestess, at once goddess and alien, who might in fact walk among us.”

And that he did. This collection allowed us to dream once again. “I imagined a being whose very clothes defied rules of gravity”. He continued.

Schiaparelli

The collection combined razor-sharp tailoring with nipped in waits and oversized “dove” collars. Short cream duckbill-backed jackets were embroidered with vintage Schiaparelli palm trees.

Neat shorts are trimmed in ecru silk faille, beige satin waist cinchers, aerodynamic bustiers with cream satin sashes, and fountains of black crin that trembled and bounced in movement.

Schiaparelli

A long tailcoat in satin back faille is embroidered with a vintage Schiaparelli motif – the Apollo Fountain of Versailles.

And finally, after the rigour of tailoring and exhausting a new, sharper silhouette, the Schiaparelli woman embraces her inner Folly – giving way to fountains of gold, black plumage, creepy crawlies in cabochons, and a crystal cocktail dress like the inside of a jewellery box.

Schiaparelli

A colour palette of black and gold is elegant and commanding. The new Schiaparelli gold is a perfected shade that’s neither brassy nor rose and has been specially formulated for the house using pieces of 24K gold leaf.

“Designing this collection also made me realize something else. There are designers who design because they love clothes.” Concluded Roseberry.

“There are designers who make clothes because they love the craft, because they love people. There are designers whose work is indebted to fashion as a concept, or to glamour as a business. But I design in order to make people feel something. When clothes and craft and hair and music and the wearer are in harmony together, when they are all trying to communicate something, we can be reminded why we love fashion— why I love fashion. It isn’t for the celebrities. It isn’t for the likes. It isn’t for the reviews. It’s because, when it’s done right, when it has something to tell us, it can help us feel the inarticulable. It’s because it still has the power to move us.”

Schiaparelli

See more of the collection below:

Schiaparelli

Schiaparelli

Schiaparelli

Schiaparelli

Schiaparelli

Schiaparelli

Schiaparelli

Schiaparelli

Schiaparelli

We round up some of our favourite from the men’s Fall/Winter 2022-23 collections which were showcased in Paris this week.

Dior

Dior’s Men’s Fall/Winter 22 collection celebrates some of the most iconic moments in the House’s history. Designed by Kim Jones the collection which was presented in Paris yesterday gives a new contemporary aesthetic to classic Dior signatures.

Dior Men

Dior Men

Dior Men

Dior Men

Dior Men

Dior Men

Hermès

Véronique Nichanian’s latest offering for Hermès is comprised of subtle yet stylish elements for the modern man. The collection is characterised by original combinations and contemporary layering, creating joyful mixes that being a sense of happiness to fashion. The silhouette is slender, movement-free and rhythmical, but there are also generous volumes and relaxed fits.

Hermès

Hermès

Hermès

Hermès

Hermès

Hermès

Hermès

Louis Vuitton

Louis Vuitton’s Men’s Fall-Winter 2022 collection was the last to be designed by former Artistic Director Virgil Abloh. It has been titled; “An octology according to Virgil Abloh. Collection 8: In the grand scheme of things.” Abloh takes us back to childhood with a collection that celebrates boyhood and allows us to dream as we did when we were young.

Louis Vuitton

Louis Vuitton

Louis Vuitton

Louis Vuitton

Louis Vuitton

Jil Sander

Jil Sander offered a new sensual side to tailoring with a soft silhouette that works in both masculine and feminine elements. A muted colour palette and embroidered details come together perfectly to create an offering that’s perfect for the modern man.

Jil Sander

Jil Sander

Jil Sander

Jil Sander

Jil Sander

Jil Sander

Kenzo

In his first collection for the Maison, Nigo fuses the influences of his own upbringing and career with the heritage of Kenzo Takada, writing a language for the Maison that looks to the future by learning from the past. Traditional ideas of formal, sports and “streetwear” splice into one logic: real-to-wear, exercised across women’s and men’s wardrobes, which mix tailoring and workwear, both cutting a genderless silhouette.

Kenzo

Kenzo

Kenzo

Kenzo

Kenzo

Kenzo

Kenzo

Loewe

Designed by Creative Director Jonathan Anderson, Loewe’s Men’s Fall 2022 collection proposes that nothing is as it seems. Elements of men’s dressing are given a new twist and presented in ways that go against the norm.

Loewe

Loewe

Loewe

Loewe

Loewe

French fashion designer Manfred Thierry Mugler has passed away aged 73.

A true icon in the industry, Mugler was known for creating sensual silhouettes, celebrating the beauty of the female body.

The news was announced via the designer’s Instagram account on 24th January 2022 but details are yet to be released of the circumstances surrounding his death.

The statement read; “We are devastated to announce the passing of Mr Manfred Thierry Mugler… May his soul Rest In Peace.”

Thierry Mugler has dressed some of the most iconic ladies in the world over the past five decades. His avant-garde label was one of the most influential throughout the eighties and nineties.

Mugler retired from his fashion house in 2002 but he made a return to the red carpet when he designed Kim Kardashian’s Met Gala dress in 2019, followed by a number of looks for the reality star in the months to come as well as outfits for Beyonce, Cardi B, Lady Gaga and more.

A retrospective exhibition of his work is currently on display at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris.

Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this sad time.

Kendall Jenner is the new face of Messika’s latest campaign. With the new images, the brand reconfirms its connection to the modern woman and showcases pieces that are fluid and easy to wear.

The campaign was shot by Australian photographer Chris Colls in the beautiful South of France and features the model wearing contemporary jewels in a serene setting.

Each of the jewellery pieces designed by Valérie Messika is easy to wear and can be stacked and layered in a way that suit’s each woman’s individual personality.

Messika Paris & Kendall Jenner – Lucky Move 1 © Chris Colls

Highlight pieces include the Move Noa Bangle which has become an icon of the brand. Available with or without diamonds this piece is part of the Move collection, the signature line of the house. Like a gold ribbon, the Move Noa Bangle sits perfectly around the wrist like a second skin.

“I wanted to illustrate a subtle alliance between grace and strength and capture an image of an alpha woman with a mysterious and hypnotic aura; Kendall perfectly embodied that for me.” Said Valérie Messika.

Kendall Jenner and Valérie Messika © Chris Colls

Kendall Jenner said: “I am very happy to have been chosen by Messika for its new campaign. Its jewelry has always reminded me of Paris, one of my favorite cities. During the shoot, I was able to see so many beautiful pieces, which gave me a deeper appreciation for the craftsmanship of the house that goes into even the smallest earring.”

Messika’s latest collections are now available online and in stores around the world.

Louvre Abu Dhabi is opening a new global exhibition “Versailles and the World” on January 26th.

Organised in partnership with Musée national des châteaux de Versailles et de Trianon, with the support of France Muséums, the exhibition will showcase the history of the royal court at Versailles.

Visitors will have the opportunity to explore more than 100 artworks from the collections of Louvre Abu Dhabi, the UK’s Royal Collection Trust, and 17 French lenders including the Musée National des Châteaux de Versailles et de Trianon, alongside a wide-ranging cultural programme.

By focusing on the reception, interpretation and appropriation of foreign cultures by the court in an era of scientific emulation, the exhibition will also explore how the Palace of Versailles became a crucible for intellectual encounter and cultural exchange between the French monarchy, the court, and foreign ambassadors and diplomatic missions during the reign of three French monarchs: Louis XIV, Louis XV and Louis XVI.

Entrance to the exhibition is included in the museum’s admission ticket. The exhibition will run until Jun 4^th, 2022.

Louis Vuitton and Nike have teamed up with Sotheby’s for an exclusive auction featuring a limited edition number of Virgil Abloh’s Nike “Air Force 1” sneakers along with the Louis Vuitton “Pilot” cases.

The auction is a link in a string of related Louis Vuitton events to take place from January through 2022. Proceeds will benefit The Virgil AblohTM “Post-Modern” Scholarship Fund.

The fund was set up to support the education of academically promising students of Black, African American, or African descent.

The auction marks the first-ever release of the Louis Vuitton and Nike “Air Force 1” created by Virgil Alboh. Prior to his passing on 29^th November 2021 the Men’s Artistic Director was involved in the early organization of the auction and its surrounding events. The auction will take place in association with his family.

The 200 pairs of the special edition will be made available in a range of sizes, from 5 – 18, and with a starting bid of $2,000. The sneakers, entirely made in precious calf leather, are embellished with Louis Vuitton’s emblematic Monogram and Damier patterns with natural cowhide piping.

Each pair will be sold with a Louis Vuitton pilot case, also from the Louis Vuitton Spring-Summer 2022 collection, which was reinterpreted from the Maison’s archive in an iconic orange colourway and made of Monogram Taurillon Leather.

The pilot case features Louis Vuitton’s classic S lock closure in white metal finishing and includes a luggage tag in the shape of the Nike Swoosh.

The auction will be open for bidding from 26^th January to 8^th February and can be accessed Here

Tashkeel reveals its latest exhibition in partnership with Emirati photographers.

Tashkeel has launched its 2022 exhibition programme featuring the work of six Emirati photographers, examining the bonds between humanity and the natural world.

Curated by Tashkeel Founder Lateefa bint Maktoum and veteran Emirati photographer Jassim Al Awadhi, “From End to End” will run from 18 January – 1 March 2022. A series of thought-provoking images demonstrate the ever-evolving process of art and creation in unique ways.

Mona Al Tamimi

There are a total of 30 images on display from Emirati photographers Ola Allouz, Yaghoub Al Hammadi, Mousa Al Raeesi, Faisal Al Rais, Mona Al Tamimi and Maitha Bughanoum, each offering their own personal take on the exhibition’s theme.

‘From End to End’ prompts the viewer to question mankind’s synergy with the natural world. With selected works depicting intimate aspects of human existence spanning

geographical locations including the streets of Satwa to the remote mangroves of Al Dhafra and the bustling coastlines of Zanzibar.

Faisal Al Rais

The subtle details of each work highlight man’s unrelenting disruption of the environment around him: The microparticles of plastics worn by fisherwomen drifting into the seas; the remnants of fishing nets deposited in the seas of the Arabian Gulf; the dredged tidal flats off the shore of Abu Dhabi; and the plastic waste generated from communal feasts.

While in an untouched area of Dubai nests an owl and her chicks. The images act as a bold reminder of the fragility of the natural world and the need for mankind to step up and fulfil its moral duty to protect and preserve the planet.

“The images that we have selected for this exhibition epitomise the relationship between each stage of the artists’ lives and creative endeavours. The participating photographers present ideas that reflect both the depth of their abilities and the abundance of their commitment to their craft, which has enabled them to encapsulate entire worlds within each work,” says Jassim Al Awadhi.

:From End to End” will run at the gallery in Tashkeel Nad Al Sheba 1, Dubai from 18 January to 1 March 2022. The exhibition opens from 10am to 10pm daily Sunday to Thursday and Fridays (9am-12pm & 3-7pm). Admission is free.

The grey skies outside have got us in the winter mood! With that in mind, we round up some of our favourite knitwear looks from the Fall/Winter 2021-21 runways. Scroll down to see more.

Dior

Miu MIu

Louis Vuitton

BOSS

Brunello Cucinelli

Loro Piana

Etro

Max Mara

Chanel

Dolce&Gabbana

Dior’s Bar Jacket has become an icon of the fashion world since its first introduction by Mr Christian Dior in 1947.

SCROLL DOWN TO WATCH THE VIDEO…

Each season this classic piece is reinterpreted in new ways, modernising it, yet still keeping the spirit of tradition.

For the launch of the Cruise 2022 collection, the brand’s Creative Director Maria Grazia Chiuri has collaborated with Athenian filmmaker Marianna Economou to create an exclusive documentary focusing on the craftsmanship behind this collection.

Titled “The Greek Bar Jacket” the documentary showcases the work of local artisans who used family traditions and authentic crafts to bring the collection to life and reconnect Dior’s heritage to Hellenic culture.

The documentary showcases the journey of Maria Grazia Chiuri and her team through the process of creating this collection. From France to Greece the film showcases the journey of this collection from start to finish.

The journey begins in the Peloponnese city of Argos, with a visit to the workshop of tailor Aristeidis Tzonevrakis, who has reinterpreted the iconic Bar jacket.

Then in Soufli, in the Eastern Macedonia and Thrace region, the director stops by the Silk Line factory run by Kostas Mouhtaridis and Dimitra Kolotoura, where the Dior looks’ precious featherlight silk fabrics are born.

On the island of Thasos, Marianna Economou captures Christiana Soulou’s illustrations as they are transposed onto cut-yarn jacquard dresses.

In Athens, she highlights the multi-faceted work of Dior milliner Stephen Jones, the Benaki Museum’s NE.M.A trimmings, and the Tsalavoutas workshop, where a contemporary version of the iconic sailor’s cap was created.

The journey of this collection can be discovered on Dior’s YouTube page. You can watch the video here:

The world’s largest black diamond is currently on view in Dubai. Named “The Enigma” this impressive stone weighs a staggering 55.55 carats.

Currently available to view at Sotheby’s Dubai, the extremely rare black diamond will continue on a global tour before being put up for auction in London next month.

To have a natural faceted black diamond of this size is an extremely rare occurrence and its origins are shrouded in mystery – thought to have been created either from a meteoric impact or having actually emerged from a diamond-bearing asteroid that collided with Earth.

“We are honoured that Dubai has been chosen as the first stop for this exceptional rarity and are thrilled to play a part in its journey, which began so many millions of years ago. This is the first time we are introducing our cryptocurrency offering in the UAE, a move that is in line with the government’s own commitment to exploring new digital, technological and scientific advances. Unveiling this one-of-a-kind stone – both in our DIFC gallery and at the unparalleled Dubai Diamond Exchange – is a clear continuation of our dedication to showcasing the best of the best in the UAE.” Said Katia Nounou Boueiz, Head of Sotheby’s UAE.

The design of the diamond is inspired by the Middle Eastern palm-shaped symbol, the Hamsa – a sign of protection, power and strength. The Hamsa is associated with the number five, which is imbued with symbolic meaning, and the diamond is not only 555.55 carats in size, but it also contains exactly 55 facets – a technical feat for one of the toughest diamonds in existence.

Following its stay in Dubai “The Enigma” will be the star of a dedicated auction at Sotheby’s, open for bidding online from 3-9 February.

Cryptocurrency will be accepted as payment on the diamond, in a move that reflects the fact that cryptocurrency has started to make its mark in the world of physical art and objects.

Saudi racing star Reema Juffali has spoken of how she is eager to continue racing in GT3 after achieving a podium finish at the 24 hours of Dubai race.

Saudi Arabia’s most talked about female motorsport star Reema Juffali has outlined her ambitions to continue racing in GT3 following her second-place finish at the 24 Hours of Dubai race with her eyes firmly set on competing in the iconic Le Mans race in France.

In her debut, GT3 race behind the wheel of the #20 Mercedes-AMG GT3, the Jeddah-born driver impressed with her SPS Automotive Performance at the weekend as she joined her team-mates Valentin Pierburg, George Kurtzand and Ian Loggie to steer the team to second place in the GT3-AM class at the Dubai Autodrome.

She was behind the wheel for around six hours in total, testing her driving skills in the endurance format competitively for the first time since racing in the single-seater British F3 Championship last year.

Reema with her teammates

“The result was beyond many expectations that I had so I am really happy with how it all went,” said Reema.

“The goal was simply to finish and as this was my first GT3 and endurance race, I had set a realistic expectation. But when we saw what we were capable of during qualifying, we saw that there was the potential for a podium finish. Because of our strategy and approach, we got to finish, which is a great feat in itself but to also get second position in our class and a top 10 finish overall was an incredible feeling.”

While she enjoyed competing in the 24 Hours of Dubai, she believes her single-seater racing experience was crucial in achieving the impressive debut result and has her dream of lining up at the 24 Hours of Le Mans – the world’s oldest active endurance racing event – firmly in her sights.

She said: “During my time in single-seaters, I wanted to learn as quickly as I could with the best in the business and learn the hard way. It was something I was willing to take because I knew there was a greater reward in the long run. This race is a testament to that, and I know that I am in the right place now and have the right tools to take the next steps towards my dream of racing in Le Mans.”

She added: “The biggest thing for me is to go into GT3 racing, that’s the plan and finding the right team and environment to become the best that I can and gain the best experience. Hopefully in the next two years I can compete in Le Mans if it all goes well.”

Perfect Strangers, the Arabic adaption of the iconic Italian film premiered in Dubai last night, ahead of its launch on streaming giant Netflix on January 20th.

The highly-anticipated film opened with a red carpet premiere which saw the show’s cast including Nadine Labaki and Mona Zaki in attendance.

The film features a stellar pan-Arabic ensemble and is directed by Lebanese film director Wissam Smayra.

The film tells the story of a group of close friends who gather for a dinner party and decide to play a game that involved them placing their mobile phones on the dinner table and agreeing to share every call or message they receive with the rest of the group. The story unfolds into a path of secrets and reveals a lot about each of the individuals.

The original “Perfect Strangers” movie was directed by Italy’s Paolo Genevese and took over $31 million at the box office. It has since been remade in 18 territories including France, Germany, Spain and South Korea and has grossed an estimated $270 million worldwide.

The Arabic edition of Perfect Strangers will debut on Netflix in the Middle East and around the world on January 20^th 2022.

Bloomingdale’s Dubai has opened a new destination for jewellery shopping.

This shop in shop features the latest pieces from luxury jewellery brands including Boucheron, MARLI and David Yurman.

This newly remodelled section of the store at The Dubai mall captures key store design elements and transports you into a space that offers a carefully curated selection of pieces, perfect for jewellery enthusiasts and gift hunters alike.

The design teams of each of the brands worked closely with Bloomingdale’s to select materials and design concepts to offer a carefully curated, unparalleled and unique experience for the client.

Custom countertops and showcases were locally sourced, thereby creating an open and inviting space for jewellery enthusiasts, as well as for those looking to select the perfect gift in time for the festive season.

The jewellery shop in shop is now open at Bloomingdale’s Dubai at The Dubai Mall.

As Men’s fashion week continues in Milan we reveal highlights some of the latest Fall/Winter 2022-23 shows as presented in Milan this week.

Dolce&Gabbana

Dolce&Gabbana

Dolce&Gabbana’s fall/winter 2022-23 collection expressed the brand’s DNA in new ways fusing together streetwear and high fashion in an ode to today’s modern man.

Dolce&Gabbana

The collection is a tribute to two universes that coexist: The first one is music with “Machine Gun Kelly” and the second is the “Metaverse” – a universe beyond the boundaries of currently known reality.

The show also saw a performance from newly-engaged star Machine Gun Kelly who was in attendance with his new fiancé Megan Fox.

Dolce&Gabbana

The collection is personalised with the unique art and vision of @bocheone, whose imaginary universe originated through experimentation and a multidisciplinary approach. Part of the collection becomes the new symbol of #DGFattoAMano, infused by the raw energy of the street.

Dolce&Gabbana

Dolce&Gabbana

Dolce&Gabbana

Dolce&Gabbana

Tod’s

Tod’s

Tod’s presented its Fall/Winter 2022-23 collection “Italian Routes” through a digital film. A collection that celebrates the history of Italian craftsmanship and high-quality materials but also recognises the rebellious spirit of today’s modern man.

Tod’s

The collection was filmed in The Rivoli Castle, near Turin, Italy. Despite its historical architectural setting, this venue highlights the importance of contemporary Italian art, for an exposition that draws on Italy’s world-renowned creativity, rooted in artistic tradition. This was the inspiration for the collection.

Tod’s

Highlight pieces include the shirt jacket, peacoats, sports-inspired knitwear and the new sneaker. The Tod’s Gommino returns bolder than ever before with strikingly visible soles featuring much larger rubber pebbles, in a natural evolution of the original shape.

Tod’s

JW Anderson

JW Anderson

JW Anderson presented his Men’s Fall Winter 22 and Women’s Pre-Fall 22 collections together in one show for the first time. Featuring bold pieces that won’t go unnoticed the collections are an expression of audacious personality and freedom of expression.

JW Anderson

The men’s collection blurs the lines of masculinity and femininity with pieces that are fun, sparkly and ready for anything. Materials and styles clash for a mish-mash of looks that are for the eclectic dresser.

JW Anderson

JW Anderson

Prada

Prada

Prada’s fall/winter 2022 men’s show by Raf Simons and Miuccia Prada was a star-studded affair with a selection of handpicked actors both legendary and up and coming leading the runway.

Prada

The runway lineup included stars spanning generations such as Kyle Maclachlan, Jeff Goldblum, Asa Butterfield, Thomas Brodie Sangster and Filippo Scotti.

Prada

The silhouettes gave way to bold shoulders and eighties inspired shapes, juxtaposed against modern shapes fit for the future.

Prada

Prada

Etro

Etro

Etro’s Fall/Winter 2022 collection was inspired by alpine chic and the art of layering. Prints played an important role with the Paisley print taking on new forms, while knitwear was carefully paired with smart-casual pieces that could be worn from day to night.

Etro

Etro

Etro

Etro

Etro