First UAE childrenswear label at London’s Harrods marks ‘step forward’ in exporting Emirati creativity
Updated 18 July 2024
Saffiya Ansari
DUBAI: Emirati brand Shatha Essa Kids has become the first childrenswear label from the UAE to be launched at luxury London department store Harrods, with designer Shatha Essa Al-Mulla telling Arab News the move represents a step forward in exporting Emirati creativity to the world.
Al-Mulla ventured into childrenswear last year, after launching her eponymous womenswear label in 2016. Now, her frothy, fun line of dresses and sets has found a home at the historic store Harrods.
The designer dubbed the achievement “an immense honor and a significant milestone,” adding the move “(showcases) Emirati culture and craftsmanship on a prestigious global platform … (and) also contributes to putting Emirati childrenswear on the international map.”
The line features special occasion looks for toddlers and girls up to the age of 14, with all the outfits designed and produced in Dubai.
“I design those dresses for my girls first then display them to the world. It is like giving everyone access to our private wardrobe at home,” the designer said of the inspiration behind the brand, referring to her two daughters Hessa and Hind.
Summery butter yellows and grey, sophisticated tulle outfits mark the collection, with rose pink embroidered double-breasted dresses and silk bow-adored looks on show at the retail space in London.
The interactive retail space, which was designed by Al-Mulla herself, features a theatre booth and dress up dolls.
“I aimed to create an ambiance reminiscent of a delightful birthday party … allowing kids to fully immerse themselves in a whimsical magical environment and enjoy collaborative play,” Al-Mulla explained.
The permanent space is emblematic of an East-to-West trend, the designer said.
“This milestone is crucial for the UAE’s fashion scene because it represents a step forward to exporting Emirati-made products to the world, fostering greater appreciation and interest in our designs.”
National Film Archive launches Film Deposit Initiative
Initiative will collect films from various sources; from private and public sector institutions as well as filmmakers
By preserving the films, the National Film Archive aims to solidify the Kingdom’s position as a premier hub for movie production
Updated 22 August 2024
Sulafa Alkhunaizi
RIYADH: The National Film Archive has launched the Film Deposit Initiative, which aims to collect and archive more than 1,000 Saudi and Arab films, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Thursday.
The initiative will collect films from various sources; from private and public sector institutions as well as filmmakers. By preserving the films, the National Film Archive aims to solidify the Kingdom’s position as a premier hub for movie production in the heart of the Middle East.
According to SPA, the Film Deposit Initiative aims to preserve films for future generations and ensure their availability. Its mission extends beyond archiving; aiming for strategic digital transformation, systematic classification, and enhanced engagement with global film communities and cinema audiences.
Anyone can deposit their film by filling out the form and the National Film Archive will guide people through the required stages.
Cristiano Ronaldo breaks records with YouTube channel, sparks marriage rumors and lauds Red Sea ‘paradise’
Updated 22 August 2024
Arab News
DUbAI: Portuguese football legend and Saudi resident Cristiano Ronaldo has launched his official YouTube channel called “UR” and it has already broken several records within the first 24 hours since its launch on Wednesday.
In just a day, the channel has already gained 20.6 million subscribers and has been declared the fastest YouTube channel to hit 1 million subscribers in history, withs several videos already uploaded.
One of the videos features Ronaldo’s longtime partner Georgina Rodriguez. In a video titled “Discover EVERYTHING about us. Who will win,” the football star refers to Rodriguez as his wife, while they play a game called “Mr. & Mrs.”
In the video, the football star wears a ring on the fourth finger of his left hand.
In another video, titled “This is how I felt when I discovered paradise…,” Ronaldo talks about his family trip to the St. Regis Red Sea Resort in Saudi Arabia from earlier this year.
“It’s always special to travel, but if you have to mention one romantic place with my own family, I will say that a place this year which surprised us a lot, and which we enjoyed so much – was Red Sea,” he says in the video.
“And I recommend for the whole world to visit that amazing, amazing place. Red Sea – make it happen.”
The Red Sea is a luxury tourism destination based on the west coast of Saudi Arabia.
Recipes For Success: 3Fils’ Chef Jovani Manalo offers advice and a tasty snapper and za’atar recipe
Updated 22 August 2024
Shyama Krishna Kumar
DUBAI: Filipino chef Jovani Manalo’s culinary career began straight out of college, when he got a job as a kitchen steward. It was a call from a friend asking him if he was interested in working abroad that changed his trajectory. He jumped at the opportunity, and within a week he was in Dubai.
“I’ve moved around in Chinese, Korean, Italian restaurants, and even Latin American and Mexican restaurants,” Manalo tells Arab News. But it was his move to 3Fils at Dubai’s Jumeirah Fishing Harbor five years into his Dubai adventure that was the most significant. “It was a deep moment when I found my place in 3Fils,” he says.
The restaurant topped the World 50 Best MENA list in 2022 and remains in its top 10. It was also awarded a Bib Gourmand by Michelin this year.
Manalo’s favorite thing about working there, he says, is the “contagious positive mood” of the place.
When you started out, what was the most common mistake you made?
I think everyone would say that at the beginning of their career, they weren’t sharpening their knives enough.
What’s your top tip for amateur chefs?
Take your time. The more you rush things, the less likely you are to succeed. Cooking should be considered a form of therapy; you can do it to relax. Take a step back and enjoy the whole process.
What one ingredient can instantly improve any dish?
Any umami ingredient. It binds all the flavors together without missing a note.
When you go out to eat, do you find yourself critiquing the food?
Not really. I don't think that way. Every time I go out to eat, I take it as a chance to reimagine and understand a dish’s components — think of different ways to innovate it, and try to get the maximum potential out of it.
And when you go out to eat, what’s your favorite cuisine?
It doesn’t matter what you’re eating or where, it’s all about who you’re eating with.
What’s the most common mistake you find with other restaurants?
Not pricing items reasonably. That makes them lose potential customers.
What’s your go-to dish if you have to cook something quickly at home?
And random vegetables stir-fried. I use this to educate my kid on how important veggies are to his diet.
I love making Ginataang Pagi, a Filipino coconut and stingray curry dish. This dish allows me to represent my roots, and it reminds me of family gatherings.
As a head chef, what are you like? Are you a disciplinarian? Do you shout a lot? Or are you more laid back?
I’d say I'm composed. Composure is essential if you want to create a positive environment for your team. Yelling is not acceptable or practical nowadays. Inspiring people to understand their roles and how they can excel is essential, especially in the kitchen, where we really do need to be a team.
INSTRUCTIONS: Whisk all ingredients in a bowl until completely combined (ensure the Maldon salt is dissolved). Transfer to a squeezy bottle. Set aside.
For the pea shoot oil
INGREDIENTS: 50g pea shoots; 200g soybean oil
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Blanch pea shoots for 30 seconds. Strain and immediately submerge in ice.
2. Squeeze the blanched pea shoots dry.
3. Place the pea shoots in a blender. Add the soybean oil. Blend for 2 mins.
4. Strain (but don’t press) the mixture into a piping bag. Set aside.
For the final dish
INGREDIENTS: 50g tai snapper, skinned and sliced; 1 pinch of za’atar spice mix; 10g za’atar dressing; 2g pea shoot oil; 2pcs edible flowers; 3pcs pea shoots; tomato powder.
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Place the tai snapper slices on a serving plate, spread out into a single layer.
2. Season with the za’atar spice mix.
3. Drizzle with the za’atar dressing.
4. Add a dash of pea shoot oil.
5. Garnish with fresh pea shoots and edible flowers.
Best and Worst: Saudi makeup artist Gamar Turkistane talks ‘Bridgerton,’ fashion trends and holidays
Updated 22 August 2024
Hams Saleh
DUBAI: Saudi makeup artist and TikTok star Gamar Turkistane discusses ‘Bridgerton,’ fashion trends, and holidays — and why one spot in the Kingdom is her ultimate holiday destination.
Best TV show you’ve ever seen?
I loved “Bridgerton.” I really enjoyed every detail, from the dresses to the hairstyles and makeup. It really inspired me. I love the fashion trends from that time period. I would have loved to live in the 19th century. I used to travel to England a lot and I once did a photoshoot that was inspired by the 1880s. I really enjoyed it.
I don’t like stuff about the space or sharks or the ocean. It stresses me out a lot.
Best personal style moment so far?
I adore any plain black skirt because it beautifies all tops and looks under abayas. If you’re wearing a basic outfit, it always elevates it. If you’re wearing a basic t-shirt it immediately looks better and more stylish with a skirt.
Worst personal style moment?
Leggings under short dresses. A nightmare! That used to be my favorite style when I was younger. I’m not proud of it at all.
Best accessory for a little black dress?
Gold accessories take the dress to another level. I’ve always loved gold accessories and layering pieces together.
I think any accessory will look beautiful with black dresses. It’s impossible to go wrong.
Best fashion trend of 2024?
Large earrings. It’s such wonderful look — perfect for summer or winter. I usually get them when I travel.
Worst fashion trend of 2024?
Leopard print! I do not think it looks nice on me — the colors do not suit me. I feel like it’s messy and patchy. People say it represents richness, but I do not like it.
Sumaya Al-Nasser’s “How to Master the Game of Life.” This book changed my life and habits. I love self-development books. I like that they teach you how to live life in the right way. In this book, the author gives you solutions for problems and lays out time frames. It’s an amazing book.
Worst book you’ve ever read?
I generally don’t like fiction. I prefer watching movies.
Best thing to do when you’re feeling low?
I put some makeup on because it makes me feel calm. My mood immediately changes.
Worst thing to do when you’re feeling good?
Sitting with people who have negative energy. Eventually, you’ll also feel down.
AlUla. It is one of the most beautiful places on earth — beyond imagination. There is nothing like it. It is wonderful in winter. There are lots of activities and events. It blends ancient heritage and culture with luxury. I love it.
Worst holiday destination?
Anywhere without my family. Quality time with family is always special.
Best subject at school?
Art. It opened all the doors of creativity for me. It was the start of my passion for makeup. I would get really excited to draw.
Worst subject at school?
Math. I’m so bad at it. It was very hard for me. I wasn’t interested in it.
Best thing to do to ensure you have a productive day?
Make a list of your daily tasks. It makes you more focused.
Worst thing to do when you’re trying to have a productive day?
Just go along with everyone else’s plans and forget your own tasks.
Incoming: The best TV shows heading your way in the rest of the year
Updated 22 August 2024
Arab News
DUBAI: From new franchise extensions to returning favorites, these are the Fall/Winter shows we’re most looking forward to
‘Only Murders in the Building’
Starring: Steve Martin, Martin Short, Selena Gomez
Where: Disney+
When: August 27
The acclaimed show about an unlikely trio of true-crime podcasters is back for a fourth season, with another group of superstar guests. This time around, Zach Galifianakis, Eugene Levy and Eva Longoria appear as themselves, but they’ve been cast to play Short’s Oliver Putnam, Martin’s Charles-Haden Savage, and Gomez’s Mabel Mora respectively in a Hollywood adaptation of their podcast. While that’s going on, the podcasters are also trying to solve the mystery of who shot Savage’s former stunt double, Sazz Pataki, at the end of season three.
‘Slow Horses’
Starring: Gary Oldman, Jack Lowden, Kristin Scott Thomas
Where: Apple TV+
When: Sept. 4
Season four of the brilliant UK spy thriller based on Mick Herron’s novels about Jackson Lamb — a former secret-service great whose job now involves overseeing the misfits and miscreants of Slough House, where MI5 sends the agents it wants to forget about (and to whom the titular nickname applies) — finds Lamb and his crew embroiled in the aftermath of a car bomb explosion in London, while River Cartwright, the Slow Horse whose grandfather is another legend of the service, is pressured by former CIA agent Frank Harkness to join his cause.
‘The Penguin’
Starring: Colin Farrell, Cristin Milioti, Rhenzy Feliz
Where: OSN+
When: Sept. 20
Farrell reprises his role as the second-best-known enemy of Batman in this spinoff series from 2022 movie “The Batman” (starring Robert Pattinson in the title role). Set one week after the events of the film, the series traces the rise of Oswald “Oz” Cobb, aka Penguin, as he steps into the shoes of his late boss, Carmine Falcone, the criminal kingpin of Gotham’s underworld. Fighting Cobb for control, however, is Falcone’s daughter Sofia (aka Hangman) a psychotic serial killer who has just been released from the infamous Arkham Asylum.
‘Disclaimer’
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Kline, Sacha Baron Cohen
Where: Apple TV+
When: Oct. 11
The Mexican filmmaker and five-time Oscar winner Alfonso Cuaron (“Gravity,” “Roma”) helms this mini-series in which two-time Oscar winner Blanchett plays veteran investigative journalist Catherine Ravenscroft, whose life is turned upside-down when she receives a copy of a (supposedly fictional) novel. She quickly realizes that one of the novel’s main characters appears to be based on her, and shares the same dark secret she has long kept hidden from the world. If the Blanchett-Cuaron combo hasn’t already sold you on this, the stellar cast also includes Kline, Baron-Cohen, Kodi Smit-McPhee, and Lesley Manville.
‘Dune: Prophecy’
Starring: Emily Watson, Olivia Williams, Jodhi May
Where: OSN+
When: November
This prequel series to Denis Villeneuve’s superb recent film adaptations of Frank Herbert’s sci-fi epic focuses on the founding of the mystical sisterhood with supernatural powers known as the Bene Gesserit by sisters Sisters Valya and Tula Harkonnen and is set 10 millennia before the events of the movies. Showrunner Alison Schapker has an impressive CV including production credits on “Lost,” “Alias,” and “Westworld.”
‘Silo’
Starring: Rebecca Ferguson, Tim Robbins, Common
Where: Apple TV+
When: Nov. 15
One of last year’s best debut shows returns for a second season. Ferguson plays Juliette Nichols, the reluctant sheriff (at least until the first season finale) of the gigantic underground bunker known as the Silo in which 10,000 people have been living for years, bound by rules they believed were intended to protect them. But, as Nichols has discovered, it seems that the people have been lied to.
Star Wars: Skeleton Crew – Disney+ Dec. 3
Starring: Jude Law, Ravi Cabot-Conyers, Ryan Kiera Armstrong
Where: Disney+
When: Dec. 3
Given Disney’s propensity for milking the “Star Wars” franchise for all its worth, it’s a surprise no one has previously done a coming-of-age piece set in the “Star Wars” universe, although considering how poorly child actors have generally fared in it so far (hi Jake Lloyd), maybe not a huge surprise. Either way, “Skeleton Crew” lands in December and follows a group of four kids trying to find their way back to their home planet after getting lost. They meet a Force-user known as Jod Na Nawood (Law), who they assume is a Jedi.
‘Squid Game’
Starring: Lee Jung-jae, Lee Byung-hun, Yim Si-wan
Where: Netflix
When: Dec. 26
As the biggest small-screen phenomenon of 2021, Korean drama “Squid Game” changed the media landscape. Its success (both in terms of viewership and profits) pushed other streaming services to look beyond Hollywood at regional content. Now it’s back for a second season. The premise is a simple one: hundreds of people sign up to play a bunch of games in the hope of winning a fortune. The catch? The hundreds who don’t win die.
