Swedish furniture company Ikea's newest collaboration is with a rather unlikely partner.
Having made its fortune bringing restrained Scandinavian simplicity to the world, Ikea has now joined forces with the British textile and fashion designer Dame Zandra Rhodes, who is as famous for her shocking pink hair as she is for her colourful and eclectic designs.
Now, the two have come together to release the Karismatisk collection, named after the Swedish word for charisma.
At only 26 pieces, the collection is succinct but exuberant. A circular floor rug is shaped like a flower in full bloom, while cushions are patterned with a snake and a kinetic pattern that squiggles across the surface.
There is a vase in brilliant blue – perhaps a nod to Rhodes’s signature eyeshadow – and even the classic blue Frakta carryall has been remade into a shoulder bag in pink, trimmed with a flouncy ruffle.
With a motto of "have fun, life is too short", Rhodes's work is brimming with energy, joy and, above all, fun. This collaboration is aimed at injecting a dash of fun into interiors, through its riotously bold outlook.
“It’s the sort of collection that people can just take one piece of and it can lighten up their lives or they can take several pieces,” said Rhodes while announcing the collaboration.
"A thing of beauty is a joy forever. Its loveliness increases, [and] it will never pass into nothingness."
During her 40-year career, Rhodes was one of the designers that helped forge the reputation of British fashion in the 1970s, alongside Biba's Barbara Hulanicki, Ossie Clark and Celia Birtwell.
With her fearlessly colourful combinations, Rhodes has dressed the likes of Diana, Princess of Wales, Diana Ross, Kylie Minogue, Debbie Harry and Freddie Mercury. She was awarded a damehood in 2015, in recognition of her services to fashion.
The Karismatisk collection will be available at Ikea globally on Wednesday, September 1.
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if you go
The flights
Air Astana flies direct from Dubai to Almaty from Dh2,440 per person return, and to Astana (via Almaty) from Dh2,930 return, both including taxes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Ritz-Carlton Almaty cost from Dh1,944 per night including taxes; and in Astana the new Ritz-Carlton Astana (www.marriott) costs from Dh1,325; alternatively, the new St Regis Astana costs from Dh1,458 per night including taxes.
When to visit
March-May and September-November
Visas
Citizens of many countries, including the UAE do not need a visa to enter Kazakhstan for up to 30 days. Contact the nearest Kazakhstan embassy or consulate.
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Director: Sree Narayan Singh
Cast: Shahid Kapoor, Shraddha Kapoor, Divyenndu Sharma, Yami Gautam
Rating: 2/5
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
The specs: 2018 Opel Mokka X
Price, as tested: Dh84,000
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Transmission: Six-speed auto
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Torque: 200Nm at 1,850rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L / 100km
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
The specs: Audi e-tron
Price, base: From Dh325,000 (estimate)
Engine: Twin electric motors and 95kWh battery pack
Transmission: Single-speed auto
Power: 408hp
Torque: 664Nm
Range: 400 kilometres
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War 2
Director: Ayan Mukerji
Stars: Hrithik Roshan, NTR, Kiara Advani, Ashutosh Rana
Rating: 2/5
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Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
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Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
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The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
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Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
