Tommy Hilfiger has named the five finalists of his Fashion Frontier Challenge.
Each year the initiative invites entrepreneurs and start-ups to submit ideas designed to have an impact the lives of everyday people.
The companies are set specific tasks to test business agility, ability to scale and long-term social impact.
As part of the current competition, the final final five companies were chosen from more than 250 start-ups from around the world.
The purpose of the Fashion Frontier Challenge, which was founded in 2018 by US designer Tommy Hilfiger, is to support those traditionally overlooked or under-represented within the fashion industry.
Its aim is to help break down traditional boundaries within the industry by highlighting and supporting innovative thinkers and entrepreneurs from marginalised backgrounds. The challenge seeks to promote new ideas, inclusivity and sustainability.
“As we move into the fourth edition of the Tommy Hilfiger Fashion Frontier Challenge, we know that there is still more work to be done to achieve diverse representation and inclusion in fashion,” said Hilfiger.
"We’re committed to using our platform to give emerging talent a voice so the industry as a whole can evolve how we think, build and create.”
The first of the five finalists is Bangladeshi company Moner Bondhu, which provides accessible mental health support to garment workers, women and children. It offers a range of wellness services including professional counselling, workshops, training and a weekly radio show.
Then there's IDA Sports from the UK, which designed a range of sports shoes and cleats for women after finding that most sports equipment is designed for men first and then scaled down in size and weight for female athletes.
The result of IDA Sports' products is increased performance, a better fit and, most importantly, fewer injuries.
Koalaa, another British start-up, also made the final five. It engineers prosthetic upper limbs for all ages that are designed to be affordable.
The company hopes to allow more people access to well-fitting prosthetics, while its range of toy-inspired limbs have been made to help children adjust. In addition, it is using its network to build a peer support community.
Care+Wear, meanwhile, is a start-up from New York that makes dedicated clothing for hospital patients. Designed to be both adaptive and accessible, the collection of gowns, tops, scrubs and recovery bras are designed to give patients a sense of humanity and dignity by allowing easy access for hospital treatment, removing the need to undress.
And finally, there's Tactus, a Dutch-American tech company that designs smart clothing for deaf people. Its garments can translate music into vibrations the wearer can feel.
On February 9, the finalists will present their ideas to a panel of judges, which includes Hilfiger, model turned activist Halima Aden, managing director of Fashion for Good Katrin Ley and professor of entrepreneurship at INSEAD business school Adrian Johnson.
There will be two winners, who will each recieve a $100,000 cash grant, plus a year-long mentorship with Hilfiger and INSEAD experts, as well as a place on a course at the business school. The entrepreneur who comes third winner will receive $15,000 towards their business.
AUSTRALIA SQUAD
Aaron Finch, Matt Renshaw, Brendan Doggett, Michael Neser, Usman Khawaja, Shaun Marsh, Mitchell Marsh, Tim Paine (captain), Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Jon Holland, Ashton Agar, Mitchell Starc, Peter Siddle
The alternatives
• Founded in 2014, Telr is a payment aggregator and gateway with an office in Silicon Oasis. It’s e-commerce entry plan costs Dh349 monthly (plus VAT). QR codes direct customers to an online payment page and merchants can generate payments through messaging apps.
• Business Bay’s Pallapay claims 40,000-plus active merchants who can invoice customers and receive payment by card. Fees range from 1.99 per cent plus Dh1 per transaction depending on payment method and location, such as online or via UAE mobile.
• Tap started in May 2013 in Kuwait, allowing Middle East businesses to bill, accept, receive and make payments online “easier, faster and smoother” via goSell and goCollect. It supports more than 10,000 merchants. Monthly fees range from US$65-100, plus card charges of 2.75-3.75 per cent and Dh1.2 per sale.
• 2checkout’s “all-in-one payment gateway and merchant account” accepts payments in 200-plus markets for 2.4-3.9 per cent, plus a Dh1.2-Dh1.8 currency conversion charge. The US provider processes online shop and mobile transactions and has 17,000-plus active digital commerce users.
• PayPal is probably the best-known online goods payment method - usually used for eBay purchases - but can be used to receive funds, providing everyone’s signed up. Costs from 2.9 per cent plus Dh1.2 per transaction.
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Breast cancer in men: the facts
1) Breast cancer is men is rare but can develop rapidly. It usually occurs in those over the ages of 60, but can occasionally affect younger men.
2) Symptoms can include a lump, discharge, swollen glands or a rash.
3) People with a history of cancer in the family can be more susceptible.
4) Treatments include surgery and chemotherapy but early diagnosis is the key.
5) Anyone concerned is urged to contact their doctor
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
CONFIRMED%20LINE-UP
%3Cp%3EElena%20Rybakina%20(Kazakhstan)%0D%3Cbr%3EOns%20Jabeur%20(Tunisia)%0D%3Cbr%3EMaria%20Sakkari%20(Greece)%0D%3Cbr%3EBarbora%20Krej%C4%8D%C3%ADkov%C3%A1%20(Czech%20Republic)%0D%3Cbr%3EBeatriz%20Haddad%20Maia%20(Brazil)%0D%3Cbr%3EJe%C4%BCena%20Ostapenko%20(Latvia)%0D%3Cbr%3ELiudmila%20Samsonova%0D%3Cbr%3EDaria%20Kasatkina%E2%80%AF%0D%3Cbr%3EVeronika%20Kudermetova%E2%80%AF%0D%3Cbr%3ECaroline%20Garcia%20(France)%E2%80%AF%0D%3Cbr%3EMagda%20Linette%20(Poland)%E2%80%AF%0D%3Cbr%3ESorana%20C%C3%AErstea%20(Romania)%E2%80%AF%0D%3Cbr%3EAnastasia%20Potapova%E2%80%AF%0D%3Cbr%3EAnhelina%20Kalinina%20(Ukraine)%E2%80%AF%E2%80%AF%0D%3Cbr%3EJasmine%20Paolini%20(Italy)%E2%80%AF%0D%3Cbr%3EEmma%20Navarro%20(USA)%E2%80%AF%0D%3Cbr%3ELesia%20Tsurenko%20(Ukraine)%0D%3Cbr%3ENaomi%20Osaka%20(Japan)%20-%20wildcard%0D%3Cbr%3EEmma%20Raducanu%20(Great%20Britain)%20-%20wildcard%3Cbr%3EAlexandra%20Eala%20(Philippines)%20-%20wildcard%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The biog
From: Ras Al Khaimah
Age: 50
Profession: Electronic engineer, worked with Etisalat for the past 20 years
Hobbies: 'Anything that involves exploration, hunting, fishing, mountaineering, the sea, hiking, scuba diving, and adventure sports'
Favourite quote: 'Life is so simple, enjoy it'
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
