From cars to smartphones and even massage chairs, record-breaking South Korean group BTS’s global influence continues to expand outside the sphere of music, with new brand endorsements announced regularly.
Earlier this month, their collaboration with McDonald's for a signature edition meal launched in 50 countries around the world, including the UAE. The BTS Meal, which includes 10 chicken nuggets, medium World Famous Fries, medium Coke and sweet chilli and Cajun dipping sauces, is inspired by the band's go-to order at the fast-food chain.
Last year, ahead of the release of their Grammy nominated record-breaking English track Dynamite, BTS announced a collaboration with sportswear brand Fila. The Voyager Collection, comprising hats, T-shirts, hoodies, bags and sneakers, sold out in 24 hours in the US.
Scroll through the gallery above for all the looks from the latest Fila collaboration.
Now, the seven-piece band are back with another Fila collection, this time with an eco-friendly theme.
Called Project 7: Back to Nature, the street-style-inspired collection, which comes after their second English song Butter was released last month, is now available online and at Fila stores across the Middle East.
Featuring T-shirts, shoes, hats and other accessories, complete with artsy graphics and cool earth tones, the collection is entirely made from recycled materials.
Project 7: Back to Nature is centered around comfort and practicality, Fila said, and encourages us to think about the environment.
The collection launch is accompanied by a promotional video featuring all the band's members – RM, Jungkook, V, J-Hope, Jimin, Suga and Jin.
The Fila collaboration isn't the only fashion endorsement for the boys, however. In April they were named ambassadors for Louis Vuitton.
“Joining as new house ambassadors, the world-renowned pop icons are recognised for their uplifting messages that impart a positive influence," the storied French label posted on Instagram.
Under the partnership, BTS are expected to don pieces from Louis Vuitton for their coming appearances and performances, as well as join forces on yet-to-be-revealed special projects.
"I am looking forward to this wonderful partnership which adds a modern chapter to the house, merging luxury and contemporary culture," Virgil Abloh, Louis Vuitton menswear artistic director who is also the founder of label Off-White, said then. "I can't wait to share all the very exciting projects we are working on."
The K-pop stars have previously also fronted campaigns for Skechers, as well as partnered with Dior for tour outfits.
To mark the launch of the McDonald's BTS Meal, the boy band also released a line of branded clothing and accessories inspired by the menu items. The collection features hoodies, purple bathrobes, socks and sandals.
Some of the items are emblazoned with the McDonald’s fries box logo with seven fries for each BTS member, and others come in BTS purple, with McDonald’s red and gold detailing.
And if there were still doubts about the band's popularity, on Wednesday, more than a dozen Indonesian McDonald's outlets were temporarily shuttered over coronavirus fears after the BTS Meal sparked frenzied buying from fans in the K-pop-mad country.
Images showed outlets in Jakarta, where lockdown rules are still in place, deluged with online food-delivery drivers picking up the meal.
BTS's Dynamite video, which premiered on YouTube on August 21, has racked up more than a billion views, while their latest Butter, released on May 21, has 329 million views so far in two weeks.
BORDERLANDS
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jamie Lee Curtis
Director: Eli Roth
Rating: 0/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
If you go...
Etihad Airways flies from Abu Dhabi to Kuala Lumpur, from about Dh3,600. Air Asia currently flies from Kuala Lumpur to Terengganu, with Berjaya Hotels & Resorts planning to launch direct chartered flights to Redang Island in the near future. Rooms at The Taaras Beach and Spa Resort start from 680RM (Dh597).
Frankenstein in Baghdad
Ahmed Saadawi
Penguin Press
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League, Group B
Barcelona v Inter Milan
Camp Nou, Barcelona
Wednesday, 11pm (UAE)
Women & Power: A Manifesto
Mary Beard
Profile Books and London Review of Books
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
The biog
Siblings: five brothers and one sister
Education: Bachelors in Political Science at the University of Minnesota
Interests: Swimming, tennis and the gym
Favourite place: UAE
Favourite packet food on the trip: pasta primavera
What he did to pass the time during the trip: listen to audio books
if you go
The flights
The closest international airport to the TMB trail is Geneva (just over an hour’s drive from the French ski town of Chamonix where most people start and end the walk). Direct flights from the UAE to Geneva are available with Etihad and Emirates from about Dh2,790 including taxes.
The trek
The Tour du Mont Blanc takes about 10 to 14 days to complete if walked in its entirety, but by using the services of a tour operator such as Raw Travel, a shorter “highlights” version allows you to complete the best of the route in a week, from Dh6,750 per person. The trails are blocked by snow from about late October to early May. Most people walk in July and August, but be warned that trails are often uncomfortably busy at this time and it can be very hot. The prime months are June and September.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
ULTRA PROCESSED FOODS
- Carbonated drinks, sweet or savoury packaged snacks, confectionery, mass-produced packaged breads and buns
- margarines and spreads; cookies, biscuits, pastries, cakes, and cake mixes, breakfast cereals, cereal and energy bars;
- energy drinks, milk drinks, fruit yoghurts and fruit drinks, cocoa drinks, meat and chicken extracts and instant sauces
- infant formulas and follow-on milks, health and slimming products such as powdered or fortified meal and dish substitutes,
- many ready-to-heat products including pre-prepared pies and pasta and pizza dishes, poultry and fish nuggets and sticks, sausages, burgers, hot dogs, and other reconstituted meat products, powdered and packaged instant soups, noodles and desserts.
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League, semi-final result:
Liverpool 4-0 Barcelona
Liverpool win 4-3 on aggregate
Champions Legaue final: June 1, Madrid
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
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'THE WORST THING YOU CAN EAT'
Trans fat is typically found in fried and baked goods, but you may be consuming more than you think.
Powdered coffee creamer, microwave popcorn and virtually anything processed with a crust is likely to contain it, as this guide from Mayo Clinic outlines:
Baked goods - Most cakes, cookies, pie crusts and crackers contain shortening, which is usually made from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Ready-made frosting is another source of trans fat.
Snacks - Potato, corn and tortilla chips often contain trans fat. And while popcorn can be a healthy snack, many types of packaged or microwave popcorn use trans fat to help cook or flavour the popcorn.
Fried food - Foods that require deep frying — french fries, doughnuts and fried chicken — can contain trans fat from the oil used in the cooking process.
Refrigerator dough - Products such as canned biscuits and cinnamon rolls often contain trans fat, as do frozen pizza crusts.
Creamer and margarine - Nondairy coffee creamer and stick margarines also may contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
