The UAE Space Agency and Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre have announced the successful launch of homegrown probe Hope on a space mission to Mars.

The probe left Earth today when it was blasted out of the atmosphere on a Japanese H-IIA rocket, before beginning a 200-day journey to the red planet.

Upon its arrival to Japan’s Tanegashima Space Centre, the Hope Probe went through many tests and preparations to ensure it would achieve success on its journey. This included filling the fuel tank with about 800kg of hydrogen fuel, checking the tank to ensure that it has no leaks, as well as checking the communications systems, moving the spacecraft to the launch pad and charging the batteries.

Tests also included the craft’s subsystems, such as measuring the electrical power, communication, altitude control, command and control, propulsion, thermal control and software systems.

The Ground Control Team in the UAE is monitoring the functions of the Probe to ensure that all systems are working properly throughout the journey.

It will take seven months to travel the 493 million km to Mars, meaning the Hope Probe is expected to reach its Mars orbit in February 2021, marking the 50th anniversary of the UAE.

The probe will remain orbiting Mars for an entire Martian year, (687 days), to gather sufficient data. A single orbit around Mars will take the probe 55 hours.

The Hope Probe team will communicate and share findings with the global Mars science community on key questions that no other mission has addressed before.

Shiseido is launching a sun care range that will protect your face and body in the heat using the latest in innovation and skincare technology.

The new range uses skincare processes and ingredients to ensure it doesn’t only protect your skin but also nourishes it and keeps it in its best condition.

Shiseido’s revolutionary technology uses SychroSheile – a technology that responds to changes in the environment, in addition to WetForce technology that which elevates the strength of the protective veil on contact with water or perspiration and new HeatForce technology does the same with heat from the sun.

This innovative formula ensures extra protection and safety for you and your skin.

Shiseido suncare offers protection against UVA and UVB rays, urban pollutants and dryness. When the veil senses heat, sweat or water, the stronger it becomes. Enriched with skincare ingredients, it helps to prevent the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and uneven skin tone caused by UV rays.

Lightweight and quickly absorbed, the creams feel like skincare on the face and body. Its functional fragrance synchronizes with sweat by blending it with complementary fragrance ingredients to create an appealing – and personalised – scent.

The range includes a Triple Block Formula that helps to suppress visible damage caused by UV rays (wrinkles, dark spots and dullness). On top of its moisturizing effect, it now features NatureSurge Complex, which acts on pollution and oxidation.

 The new Shieseido Sun care rand will be available at all key retailers across the GCC

After a period of closure due to COVID-19 Benefit’s Brow Bars are reopening across selected stores in the Middle East.

If like us, you’ve been dying to get perfectly groomed brows over the past few months the wait is over as Benefit brow bars reopen in selected Sephora stores across the region.

Benefit has new safety guidelines in place to ensure the safety of all of its customers and staff members.

All staff have undergone intense training to ensure that they are adhering to the strictest protocols as well as taking precautionary measures to ensure the safety of customers.

Some of the guidelines being followed include:

• All Benefit employees are required to take a self-screening questionnaire and temperature check every day before work.
• Both employees (mandatory) and consumers (per local mandates) are required to wear a mask at all times. All Benefit employees must sanitise their hands before putting clean gloves on, before touching anything or every 30 minutes.
• All employees are required to wear gloves and to sanitise them following a strict protocol when touching service tools and products.
• All Brow Bar stations and chairs are thoroughly sanitised upon store opening, disinfected every hour, and disinfected again after service.
• The typical two-seat service stations are now limited to one customer per station and placed 6 feet apart from each other.

• A fresh “sanitary maintenance area” is set up for each client and all used materials are disposed of after each service. Used non-disposable tools such as tweezers and scissors are separated into a clearly labeled container immediately after use for proper cleaning.
• All non-disposable tools are sanitised and placed in barbicide for disinfection at our boutiques and retailers. Before use, they are disinfected again using alcohol.
• Brow Experts handle testers to limit contamination risk. All product testers are sanitised before and after every use and use single-use, disposable applicators are used to avoid cross-contamination.

Selected Benefit Brow Bars are now open across Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Al Ain and Ras Al Khaimah. To book visit the online booking page and services finder. Please book ahead.

Chaumet has introduced its new high jewellery collection; Perspectives de Chaumet.

Architecture has been a source of inspiration to the House for 240 years and it returns again to inspire the Perspectives De Chaumet collection.

This theme is reinterpreted again for 2020 with a contemporary twist on the brand’s heritage and an innovative approach to jewellery making.

Following the Trésors d´Ailleurs rings, unveiled in early 2020 in conjunction with the reopening of 12 Vendôme on the Maison’s 240th anniversary, Perspectives de Chaumet extends this precious idea of ​​architecture, in six aesthetics that form a balance between heritage and modernity.

1. Skyline

Skyline Ring

The first category; “Skyline” evokes the image of a graphic horizon, and reinvents the iconic architecture of contemporary cities. Combining strong volumes with transparent effects, prominent angles with a harmony of curves, these jewel buildings are dedicated to women who assert the power of their femininity.

Skyline Ring

Taking inspiration from the textures and characteristics of creations from the 1970s, every surface of yellow gold is worked, whether polished, open-worked, engraved or hammered. An exceptional 16.06-carat Colombian emerald is gracefully set on a cascading necklace, revealing an exquisite combination of colours.

Skyline Earrings

It also enhances a very rare 7.34-carat, D colour, FL, type IIa certified diamond. Lastly, a two-part sculptural ring offers an unprecedented variation on the Chaumet tradition of transformable jewels.

2. Lux

The second story in the collection is a tribute to Italian Renaissance polychromatic domes open to the sky. These pieces reimagine the Maison’s characteristic art of colour.

Lux Ring

Whether a bewitchingly fiery Australian opal or softly-hued angel skin coral, each centre stone has been carefully selected for its particularly evocative colours, as if to draw the gaze to a dreamlike horizon. The circles of gems that surround each central cabochon underlines its subtlety in an abundance of shades and cuts. With lapis lazuli beads, square-cut diamonds, cabochon sapphires, tsavorite garnets, mandarin garnets, baguette-cut aquamarines, the harmonious or contrasting effects evoke the sweetness of the dawn, the depth of a night sky or the flaming palette of sunset.

Lux Ring

Inspired by this dialogue with the sky, two Jumping Hours Creative Complication watches complete this offering. On the dial, a transparent rock crystal canopy reveals a mother-of-pearl background, surrounded by a circle of lapis lazuli or turquoise marquetry.

3. Lacis

Recalling the stone latticework and mashrabiyas of contemporary architecture, with its white gold interlacing Lacis delineates symmetrical and delicate jewellery while also suggesting maze of narrow streets.

Lacis Necklace

This modern reinterpretation of diamond mesh, a historic Chaumet signature, is especially striking in the form of a light tiara, a secret watch, and rings and bracelets with airy volumes.

Lacis ring

In each piece, a subtle interplay of light and transparency is orchestrated by the crossing of fils couteau mountings. A21.93-carat Mozambique rubellite stands out in bold and saturated pink on a spectacular necklace.

Lacis Bracelet

This design can be combined with earrings, a ring and a bracelet set with perfectly matched rubellites. Or mixed with pieces in which intensely yellow diamonds appear to distort the jewel’s geometric structure, creating hypnotic kinetic effects.

4. Ondulation

Inspired by deconstructivist architecture, Ondulation breaks free from the laws of perspective to celebrate the art of movement and the freedom to create. It once again celebrates the Chaumet jewellery of the 1970s, featuring yellow gold worked in unique textures and interplays of feminine curves.

Yellow gold is shaped in volume like a second-skin mesh. The effect is one of surprise, alternating between full and fluid, it combines presence and lightness in a necklace that hugs the contours of the neck. An unusual bluish-green 30.22-carat tourmaline contrasts with the warm golden tones.

Elsewhere, yellow sapphires on a cuff bracelet and a jewel watch with a trompe l’oeil dial, represent an example of historical Chaumet virtuosity.

Lacis Tiara

5. Mirage

With layerings of diamonds and sapphires, Mirage is an ode to constantly moving structures. As the centrepiece a tiara revisits the Maison’s tradition of transformable jewels.  Composed of two superimposed sections that can be worn individually or combined, one featuring a 5.07-carat pear-cut E colour VVS2 diamond and the other in sapphires, this creation offers three options of wearing.  Also embracing illusionary effects, the dial of a secret watch is hidden beneath a pavé bracelet: a time-telling jewel in tribute to historic Chaumet creations.

Using a motif that has long been present in the heritage of Chaumet, an asymmetrical toi et moi ring suggests the union of two people. Coordinating with the other Mirage creations, these pieces spark a dialogue between diamond and sapphire, in homage to the gems on the engagement ring offered by Napoléon to Joséphine, the Maison’s first major client.

6. Labyrinthe

Labyrinthe ring

Inspired by the search for abstract beauty Labyrinthe sees Right angles and circles, harmonious contrasts of black onyx and colour, spacing and layering worn together in the manner of Russian constructivism or Italian futurism. Stones are sprinkled across the jewels with unexpected grace. Its exploration of the art of the line offers a unique way to adorn an assertive femininity, echoing the bold volumes of Chaumet jewellery from the first decades of the 20th century.

Labyrinthe ring

At the heart of the precious Labyrinthe mazes, you’ll find exquisite centre stones. the deep pink of tourmalines, the velvety green of Zambian emeralds, the purity of diamonds, the smoothness of white, golden, lustrous pink or black pearls.

Labyrinthe earrings

The rich and varied nuances of sapphires: from a vivid blue Burmese sapphire on a ring and earrings matched with a pendant set with a 34.30-carat oval sapphire, to a pinkish-orange Ceylon padparadscha sapphire, pink Madagascar sapphires, or shades that appear to change in the light from bold to pinkish-violet. Cut specifically for each piece, precious or ornamental stones weave around these centre stones, following and highlighting their contours in an interplay of textures, heights and volumes.

The high jewellery collection is now available.

Dubai based design company Harf Noon Design studio has collaborated with Knot home on a second collection of bed throws and textiles.

Founded by Nisrine El Lababidi Moghraby Harf Noon Design Studio brings a modern approach to interiors.

For the second collaboration with multi-brand eCommerce platform Knot Home, Moghraby continues her design journey in interiors, venturing into a new scope by bringing to life a collection of soft furnishings.

The collection is designed in contemporary colours including golden yellow, soft powder blue, and dreamy off whites using the most luxurious combination of cotton and silk materials, blending perfectly with each other for a rich, affordable luxury approach.

Nisrine El Lababidi Moghraby, Principal Designer and Founder of Harf Noon Design Studio said: “Whether you want to makeover your bedroom or to simply add to what you already own, the pieces will instantly transform and add a sophisticated vibe, providing a perfect sense of style and chicness just where you need it most.”

The long bed runner is designed so it can be displayed on either side along with two comfortably beautiful 60 x 60 cushions, pre-filled with feather and down inserts.

The sets add immediate magic to any bedroom making it a cosy oasis that you’ll never want to leave!

The new collection is available online at www.knothome.com with free delivery in the UAE and free returns within seven days.

Discover the latest must-have accessory designed by Maria Grazia Chiuri for Dior’s fall/winter 2020 collection.

As part of the launch of the Fall 2020 collection by Maria Grazia Chiuri, Dior unveils Dior Bobby, a new bag of timeless modernity and a subtle tribute to Christian Dior’s beloved dog, whose name christened numerous pieces of Dior’s collections over the years.

“In each collection, there was a suit that was expected to be a success was called Bobby,” wrote the founding couturier in his memoirs.

Decorated with the initials “CD” and a delicate buckle, this hobo-style bag is available in conveys a liberated, self-confident elegance.

Its generous, delicate curves are complemented by matching straps – in leather or Dior Oblique canvas – for an elegant couture effect. An object of desire that expresses the contemporary essence of Dior now more than ever and is ideal for today’s modern woman.

The Dior Bobby is available in three sizes and four colours – black, cream, camel and blue Dior Oblique canvas.

Tod’s presented a virtual journey into the reality of its Headquarters as part of Milan Digital Fashion Week today.

“Inside Tod’s Studio” saw the Italian house open the doors of its HQ in Brancadoro in the iconic Le Marche region of Italy to give viewers a glimpse inside its world of design and creativity.

The story begins at the initial concept of Tod’s designs and takes viewers through the process of creation to the final phase, focusing on the Spring 2021 Pre-Collections which will be launched in December. This fascinating story gives a glimpse into the beauty of the craftsmanship that goes into every single piece made.

WATCH THE VIDEO HERE…

The camera follows Creative Director Walter Chiapponi as he walks through the Tod’s Headquarters, passing by the design studios, research departments and workshops, into the heart of the company and its people. Viewers discover the spaces where the ready-to-wear and accessories are made from the very first stages through to the finished product.

Viewers can see moodboards, prototypes and designs, offering an exclusive look at the creation of the Spring 2021 Pre-Collections for men and women.

Walter Chiapponi explains how the collection was created and what inspired him, before leading the viewer into the universe of craftsmanship as we explore the finest hides, machinery, moulds and coloured yarns that are used to create Tod’s iconic products.

The close-up details and stages of craftsmanship lead to the final scene: the photoshoot where we see Italian models Edoardo Sebastianelli, Alessandro Fella and Matilde Buoso wearing pieces from the collection.

This unique video allows the world to get a never-seen-before insight into the world of Tod’s, discovering the unique craftsmanship and passion that goes into each of Tod’s designs.

The Spring Pre-Collections will be available in Tod’s stores from December 2020.

Gucci’s new summer beauty collection is for all women – wherever and however you’re spending your summer.

Created under the vision of Alessandro Michele these new face and eye make-up launches come in fresh summer colours and embrace the House’s distinctive vintage aesthetic.

The launch includes Poudre De Beauté Éclat Soleil, a beauty powder which creates a sun-kissed glow, and Vernis à Ongles, a nail polish capsule collection in fresh summer tones.

The Poudre De Beauté Éclat Soleil is designed to deliver a luminous looking finish and create a natural, sun-kissed glow. Smoothing on and blending very easily, the natural colour results are instant and smooth, offering all-day comfort and a long-lasting look. Blurring fine lines and pores, complexion appears naturally perfected and sculpted. With a soft and silky texture that is creamy to the touch, the thin film formula is light and easy to apply, smoothing away imperfections and blending effortlessly.

The Vernis à Ongles is a capsule collection of nail polishes perfect for the summer months. Its high-shine formula creates a glossy finish as shiny as glass, with each coat transforming into an ultra-smooth film.

The products are packaged in vintage-style packaging in line with the House’s creative vision. The collection is showcased in a creative packshot by British photographer Martin Parr, well-known for his unconventional documentary images

The summer beauty collection is available at Gucci Beauty counters worldwide.

As of 15^th July 2020 The Maldives has reopened to tourists. The island nation in the Indian Ocean is inviting tourists back to its shores and it is possibly one of the safest places to visit in the world right now.

As of 16^th July both Etihad and Emirates are flying to The Maldives from the UAE making it easy for you to travel directly to this paradise.

Visitors will not have to enter quarantine upon arrival at the Velana International Airport in the capital, Male or when travelling to remote islands. Nor will they need to produce proof they have tested negative for coronavirus.

The best way to visit the Maldives is by checking into a private resort – this will make your trip stress-free and will also be the safest way to set foot on the island. Some islands are accessible by boat and others by seaplane – both of which are usually organised by the resort, especially with the top-end hotels.

Here we discover some of the destinations that are open for business, offering you that much-needed vacation you’ve been dreaming of.

One&Only Reethi Rah

This resort offers the ultimate in luxury and seclusion. Nestled within lush tropical gardens the resort is set on one of the largest private islands in North Malé Atoll meaning there are plenty of open spaces for you to embrace nature and feel completely isolated. There are twelve beaches and six kilometres of shoreline to discover, included secluded spots.

Your private villa will offer everything you need including dining available in the comfort of your room. The island’s signature, three-bedroom Grand Sunset Residence boasts 2,487 square meters of spectacular space and sleeps 10. It’s perfect for a large family gathering. The villa even has an in-room cinema experience, private butler and private dining spaces.

Spa facilities have also opened on the island as well as recreational experiences including snorkelling.

The Residence, Maldives

The Residence Maldives Dhigurah and The Residence Maldives Falhumaafushi have introduced special  ‘buy now, indulge more’ packages to welcome back guests. The vouchers will allow you to get more for your money and the more you spend the more you get.

These two relaxing resorts are designed in harmony with the natural environment, blending traditional Maldivian architecture with contemporary elegance and modern comforts. Relax in the privacy of the resort’s beachfront and over-water villas that offer an oasis just steps from the sand, or the pleasure of slipping straight from your deck into the cool, clear waters to reach your own private lagoon.

The resorts also have a number of special deals for guests visiting over the Eid break, with up to 50 per cent of the best Available Rates.

Naladhu Private Island Maldives

Find secluded paradise at Naladhu Private Island Maldives, home to 20 elegant and spacious private houses fronting the blue waters of the Indian Ocean. This incredible destination can be completely hired out for groups of up to 50 guests, giving you your own little piece of paradise in the Indian Ocean.

Every space is yours and yours alone, from The Living Room’s beachfront dining scene to the pristine shores overlooking the blue lagoon. Customise an Intimate Dining Affair exclusively for your group or enjoy a variety of dining options on our neighbouring resort islands – the choice is yours.

The island stay package includes 20 luxurious houses, all with private pools, a personalised butler service for each villa to cater to your every whim, 24 hours a day, daily gourmet breakfast available at any time of the day and an in-residence spa. The stay comes with a host of activities to discover including a day cruise experience, watersports, and snorkelling.

Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu and Coco Bodu Hithi

These two picturesque resorts will reopen on 1^st August 2020. The islands have enhanced their rigorous cleaning and disinfecting protocols for the reopening to ensure the health and safety of all guests. These two boutique resorts are quite unique on the island thanks to their fresh unique style.

As part of the reopening Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu is offering 7 nights for the price of 7 as well as 40 per cent off bed and breakfast rate. Guests can also benefit from Complimentary Early Check-in and Late Check-out and 20% discount on extra F&B and select spa treatments

While over at Coco Bodu Hithi guests can benefit from 4 nights for the price of 3 as well as 40 per cent off bed and breakfast rate. Guests can also benefit from Complimentary Early Check-in and Late Check-out and 20% discount on extra F&B and select spa treatments

These and a number of other offers will run from now until 30^th November.

Crossroads Maldives

Recently launched Crossroads Maldives, Indian Ocean’s first and only multi-island, integrated leisure destination, and its award-winning resorts- SAii Lagoon Maldives, Curio Collection by Hilton and Hard Rock Hotel Maldives has reopened its doors.

Nestled within the exquisite Emboodhoo Lagoon, just 15 minutes by boat from Male’ International Airport, the game-changing new retreats offers a myriad of immersive experiences. Whether it is a family seeking bonding time, a small group of friends in search of an upbeat get-together, a cool couple who wants to rock out in style, or a company that wish to bond with staff in a refreshing way, CROSSROADS customises memorable island experiences while ensuring space, privacy and safety.

The resorts are offering a “Stay 3 Pay 2” package, allowing guests to purchase vouchers that can be redeemed any time before 31^st October 2021 with an attractive free night for each consecutive 2 nights stayed.  Perfect for those who want to travel but not sure when, this offer also comes with maximum flexibility on reservation changes and cancellations up to 24 hours before arrival time. Complimentary activities such as Sunrise Yoga, Coral Propagation Programme, Aqua gym and cocktail class are offered at SAii Lagoon Maldives.

For ultimate privacy, the entire island is now available for rent inclusive of 50 rooms. Perfect for family gatherings or weddings.

Velaa Private Island

For the ultimate in luxury and safety visit Velaa Private Island. You can now and at Maafaru International Airport in your private jet and be whisked away on the resort’s exclusive yacht to one of the most ultra-luxurious remote islands in the world. This secluded island features 47 villas houses and residences and you can takeover the entire property.

Large families looking to celebrate the Eid holidays in privacy can choose one of the four Velaa Private Residences.  With four bedrooms accommodating up to ten guests, a rarity in the Maldives, the Velaa Private Residences offer stylish contemporary design with 1,350 square metres of private interior and exterior space, inclusive of two terraces, large pool, private beach, outdoor lounge and cinema,  private spa and plenty of space for each member of the family to relax. Secluded on a pristine private beach, the carefully curated interiors deliver comfort and plenty of space for all members of the party.

Couples looking for a quiet escape can stay at the Romantic Pool Residence which is accessible only by boat and comprises of a one-bedroom villa suspended over the lagoon with surrounding views of the ocean. The villa opens onto terraces complete with jacuzzi, pool, sundeck and a sunken bath. Guests can enjoy first-class dining by their personal chef inside the villa or over the water in a private dining gazebo. The Romantic Pool Residence also features a personal gym and spa treatment rooms featuring curated treatments to pamper and rejuvenate.

Choose from a programme of activities including jet-skiing, windsurfing and pedal-boating, as well as hydro flight toys and scuba-diving in the resort’s own dive centre. Explore the marine environment in a mini submarine or an underwater drone that allows you to make short films. For golfers, the island offers one of the few golf courses in the Maldives.  Velaa Private Island also boasts an extraordinary culinary experience with venues that are unrivalled throughout the Maldives. With three restaurants, two bars and a cellar, Velaa Private Island offers an unforgettable culinary journey to its guests.

Velaa Spa is a wellness sanctuary that curates personalized beauty and wellness experiences. The luxury island prides itself in pioneering some of the most innovative beauty and wellness treatments in the world such as the Cloud 9 relaxation facility.

Etro brought the fashion world back together today with a physical show in Milan to present its Men’s Spring Summer 2021 and Women’s Resort 2021 collections.

The informal gathering in Milan was also broadcast live as part of Milan Digital Fashion Week for those who cannot travel to Italy at the moment to view from the comfort of their homes.

“We are finally back together, in the garden of this iconic hotel, in the heart of Milan’s Montenapoleone district. We want to highlight that we are a family, that Etro is a family living in a world of joie de vivre, colour and positivity. This season, we want to bring to the stage real clothes for real people, discovering a new authenticity. Just what we like, what we think is absolutely relevant, what makes us feel good. Nothing more than this.” Said Kean and Veronica Etro ahead of the show.

Inspired by travel this collection looked a little closer to home and to travellers in Milan itself, with styles representing the journeys individuals are on.

We saw essential pieces that are key to the brand including Stripes, Madras checks and the unmissable Paisley motif on shirts, loose-fitting trousers and jackets. Shirts, deconstructed suits and feminine maxi dresses to be effortlessly worn with flat shoes.

For the men’s collection, ties from a vintage archive are worn with relaxed separates while jacquard cardigans are cinched at the waist with embroidered belts are worn with plissé skirts. Exquisite intarsia pepper both the denim shirts and the suede jackets, and floral camouflage patterns are all over printed on Bermuda pants and lightweight field jackets.

Rich upholstery inspired fabrics showing flowers and wild animals are juxtaposed with patchworks with a graphic appeal, while tonal looks in solid colours have a sporty-chic vibe.

In keeping with the brand’s continuous commitment to sustainability, Etro used eco-friendly fabrics, but also manipulated archival textiles for an exciting upcycling process. All identified by the BENETROESSERE special tag, these unique pieces include patchwork denim pants and jackets crafted from vintage cloths, while shirts are made of eucalyptus yarns and polo shirts are realized in a special textile obtained through the recycling of plastic bottles.

The new Etro x Carrera Collectors Edition eyewear, is a unisex re-edition of Carrera’s iconic Champion aviator style, dating back to the Eighties, in a summery colour palette of lemon yellow, intense red, candy pink, forest green, night blue and shiny black. These key accessories were crucial to the collection.

As part of Milan Digital Fashion Week Prada presented “Multiple Views SS21 The Show That Never Happened”, a collection for men and women that celebrates the different views of multiple creatives.

As the name suggests, this collection was about taking a different approach with different views and interpretations. The collection, designed by Miuccia Prada, was broken into five chapters and each was brought to life by a different image maker or artists.

Miuccia Prada

Prada partnered with five creatives who each propose a film, capturing the collection in the way they see it. Image makers Terence Nance, Joanna Piotrowska, Martine Syms, Juergen Teller and Willy Vanderperre each brought to life the offering with their own creative statement.

Prada Multiple Views SS21 by Juergen Teller

This approach was based on the idea of the way in which we all interpret the traditional fashion show in different ways. One thing can be seen differently through many people’s eyes and it is this angle that the designer wanted to highlight, thus enhancing the versatility and adaptability of the pieces.

Prada Multiple Views SS21 by Terence Nance

The looks for men and women were simple in their colour and style with a longevity and sense of going back to basics. The collection focuses on the question of how clothes are worn, where and why.

These meanings can be complex especially today, at a time when clothes are worn in a number of different ways for more than one purpose.

The silhouette for men is sharp and narrow, fitted, with technologically innovative fabrications of Prada nylon and stretch materials juxtaposed with traditional suiting; for women, the same fabrics are given couture volumes and treatments. Essential pieces are given a new lease of life with a ‘less is more’ ideology.

We also saw very industrial outfits in classic fabrications, leathers, cottons, taffeta, and true sportswear, drawn from Linea Rossa, technically innovative, function dictating form.

At a time when the world has changed for so many of us, the collection feels quite fitting. Making it acceptable to combine daywear with workwear, prioritising comfort and functionality to create an offering that we can all really appreciate and find the space to wear at this current point in time.

Pomellato has unveiled its first High Jewellery collection; La Gioia that celebrates the true DNA and values of the House.

The landmark launch for the brand sees the Italian House evolving into the world of High Jewellery for the first time.

The collection of 165 pieces brings the modern spirit and Italian craftsmanship of the Pomellato to the High Jewellery sector, with each piece telling a unique story and highlighting masterful savoir-faire.

THE MAKING OF PAVE’ SABBIA FLAMINGO

“La Gioia di Pomellato truly expresses who we are – our deepest identity – and Pomellato is not an elitist jeweller. This collection reflects the Italian art of living, where one does not make a distinction between everyday jewellery and ceremonial jewellery, between the jewels that one wears and those that one leaves in the vault.  In Italy, beauty is not to be feared, it is to be revered!” said Sabina Belli, Pomellato CEO.

Each of the exquisite pieces was made in the Casa Pomellato workshop by the House’s skilled craftsman who worked to hand-carve and hand-set the jewels, from start to finish.

THE MAKING OF SABBIA NECKLACE WITH TAHITI PEARLS

The collection of necklaces, rings, bracelets and earrings celebrates the House’s love for colour and the use of unusual gemstones, irregular settings and carefully hand-carved designed. It is a celebration of the true DNA of the brand.

“Our DNA is what nourishes the inspiration of our High Jewelry,” explains Vincenzo Castaldo, the Creative Director of the brand. “We reinvent our iconic Nudo rings, the Tango chain, Ritratto’s mineral stones, but meanwhile we maintain a balance between masterful craftsmanship and the audacity of a creation. La Gioia speaks in the Pomellato language but in an even more unrestrained, more reckless, more sophisticated way. In this collection, the High Jewelry pieces act as our veritable protagonists: the stars of Pomellato design.”

GOURMETTE ASSOLUTA BROWN DIAMONDS

Highlights of the collection include:

The Gourmette Caméléon; a choker that embraces the house’s love of chains, 29 gold links are set with a gradation of multicoloured gemstones. Requiring nearly 200 hours of work to create, the piece’s gourmette chain shines like a ‘rainbow’ – a symbol of hope.

Inspired by the Nudo collection, the Nudo Cascade is composed of a necklace and earrings with chandelier links, swinging with the grace of the neck. In pink gold hand-set with diamonds, the first necklace is an ode to white, in frosted topazes lined with iridescent mother-of-pearl. As for the second, it has been enhanced with peridots and white topazes, sublimated with the joy of intense green tsavorites.

THE MAKING OF GOURMETTE CAMELEON

The Iconica Choker encrusted with diamonds is remarkably minimalistic in its structure, yet with an incredible resplendence that required 226 hours to create. Its solid circle of pink gold is paved with a hand-set gradience of 1,706 white diamonds for a tactile perfection. The fineness of its stone-settings is such that when touched, the gold seems to be almost covered with a silky skin: it feels as if it were literally diamond-coated.

Rivière Grenat expresses itself with a deep red accent in order to punctuate the asymmetry of its rose gold choker. The beauty of its rare pyrope garnet is complemented by clusters of cognac diamonds. Rivière Péridot Menthe illuminates the bright almond green of its stones, as their bluish undertones are in fact unusual within the peridot family.

SABBIA CHOKER AND BRACELET

For Sabbia of Tahiti, precious pearl spheres round off on three models of exquisite refinement, incorporating both gold and diamonds. With true glamour, the jeweller sculpts this Y-shaped necklace to fall from a row of Tahitian pearls, dropping with a pink-gold chain. As a pendant, a circular swarm of white, cognac and black diamonds is hand-set with irregular sertissage. Pomellato crafts clip earrings and a double finger ring for the collection.

Rihanna’s FENTY clothing line has gone live in the UAE through an exclusive partnership with Farfetch.

The announcement comes in line with the launch of the brand’s third drop of its summer collection title “Release 6-20”.

Farfetch will become FENTY’s first and only online retail partner and will play host to all the latest collections as they are released.

The first major launch on Farfetch.com is Drop 3 of Release 6-20. The three-part Release 6-20 collection commemorates the irrepressible creativity, hope and spirit of the youth community. Inspired by decades of youth aesthetics and styles that emerged during periods of steep social change, each drop celebrates a different facet of youth, expressed through varied style cues.

The collection is summery with a nineties undertone thanks to overdyed pinstripe, psychedelic flower motifs and asymmetric cuts that look to the spirit and optimism of youth to lead the way forward. FENTY also introduces its new multifunctional jewellery collection in this drop, featuring psyche flower charms made from multicolour resin, and strass adorn various lengths of a brass ball chain necklace with gold-tone or palladium finishes.

The collection is available exclusively at Farfetch.com and available for delivery in the UAE from July 15^th.

The first ever Milan Digital Fashion Week starts today (July 14^th, 2020) with over 40 Italian fashion houses showcasing their latest collections digitally across the world.

The event was opened via a live press conference this morning hosted by Carlo Capasa, Chairman of Camera Nazionale della Moda Italia alongside Giuseppe Sala, The Mayor of Milan and Carlo Maria Ferro, President of ICE Agenzia.

The three-day event will see fashion Houses present the men’s spring/summer 2021 collections as well as women’s pre-collections.

Brands including Prada, Alberta Ferretti, Tod’s, Gucci Missoni and more will showcase their latest collections through the digital platforms, while others such as Dolce & Gabbana and Etro will broadcast live digital fashion shows via a video link.

During this morning’s live press conference Mayor of Milan, Giuseppe Sala said: “I want to recognise the value of the fashion world which is fundamental for many reasons. Milano is fashion and fashion is Milano. You (fashion industry) tackle the most critical issues of our society. Fashion means many things and that is the reason why fashion is undisputed in Milan.

We will be with you at any time during this critical time. We have to make the best of the circumstances and now so we go digital. It is something different, but we believe that it’s not the case that we should come back to business as soon as possible. We have to look for a new, different normality after the lessons we have learned over these months.”

With the full support of the Milan community, the presentations will kick off today with offerings from MSGM, Prada, Alberta Ferretti, Moschino and more. Over 40 designers will take place in the event showcasing their collections in many different ways.

“The fashion industry is experiencing a drop between 20 and 30 per cent so it’s a very difficult time for the industry but this digital fashion week wants to give a message of positivity, hope and trust.” Said Carlo Capasa, Chairman of Camera Nazionale della Moda Italia

Designers are free to express themselves in different ways through the platform. It could be a video, performance, digital event. There will also be special content broadcast live talking about some of the most significant issues of the industry.

In this morning’s press conference Carlo Maria Ferro President of ICE Agenzia spoke of the importance of the fashion industry to the economy of Milan and particularly SME businesses.

“The Italian fashion industry is the second largest exporter in the world for fashion but the first in terms of quality and design and we are leading the way worldwide in terms of sustainability.”

He spoke of the need for two points in the recovery fromCOVID-19: Reaction: the way in which the city recovers and Vision: a new way of doing things moving forwards.

This digital fashion week is the first step in the new normal when it comes to Milan fashion week and will allow not just the elite but everyone to experience the best of Italian fashion.

The event runs from 14 to 17 July, 2020 and presentations and shows can be found here

Piaget’s new High Jewellery collection “Wings of Light” invites you on a journey into a world of fantasy and joy.

Inspired by flight and the wings of a bird, this exquisite collection features diamonds and coloured gemstones that bring to life the beauty of nature and celebrate a tranquil oasis of wonder and harmony.

The wing of a bird has long been a motif used in jewellery throughout the years and requires such high levels of skilled craftsmanship.  One of the key aspects of the Wings of Light collection is the Majestic Plumage Set.

This colourful necklace and earrings and cocktail ring set feature gem-setting work that perfectly resembles the colours of an exotic bird created by sapphires and spinel. At the centre of the necklace is a rare 7.49 carats Paraiba. This unique stone was sourced in Mozambique and is quite unusual for its size. The statement necklace can be taken apart and worn as an ear cuff or can be further divided to be worn on both ears.

The earrings showcase a rainbow of stones and took over 140 hours to complete in the Piaget atelier. This combination of the highest quality of both stones and skill repeats in the cocktail ring, a statement piece showcasing remarkable gems which took eight months to source and match. A vibrant, indigo blue- coloured tourmaline, so different from the darker blue-green of more common tourmaline, is teamed with the perfect ‘hot pink’ shade of red in the pear-shaped spinel.

The second key part of the collection is the Secret Cenote Set. Inspired by cascading rivers of blue waters melting into smooth shapes. This natural pool, poetically called ‘cenote’ (translated from the Spanish as ‘holy well’) is a place of rest and refuge, where the colour of the water reflects and soothes us into a gentle state of calm. The centre of the necklace is a “Ceylon” 22.68 carats sapphire in bright blissful blue sourced in Sri Lanka; home to some of the most beautiful sapphires in the world. The matching ring is designed with an equally beautiful blue stone at the centre. This time in 11.34 carats. This sapphire is from Madagascar. Leafy vine-shapes diamonds were especially cut to surround the sapphire in a way that reflects nature. To complete; earrings with sapphires and diamonds with matching stones.

The Cenote set also features one of the most iconic pieces of the high jewellery collection. The Cenote watch echoes the blues and greens of tropical vegetation, the lush colours of nature, but this time with majestic black opal as its dial and in its surrounding details. Featuring the finest black opal in the world; sourced in Australia this watch is truly one of a kind. With an asymmetrical design the jewellery watch represents the order and randomness of nature. Baguette-cut sapphires and brilliant-cut diamonds surround the beautiful opal face, making this watch a stand out can’t be missed piece.

The third set the Rainbow Light Set celebrates the moment of the sun setting in the night sky. Warm rosy hues and rich golds and pinks illuminate the pieces in this set. Rubellites and pink tourmalines glow like hot coals, while rose gold, chosen to reflect the warmth of the tones of the sunset, is treated with the delicacy of ‘Palace Décor’, a hand-made golden engraving finish using age-old techniques and special instruments to produce a soft effect etched on the surface of the gleaming metal. These pieces use a ground-breaking partnership of leather, wood, and mother-of-pearl marquetry that paints a different picture to any that have gone before it. In a unique process developed by Rose Saneuil, each tiny piece of wood or calfskin is carefully cut to perfectly fit the outline and shape before being meticulously positioned within the whole, taking its specific place to create an effect of rays of light. Breathtaking as it is groundbreaking, this marquetry method is a new signature of the house. The mother-of-pearl is also treated uniquely, being cut to different lengths and crafted on a curved stand to ensure comfort when wearing: it is resistant to water and UV rays thanks to a thin layer of varnish developed and tested in tropical climate conditions.

This set consists of three jewels; earrings a cuff, and a jewellery watch. The cuff features a rubellite of 22.68 carats and using a high level of craftsmanship to create a unique piece of art. The watch is created using the most highly skilled of techniques combining fine watchmaking with expert jewellery making techniques. The technique of marquetry in wood, stones, straw, leather and parchment is repeated here. The watch is complete with a Piaget signature off-centre hours-minute counter and the tourbillon carriage.

A truly spectacular collection that will make you dream.

Sandra Koeder, Senior Wellness Expert at Technogym Emirates, demonstrates how to keep fit and moving without leaving your home

In this uncertain time and era of the exponential growth of the “metabolic syndrome” and obesity, lifestyle modifications could be a cost-effective way to improve health and quality of life. Lifestyle modifications can be particularly important individuals who suffer from mental health issues. Many of these individuals are at a high risk of chronic diseases associated with sedentary behaviour and medication side effects, including diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and cardiovascular disease. An essential component of lifestyle modification is exercise.

There are plenty of fitness activities you can do in the privacy of your own home. Not only can a sweat sesh help you combat seasonal affect disorder (SAD), according to research, but it can also boost your immune system. Doing exercise in your own personal space is an excellent opportunity to customise your experience.

A balanced diet and a moderate (and constant!) workout are the tools that allow the body to function at its best and to maximize its performance. Below you’ll find my guide to a healthy, fulfilling exercise regime that can be easily done in the home.”

A great way to start the day is with 30 minute daily exercises routines:

Warm-Up 5 minutes

Mobility exercises for the big joints (active dynamic stretching). Dynamic stretching can be used before the start of any exercise routine. It may help warm up your body or get your muscles moving and ready to work. Some examples that may benefit from dynamic stretches include:

Stretches include:

Leg circles

• Stand on one leg, holding on to a countertop or wall for support.
• Gently swing your other leg in small circles out to the side.
• Perform 20 circles then switch legs.
• Work up to larger circles as you become more flexible.

(variation: Start to swing one leg back and forth while balancing on the other. You can hold onto a wall if needed. Small dynamic lunge backward with side bending)

Lunges

• Lunge backwards with your right leg, keeping your knee directly over your ankle and not extending it farther than your ankle.
• Reach overhead with your left arm and bend your torso toward the right side.
• Bring your right leg back to return to an upright standing position. Lunge backwards with your left leg.
• Repeat five times on each leg.

Arm circuits

• Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and hold your arms out to the side at shoulder height.
• Circle around your arms slowly, starting with small circles, working up to larger circles. Repeat 20 times.
• Reverse the direction of the circles and perform 20 more.

Spinal rotations

• Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and bring your arms out to the side at shoulder height.
• Keep your torso still and slowly start to rotate your body back and forth from right to left.
• Repeat 5–10 times.

Jog to quad stretch

• Start by jogging on the spot for 2–3 seconds.
• Reach behind one leg to grab hold of one foot to stretch out the

quad. Hold for 2–3 seconds.

• Jog again for 2–3 seconds.
• Repeat stretches with the other leg.
• Repeat 5–10 times.

“A great piece of equipment to stay fit at home, which doesn’t take up too much space and is very useful is the Technogym Wellness Ball. The Wellness Ball Active Sitting is a product that adds a stylish touch to every home and office and it can be used for work, rest, comfort and training, all to give you strong muscles for better posture and stability at the same time. By scanning the QR code on the cover of the ball you can use the mywellnss which offers a multitude of ways to train. The destabilizing effect given by the form of this exercise solution will help to improve core stability and at the same time the use of all the muscles of your body, improving balance, posture, strength and muscle elasticity. I have chosen a routine that you can integrate it into your everyday life and just feel amazing afterwards. All these exercises are in the app that you can use to track and save your performance.”

Workout 25 minutes (Circuit-style)

50 seconds work 10 seconds move to another exercise – 1 min rest between the rounds (After all 7 are performed).

1. Glute bridge – shoulders on the ball (Glutes, hamstrings lower back)

Place your hands behind your head and the shoulder blades on the ball. Lift the hip up and down using your breathing as a rhythm indicator. Focusing on the quality of the movement and your breathing will support mental relaxation and good quality muscle work.

2. Hand to Feet Ball Pass (Core, anterior muscle chain)

Start on your back with a stability ball held between your hands straight up over chest and legs straight up over hips. Slowly lower your arms behind the head and legs toward the floor until you are in a V-shape. Tighten abs to keep the lower back pressed into the floor. Pull your hands and feet back to start and pass the ball to your feet. Lower to a V again and return to start passing back to hands. To make it easier bend your knees and make sure your lower back is not lifting off the floor during the execution.

3. Push up – on the ball (Chest, shoulders)

You can choose between having the hip on the ball and hands on the ground and/or more challenging would be having the hands on the ball keeping a nice straight line of your body during the execution.

4. Wall squat – with the ball (Glutes, thighs)

With your hands on your hips, gently lean against the ball on the wall. Bend your knees and lower your body until your thighs are parallel to the floor, allowing the ball to roll down slightly then push into your heels to slowly return to the start position.

5. Reverse Fly – Prone on the ball (Infraspinatus, Teres Minor, Deltoid Lateral, Trapezius, Middle, Trapezius, Lower, Rhomboids)

Lie face down with chest supported by a stability ball. Feet should

be wider than shoulder-width apart for stability. Optionally you can use Dumbbells in each hand with a neutral grip (palms facing each other) and rest your hands-on floor directly under shoulders. With elbows slightly bent and facing the ceiling, raise your arms to shoulder level and squeeze shoulder blades together at top of the movement. Return to start position Breathing: Inhale on the way up and then exhale at top of the exercise movement.

6. Single leg Squat – Rear leg on the ball (quads, calves and hamstrings)

Rest a foot on the ball (optional stay close to the wall in case you need support for the balance), it needs to be about knee height. Get into a forward lunge position with torso upright, core braced and hips square to your body, with your back foot elevated on the ball. Your leading leg should be half a meter or so in front of the ball.

Lower until your front thigh is almost horizontal, keeping your knee in line with your foot. Avoid the knee to travel beyond your toes. Drive-up through your front heel back to the starting position, again keeping your movements measured.

7. Superman – on the ball (lower back, glutes, hips, hamstrings, and shoulders)

Start the superman exercise on the exercise ball by lying over the ball with your waistline centred over the top, chest slightly raised. Hands rest lightly on the floor in front of you. Feet rest on the floor behind you about shoulder-width apart. Set your abdominals and tuck your chin in before you move anything.

Raise one arm in front of you to shoulder height. At the same time, raise the opposite leg. Hold for 3 seconds. Lower your hand and foot to the floor. Repeat this on the other side.

Repeat these 7 exercises for 3 rounds varying the speed in case you would like it more intense and you already have experience with using the ball in your workout routines from before.

Stretching

“Passive stretching is a type of stretching in which you stay in one position for a set time. You’re able to relax your body while a partner, accessory, or prop intensifies the stretch by putting external pressure on your body. You can also use the floor or a wall.”

Nutrition

Eating and exercise go hand in hand.

When and what you eat can be important to how you feel when you exercise. Get up early enough to finish breakfast at least one hour before your workout. Be well fueled going into a workout. Studies suggest that eating or drinking carbohydrates before exercise can improve workout performance and may allow you to work out for a longer time or at a higher intensity. If you don’t eat, you might feel sluggish or lightheaded when you exercise.

Good breakfast options include:

Whole-grain cereals with berries and or banana, Low-fat milk (choose almond or Coconut milk in case of intolerance), fresh green juice or smoothie with Yoghurt or empty pancakes are also a great option.

Be careful not to overdo it when it comes to how much you eat before exercise. To help your muscles recover and to replace their glycogen stores, eat a meal that contains both carbohydrates and protein within two hours of your exercise session if possible.

Some great lunch combinations include Seabass with mashed potatoes and spinach, organic chicken salad with mixed greens or vegetable stew with some organic beef. In case you are a vegetarian dish with lentils are good to combine.

Dinner is the time where we usually gather to share food with our friends and family which is amazing, but we need to think about the portion size. If you want to feel full in the evening and at the same time to have a flat stomach in the next morning, light Thai coconut soup or Tomato soup with Vegetables would be a great choice. Tomato soup is very high in several essential nutrients. It gives you a good amount of fibre, potassium and vitamins A, C and K. Copper and selenium are two important nutrients in tomato soup that have a range of tomato health benefits. While copper promotes sperm development, nourishes blood vessels, muscles and the thyroid gland, copper keeps the nervous system healthy and strengthens bones and blood vessels.

When you sweat a lot and do a lot of physical activity in a warm environment, water alone is not enough to rehydrate. It is also necessary to recover the main minerals that are lost through sweat such as sodium, chlorine, potassium and magnesium. The first two are vital during activity.

Balance is key

As you settle into an active lifestyle, you’ll probably discover which foods give you the most energy and which have negative effects. The key is learning to listen to your body and balancing what feels right with what’s good for you.

Living a healthy lifestyle is something we all want to do. It starts by making small simple choices.
Each moment of the day we’re faced with these choices and it’s up to us to make them right. In doing so you will be on your way to both looking and feeling better. Start with scheduling a healthy breakfast and exercise first thing for an energy and brain boost!

Technogym provides exercises, tips and videos to follow and stay active and healthy through their TWellness Coaching app and the Technogym YouTube channel.

Online retailer Net-A-Porter has a new range of exclusive capsule collection that celebrates the heritage of Italian style.

The Italian Collective features exclusive capsule offerings from 11 brands and a portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Italian Red Cross, helping to support the organisation during the global pandemic.

Brands participating in the collective include Aquazurra, Tod’s, Giuliva Heritage, Blaze Milano, Gianvito Rossi, Rosantica, Golden Goose, Rene Caovilla, Bea Bongiasca, and Of Rare Origin, each presenting exclusive pieces in ready-to-wear, shoes, jewellery and accessories that celebrate the iconic style of Italy.

All of the collections were developed exclusively for Net-A-Porter and therefore can’t be found anywhere else.

20 per cent of the profits from the sales of these exclusive pieces donated to the Italian Red Cross, to support their work on the front line of the global health emergency. Thousands of volunteers, all across Italy, have been working tirelessly to support the most vulnerable people, providing a wide range of services:  emergency response, health services, psychological support, logistics, awareness campaigns, screenings and more.

“Italian style is renowned for being chic, glamourous and the ultimate in luxury. During this challenging time, we hope to highlight the creativity, craftsmanship and quality of Italian brands, while at the same time, bring the allure of an Italian summer to our customers. We are honoured to be donating 20% of the profits to the Italian Red Cross.”  said Elizabeth von der Goltz, Global Buying Director NET-A-PORTER

The Collective launches today (July 13).

Sophie Guillon, CEO of Valmont Group answers our questions on perfecting your at-home beauty routine

As many of us are adapting to a life at home our beauty regimes may have changed drastically in recent months. Make-up has become more barefaced than glam our skincare routines have become DIY. Sophie Guillon, CEO of Valmont Group answers our questions on perfecting your at-home beauty routine and how to ensure you get that fresh-faced clear skin look.

What is Valmont doing to connect with its customers during this time?

During this period of containment, we organized online appointments for customers who wanted personalized diagnostics.

What can clients expect to learn from the virtual sessions?

These consultations allowed us to take the time to listen to our clients, a great need for empathy was obvious … I found that the phone made it easier for them to talk about their problems

What are some skincare problems that may occur when at home for a long period of time without having the chance to be in the fresh air?

There is no real skin problem when you stay at home as long as you moisturize properly. On the contrary, you have more time to take care of it. However, you can sometimes find that your complexion is duller due to a lack of light.

What are some tips we can follow to take care of our skin during this lockdown period?

To preserve beautiful skin, it must be well hydrated and especially oxygenated.

Exfoliation is necessary during this period.

How should we adapt our skincare routine during lockdown?

Take the opportunity to use these moments for intensive treatment such as exfoliations and masks.

Many women aren’t wearing as much make-up at the moment – what are the positive impacts this will have on our skin in the long run?

Good quality make-up does not have a negative impact on the skin. it simply allows you to apply nourishing and restoring creams.

If our products are running out at home are there any alternative products we can find in the home to use on our skin?

We have set up an online sales service, with personalised diagnosis so that our clients can receive all their daily care.

When this situation is over will you be changing any of the strategy at Valmont?

Thanks to containment, we’ve set up online diagnostics that we’re going to be continuing.

We have also innovated in digital press conferences. This will be repeated for some launches and interviews.

How is the online business supporting sales since the crisis began?

Very well thanks to the online consultations.

Do you expect the buying behaviour of customers to change after this is over?

Probably, but clients will also be delighted to meet our BA for more spontaneous relationships.

What is the one product every woman should use?

Prime Renewing Pack!

One product is sold every fifteen minutes around the world…

How can we determine our skin type?

According to its discomfort and visual aspect (shine, roughness, colour …)

Moving into the summer what can we do to look after our skin in the warmer months?

The two most important things during hot weather are hydration and protection.

Once we start going out more again how should we adapt our skincare routine when coming out of lockdown?

No more than protection and normal routine.

What is your nightly skincare routine?

The Detox Cream.

Can you share with us a secret or tip that you live by?

I always use a serum with my day and night creams. What’s more, to naturally replenish my skin, the secret to good health starts with Primary Veil.

When we can travel again – what would you recommend for taking care of your skin while travelling?

When I travel, I always have the Moisturizing Booster with me. Directly on my face, tapping it, I give a drink to my skin, because it dehydrates very quickly when flying.

What is the one product you can’t live without?

Prime Renewins Pack.

Carolina Herrera has unveiled Heart For Hope, a charitable initiative that will help those in need during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Heart for Hope will see 10 per cent of all handbag and other accessory sales donated to the Red Cross and Red Crescent globally until December 31, 2020.

This project has a mission of creating and fostering joy in partnerships with organisations that share the values of the brand. Carolina Herrera has always been dedicated to bringing families together and gone beyond just fashion to share its values of always celebrating togetherness and hope with its clients.

Within the Middle East, the activation will be rolled out in partnership with the Emirates Red Crescent, Qatar Red Crescent Society, Bahrain Red Crescent Society, Jordanian Red Crescent, and Egyptian Red Crescent Society.

Within the same spirit, CH Carolina Herrera will also be partnering with the National Home Health Care Foundation (NHHCF) in KSA to implement the donations locally. NHHCF is a charity NGO whose mission is to maximize the quality of life for needy patients when they are back in their own home environment by providing them with medical and social support services.

Carolina Herrera’s bags have always been created as pieces that can be passed on from generation to generation and this initiative reinforces this aspect of the House.

German watchmaker A.Lange & Söhne has an extraordinary history generation after generation. We discover more

A Lange & Söhne was founded in 1845 in Glashütte by watchmaker Adolph Lange. Lange set up a factory in the town and he established the watchmaking industry in the area, fulfilling a vision he once had. A key figure in the community Lange was elected mayor of the town in 1848 and he transformed the area of Saxony into a modern industrial location that became the home of watchmaking in Germany.

Ferdinand Adolph Lange

Starting with a team of 15 apprentices he taught the basics of watchmaking while beginning to develop his business. He started to produce highly complicated watches that began to attract attention far and wide. As the apprentices became masters in their fields, Lange encouraged them to leave his company to start their own small supplier firms. This allowed him to establish a watchmaking cluster, which provided the region with a new means to make a living as well as creating a name for the area internationally in the watchmaking world.

1989 model of the Five Minute Clock at the Semper Opera in Dresden from 1890

After travelling through France he learnt many new skills which he put into play on returning. Lange started to use the metric system in watchmaking instead of the traditional norm, ligne. Soon after, he built his first micrometre in Dresden from the plans in his journey book. It could measure millimetres to the thousandth. Along with a measurement system, he invented various tools like hand-powered face-lathe to slide-rules and dixieme gauges.

1990 Five Minute Clock at the Semper Opera Dresden

In 1868 Ferdinand A. Lange’s eldest son Richard joined the family business as the company began to grow globally. He took the same approach as his father, becoming mayor of the town and leading the area to success. Richard advanced his father’s inventions and highly complicated patents. In 1871 Richard’s brother Emil joined the company and operated the business side. The two continued to refine the Maison’s watches to a level of perfection that defines the DNA of the brand to this very day.

Dial Micrometer

In 1948 after World War II A.Lange & Söhne ceased to exist for several years. The headquarters was almost completely destroyed by a Soviet air raid. At that time Lange was working on a new movement: Caliber 28, a wristwatch format of the calibre 48. It went into production in 1949 as the last movement developed by A. Lange & Söhne.

Walter Lange

In 1990 Walter Lange, grandson of Emil and great-grandson of Ferdinand Adolph Lange and his partner Günter Blümlein, a watch industry executive, restored the company as Lange Uhren GmbH, with the assistance of several Swiss watch manufacturers, including IWC and Jaeger-LeCoultre. It was re-established on the exact day 145 years after Walter’s great-grandfather Ferdinand Adolph Lange founded the original company. The new company was re-registered with A. Lange & Söhne as its trademark and was again based in Glashütte. The new company filed its first patent in 1992 and it presented its first range of wristwatches in 1994.

The outsize date soon becomes a distinctive feature of many of A. Lange & Söhne’s timepieces. Creating timepieces with outstanding functionality is second nature for the manufactory. Inspired by Ferdinand Adolph Lange, every timepiece developed has the aim of improving the watch precision, making it more readable or easier to operate.

In 2000 A. Lange & Söhne joined the Richemont Group and on 7 December 2001, A. Lange & Söhne returned to its original historical building to continue the family tradition of the company.

The Lange 1

The Lange 1 is an icon in the watch industry. It represents new beginnings and a fresh start. Walter Lange had always imagined that the first watch of the new era of A. Lange & Söhne watchmaking would live up to the legendary quality of A. Lange & Söhne’s historic pocket watches and at the same time define new standards. And the Lange 1 was up to the challenge. The Lange 1 has become a legend in the company and in the watchmaking world as a whole thanks to its unique combination of tradition and innovation.

This watch, which celebrated its 25th-anniversary last year, features traditional elements such as the three-quarter plate, screwed gold chain and a screw balance. It pays tribute to the earlier generations of the Maison but explores new avenues in precision horology. The decentralized arrangement of the displays on the dial is characteristic. Their centres form the corners of an isosceles triangle. None of the displays overlap, so outstanding legibility is guaranteed.

The outsize date is another key feature of the LANGE 1 watch family. It is indicated in a gold frame with numerals that are about three times larger than those in watches of comparable dimensions. The outsize date was inspired by the famous five-minute clock in Dresden’s Semper Opera House.

Today, the Lange 1 has evolved to create the Lange 1 family of watches. Each watch in this series preserves the iconic characteristics of the icon while integrating additional displays or complications. The Lange 1 is constantly being evolved and reimagined, allowing it to keep its status at the Maison as a modern icon.

Timeline of Events

1848

In 1848 Ferdinand Adolph Lange is elected mayor of Glashütte. During his 18-year tenure, he transformed Glashütte from a backward agricultural village into a modern industrial location. In 1895, the town’s citizens erected a monument as a tribute to his community service.

1898

On a state visit to Constantinople, German Emperor Wilhelm II presents his host with a lavishly decorated pocket watch created by A. Lange & Söhne.

1930

Richard Lange discovers that adding beryllium to steel-nickel alloys used for balance springs significantly improves the material properties. The following year his invention is patented.

1948

After Lange’s main production building was almost completely destroyed in an air raid on the last day of World War II, the company ceases to produce. Walter Lange, born in 1924, is forced to flee to West Germany.

1990

On 7 December, Walter Lange founds Lange Uhren GmbH and registers the A. Lange & Söhne trademark worldwide.

1994

Lange presents the first collection of the new era: LANGE 1, SAXONIA, ARKADE and TOURBILLON “Pour le Mérite”.

2001

The former residence and manufactory building of the Lange family was inaugurated in 1873. After reacquiring this building in 2001, it is used for administrative departments.

2003

Lange begins to produce balance springs in-house. The processes involved in making this tiny part are so elaborate and complex that only very few manufactories worldwide master them.

2007

Lange & Söhne opens its first boutique in Dresden followed by further mono-brand stores in the world’s key cities.

2013

Lange watchmakers craft the most complicated wristwatch of the new era: the GRAND COMPLICATION. It features a grand strike, a small strike, a minute repeater, a perpetual calendar and a rattrapante chronograph with flying seconds.

2015

After three years’ construction, the new manufactory building is inaugurated on 26 August. It provides more than 5,400 square metres of additional space and allows improvement of production processes.

2017

On 17 January, Walter Lange passes away at the age of 92. His motto “Never stand still” will continue to inspire the company’s culture and direction in the future.

2019

The Lange 1 celebrates its 25th anniversary and the Lange 1 family is introduced.

Jumeirah at Saadiyat Island Resort, Abu Dhabi offers the exclusivity of island life without having to leave the UAE.

The hotel recently reopened its doors after closing due to the COVID-19 pandemic and its now welcoming visitors again.

Private Villas

For those looking for an exclusive and more private experience, the resort’s secluded beachfront villas are the perfect family escape that will guarantee safety and a one-of-a-kind break. Choose from two, three or four-bedroom villas both of which feature high ceilings and light and airy interiors that bring the outside environment in.

All villas boast their own private pool and direct access to the beach. You’ll benefit from breathtaking views complete isolation. Two-bedroom villas can accommodate up to 7 guests while the three-bedroom villas can host up to 11 and four-bedroom villas host up to 8 adults and 6 children. The later is comprised of huge 520 square metres making it the perfect extended family escape.

Food & Dining

If you decided to venture out of your villa during your stay there are a number of dining options. For casual dining, and coffee stops head to The Lounge Saadiyat or Majlis Saadiyat. Mare Mare offers coastal Italian cuisine while poolside. White is the perfect stop for foodies. This interactive restaurant features dishes from around the world prepared at live cooking stations. And for the best of Arabic cuisine head to TEAN. The restaurant uses fresh ingredients to create authentic modern dishes.

Spa & Wellness

Become absorbed in a world of rejuvenation at The Spa. At the centre lies the grand Moroccan Hammam where you can enrich the body and mind with a cleansing ritual that has been celebrated for centuries. The SPA spans 2,700 square metres, with 13 treatment rooms and male and female facilities, including a sauna, hydrotherapy pools, steam room, salt room, experience showers and traditional Arabic Rasul room.

The Spa offers organic spa rituals as well as innovative spa therapies to cater your every need.  Deluxe couples’ suite can be accessed via a private entrance. For the ultimate way to unwind, the four spa villas ensure guests can be pampered any time in their own villa, so you won’t even have to leave the comfort of your own environment.

Sustainable Living

Saadiyat Island has some of the best beaches in the region. With sprawling white sands and deep blue seas, this coastline could be anywhere from the Maldives to Zanzibar. The resort’s villas back directly onto the beach view views overlooking the stunning panoramic views.

The resort is eco-conscious including being completely single-use plastic free and its own water filtration plant. Upon check-in, every guest is also given a reusable sports bottle that they can refill at stations around the resort.

Jumeirah at Saadiyat Island Resort, Abu Dhabi also takes care to preserve the desired beach of the island. It is accredited with the respected pearl certification and the resort was designed specifically to have a minimal impact on the island’s habitats. This includes looking after the mangrove and wetland areas as well as the Saadiyat Beach dune ecosystem, it’s native flora and fauna, specifically the nesting of endangered hawksbill turtles.

The resort is offering a number of special staycation offers to residents at this time. For more visit https://www.jumeirah.com/en/stay/abu-dhabi/jumeirah-at-saadiyat-island-resort

In celebration of the 20^th anniversary of the Balenciaga Classic bag, the French fashion house introduces the Neo Classic collection.

This new line which was officially introduced in the fall/winter 20 runway collection, offers a revitalised version of the iconic design with a new look, new dimensions and a refurbished interior.

The Balenciaga Classic became an icon and celebrity favourite in the early 2000s when it was seen on the arm of everyone from Gwen Stefani to Nicole Richie. Making it an icon in the brand’s history.

NEO CLASSIC

Designer by Artistic Director Demna Gvasalia, the new Neo Classic range of bags come in leather in a range of finished including crocodile-embossed and spazzolato calf. The tasselled zip closures and sharpened edges of the bag offer a modern shape while still embodying the classic and unique codes of the House.

Colourways are designed to complement the galvanised metal hardware and its painted edges. The bag line is completed with a full range of small leather goods including cardholders and pouches with shoulder straps.

Available in selected stores from July 20^th, 2020.

Boucheron Creative Director Claire Choisne presented the Maison’s latest high jewellery collection via a virtual presentation earlier this week.

The collection “Contemplate” was inspired by the beauty of the sky and brought together traditional craftsmanship and new technology to create really special one-of-a-kind pieces.

Claire Choisne said of the seventy-seven piece collection “For years, I have wanted to capture the ephemeral, to convey the poetry of present moments, the purity of the sky, light effects. The jeweller’s art is about stopping time in its tracks, making instants eternal when, by their very essence, they are not”.

This collection is very personal to the Creative Director who has long had a fascination with the sky and the chosen name “Contemplation” suggests a very emotional approach. Choisne worked hard to bring new techniques and materials to the table that have never been seen before in the world of high jewellery.

Materials were sculpted to represent the true magic moments of the sky, from the precise second a droplet of raindrops,  to the weightlessness of a cloud, to the lightness of air.

For the collection, the Maison developed new materials including a special substance used in space by NASA to gather stardust. This mystery matter – 99.8% composed of air and silica – varying in colour according to the light is enclosed in a shell of rock crystal set with diamonds. It’s unlike anything else in the world and really gives a unique touch to this collection.

Two one-off watches feature laser-engraved grey mother-of-pearl dial of Épure Miroirs Infinis with a 3D image of clouds, whose presence is illuminated by diamonds. And the second features a dial decorated with 3D white dandelion seeds and a diamond-set crown, as well as a flying tourbillon which seems to float in the air until the end of time.

While all industries have suffered throughout the coronavirus outbreak, the travel industry has surely been one of the worst hit.

In the UAE incoming travel is still suspended for tourists which means many hotels are still left deserted with no guests to fill the rooms. As we move out of lockdown, the restrictions on the hotel are gradually starting to ease, allowing many properties to reopen their doors, but following strict guidelines on how to safely operate moving forward. As residents start to venture out over the summer, the process of returning to normality for Dubai’s tourism industry is going to be a gradual one.

One hotel group hoping to find a new normal is Dubai-based JA Resorts & Hotels. The Group has a 38-year legacy in the UAE and its resorts in Jebel Ali and Hatta Fort were the first resort properties of the kind in the Emirates. The Group has since expanded internationally to The Maldives and more recently into China.

Australian-born Anthony Ross was appointed as CEO of the Group in 2018. With 30 years experience in the hospitality industry Ross has faced many challenges throughout his career, but this is perhaps the most unexpected and unusual the industry and the world has seen. Here Ross talks us through how the UAE’s hotel industry will have to change moving forward and the steps the Group is taking to get back to business.

How have you been spending your time during this period?

I was initially working by myself in the office then the some of the other team members started to come back so we have some of the team here in the JA Resort & Hotels office. I have been communicating a lot with the hotels through digital meetings and we’ve been having a lot of team calls – I didn’t know there were so many types of video conferencing methods!

How have you kept staff motivated during the lockdown and how are you ensuring their safety as things go back to normal?

I must say they have been really supportive and they all realise that it’s a difficult time. We have kept all of them on board and we are making sure to provide all the protective equipment that they need. I won’t lie it has been difficult because usually in these kinds of situations we would be arranging movie nights and sporting activities to keep everyone motivated, but of course, with the social distancing policies, this hasn’t been possible.

One thing that has helped is that in the first quarter of this year we put in place a new e-learning platform called DONE. So we have been putting videos together of all of our training modules and the team members can access these through their own devices.

What is JA Resorts & Hotels doing currently to ensure the safety of guests?

We have put together three safety plans. One for food and beverage, one for the guestrooms and one for the guest journey. The guest room part is related to all the materials that we put inside the room, how we deal with guest amenities, how we sanitise the rooms in the changeover between guests etc. The guest journey part is how we sanitise surfaces when we pick up a guest at the airport, through the check-in desk, handling their luggage, how they get around the resort, all those kinds of things. As well as sanitising any bags that are coming into the properties upon arrival. Then with food and beverage, we’re primarily using protocols that have been put in place by Dubai Municipality.

How is the Group focusing on staycations?

We have a number of campaigns. We have a beautiful resort in Jebel Ali that has horse riding, golf, tennis, its own marina and more. But I think when people do start to get away they want to have access to all of this as well as having access to the pool and beach, especially at this time of the year, so hopefully in the coming weeks as the UAE is really on top of everything, we will soon be able to offer all of our activities to our guests and then we are going to push our staycations very heavily.

What do you say to guests who are still worried about going out?

What we have to do as a hotel group is promote all of the protocols that are in place through our website and social media platforms so that we can explain to people what measures we are taking and how we are taking hygiene and safety very seriously. I do think as well that there are two sides to it. Yes some people are a little apprehensive and that’s understandable, but I also think people are a little unsure about the economy and the future so they’re not willing to spend a lot of money. So we do want to offer, particularly for residents, some really interesting rates to attract them to come to our properties and get some fresh air, some sun and enjoy themselves. So there are two parts for us, the first is about ensuring that the protocols are published, and the second is offering really good rates. I do think it’s going to take a while though and people have to dive in and do it and there will be a period where people get used to things again and it will take time. Once we start to see that the cases aren’t going up again I think the confidence will gradually come. So the first thing for us is staycations from people in the UAE. But we are also really hopeful that flights will resume at some point.

What is your new normal?

I think immediately there are going to be different protocols to do with the way people interact with one another. And there will be changes in the way we run our business. Travel is going to be a little bit different. For myself, before this happened I had been spending a fair bit of time in China, but what I’ve learnt during this period is that you can get quite a lot done digitally without the need to necessarily travel as often. So maybe business travel won’t be as frequent as what it was.

What can you tell us about the business in China?

We have a hotel that’s about to start renovation in China. It’s a cool funky brand called Big Bed, focused on Chinese millennials. We have a Chinese partner and we are renovating this hotel together and it will be our first in China. Most hotels have reopened in China now and what I’m hearing is that the budget hotels have come back really strong but the luxury hotels are taking a bit longer. China is such an incredibly huge internal market. I used to work and live in Beijing and the internal tourism to Beijing from other areas of China is around 120 million people and foreign visitors were only, at the time, around six or seven million. So if you put that into context, China has this huge and really unique market which is quite exciting.

Do you think how things have resumed in China will be mirrored by the rest of the world?

I think China is unique. Although the provinces can be quite different linguistically and with the types of food they eat etc. it is essentially one country that has domestic travel of 1.3 billion people – I don’t think you can translate that easily to the rest of the world because there isn’t a comparison. Here in the Middle East, the first thing we would like to see come back is the domestic staycation business within the UAE.

Will you be branching out to other markets as well as China?

Our partner in China has acquired three or four hotels already that need to be rebranded and the goal is to have 20 or 30 hotels in the next five years. So we will have our hands full with that for a while! We have employed a team in China to manage that part of the business.

What about the Chinese travellers in the UAE do the resorts see a lot of them visiting?

We don’t in the UAE but we do at our resort in the Maldives. At the beginning of this year, we employed a Senior Chinese Executive to help develop our Chinese market here. If you look at the visitor arrivals in the UAE, China is one market that’s growing substantially and up until now, we have failed to capture any significant share so as part of our hotel business in China and the Maldives we are hoping to leverage off these to increase our market share of Chinese guests here in the UAE.

Of course, the travel industry has been badly hit how do you think it can recover and what is something positive that can come out of this crisis?

The general consensus among tourism leaders is that we don’t know. Everyone has a different view on what might happen and I wouldn’t like to speculate too much but in Q4, leading into 2021, hopefully, things will begin to return to normal. What I think we are using this time to do is to look at the ways we are conducting our business. Reviewing all of our processes and technology and closely looking at the experience we are providing for our customers. We are asking ourselves questions like; ‘what is it that our customers want?’ ‘What are we doing just because we’ve always done it?’ We’re looking closely at these kinds of things to create better value for our guests. We want to make a heavy investment in technology and update all of our software to become less manual.

Can you tell us about some of the charitable initiatives the company has put in place during this time?

We did put up a family from the UK who were stuck here and we are also supporting the community in Hatta through the Hatta Fort Hotel. We are offering medical staff at Hatta hospital rooms at the resort. We also had an initiative called “1,000 Thank Yous” which was a way to say thank you to the healthcare workers in Dubai for all they are doing to keep us safe. We asked healthcare workers to send in a copy of their medical ID and we are sending them back a voucher to stay at one of our hotels when the situation goes back to normal. We said initially we were going to give 1,000 rooms but we had 1,600 people request so we decided to accommodate them all as there is no way to choose between them. So that was a nice initiative we were able to do.

What is the motto that you’re living by during this time of crisis?

We’ve got to use this time wisely. 2020 is not a good year but we’ve got to see the positives and this time is precious as we look to re-establish our business and consider the way we are operating. When everything does kick off again we will all be so busy taking care of what we do, that we won’t have time to think. So use this time wisely and make time for thinking.

JA Resorts & Hotels are now open for business with special rates and offers for UAE residents. For more information visit www. jaresortshotels.com

Fendi’s latest collection California Sky is the first story of the pre-fall collections for this year.

Partnering with contemporary artist Joshua Vides, the brand brings a cartoon style collection that replicates the artist’s signature art style.

FENDI California Sky Peekaboo Iconic Medium Bag

One of the most interesting figures in the contemporary art scene, Vides is known worldwide for his unique black and white marker style artworks.

FENDI California Sky Shoes

In this collection, Vides gives his dizzyingly cool, cartoon-like treatment to a range of women’s, men’s and kid’s ready-to-wear and Accessories pieces.

FENDI California Sky Textiles

This super-cool collection sees streetwear staples get a unique makeover and will bring a much needed playful mood to your wardrobe. Black and white prints and geometric lines are ‘drawn’ on to classic pieces for a modern and unique approach to fashion.

FENDI California Sky Bucket Hat

The name; California Sky represents the cool, laidback casual vibes of LA that are interpreted through each of the pieces. If you can’t travel to LA this summer you can still feel its mood with this cool and playful collection.

Valentino has unveiled its Resort 21 collection with a stunning campaign personally shot by Creative Director Pierpaolo Picciolo in his home in Nettuno, Italy.

The men’s and women’s collections are presented together and highlight a personal narrative imagined by the House’s Creative force.

Starring Italian model and close friend of Piccioli Mariacarla Boscono and male model Luca el Bali, the collection gives a non-filtered look into the creativity of these pieces and displays how they can be worn in everyday life.

The collection was created around the idea of simplification. By reducing shapes to an elementary outline, letting materials speak through colour and texture and minimal lines. This minimalism maximises possibilities and allows the clothing and the person wearing it to become one allowing the freedom of interpretation.

The collection is formed of solid and vibrant colours including green red and pink to compose a silhouette that is fluid. Structured pieces are placed against fluid creations to create a sense of movement vs structure.

The Valentino Garavani Accessories work perfectly with the ready-to-wear pieces: flowers, bows, studs in leather or straw multiply on the Atelier Bags as well as on the Atelier Shoes, mixing the historic and the contemporary signs of Valentino with an emphasis on craft.

Hats were developed in collaboration with Italian hat maker Borsalino to complete the looks.

Dior unveils two new timepieces for women this summer. Both elegant and feminine they will allow you to dream and bring some much-needed colour and vibrancy into your life.

Dior Grand Bal Masqué

The Dior Grand Bal collection has a beautiful new addition in the form of Dior Grand Bal Masqué. These colourful one-of-a-kind pieces are inspired by the enchanted universe of the masked ball, something that is very close to the house’s heart.

The famous Ball of the Century, held by Charles de Beistegui in 1951 at the Palazzo Labia in Venice, for which Monsieur Dior had designed several sumptuous costumes, was the most extravagant society ball of its time. That celebration, the quintessence of audacity, elegance and excessiveness, left a deep and inspiring impression on Monsieur Dior, fascinated since forever by the world of parties and society balls, an influence that has been seen throughout his designs in the years since. “It was the most beautiful evening ball I have seen or ever will see”, wrote Christian Dior in his memoirs.

With the new Dior Grand Bal Masqué timepieces this beautiful event comes to life once again as part of the iconic Dior Grand Bal collection. Dancing masks are seen on the dials of these exquisite pieces, bringing colour and vibrancy to the wearer. These pieces are star-studded with gold and diamonds, while the lines of sapphires highlight the eyes of the mask and their lashes are adorned with silky, colourful feathers.

The cheeks are blushed with ornamental stones whose sparkling reflections make the masks swirl and embrace the light, like they are dancing at a party. At the heart of this wondrous waltz of colours, a mysterious golden-faced woman hides her secret identity whilst daring to be extravagant…

The Dior Grand Bal Masqué timepieces are equipped with an automatic movement, exclusive to the Maison Dior, the “Dior Inversé 11 1/2 calibre”, featuring the functional oscillating weight on the top side of the dial, that reproduces the swirl of a ball gown. Each piece has an elegant 36mm dial and its dotted with diamonds and gemstones with an embossed satin strap. The collection consists of 12 on-of-a-kind pieces.

La Mini D De Dior Satin 19mm

Dior’s timepieces have long been inspired by the mastery of Haute Couture and the designs from within the house. The satin ribbon has long been a part of Dior’s fashion collections and this idea has seamlessly passed through to Dior’s timepieces with the La Mini D De Dior Satine 19mm watch. A design based on a satin ribbon, this jewellery watch features a Milanese mesh steel bracelet that has full flexibility to ensure its shine and glow like a real metallic fabric.

The new versions of this watch are adorned with a steel bezel delicately elaborated with a textured pattern. Each piece comes with delicate dials in white or pink mother-of-pearl and precious crowns set with diamonds. These feminine watches bring together the know-how of Swiss watchmaking with the poetic universe of Dior fine jewellery to create something that is understated, feminine and beautiful.

The two designs feature a 19mm quartz movement, the first with steel, diamonds and white mother-of-pearl and the second with steel, diamonds and pink mother-of-pearl. A Milanese mess stainless still bracelet and unfolding steel buckle make an elegant finish. Each piece is water-resistant up to 30 metres.

Pomellato’s latest collection Fantina features elegant and understated jewellery pieces that offer a contemporary alternative to wearing gold.

Stripped back to a refined simplicity the Fantina collection is designed for today’s independent woman, who is looking for elegant, understated jewellery that she can wear any time of the day.

SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO…

FANTINA collection in rose gold and diamonds by Pomellato

Exploring the origins of the Pomellato name, the collection is inspired by the founder Pino Rabolini. When a young Rabolini told his family he wanted to ride his own destiny they replied with ‘make sure you pick a winning horse.’ He did some research and discovered that dappled horses were the most majestic, so he chose Pomellato, the Italian for ‘dappled’ as the name for his new venture. Indeed, the House’s first logo was the stamp of a horse’s head.

FANTINA earrings in rose gold with diamonds by Pomellato

Watch the campaign video below…

Carrying on the theme of horses, the word “fantina” is Italian for a female jockey. With that in mind, Pomellato chose to partner with horse rides and breeder Princess Matilde Borromeo. This entrepreneur and member of the Milanese Royal family embodies today’s modern, successful, independent woman.

FANTINA pendant in white gold and diamonds by Pomellato

The collection is made up of abstract forms infused with the minimalism of Milanese architecture, designed for today’s modern woman. This woman is perfectly represented by the Italian princess.

FANTINA rings by Pomellato

Beirut-based fashion designer Hussein Bazaza has always had an appreciation of artistic fields and experimenting with design. After graduating in 2011 he worked for Elie Saab as a junior designer before introducing his own ready-to-wear line to the world in 2012 at just 23 years old. He has received many regional awards for his designs and has come to be recognised across the region for his contemporary, artistic and barrier-pushing designs.

Bazaza recently launched a new online store that kicked off with an exclusive e-capsule collection. The Bombers Project introduces various interpretations of the classic bomber jacket. Every bomber holds the story of one of the brand’s pas muses from fall/winter 2015 to spring/summer 2020. This e-capsule collection sheds light on the ways we can take care of ourselves, and have self-belief, especially during trying times such as the one we are experiencing currently. Maintaining our mental health is key and is highlighted by the slogans on the T-shirts as part of this collection.

Here, we find out more about the collection as well as Bazaza’s dedication to sustainability and supporting mental health.

What can you tell us about the Bombers project?

Brainstorming around the online store, which was months in the works, we decided to launch a capsule collection with a focus on one singular item and have that one basic piece reinvented with the brand’s trademarks. We then chose this to be the classic bomber jacket; a versatile piece, worn throughout the year, during all seasons, that can be styled for both day and night. We also wanted a piece that would cater to both men and women.

For the launch, we highlighted our muses throughout the years with each jacket featuring a specific detail from one of our previous collections; from embroidery and prints to cuts and colour-blocking. The collection consists of 25 different versions, each styled with a pair of coordinating Bermuda shorts, to be worn together as a matching set or apart.

Finally, we introduced slogan t-shirts. Each tee with a message on my notion of sustainability and maybe the truest form of sustainability: maintaining our mental health and sustaining ourselves. It was also our aim to have it all launched during the month of May as the official Mental Health Awareness Month.

What can you tell us about sustainability at Hussein Bazaza?

I have never shed light on sustainability in its widely known meaning before, not back when it wasn’t a trend and not even now that it is. But we always try to reduce waste as much as we can at Hussein Bazaza: we only produce samples for our collections and we take orders on demand so they are tailored to every client or boutique, which helps with eliminating all unnecessary excess. on another note, we use all leftover scraps and unused fabrics for upcoming collections; almost nothing goes to waste. We have also experimented with recycled fabrics and garments using plastic materials many times, especially in SS20 and FW19. Of course, we are not perfect and I cannot claim that we are 100% sustainable, but we are always doing as much as we can.

The true form of sustainability that we all need to strive for is much needed and maybe even much harder to attain: maintaining our mental health. Before we are able to take care of anything the world around us, we need to learn how to take care of ourselves, mentally and emotionally. I am not belittling the sustainability of the planet, pollution is a great cause of death, but so is your mind.

Why do you feel it’s important to highlight mental health issues through your designs?

I am known to narrate stories through my pieces. Each one of my tales has a moral to it. I want to share relevant lessons that I have learned through my experiences or through the world’s experiences to be conveyed and what better way can I do that than through my own creations? There always needs to be a purpose.

What are the ways in which you think all fashion brands can to introduce sustainable methods in their companies?

The only way is to do the best they can. Being sustainable is not easy and is not fun. Of course, despite its difficulties, we should be helping our planet as much as we can, but each fashion house will figure out the sustainable methods that work best for them.

Do you think the current global crisis will have an impact on customers’ consideration for sustainability?

It should and I hope it does. I can’t say for sure that all customers will refuse to buy anything but sustainable items, but our job as fashion designers is to help them make the right decisions by creating sustainable pieces they would love to purchase and at the same time promote it further and bring awareness to its importance in our lives today.

What is something you would like to do with your brand in relation to sustainability that you haven’t done yet?

I want to get more into using recyclable fabrics, sustainable materials, techniques, and technology. There is so much that I still want to do but we have to move with baby steps and clear focus, or else it’ll get messy, unorganised and stressful. It’s a learning process.

Are there any issues related to sustainability, particularly in Lebanon that you think the fashion industry can shine a light on?

The biggest would be having no access whatsoever to sustainable materials and fabrics or technology. Lebanon is greatly behind on this subject, which doesn’t help designers who want to lessen the impact of the industry’s wrongdoing on the planet.

How important is e-commerce at Hussein Bazaza in today’s climate?

E-commerce has become relatively important with the situation at the moment. we want our customers to have access to shop at the comfort of their own homes, to feel good lounging in them or better yet, have something to look forward to and wear for their first outing when all this is over. We have also created our online store pieces specifically so that there is something for everyone in terms of different styles, from a busy print to a minimal monochrome hue as well as a vast price range.

What can you tell us about your upcoming Haute Couture collection?

All I can say is that it is already one of my favourite collections and that’s being said while we’re still in the experimental stage of production and haven’t seen a proper outcome for a piece, especially since it is going to feature really different attributes than what our audience is used to seeing from us. it’s exciting.

What is the motto that you are living by during this time of crisis?

Take it day by day.

What is in the pipeline for Hussein Bazaza for the second half of 2020 and will you be changing any of the strategy of the brand?

Today and moving forward, we will be working on the launch of two main collections per year; seasonally for both spring/summer and fall/winter. Accompanying them, capsule collections will be launched exclusively on our online store, featuring limited and exclusive pieces created towards both men and women solely sold on our website.

What is a message that you would like to give to your readers at this time?

Get to know yourself better, take care of who you are and stay home.

Why do you think now is an important time to shed light on mental health?

Now it is more important than ever. We are staying home buried in their own thoughts, in their own confusion and own fear of the unknown and what awaits us. We all need to be reassured that it is going to be okay and that we are not alone going through this.

How can fashion help us focus on self-belief and self-love?

fashion has always been a language for self-expression and a boost for self-esteem, it exists to make you look good, make you feel great and to show who you are. it is already helping.

What is your message to anyone who is struggling with mental health issues during this time?

We’re all worried about tomorrow but we’re all in this together.