Khalid Basaeed is on a mission to bring top-quality accessories and leather goods from the UAE to the world within the next decade. With a keen eye for design and passion for regional raw materials, the 38-year-old established Feathers in 2010, proclaiming it to be the first Emirati luxury-goods brand. Five years later, Feathers has five boutiques in three emirates, with customers flocking to buy Basaeed’s range of fine jewellery, wallets, writing instruments and geometric-print scarves.
You originally studied architecture and urban design; what led you to launch – and do all the designing for – a luxury- goods company?
My interest was ignited when I was studying in Edinburgh and my course had an element of product design. I loved it and attended every exhibition and event possible. Three years down the line, and after much planning, the first Feathers store was opened on October 10, 2010. As Emiratis we don’t have our own “luxury brand” – we always buy European and American ones. So my idea was to produce and design luxury goods we’re already buying and carrying, such as pens, watches and handbags. The second important aspect was to make the brand affordable and not let that diminish the quality. Our men’s wallets, for example, range from Dh350 to Dh700, using the very finest quality camel leather. Whereas for ladies, handbags go from Dh1,000 to Dh3,500.
Break down the DNA of the brand for me.
We’re trying to create a uniquely Emirati brand, with Arabian, Islamic, cultural and regional touches in its design. From the raw materials we choose – such as camel leather – to the Arabian architectural patterns we use, these are things uncommon to other brands.
Who is the target audience for Feathers?
I would say I’m targeting everybody. It’s not a brand exclusively for locals and people from the GCC – although a huge number of them like to support our brand and they are a very important client base. Expats, when they come to the UAE, want to take home a souvenir for their families and friends, and we offer something unique. I say, enough of souvenirs made in China such as Burj Al Arab statues, mugs with camel faces or beach-picture fridge magnets. These are old-fashioned and not related or reflective of our country and region. Wouldn’t you rather buy a UAE-made wallet of camel leather, designed by an Emirati?
Map out the expansion plan you have in mind for Feathers.
We want to continue to grow in the UAE first – Al Ain, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah and so on. We’ve also had some interest from Kuwait and Saudi Arabia to franchise the brand and open branches there. We’re one day aiming to have our products in London, Milan and Paris, maybe not necessarily open a branch but sell them in big stores such as Harvey Nichols or Bloomingdale’s. Time-wise, within the next five years, we’d like to be in every GCC country. Then, within 10 years we could see ourselves present in the fashion capitals mentioned.
What’s the significance of a peacock feather as part of your company name and logo?
We’re a local brand with ambitions to go global and Feathers is easily pronounceable in the Arab world and abroad. Aesthetically, I’ve always been fascinated by peacocks – the stunning simplicity and symmetry of their feathers. The pride and beauty of the animal also seemed to reflect our brand, as did the colour spectrum of the bird’s feathers – that’s why it was the perfect theme.
What are the trending colours of your spring collections?
The new collections have turquoise, ocean blue, royal blue – the full blue spectrum. There are forest greens, plus peaches, beige and the tan family. The palette reflects trends seen at Milan Fashion Week and a huge leather exhibition recently held in the city.
What have been the best-sellers since you launched?
Definitely the camel wallets and handbags. Other items include a watch made in Switzerland to commemorate the late President Sheikh Zayed. It has the engraved silhouette of his face upon its dial and is still our best-selling timepiece. Other popular pieces, which can’t be found anywhere else, are accessories such as charm bracelets bearing traditional Arabian coffee pots and burkas.
Walk us through your upcoming Eid collection.
We have designed a collection of fine jewellery in gold with diamonds and pearls. It’s very sleek with an elegant and classic feel. The pearls have strong regional significance, but the collection is very international and can easily be worn by anyone. It works for the day or as evening wear and we hope a universal audience will like the Arabic touches.
• To see the latest collections by Feathers and to locate your nearest boutique call 02 550 7556 or 04 232 8788
rduane@thenational.ae
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
Developer: Treyarch, Raven Software
Publisher: Activision
Console: PlayStation 4 & 5, Windows, Xbox One & Series X/S
Rating: 3.5/5
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COMPANY PROFILE
● Company: Bidzi
● Started: 2024
● Founders: Akshay Dosaj and Asif Rashid
● Based: Dubai, UAE
● Industry: M&A
● Funding size: Bootstrapped
● No of employees: Nine
Results
6.30pm: Maiden Dh165,000 (Dirt) 1,400m. Winner: Rio Angie, Pat Dobbs (jockey), Doug Watson (trainer).
7.05pm: Handicap Dh170,000 (D) 1,600m. Winner: Trenchard, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
7.40pm: Maiden Dh165,000 (D) 1,600m. Winner: Mulfit, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
8.15pm: Handicap Dh210,000 (D) 1,200m. Winner: Waady, Dane O’Neill, Doug Watson.
8.50pm: Handicap Dh210,000 (D) 2,000m. Winner: Tried And True, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
9.25pm:Handicap Dh185,000 (D) 1,400m. Winner: Midnight Sands, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
City's slump
L - Juventus, 2-0
D - C Palace, 2-2
W - N Forest, 3-0
L - Liverpool, 2-0
D - Feyenoord, 3-3
L - Tottenham, 4-0
L - Brighton, 2-1
L - Sporting, 4-1
L - Bournemouth, 2-1
L - Tottenham, 2-1
Top 10 most polluted cities
- Bhiwadi, India
- Ghaziabad, India
- Hotan, China
- Delhi, India
- Jaunpur, India
- Faisalabad, Pakistan
- Noida, India
- Bahawalpur, Pakistan
- Peshawar, Pakistan
- Bagpat, India
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Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
WWE Evolution results
- Trish Stratus and Lita beat Alicia Fox and Mickie James in a tag match
- Nia Jax won a battle royal, eliminating Ember Moon last to win
- Toni Storm beat Io Shirai to win the Mae Young Classic
- Natalya, Sasha Banks and Bayley beat The Riott Squad in a six-woman tag match
- Shayna Baszler won the NXT Women’s title by defeating Kairi Sane
- Becky Lynch retained the SmackDown Women’s Championship against Charlotte Flair in a Last Woman Standing match
- Ronda Rousey retained the Raw Women’s title by beating Nikki Bella
Dubai works towards better air quality by 2021
Dubai is on a mission to record good air quality for 90 per cent of the year – up from 86 per cent annually today – by 2021.
The municipality plans to have seven mobile air-monitoring stations by 2020 to capture more accurate data in hourly and daily trends of pollution.
These will be on the Palm Jumeirah, Al Qusais, Muhaisnah, Rashidiyah, Al Wasl, Al Quoz and Dubai Investment Park.
“It will allow real-time responding for emergency cases,” said Khaldoon Al Daraji, first environment safety officer at the municipality.
“We’re in a good position except for the cases that are out of our hands, such as sandstorms.
“Sandstorms are our main concern because the UAE is just a receiver.
“The hotspots are Iran, Saudi Arabia and southern Iraq, but we’re working hard with the region to reduce the cycle of sandstorm generation.”
Mr Al Daraji said monitoring as it stood covered 47 per cent of Dubai.
There are 12 fixed stations in the emirate, but Dubai also receives information from monitors belonging to other entities.
“There are 25 stations in total,” Mr Al Daraji said.
“We added new technology and equipment used for the first time for the detection of heavy metals.
“A hundred parameters can be detected but we want to expand it to make sure that the data captured can allow a baseline study in some areas to ensure they are well positioned.”
The Bio
Ram Buxani earned a salary of 125 rupees per month in 1959
Indian currency was then legal tender in the Trucial States.
He received the wages plus food, accommodation, a haircut and cinema ticket twice a month and actuals for shaving and laundry expenses
Buxani followed in his father’s footsteps when he applied for a job overseas
His father Jivat Ram worked in general merchandize store in Gibraltar and the Canary Islands in the early 1930s
Buxani grew the UAE business over several sectors from retail to financial services but is attached to the original textile business
He talks in detail about natural fibres, the texture of cloth, mirrorwork and embroidery
Buxani lives by a simple philosophy – do good to all
War
Director: Siddharth Anand
Cast: Hrithik Roshan, Tiger Shroff, Ashutosh Rana, Vaani Kapoor
Rating: Two out of five stars
Biog
Age: 50
Known as the UAE’s strongest man
Favourite dish: “Everything and sea food”
Hobbies: Drawing, basketball and poetry
Favourite car: Any classic car
Favourite superhero: The Hulk original
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Where to apply
Applicants should send their completed applications - CV, covering letter, sample(s) of your work, letter of recommendation - to Nick March, Assistant Editor in Chief at The National and UAE programme administrator for the Rosalynn Carter Fellowships for Mental Health Journalism, by 5pm on April 30, 2020.
Please send applications to nmarch@thenational.ae and please mark the subject line as “Rosalynn Carter Fellowship for Mental Health Journalism (UAE programme application)”.
The local advisory board will consider all applications and will interview a short list of candidates in Abu Dhabi in June 2020. Successful candidates will be informed before July 30, 2020.
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
