One of the many changes sparked by the coronavirus pandemic is a favouring of all things local. Uncertainty over jobs and money has led many to re-evaluate where and how they spend their money. Now faced with a conscious choice, more and more paying customers prefer to invest in independent and home-grown creatives and companies.
Department store Bloomingdale’s in The Dubai Mall is one player that is paving the way with its Love Local project, by dedicating the month of October to showcasing regional designers. The initiative runs until Wednesday, October 28, and turns the spotlight on some of the best fashion, accessories and interior designers from around the region.
The Love Local pop-up, available both in-store and online, encompasses 14 such talents. Shoppers can familiarise themselves with brands such as Bambah, the women’s label that was born of a love of vintage. What began life as an upscale thrift store in Dubai, has blossomed into a full-fledged label that takes its cues from eras past, with nostalgic elements such as gingham and florals updated into polished dresses and wraps.
Elsewhere, find the occasion gowns of Kuwaiti Bazza Alzouman, in tones of burnished ochre and pewter. The full-length gowns come with necklines that veer from off-the-shoulder and single-sleeved asymmetric to a collared, plunging V.
Included, too, is the women’s offering from Sharjah-London brand Qasimi, helmed by Sheikha Hoor Al Qasimi, the sister of the late Sheikh Khalid bin Sultan Al Qasimi, the brand's founder.
Taking the traditional motifs of nomadic tribes, these airy pieces are shot through with simple stripes, as well as dense geometric patterning. Pared-back shirt dresses with grandad collars come with Bedouin-style tassels, while the city staple trench coat gets a languid makeover with tent stripes, in terracotta and burnt clay.
Serbb, meanwhile, is the brainchild of two Emirati sisters, and specialises in contemporary kaftans, abayas and capes, here in earthy tones of antique silver and dusty sienna. Traditional shapes are updated into high-necked dresses, while mid-calf and button-front capes fall in ripples from the shoulder. The best piece? A high-collared dress in silver that dips in at the waist.
Bouguessa brings its best game for daytime tailoring. A two-tone boxy jacket comes in shades of grey and mocha, while a city anorak is extended to below the knee, and comes in muddy green, with zippered pockets and drawstring hem. A simple poplin shirt becomes a dress, now belted with rounded sleeves that end cuffless, while a masculine double-breasted jacket is shorn into the waist. Putty, chocolate, white and the palest periwinkle blue are the colours of this wearable collection.
More daywear arrives courtesy of Kage, which uses a pretty, cutwork brocade fabric across the collection. It appears in white, as frill-edged shorts and a crisp shirt, and in coral as a halterneck sun dress and a summery cropped top that ties at the midriff.
Cleverly, Love Local is not just about fashion. Also on show is the bag brand Okhtein that hails from Egypt, and is carried by the likes of Anna Della Russo, Beyonce and Gigi Hadid. With its signature element of metal arrows travelling in opposite directions (like the two sisters behind the brand), these beautifully crafted pieces come hard framed in shapes that echo art deco, which in turn, pleasingly echoes Ancient Egypt.
For the home, Sisal brings coffee and tea sets decorated with the timeless patterns of pietra dura inlaid marble, while Lava offers luxurious candles in beautiful scents such as oud rose.
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
Zidane's managerial achievements
La Liga: 2016/17
Spanish Super Cup: 2017
Uefa Champions League: 2015/16, 2016/17, 2017/18
Uefa Super Cup: 2016, 2017
Fifa Club World Cup: 2016, 2017
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
How much of your income do you need to save?
The more you save, the sooner you can retire. Tuan Phan, a board member of SimplyFI.com, says if you save just 5 per cent of your salary, you can expect to work for another 66 years before you are able to retire without too large a drop in income.
In other words, you will not save enough to retire comfortably. If you save 15 per cent, you can forward to another 43 working years. Up that to 40 per cent of your income, and your remaining working life drops to just 22 years. (see table)
Obviously, this is only a rough guide. How much you save will depend on variables, not least your salary and how much you already have in your pension pot. But it shows what you need to do to achieve financial independence.
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If you go…
Emirates launched a new daily service to Mexico City this week, flying via Barcelona from Dh3,995.
Emirati citizens are among 67 nationalities who do not require a visa to Mexico. Entry is granted on arrival for stays of up to 180 days.
88 Video's most popular rentals
Avengers 3: Infinity War: an American superhero film released in 2018 and based on the Marvel Comics story.
Sholay: a 1975 Indian action-adventure film. It follows the adventures of two criminals hired by police to catch a vagabond. The film was panned on release but is now considered a classic.
Lucifer: is a 2019 Malayalam-language action film. It dives into the gritty world of Kerala’s politics and has become one of the highest-grossing Malayalam films of all time.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Where to donate in the UAE
The Emirates Charity Portal
You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments
The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.
Al Noor Special Needs Centre
You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.
Beit Al Khair Society
Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.
Dar Al Ber Society
Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.
Dubai Cares
Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.
Emirates Airline Foundation
Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.
Emirates Red Crescent
On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.
Gulf for Good
Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.
Noor Dubai Foundation
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).
EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS
Estijaba – 8001717 – number to call to request coronavirus testing
Ministry of Health and Prevention – 80011111
Dubai Health Authority – 800342 – The number to book a free video or voice consultation with a doctor or connect to a local health centre
Emirates airline – 600555555
Etihad Airways – 600555666
Ambulance – 998
Knowledge and Human Development Authority – 8005432 ext. 4 for Covid-19 queries
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.
ENGLAND SQUAD
Eoin Morgan (captain), Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow, Sam Billings, Jos Buttler, Tom Curran, Alex Hales, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, David Willey, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood
'Manmarziyaan' (Colour Yellow Productions, Phantom Films)
Director: Anurag Kashyap
Cast: Abhishek Bachchan, Taapsee Pannu, Vicky Kaushal
Rating: 3.5/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
