A wide-eyed cat with a garland of bright yellow flowers at its neck stares from a pink velvet cushion with corners topped by oversized tassels. The piece wouldn't look out of place in your grandmother's front room, and yet it is undeniably alluring. It could only be Gucci.
The Italian fashion house announced last week that it is launching a home décor line – an eccentric range of cushions, candles, trays, chairs, tables, screens and wallpaper that is as brilliantly bizarre as one might expect. "The idea is not to prescribe a particular decorative look, but to provide elements that allow for living spaces to be customised," Gucci says. "[Creative director Alessandro Michele's] collection of items for interiors is intended to allow for a flexible and personal approach to decoration, bringing an accent of Gucci's contemporary romanticism into the home."
With prices rumoured to be starting from about $190, the collection will be available for purchase online and in select specialty stores from September. Many of the outlandish objects will ring a bell; the floral patterning on some of the wallpapers is lifted straight from Gucci's autumn 2015 collection, for example, while Michele's signature menagerie of animals (colourful snakes, formidable-looking bees and big cats with their teeth bared) have been transported from clothing, bags and other accessories, and transplanted onto cushions and candles. Scents for the candles and incense were developed by Michele, while smaller porcelain pieces are produced by Richard Ginori, a renowned Florentine company founded in 1735.
All in all, this colourful collection is a prime example of the magic that can occur when the worlds of fashion and interiors coalesce.
The two fields are irrevocably intertwined, even if fashion is the high-profile, high-octane younger sister to interiors' more considered older brother. Traditionally, trends that are seen on the catwalk have taken around a year to find their way into our homes, but changes in the way that fashion is consumed mean that those cycles are speeding up, and the relationship between fashion and interiors is intensifying as a result, says Victoria Redshaw, founder and lead futurist at the trend forecasting company, Scarlet Opus.
"Fashion and interiors are intrinsically linked. There used to be this thing that if a woman had something in her wardrobe, if she wore a certain colour, pattern or material for a season, then by the time the comparable season came round again - so the next spring/summer, for example – then she'd have it in her home," Redshaw explains. "But now it seems like everything is launching at the same time. Technology has a lot to do with it. Fashion shows are being shown live and orders are being taken immediately [as part of see-now, buy-now]."
Redshaw points to more casual silhouettes as an example of how trends move across the porous divide between fashion and interiors. "In fashion, things are a lot more gender neutral right now," she says. "That influences silhouette and shape, more than anything, so we are seeing more relaxed forms. And I think that is reflected in demand for living in a more relaxed way.
"The minimalism that we've known – which has been a little more stiff and a little more difficult to work with, a bit hard edged and clinical – will be much softer. So, softer sofa shapes, slouchier seating pieces, less structure and more deconstruction, which is all coming straight from the catwalks," she continues.
The growing number of designers, like Michele, who are crossing the fashion/interiors divide, are also breaking down the barriers between the two creative fields. Because when fashion designers do dip into the world of interiors, they can bring a whole new perspective. As Christopher Sharpe, co-founder of The Rug Company, recognised early on
Sharpe clearly remembers his first meeting with the late, great Alexander McQueen. "He was, typically, very impatient, with a small attention span," he says.
Sharpe, who was joined by his wife and business partner, Suzanne, was hoping to convince McQueen to design a carpet for The Rug Company, which at the time was a relatively unknown operation.
"He sat down and didn't say anything. All we could do was explain to him how the rugs were made – the sheep on this Tibetan plateau, how the wool is sheared and taken over the mountain, washed in Himalayan waters and then hand-spun. I got about 80 per cent through, and he just stood up and walked out. And just as he was leaving the room, he turned around and said: 'Yeah, it's good; we'll do it'."
That was The Rug Company's first tie-up with a famous fashion designer. It has since collaborated with such juggernauts as Diane von Furstenburg, Marni, Paul Smith, Vivienne Westwood and, in a collection that was launched this year, Elie Saab. The brand's latest collection comes courtesy of a tie-up with menswear designer Thom Browne, whose three rugs reflect the carefully considered lines of his handcrafted suits, and are produced using techniques that are specific to fashion.
For Cable Knit, Browne transferred the traditional knit patterning of a classic Aran jumper on to a carpet. The design demanded that The Rug Company's weavers develop a technique, which essentially involved hand carving the pattern into the rug's pile.
First, the pattern was drawn by hand and then pin-pricked into very thin paper. This was then laid on top of a plain, hand-knotted rug and covered in fine chalk dust, which seeped through the holes and created a template. The paper was removed, and the weavers were left to follow the chalk template, carefully cutting and carving into the wool pile.
The Repp carpet is a further example of how traditional style elements from the world of fashion can be reworked into products for the home. Something of a Thom Browne signature, the Repp motif first appeared on the ties of English schoolboys in the early 1800s, and has been subtly reworked onto Browne's most striking carpet design.
"Most of the designers we work with have never designed rugs before so we explain the different weaving techniques and the materials that are available, and then allow them to have the freedom to create," says Sharpe. "We don't want to give them limitations, but effectively give them a blank canvas to work on. That's how we get the most exciting results."
In the case of Elie Saab, the couturier's exquisite, intricately embellished aesthetic was reinterpreted into three carpets featuring some of his signature style elements. Lace, florals, texture and abstract patterning were all incorporated into the celebrated designer's first foray into interior design. For In Bloom, two oversized bouquets extend from either end of the carpet to meet in the middle. There is unexpected restraint in the colour palette, which consists of shimmering shades of gun metal grey, interspersed with pops of green and teal. For Lace Leaves, Saab's trademark lacework is reinterpreted in an abstract leaf motif picked out in raised silk yarns.
Elsewhere, an exclusive collaboration with Pottery Barn has seen Indian designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee's embellished Indian outfits translated into an eclectic collection of glassware, quilts and cushions. Mukherjee has taken traditional techniques such as hand dyeing, embroidery and block printing, and applied them to his home accessories, so tableware is emblazoned with vibrant motifs that speak of exotic lands, and cushions are crafted from sumptuous, densely patterned fabrics. "Indian textiles are the hallmark of luxury," says the designer, who is a self-professed "textile lover and colour lover".
More often than not, it is designers from the fashion world who move into the interiors sphere, and trends and ideas formed on the runway that move across to our homes, rather than the other way around. But this is not an exclusively one-way street. Marble effects have made their way on to clothing, most impressively at Balenciaga and Prabal Gurung; Dior has reproduced the patterning of ancient Chinese vases on haute couture gowns; and designers have taken their cues from outdoor furniture and crafted bags out of wicker, most notably at Prada and Stella McCartney. But the prize for best use of interior motifs in a fashion context must go to Dolce & Gabbana, which has taken the traditional blue-and-white patterning of the Mediterranean's majolica tiles and transported them directly onto dresses, bags, shoes and most, recently, childrenswear.
Redshaw is predicting more of this "reverse" cross pollination in the future. "We've seen some wood inlay coming through in fashion, in jewellery and on the tops of handbags, but also on the tops of dresses. For us, the most interesting thing is this reverse influence – the interiors industry influencing fashion.
"We are seeing the fashion industry looking at the materials in interiors and this will be very interesting for the future."
Cryopreservation: A timeline
- Keyhole surgery under general anaesthetic
- Ovarian tissue surgically removed
- Tissue processed in a high-tech facility
- Tissue re-implanted at a time of the patient’s choosing
- Full hormone production regained within 4-6 months
How the UAE gratuity payment is calculated now
Employees leaving an organisation are entitled to an end-of-service gratuity after completing at least one year of service.
The tenure is calculated on the number of days worked and does not include lengthy leave periods, such as a sabbatical. If you have worked for a company between one and five years, you are paid 21 days of pay based on your final basic salary. After five years, however, you are entitled to 30 days of pay. The total lump sum you receive is based on the duration of your employment.
1. For those who have worked between one and five years, on a basic salary of Dh10,000 (calculation based on 30 days):
a. Dh10,000 ÷ 30 = Dh333.33. Your daily wage is Dh333.33
b. Dh333.33 x 21 = Dh7,000. So 21 days salary equates to Dh7,000 in gratuity entitlement for each year of service. Multiply this figure for every year of service up to five years.
2. For those who have worked more than five years
c. 333.33 x 30 = Dh10,000. So 30 days’ salary is Dh10,000 in gratuity entitlement for each year of service.
Note: The maximum figure cannot exceed two years total salary figure.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
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Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Jawan
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Quick pearls of wisdom
Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”
Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.”
The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
What is the FNC?
The Federal National Council is one of five federal authorities established by the UAE constitution. It held its first session on December 2, 1972, a year to the day after Federation.
It has 40 members, eight of whom are women. The members represent the UAE population through each of the emirates. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have eight members each, Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah six, and Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain have four.
They bring Emirati issues to the council for debate and put those concerns to ministers summoned for questioning.
The FNC’s main functions include passing, amending or rejecting federal draft laws, discussing international treaties and agreements, and offering recommendations on general subjects raised during sessions.
Federal draft laws must first pass through the FNC for recommendations when members can amend the laws to suit the needs of citizens. The draft laws are then forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration and approval.
Since 2006, half of the members have been elected by UAE citizens to serve four-year terms and the other half are appointed by the Ruler’s Courts of the seven emirates.
In the 2015 elections, 78 of the 252 candidates were women. Women also represented 48 per cent of all voters and 67 per cent of the voters were under the age of 40.
MATCH INFO
English Premiership semi-finals
Saracens 57
Wasps 33
Exeter Chiefs 36
Newcastle Falcons 5
Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
- Look beyond school fees
- Keep an open mind
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
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
SPECS
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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
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'O'
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Brief scoreline:
Manchester United 0
Manchester City 2
Bernardo Silva 54', Sane 66'
Super Saturday results
4pm: Mahab Al Shimaal Group 3 | US$350,000 | (Dirt) | 1,200m
Winner: Drafted, Pat Dobbs (jockey), Doug Watson (trainer).
4.35pm: Al Bastakiya Listed | $300,000 | (D) | 1,900m
Winner: Divine Image, Brett Doyle, Charlie Appleby.
5.10pm: Nad Al Sheba Turf Group 3 | $350,000 | (Turf) | 1,200m
Winner: Blue Point, William Buick, Charlie Appleby.
5.45pm: Burj Nahaar Group 3 | $350,000 | (D) | 1,600m
Winner: Muntazah, Jim Crowley, Doug Watson.
6.20pm: Dubai City of Gold Group 2 | $300,000 | (T) | 2,410m
Winner: Old Persian, William Buick, Charlie Appleby.
6.55pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 Group 1 | $600,000 | (D) | 2,000m
Winner: Capezzano, Mickael Barzalona, Salem bin Ghadayer.
7.30pm: Jebel Hatta Group 1 | $400,000 | (T) | 1,800m
Winner: Dream Castle, Christophe Soumillon, Saeed bin Suroor.
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
THE SPECS
Engine: 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Constant Variable (CVT)
Power: 141bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: Dh64,500
On sale: Now
'The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window'
Director:Michael Lehmann
Stars:Kristen Bell
Rating: 1/5
More from Neighbourhood Watch
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.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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