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Amina Muaddi celebrates PETA win on Instagram

Amina Muaddi celebrates PETA win on Instagram
Jordanian Romanian luxury shoe designer Amina Muaddi took to Instagram to celebrate her win at the PETA Vegan Awards 2024. (Getty Images/Instagram)
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Updated 06 October 2024
Arab News
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Amina Muaddi celebrates PETA win on Instagram

Amina Muaddi celebrates PETA win on Instagram
Updated 06 October 2024
Arab News
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DUBAI: Jordanian Romanian luxury shoe designer Amina Muaddi took to Instagram to celebrate her win at the PETA Vegan Awards 2024.

Muaddi won the award for Best Vegan Heels in the Fashion category for her stylish Brito Slipper heels crafted from plexiglass and TPU.

“I won a @peta award for the Brito,” she wrote on Instagram Stories and shared a photo of the award.

Now in their 11th year, the PETA Vegan Awards celebrate fashion companies and designers dedicated to creating animal-friendly clothing, shoes, accessories and bags. The 2024 winners include Berlin-based GmbH for its innovative leather biker jacket and Armedangels for its eco-conscious recycled linen blazer, among others.

Last month, Muaddi unveiled her latest pair of heels on none other than Barbadian superstar Rihanna as the footwear mogul was spotted at Milan Fashion Week.

Muaddi created a custom-made pair of Anok mules for the singer in a shade called butter satin, which Muaddi showed off on Instagram before hitting the streets at the now-concluded Milan Fashion Week.

The designer attended shows by Ferragamo, The Attico and Gucci and showed off apparel by each of the brands as she sat in the front row.

She also turned heads at the Dior show at Paris Fashion Week last month, while French Saudi model Amira Al-Zuhair graced the runway for Danish fashion label Ganni.

Muaddi, who is a regular at Dior fashion shows, opted for a classic white button-down shirt and a sleek black satin pencil skirt. Her look was accessorized with a pair of dark, round sunglasses and a small, textured blue Dior handbag.

Since launching her eponymous footwear line in August 2018, Muaddi has attracted a loyal following of celebrities including Dua Lipa, Gigi Hadid, Kylie Jenner and Hailey Bieber. Her brand, known for its distinctive footwear, bags and jewelry, has quickly become a favorite among the fashion elite.

Since the launch, Muaddi has enjoyed a series of successful events, notably her collaboration with Rihanna’s Fenty collection. This partnership was immensely successful, earning the Collaborator of the Year award at the 34th FN Achievement Awards in 2020.

A year after this accolade, Muaddi’s influence and success were further recognized when she was named one of Women’s Wear Daily and Footwear News’ 50 Most Powerful Women.

Topics: Amina Muaddi PETA Vegan Award

Pakistani teen captivates social media with intricate leaf art

Pakistani teen captivates social media with intricate leaf art
Updated 06 November 2024
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Pakistani teen captivates social media with intricate leaf art

Pakistani teen captivates social media with intricate leaf art
  • Kamran Khan, 19, specializes in making intricate designs, patterns and portraits on dried leaves
  • Artist says social media has played “huge role” in expanding his outreach, he also takes orders online
Updated 06 November 2024
WASIM SAJJAD

PESHAWAR: A young Pakistani artist based in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province has captivated social media with his unusual canvas: plant leaves. 
From a small corner in Peshawar city’s bustling Storytellers’ Market, popularly known as Qissa Khwani Bazaar, Kamran Khan carves intricate portraits on delicate leaves, blending tradition with artistry and earning a growing online fan base.
Originally from Bajaur in Pakistan’s tribal belt, the 19-year-old artist moved to Peshawar for his education and livelihood and is now a third-semester political science student at the city’s historic Islamia College. While he has to balance his studies and a small family business he helps run, he also finds moments in between to pursue his passion.
“I have been doing art and drawing since childhood, but then I thought of taking it in a new direction to make it more unique,” he told Arab News in an interview this week. “I started practicing leaf art. I watched a video from where I decided to adopt the idea since it felt different.”

Pakistani artist Kamran Khan speaks during an interview with Arab News in Peshawar on October 31, 2024. (AN Photo)

Khan specializes in leaf carving, carefully etching designs and images into the surface of leaves, often using blades to create detailed scenes and portraits. The process requires a firm hand, patience and precision to avoid damaging the delicate structure of the leaf. He also uses a special kind of leaf that is dried for two days before it is ready to be used. 
The artist has made hundreds of portraits and designs, including images of politicians, artists, tribal elders, celebrities and world leaders.
Carving the logo of Arab News, he said, “I have sketched many leaders. I made the sketch of [Saudi Crown Prince] Mohammed bin Salman and uploaded its video on TikTok.”

This photo, taken on October 31, 2024, shows Pakistani artist Kamran Khan’s artwork featuring Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, during an interview with Arab News in Peshawar. (AN Photo)
 

Social media had played a “huge role” in expanding his outreach, Khan said. 
“I take orders [to create art] using social media platforms, from TikTok, Instagram and Facebook,” he said. “International orders also come in, often requesting videos only. Orders are also placed for leaf art in physical frames, and we can adjust to both.”
Khan’s dedication was rewarded when a piece featuring Maryam Nawaz Sharif, a Pakistani politician who became the chief minister of Punjab after the last general elections, caught her attention.

In this photo, taken and released by Punjab Chief Minister office on October 9, 2024, shows Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz receives artwork, featuring her portrait, created by Kamran Khan in Lahore. (Photo courtesy: Facebook/Maryam Nawaz)

“I made a video of Maryam Nawaz’s sketch, and then she picked up my [work] from the social media platform and invited me over,” he added. “When we reached the CM House in Lahore to meet her, she appreciated [my work] and gave me a cash prize.”
Sharing his future plans, he said that he wanted to represent Pakistan on the world stage.
“I strive to promote our province and culture through this art,” he said, “and would love to represent my country Pakistan as well.”

Topics: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Pakistani artist leaf art Maryam Nawaz Sharif Imran Khan

Dubai Design Week returns with brand new fair: Dubai Editions

Dubai Design Week returns with brand new fair: Dubai Editions
Updated 06 November 2024
Rebecca Anne Proctor
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Dubai Design Week returns with brand new fair: Dubai Editions

Dubai Design Week returns with brand new fair: Dubai Editions
  • As large-scale architectural and design installations take over the Gulf metropolis, the inaugural Dubai Editions is set to offer a mix of art, design and prints to appeal to the city’s changing demographics
Updated 06 November 2024
Rebecca Anne Proctor

DUBAI: Until Nov. 10, visitors to Dubai Design District can relish in riveting large-scale design installations, exhibitions and fairs dedicated to high-end and collectible design objects from the Gulf, wider Middle East and international markets.

The annual event, now in its 10th year, will present over 500 designers, professionals and brands from various creative industries, transforming the bustling UAE metropolis into a global hub for design and art.

Numerous returning elements include Abwab, an annual commission showcasing talents from across Southwest Asia and North Africa, dedicated this year to the theme of vernacular architecture and regenerative design processes through the utilization of local materials, climate-responsive techniques and community-centered designs.

Abwab this year will feature three regional practices that will present their work in pavilions across the Dubai Design District. These include “Present/Absent Mudhif” by Ola Saad Znad from Iraq, portraying the Marsh Arabs’ architectural heritage in Iraq using reeds and ancient Sumerian techniques; “ReRoot” by Jordanian-Palestinian Dima Al Srouri, Andy Cartier from France, Rosa Hamalainen from Finland and Palestinian-Lebanese Dahlia Hamati exploring emergency housing solutions through an ecological lens using palm waste and mycelium; and “Material Witnesses and Narrating Lifeforms” by Miriam Hillawi Abraham from Ethiopia, which draws inspiration from coral stone found in early settlements on the East African coast.

Other notable returning platforms include workshops in the Maker’s Space and the weekend Marketplace, offering one-of-a-kind handcrafted objects and cuisine.

In a dedicated section within the 10th edition of Downtown Design will be the new fair titled Dubai Editions. Featured are over 50 galleries, design studios and collectives from the region and internationally presenting editioned artworks, collectible design objects and furniture and editioned prints.

The new fair reflects the changing demographic of Dubai, Pablo del Val, artistic director of Art Dubai, told Arab News.

“The fair is extremely exciting because it represents the shifts taking place in the city,” said Del Val. “There are many new generations of people that have recently moved to Dubai that have different collecting needs.

“People are beginning to buy properties that are arranged in new ways with different needs,” he added.

Participants include Dubai and New York-based Leila Heller; renowned Lebanese carpetmaker Iwan Maktabi, which opened its new flagship showroom in Dubai’s Jumeirah 3 featuring the first-ever global shop-in-shop for Italian contemporary rug company, cc tapis; Dastan from Tehran; Comptoir de Mines Galerie from Marrakech; Studio Bazazo and Fadi Basbous Studio from Lebanon; and spaces from Dubai, including Gulf Photo Plus, The Urbanist, Meem Gallery and Zawyeh Gallery.

“The fair offers a great concept of presenting works that are less expensive by our artists,” Leila Heller told Arab News. “Our artists became so inspired to create new prints and sculptures that are available in editions. The fair also offers works on paper, so our artists have created smaller works in paper as well.”

Heller will present works by artists such as Farideh Lashai, Reza Aramesh, Keith Haring, Darvish Fakhr, Azza Al Qubaisi and Stephany Sanossian.

Iwan Maktabi is showing a carpet designed by acclaimed Emirati artist Mohamed Ahmed Ibrahim. CEO Mohamed Maktabi said they switched their booth from Downtown Design to Dubai Editions and are launching what he calls “Iwan Maktabi: Artist Edition,” presenting the brand’s special carpet collaborations with artists.

While Dubai Design Week will offer much to see and experience, it represents a shift and growth in Dubai’s recent population that has sought out the Gulf city as a new place to call home.

As Del Val put it: “Everything starts to change when you belong to a community where you expect to live for a much longer period of time.

“This (fair) could be an incubator for things to come.”

Topics: Dubai Design Week Dubai Editions

Saudi films in the spotlight as RSIFF announces Arab Spectacular selection

Saudi films in the spotlight as RSIFF announces Arab Spectacular selection
Updated 06 November 2024
Arab News
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Saudi films in the spotlight as RSIFF announces Arab Spectacular selection

Saudi films in the spotlight as RSIFF announces Arab Spectacular selection
Updated 06 November 2024
Arab News

DUBAI: The Red Sea International Film Festival (RSIFF) unveiled a five-film collection for its Arab Spectacular section, which features world premieres of three Saudi titles exploring societal changes in the Kingdom.

Antoine Khalife, director of Arab Programs & Film Classics for the RSIFF, said in a statement: “We know that our stories and the quality of the way we tell them deserve a place alongside other international films, which is why we are working hard to support and nurture our region’s filmmakers, providing them with a prestigious platform to present their work to international audiences, and facilitating networking opportunities with industry leaders.”

Among the Saudi films is “My Driver and I,” the directorial debut of Saudi creative Ahd Kamel. Set in 1980s and 90s Jeddah, the film follows a rebellious Saudi girl and her Sudanese driver as they form a friendship which is tested when she starts to take the wheel.

“Hobal,” by Saudi director Abdulaziz Alshlahei, follows a Bedouin family whose members are forced by its patriarch to live in isolation in the desert due to fear of an infectious disease during the 1990s.

The third Saudi film to screen in the section is the much-anticipated “Lail Nahar,” directed by filmmaker Abdulaziz Almuzaini, who is behind popular Saudi TV series and movie “Masameer.” When a renowned opera singer faces backlash after a viral accusation of racism, he stuns the public by announcing plans to marry a black woman — only to scramble for a bride and find an unexpected connection with Layl, a wedding singer.

Rounding off RSIFF‘s Arab Spectacular selection is renowned Algerian filmmaker Merzak Allouache’s dramedy “Front Row,” about a feud that breaks out between matriarchs who are vying for the best spot at the beach; and Egyptian director Omar Bakry’s “Abdo & Saneya,” a silent, black-and-white film about an Egyptian couple who immigrates to New York City in search of a cure for infertility without having any notion of modern American life.

Topics: Red Sea International Film Festival 2024 Arab Spectacular

Gigi, Bella Hadid make a stylish splash in Seoul and Dubai for fashion and jewelry launches

Gigi, Bella Hadid make a stylish splash in Seoul and Dubai for fashion and jewelry launches
Updated 06 November 2024
Arab News
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Gigi, Bella Hadid make a stylish splash in Seoul and Dubai for fashion and jewelry launches

Gigi, Bella Hadid make a stylish splash in Seoul and Dubai for fashion and jewelry launches
Updated 06 November 2024
Arab News

DUBAI: US Dutch Palestinian model Gigi Hadid spent time in Seoul this week to launch her fashion brand Guest in Residence at a pop-up event in the city, while her sister Bella Hadid was in Dubai for the opening of Chopard’s new boutique in Dubai Mall.

For the event, Gigi wore a piece from her own collection—a chic brown cashmere coat called the Grizzly Coat—styled with straight-leg jeans, black loafers and a gold necklace. She wore her blonde hair in a sleek bob, complemented by winged eyeliner and a mauve lip.

Caption

The supermodel also shared glimpses of her time in Seoul on Instagram. She hosted a dinner for her guests, which included notable names from the music and fashion world, such as CL, leader of the K-pop girl group 2NE1.

CL posted a clip with Hadid on her Instagram welcoming her to Seoul and shared a look at the dinner’s star-studded guest list. Attendees included NewJeans members Hanni, Danielle, and Minji, “Squid Game” star Jung Ho-yeon and Korean American rapper Jay Park.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by (@dailyfashion_news)

The Guest in Residence pop-up is located in Seoul’s trendy Gangnam district and will run through Nov. 24.

Meanwhile, Bella surprised fans in Dubai on Tuesday with a visit to Dubai Mall. She joined Chopard’s creative director Caroline Scheufele for the ribbon-cutting ceremony before entering the boutique to meet with industry insiders and clients.

Bella Hadid touched down in the UAE this week. (Instagram) 

Later, she made a glamorous appearance at an after-party held at Jaipur Rugs in Alserkal Avenue. Wearing a flowing gold gown from Elie Saab’s Fall/ Winter 2004 Haute Couture collection, she smiled and waved to fans while mingling with guests and clients at the event.

Among the event's attendees was US Iraqi beauty mogul Huda Kattan, who posed for a photo with Bella and Scheufele.

Bella was named the new face and global ambassador for the luxury Swiss jewelry house in September.

Hadid first showed off Chopard creations at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival and has been spotted wearing jewelry by the maison on various red carpets as of late, including multiple sightings at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival. 

Bella has also been making waves in the beauty industry with her own fragrance brand, Orabella, which launched in May.

Topics: Gigi Hadid Bella Hadid Dubai Seoul

‘Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum,’ Pakistan’s most talked-about drama, concludes with cinematic finale

‘Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum,’ Pakistan’s most talked-about drama, concludes with cinematic finale
Updated 06 November 2024
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‘Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum,’ Pakistan’s most talked-about drama, concludes with cinematic finale

‘Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum,’ Pakistan’s most talked-about drama, concludes with cinematic finale
  • Starring Fahad Mustafa and Hania Aamir, the drama’s final episode sold out cinema tickets in advance
  • Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum earned a 9.2 rating on IMDb and trended on social media in India and Bangladesh
Updated 06 November 2024
BURAQ SHABBIR

KARACHI: The makers of Pakistan’s most talked-about drama serial, Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum, attributed its success to content that resonated deeply with viewers, as its final episode screened in cinemas nationwide on Tuesday.
Starring leading actors Fahad Mustafa and Hania Aamir as Mustafa and Sharjeena, the drama has been a topic of discussion since its debut in July.
The 34-episode series aired twice a week, with the grand finale reaching audiences on the big screen along with television.
Each new episode kept the show trending on Twitter, not only in Pakistan but also in India and Bangladesh, sustaining its popularity across borders. The drama earned a 9.2 rating on IMDb, an exceptional achievement for Pakistani TV productions.
“What’s happening with Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum is unprecedented,” Jerjees Seja, CEO of ARY Digital Network, the channel that the drama, said. “This has never happened before [in the history of Pakistani television plays] and I wonder if this will happen again.”
“It’s [all about] how people resonate [and] how they associate with the content,” he continued. “It’s amazing how audiences have connected with the drama [and] with Sharjeena and Mustafa.”
Tickets for the final episode were sold out in advance for shows in Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Faisalabad and other cities, he informed. Shows were extended to midnight considering the demand for tickets.
“It’s a great thing to air the last episodes [of our dramas] in cinemas,” Pakistani artist Mehwish Hayat told Arab News on the sidelines of the finale. “There is no harm if cinemas are being revived through drama serials. The way people have filled the cinema halls across Pakistan to watch this last episode [of this play], it’s phenomenal. This trend should continue.”
Written by seasoned writer Farhat Ishtiaq and directed by Badar Mehmood, Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum followed the different stages of love in the life of lead characters Mustafa and Sharjeena.
“I think the story was quite relatable,” said Mehmood.
“Everyone was relating to one character or the other, be it Adeel, Mustafa, Sharjeena or Rubab,” he continued. “It was a very household story that happens in every home at different moments so that was very relatable.”
The ensemble cast, including Emmad Irfani, Naeema Butt, Bushra Ansari and Jawed Sheikh, was equally incredible and impactful.
“The love I am getting from all the people, not just in Pakistan [but] all over the world, it has absolutely taken me from my lowest low to the highest high in a matter of a few months,” Irfani, who played anti-hero Adeel, told Arab News.
“His capriciousness, his unpredictability [made Adeel resonate with audiences],” he added. “His antics are so volatile, he says something [and then] he does something else. I think that is what captivated the audience’s imagination and that is what inspired me to play Adeel in the first place.”
Those in attendance at the screening of the final episode said the drama resonated with them on multiple levels.
“It was a very family-oriented [drama],” Fauzia Mehtab, who came to the cinema but didn’t get the ticket to watch the show, told Arab News. “We could relate to it. It seemed like it’s the story of our house. And now we are going to get so bored on Monday and Tuesday because there will be no ‘Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum.’”
Fans at the screening could not contain their excitement to see Fahad Mustafa among them. Most of them were eager to click selfies with him, as he could be seen getting truly overwhelmed by the response.
“I came [to the cinema] to see the actors because I really like Fahad Mustafa,” Mehtab said. “I wanted to meet him, but you know you can’t meet him in these circumstances.”

Topics: Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum

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