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Marvel star Chris Hemsworth says ‘Thor’ film is ‘north star’ of his career at PopCon ME in Dubai

Marvel star Chris Hemsworth says ‘Thor’ film is ‘north star’ of his career at PopCon ME in Dubai
Marvel star Chris Hemsworth was in Dubai for a day to attend PopCon Middle East. (AFP)
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Updated 12 November 2022
Shyama Krishna Kumar
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Marvel star Chris Hemsworth says ‘Thor’ film is ‘north star’ of his career at PopCon ME in Dubai

Marvel star Chris Hemsworth says ‘Thor’ film is ‘north star’ of his career at PopCon ME in Dubai
Updated 12 November 2022
Shyama Krishna Kumar
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DUBAI: Hollywood actor Chris Hemsworth, most famous for portraying the hammer-wielding Norse deity Thor in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, dazzled fans in Dubai on Friday when he attended the PopCon Middle East pop-culture convention at Expo City.

When asked about his favorite role to date at a panel talk at the event, Hemsworth said: “It’s tough to go past ‘Thor’ one. It was what kickstarted my career. I was living in LA at the time and auditioning a lot. And right when I was about to decide to go back to Australia, this film came about and ever since then, it’s kind of been the north star for everything I’ve done. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by PopConME (@popconme)

“And I’ve been lucky enough to employ the character a number of times and do different things with the character ... And you know, the freedom that the character has given me, it’s a dream. If you’d asked me 10, 11 or 12 years ago what my dream career was, this is it.”

Hemsworth also gave an update on “Extraction 2,” the upcoming sequel to his hit Netflix action film. 

“So ‘Extraction’ part one, when we shot that, the goal was to create an action film that was unlike anything else out there and we created a ‘one-r,’ which is a series of shots stitched together to feel like one single shot. And we shot a 12-minute sequence of intense action,” he said. 

“This time around, we have no choice but to go bigger again, and we’ve done that with a 22-minute sequence. And look, people responded to that character in that world so much that we’ve got to do it justice. I’m really proud of that film,” he added.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by PopConME (@popconme)

“We just did some digital photography in Prague recently. We were landing helicopters on top of moving trains and having people jump out and then endless fight sequences with ‘300’ extras, and it was more detailed and complicated than anything I’ve ever done but I’m beyond proud of it.”

Hemsworth will also be seen in the 2024 “Mad Max” prequel film “Furiosa.” He said: “It’s kind of like the Marvel Universe. I can’t tell you a whole lot besides the fact that it was wild and unique, and again, very different to anything I’ve done before. The character I play, he’s not necessarily a good guy.”
 

Topics: Chris Hemsworth PopCon ME

White Milano hosts gala event with Saudi 100 Brands initiative

White Milano hosts gala event with Saudi 100 Brands initiative
Updated 21 September 2023
Arab News
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White Milano hosts gala event with Saudi 100 Brands initiative

White Milano hosts gala event with Saudi 100 Brands initiative
Updated 21 September 2023
Arab News

DUBAI: White Milano, the international apparel and accessories trade show which famously takes place alongside Milan Fashion Week, and the Saudi 100 Brands project - an initiative by the Saudi Fashion Commission – hosted a gala event on Wednesday against the backdrop of the historic Palazzo Serbelloni in Milan.

A number of selected pieces from the collections of 40 Saudi fashion talents – ranging from couture, ready-to-wear fashion, handbags and footwear – were showcased at the event using scenography and choreography, and featuring dancers from the renowned La Scala Theatre.

Selected pieces from the collections of 40 Saudi fashion talents were showcased at the event using scenography and choreography, and featuring dancers from the renowned La Scala Theatre. (Supplied)

White Milano this week is welcoming the Saudi 100 Brands project as part of its EXPOWHITE program, taking place from Sept. 22-25.  

In line with its mission to foster a dialogue between the industry and global creative trends, the EXPOWHITE showcase will focus on brands and designers from countries like Saudi Arabia, Armenia, Brazil and South Africa.  

Guests at the event. (Supplied)

The Saudi 100 Brands project is an initiative by the Saudi Fashion Commission that supports established and emerging design talents from Saudi Arabia, who work across the ready-to-wear, modest, concept, premiere, demi-couture, bridal, bags and jewelry categories. 

The Saudi 100 Brands project showcase will be on display at the Padiglione Visconti.

Topics: White Milano Saudi 100 Brands

Co-founder of Norway’s Masahat Festival on the challenges of adapting to a new culture 

Co-founder of Norway’s Masahat Festival on the challenges of adapting to a new culture 
Updated 21 September 2023
Denise Marray
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Co-founder of Norway’s Masahat Festival on the challenges of adapting to a new culture 

Co-founder of Norway’s Masahat Festival on the challenges of adapting to a new culture 
Updated 21 September 2023
Denise Marray

LONDON: Norway’s Masahat Festival celebrates Arab culture across multiple genres and provides a platform for examining complex issues around history and identity.   

Attendees can listen to the mesmerizing vocals of Iraqi Egyptian Nadin Al-Khalidi, front singer of Tarraband, and participate in thought provoking seminars on topics such as “Pasts That Persist: Perspectives from Iraq and Palestine” and how to reclaim and take ownership of your own history after being written out of it for generations. Egyptian historian, Khaled Fahmy, Edward Keller Professor of North Africa and the Middle East at Tufts University, will speak on the latter subject.

Arab News spoke to Masahat’s Artistic Director Rana Issa to learn more about the aims and impact of the annual festival which she co-founded in 2015.   

Issa arrived in Norway from Lebanon in 2006. She had just completed her masters and proceeded to do her PhD at the University of Oslo. Today, she moves between Norway and Lebanon where she is an Assistant Professor of Translation Studies at the American University of Beirut. 

While her children are immersed in both Norwegian and Arab culture, for her, the experience of adapting to life in Norway has been more challenging.  

‘Once you leave your country you never really feel good again in a way because you become an exile. That never really leaves you. My parents are in Lebanon – my brother is in Dubai, my sister is in New York. That has a lot to do with how I perceive my life here.  

‘If I were to do it all over again, I wouldn’t have decided to leave Lebanon in that way. There’s something about leaving your homeland in haste that is quite traumatic. 

‘When I first came, I felt very lonely and this kind of loneliness I wouldn’t wish   even on my enemies,’ she said. 

In her work with Masahat, she is driven by a desire to help other minorities – not just Arab – to find their feet in their new homeland and to educate her fellow Norwegian citizens about Arab people.  

‘There’s a lot of misconceptions. They don’t, for example, understand that people can be Christian and living in the Middle East, and what they understand by Islam is so simplified and reductive,’ she said.  

Masahat is funded by the municipality of Oslo. “They pay our salaries and we get funding from other public bodies in Norway and have allies across cultural institutions and think tanks,” Issa explained.  

For those attending the festival, which runs from Sept. 21-24, the draw, says Issa, is the outstanding talent. 

‘The thing I love about Arab culture is how sophisticated it is. The reason why Masahat has been so successful in Norway is because the quality of our artists is really special,’ she said.  

Topics: Masahat Festival Norway

Saudi Arabia’s Hia Hub lifestyle conference returns for third edition  

Saudi Arabia’s Hia Hub lifestyle conference returns for third edition  
Updated 21 September 2023
Arab News
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Saudi Arabia’s Hia Hub lifestyle conference returns for third edition  

Saudi Arabia’s Hia Hub lifestyle conference returns for third edition  
Updated 21 September 2023
Arab News

DUBAI: Saudi Arabia’s fashion and lifestyle conference Hia Hub is set to return for its third edition taking place from Nov. 3-7 in Riyadh’s JAX District.  

Hia Hub will host discussions, masterclasses, workshops, interactive exhibitions and live performances. 

Last year’s edition featured a lineup of 13 talks and panels along with three masterclasses led by leaders in fashion and beauty such as image architect Law Roach, celebrity makeup artist Mary Phillips, supermodel and actress Amber Valetta, fashion designer Zac Posen and entrepreneur and digital influencer Karen Wazen.  

For the third edition, Hia Hub is joining forces with the Saudi Fashion Commission’s annual event Fashion Futures to expand the conference’s program.  

“It’s bigger and bolder this year, bringing together some of the regional and global fashion industry’s most accomplished business leaders, designers, celebrities, and icons, alongside leading fashion houses and brands,” said Mike Fairburn, managing director of SRMGx, the creators and organizers of Hia Hub and the experiential arm of SRMG.  

“It is a truly unique 5-day event – a dynamic programme of seminars, talks, workshops, masterclasses, and live performances – that blends the latest trends and perspectives in fashion, art, design, music and contemporary culture,” he added.  

Meanwhile, Burak Çakmak, CEO of the Saudi Fashion Commission, said: “With the return of Fashion Futures, we are taking another step towards driving the development of Saudi’s fast-emerging fashion industry, unlocking opportunities and supporting our most promising creative talents. We look forward to welcoming some of the best and brightest minds to join us at Hia Hub this November.” 

Topics: hia hub

Imaan Hammam, Loli Bahia grace Fendi show during Milan Fashion Week

Imaan Hammam, Loli Bahia grace Fendi show during Milan Fashion Week
Updated 21 September 2023
Arab News/ AP
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Imaan Hammam, Loli Bahia grace Fendi show during Milan Fashion Week

Imaan Hammam, Loli Bahia grace Fendi show during Milan Fashion Week
Updated 21 September 2023
Arab News/ AP

DUBAI: Part-Arab models Imaan Hammam and Loli Bahia this week walked Kim Jones’ runway for Fendi during Milan Fashion Week.  

The show was attended by A-list supermodels and celebrities including Naomi Campbell, Linda Evangelista, Kate Moss, Demi Moore, Cristina Ricci, Gwendoline Christie and Naomi Watts, who sat front row.  

Jones’ collection for Fendi – unveiled during the first day of Milan Fashion Week – was a twist on knitwear, anchored by leather. 

Hammam donned a baby blue knit jumper, with a grey-purple blazer and grey tailored shorts. (Getty Images)

The first look set the tone: A form-hugging color-block knit dresses in mocha, baby blue, salmon and ivory, with a double sash trailing at the waist lending drama and movement. A tri-colored clutch gave the right accent. 

Hammam donned a baby blue knit jumper, with a grey-purple blazer and grey tailored shorts that were asymmetric from the brand’s Spring/Summer 2024 collection. She held a bright yellow clutch and wore hot red gloves.  

Bahia wore a long figure-hugging grey dress, with matching gloves, and black boots.   

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Fendi (@fendi)

The collection overall was dainty: Knitwear was as a rule very fine, accented at times by thin golden chains creating details on open backs. Slinky, clinging monochrome knit dresses had peekaboo cutouts.  

The twinset trop gave way to built-in layers and sleeves that wrapped around the body, a mysterious swirl. Dresses ruched around the body, suggesting constant motion. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Fendi (@fendi)

A chunkier ribbed knit gave a chenille-soft appearance in a long jacket and skirt with a healthy front slit. Knit was also fashioned into a chainmail slip dress, with a coppery finish, or neon-orange wrap dress. 

Leather added substance: short color-block jackets paired with a matching knit mini-skirt.  

Contrasting gloves finished many looks. Bags were mostly held as if clutches; a tiny, flat bag dangled from gloved hands. 

Topics: Milan Fashion Week Imaan Hammam Loli Bahia

Saudi designer Hala Abdullah: ‘I’m 100% driven by where I come from’

Saudi designer Hala Abdullah: ‘I’m 100% driven by where I come from’
Updated 21 September 2023
Rawaa Talass
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Saudi designer Hala Abdullah: ‘I’m 100% driven by where I come from’

Saudi designer Hala Abdullah: ‘I’m 100% driven by where I come from’
  • Hala Abdullah discusses her new line of jewelry, ‘Foug,’ created in honor of National Day 
Updated 21 September 2023
Rawaa Talass

MARBELLA: In honor of Saudi Arabia’s National Day on Sept. 23, designer and entrepreneur Hala Abdullah has created a new fine jewelry collection, “Foug,” highlighting her country’s cultural heritage. Abdullah, who divides her time between the UAE and Saudi, founded her brand, Ofa, in 2017.  

“I am 100-percent driven by where I come from and the symbolism of Saudi, which I feel wasn’t as present in the world as it is right now,” Abdullah told Arab News. “This is my responsibility: I am from this country and I am representing it with my medium.”  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by OFA (@ofaofficial)

The collection’s green tones reference the Saudi flag, and “foug,” while it has several meanings to Abdullah, symbolizes optimism. The name is partially inspired by an old song by Saudi singer Mohammed Abdu, who, in a grand manner, begins one of his songs with this hopeful Arabic word.  

“He says ‘foug’ for so long. It’s a flashback from my childhood,” Abdullah said. “The meaning of it also resonates with the change happening in Saudi right now and the spirit of everyone there.” 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by OFA (@ofaofficial)

Studded with green onyx gemstones and diamonds, the designs that comprise “Foug” are simple, elegant, and geometrical. Abdullah was particularly influenced by the traditional, repetitive diamond- and triangle-shaped weaving patterns (‘Al-Sadu’ and ‘Al-Qatt Al-Asiri’ respectively) that have been embroidered in textiles in the northern and southern parts of the Kingdom. The compact collection contains rings, statement necklaces, and earrings, and are named after Saudi’s varying landscapes.  

“We’re not trying to play it safe,” said Abdullah. “We’re trying to make a statement with pieces that anyone can wear, not just Saudis.”  

While Abdullah’s pieces are delicate, it’s clear that she is a young woman with a strong personality. She’s something of her father’s daughter, and spent many years in Jeddah with an interest in architecture. “When I was a teenager, I was actually renovating my family’s house,” she said. “My dad was in real estate and I used to go with the workers and work with the cement. I would give them ideas, which they listened to. I gained confidence early on.”   

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by OFA (@ofaofficial)

One of her inspirations is the legendary Chinese folk heroine Hua Mulan (whose story was made famous through the 1998 Disney film), who courageously joined the army in her aged father’s stead by dressing as a male warrior, and ended up saving the emperor’s life.  

“It was never ‘Cinderella’ for me. I watched ‘Mulan’ more than 70 times,” Abdullah said. “Mulan was a powerful girl. Although she was pretty and delicate, she felt a sense of responsibility and duty for her country. She was strong and fearless and I related to that story more.”  

This partly inspired one of the earliest motifs for her brand: the Arabic sword, specifically its middle, cross-like intersecting part.  

Abdullah studied architecture at the Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles. The city proved to be an eye-opening experience compared to her life in Saudi to that point. “Everyone around me was very creative and looked very unique — blue hair, tattoos... it was a bit of a shock for me sometimes. But I was pushed to think outside the box and it was a really inspiring experience,” she said. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by OFA (@ofaofficial)

Ultimately, though, she decided against pursuing architecture as a career. “When you do architecture in the real world, there’s a lot of limitations,” she explained. “I found that jewelry was the same as architecture — the software, the process, the 3D printing — but minus the limitations.”  

She added that she felt something was missing when it came to jewelry design in the region. “It was either the big brands that everyone was wearing or the very traditional, gold souk-type of brands,” she explained. “I didn’t feel like there was a brand that I could relate to. That was what was lacking in the Arab world.” 

“Ofa” stands for the famous saying: ‘One for all, all for one.’ Unlike many homegrown Middle Eastern enterprises, Abdullah refrained from using her own name for her brand, instead adopting a more collective identity.  

“I wanted it be about community,” she said. “I think about it as a legacy and I see myself handing over to my kids one day. I’m really in it for the long run.”  

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