Designer Amina Muaddi celebrates her birthday in style

Designer Amina Muaddi celebrates her birthday in style
The celebrity shoe designer celebrated her birthday. (Getty Images)
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Updated 01 June 2023
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Designer Amina Muaddi celebrates her birthday in style

Designer Amina Muaddi celebrates her birthday in style

DUBAI: Celebrity-loved footwear designer Amina Muaddi had an early birthday celebration this week with her friends and colleagues.

The shoemaker, who is of Jordanian and Romanian descent but grew up in Italy, turns 37 on May 31. To mark the special occasion, Muaddi got together with some of her closest friends.

The entrepreneur, who wore a long brown leather dress, shared snippets of her pre-birthday bash on her Instagram Stories.




Muaddi wore a long brown leather dress. (Instagram)

Muaddi’s celebrity friends including US model and socialite Lori Harvey took to Instagram to share pictures. “Happy birthday my baby Amina Muaddi. It’s always a party when we get together. I hope you have the best day ever. Cant wait to celebrate you,” Harvey wrote on her Stories.

Egyptian Moroccan Dutch model Imaan Hammam also posted a picture. “Its my sis Amina Muaddi’s birthday y’all!” she wrote on Instagram. 

The pair have previously collaborated on a special campaign that paid tribute to their Arab roots. Hammam starred in the August 2022 campaign that was shot in Cairo.




Muaddi’s celebrity friends including US model and socialite Lori Harvey took to Instagram to share pictures. (Instagram)

The videos and images featured Hammam in multiple scenarios, including standing alongside a white Arabian horse and posing atop intricately woven rugs.

The model wore strappy square stilettos, satin pointed-toe pumps and transparent platforms that were embellished with Muaddi’s iconic sparkly detailing.

 

 

Muaddi certainly has a lot to celebrate as she is at the helm of one of the most in-demand footwear labels in the industry.

She launched her eponymous footwear line in August 2018, about one year after departing from her role as co-founder and creative director of luxury footwear label Oscar Tiye.

The creator also helped design the shoes for Rihanna’s Fenty collection. The collaboration was so successful that it received the Collaborator of the Year award at the 34th edition of the FN Achievement Awards in 2020.

A year later, she landed a spot on Women’s Wear Daily and Footwear News’ 50 Most Powerful Women list.

The most recent A-list star to step out in her heels is Beyonce. She wore Muaddi’s Begum PVC glass pumps in London, on her Renaissance World Tour.


Gigi Hadid hits the runway for Chanel as Lyna Khoudri attends show

Gigi Hadid hits the runway for Chanel as Lyna Khoudri attends show
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Gigi Hadid hits the runway for Chanel as Lyna Khoudri attends show

Gigi Hadid hits the runway for Chanel as Lyna Khoudri attends show

DUBAI: As Chanel's models — including US Dutch Palestinian Gigi Hadid and British Moroccan Nora Attal — took their sashay down the Paris runway, guests could practically hear the faint splashes from the pools of the villa Noailles. This historic cubist space in the south of France, once graced by luminaries like Luis Buñuel, Man Ray, Dalí — and also Karl Lagerfeld — has for almost a century been a beacon for art. 

Virginie Viard’s spring collection emerged as a sun-drenched ode to the villa’s gardens. With Hadid leading the pack in flip-flops, the stalwart was stripped of its typical high-brow allure, grounding Chanel styles in an earthy, relaxed summer vibe, the Associated Press reported.  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by CHANEL (@chanelofficial)

“Sophistication juxtaposed with informality, the ever-present tweed, sporty touches, and delicate lace: I aimed for a harmonious blend of contrasts,” Viard said. Using the sunlit flora and tranquil pool of the villa as a muse, her collection leaned away from Lagerfeld’s signature high-glam aesthetic, presenting a panorama of comfort, chicness — and, gasp, relatability. 

The parade began with multicolored tweed dressing gowns, their luxurious threads catching the light as models moved. Easygoing, low-slung outfits that evoked an air of carefree leisure faintly contrasted with detailed geometric designs gracing several pieces. Lace trimmings whispered of femininity and delicate craftsmanship, while sporty accents gave the ensembles a touch of the everyday. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by CHANEL (@chanelofficial)

This was a confident Viard, four years since taking the creative helm of the storied maison, making low key designs that seemed as if they had nothing to prove.  The point of this collection lay not in dramatic novelty but in its accessibility. The use of mid-size models, for instance, was a relatable gesture that speaks volumes of Viard’s intent to make Chanel resonate with a broader audience, according to the Associated Press.  

The show was attended by the likes of British actress Emilia Clarke, US comedian Chris Rock and French Algerian actress, and Chanel ambassador, Lyna Khoudri. 

After her turn on the runway with Chanel, Hadid took part in Miu Miu's Spring/Summer 2024 show and attended a dinner party hosted by the brand. 


Emirati artist Abdullah Al-Saadi to feature at 60th International Art Exhibition of the Venice Biennale

Emirati artist Abdullah Al-Saadi to feature at 60th International Art Exhibition of the Venice Biennale
Updated 04 October 2023
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Emirati artist Abdullah Al-Saadi to feature at 60th International Art Exhibition of the Venice Biennale

Emirati artist Abdullah Al-Saadi to feature at 60th International Art Exhibition of the Venice Biennale

DUBAI: Emirati artist Abdullah Al-Saadi will represent the UAE at the 60th International Art Exhibition of the La Biennale di Venezia, or the Venice Biennale, opening in April 2024.

Curated by Tarek Abou El-Fetouh, the solo exhibition marks the artist’s return to Venice following his participation at the 57th International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia in 2017.

Considered a key figure in the contemporary art scene in the UAE, Al-Saadi’s practice range includes painting, drawing, sculpture, performance, photography, collecting and cataloguing found objects, and the creation of new alphabets.

His work is informed by the UAE’s landscape and his family history, often exploring relationships between individuals and their natural and social environment.

“Abdullah’s practice has been, over the last 40 years, a continuous engagement with changing environments as well as personal and cultural histories, creating points where they meet and interweave,” said El-Fetouh.


Saudi fashion brands 1886 and Abadia secure international investors

Saudi fashion brands 1886 and Abadia secure international investors
Updated 04 October 2023
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Saudi fashion brands 1886 and Abadia secure international investors

Saudi fashion brands 1886 and Abadia secure international investors

DUBAI: Saudi fashion brands 1886 and Abadia secured historic international investments at an investment roadshow hosted by the Saudi Fashion Commission in New York City on Tuesday.

The first-of-its-kind involvement in Saudi fashion brands by an international investor will see 1886 and Abadia’s founders supported by cash incentives from Turmeric Capital and matching support in services from the Fashion Commission.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by 1886 (@my_1886)

The collaboration between Turmeric Capital and the two brands was also complemented by a Memorandum of Understanding between the firm and the fashion, which will see both organizations share resources and expertise to enable the development of globally competitive brands rooted in Saudi culture. 

“From Paris to Milan, to New York, the Saudi Fashion Commission is traversing the globe to support the Saudi fashion sector as it grows and supports diversification of the Saudi economy,” said Burak Cakmak, CEO of the Saudi Fashion Commission, in a statement.

“The return to New York this year is an incredible moment where we are witnessing key milestones – for Saudi brands as we help them secure international investment, for the Commission as we continue to put our mark on the global stage and for the Saudi fashion industry as public awareness grows.”


Diriyah launches young storyteller competition to promote Saudi heritage

Diriyah launches young storyteller competition to promote Saudi heritage
Updated 04 October 2023
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Diriyah launches young storyteller competition to promote Saudi heritage

Diriyah launches young storyteller competition to promote Saudi heritage
  • The second Rawi Diriyah contest, for middle and high school students, aims to promote the rich culture and heritage of Saudi Arabia
  • Registration for the event, organized by the Diriyah Gate Development Authority and Ministry of Education, is open until Nov. 14 

RIYADH: Young storytellers of the future in the Kingdom are invited to help celebrate the culture and heritage of Saudi Arabia by entering the second Rawi Diriyah competition.

The contest, organized by the Diriyah Gate Development Authority in partnership with the Ministry of Education, is open to middle and high school students. It runs until January 2024 and registration for prospective entrants will remain open until Nov. 14.

“The Rawi Diriyah competition aims to showcase and promote the rich culture and heritage of Saudi Arabia through the art of storytelling,” organizers said. “By preserving stories about Diriyah and Saudi Arabia, the competition contributes to the preservation of these narratives for future generations.”

The competition aims to promote Saudi culture among the nation’s youth, they added, and encourage a new generation of storytellers to uphold Diriyah’s heritage, in keeping with the goals of the Vision 2030 national development and diversification plan.

As such, the competition is designed to honor the area’s rich history and heritage while nurturing the development of storytelling skills among young people, providing them with valuable life skills and fostering a sense of community.

“These middle and high school students mean so much to us,” said Jerry Inzerillo, the CEO of Diriyah Gate Development Authority.

The inaugural Rawi Diriyah competition, launched in late 2020, attracted the interest of 250,000 students. The entries were whittled down by judges to 12 finalists who told their stories of historic Saudi figures, characters and traditions at a showpiece awards event set against the scenic backdrop of historic At-Turaif.


Dutch DJs Basicz and NoTune to ‘pull out all the stops’ at Freaks of Nature in Riyadh 

Dutch DJs Basicz and NoTune to ‘pull out all the stops’ at Freaks of Nature in Riyadh 
Updated 03 October 2023
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Dutch DJs Basicz and NoTune to ‘pull out all the stops’ at Freaks of Nature in Riyadh 

Dutch DJs Basicz and NoTune to ‘pull out all the stops’ at Freaks of Nature in Riyadh 

DUBAI: Saudi Arabia’s homegrown boutique music festival Freaks of Nature is back for its latest edition this weekend in Riyadh.   

Set to take to the stage at the two-day open air music festival are Dutch DJs Basicz and NoTune, returning for the second time to perform in the Kingdom.  
“Our last visit to Saudi Arabia was an absolute blast. The warmth and hospitality we received from the people there were incredible. We're really looking forward to experiencing that again. Moreover, being a part of this concept that's shaping the music scene in Saudi Arabia is not just exciting, it's an honor. We're genuinely thrilled to play a role in shaping the future of music culture in this country,” said the duo in an e-mail interview with Arab News.  

The two DJs – who also have robust careers as solo artists – enjoy the collaborative process of working with each other.   

“Collaborating has been a ride. Since the early days of our careers, we've been creating music together. It's been an amazing journey that's allowed us to build a unique musical connection,” said DJ Basicz.  

“When we're in the studio or up on stage together, it's like we have this unspoken understanding that makes the creative process flow effortlessly. It's not just about making music, it's about pushing each other to new heights. We challenge ourselves to explore uncharted territories and blend our strengths to craft a show that's not just diverse but also emotionally resonant.”  

While NoTune tends to gravitate towards the darker and more adventurous side of techno music, DJ Basicz likes to explore the industrial and raw aspects of the genre.   

“We've realized that our diverse approaches let us serve up a rich and layered experience for our audience,” said DJ Basicz.  

For their upcoming show at Freaks of Nature, taking place over Oct. 5 and 6, DJ Basicz and DJ Notune are “pulling out all the stops.”  

“We are curating a set that not only fits seamlessly with the other talented artists on our stage but also promises to take the crowd on a wild ride. We're throwing in a few surprises and that signature energy that's become our trademark. It's going to be a unique experience, a musical journey that you don't want to end,” they said.