One of the standout speakers and industry luminaries to attend Fashion Forward this season was Ben Malka, the chief executive of the luxury label Halston Heritage. We sat down with the retail guru, who revealed the brand would soon be coming to the UAE
What have you made of the UAE and Fashion Forward?
It’s my first visit, and wow! What they’ve done in such a short period of time is a tribute to humans. It’s amazing and very impressive. I think Fashion Forward is a great platform for young innovators, not only to get information but also for us to learn what the emerging generation is concerned about and how they see things. It’s a great forum.
Esquire magazine famously ran a headline in the 1970s asking: “Will Halston take over the world?” How’s business doing these days?
I think things go so much faster today. When I think back to the 1970s, people who traded country to country were conglomerates. Today, I trade on eBay with someone in Russia or China – the world has become flat, so to speak. So it’s easier today. If I had wanted to do what I’m doing today, 30 years ago, I’d have to do it myself and set up companies, whereas now there are joint ventures and entities set up to succeed and make it happen faster. I think the markets are also very cluttered and you must have a clear voice. I believe, too, that the emerging markets in particular have a thirst for heritage brands. So, maybe for Halston, it’s easier today than it would have been in Roy Halston’s day.
The financial wobbles and management reshuffles of Halston are well documented. What convinced you that it could be turned around?
You know what, I didn’t even read any of that noise. I was so far removed from it. There are very few true iconic heritage brands and even less coming from America, so if I were to start a brand today, it would take me years to establish its DNA. Having Halston already long-established, I knew there was a heritage there. And whatever the wobbles were, it’s the media that knew about them and the consumer was barely touched.
Halston has ready-to-wear and accessories, but when do you plan to resurrect the label’s couture?
I think it’s so expensive and complex to launch. Just look how hard it was for Tom Ford, for example, and he came with such a great legacy. I wouldn’t say we have no plans, but it would be more difficult today. It takes a lot more work and more money in a crowded space right now.
You and your partners invested US$20 million (Dh73.4m) into the brand. Is it enough?
We might have to put more in, who knows? We’re still building, and with something that is going global this fast, it takes a lot of money. Twenty million is a small number, although it sounds like a lot.
Sarah Jessica Parker left the company as chief creative officer three years ago. Are you looking for someone to fill her shoes?
Sarah was great and she did what they wanted her to do, but I’m not sure how relevant it is to have a single person representing the brand right now. I think it’s important for us to make sure there’s a breadth of celebrities and brand ambassadors.
How about a Middle Eastern one?
Absolutely, of course. That’s why I’m here.
When might Halston Heritage reach the UAE’s shores?
We’ve just opened our first store in Kuwait and we’re opening in early January in Mall of the Emirates.
rduane@thenational.ae
brand bio
• Halston was founded in 1968 by the milliner Roy Halston Frowick. It rapidly became a titanic American brand.
• Halston was known for its signature use of jersey, cashmere and suede and for reinventing the jumpsuit, shirt dress and classic kaftan.
• The brand was synonymous with the 1970s era of Studio 54.
• Clients have included Elizabeth Taylor, Jackie Kennedy, Bianca Jagger and Rachel Zoe.
• Roy Halston died in 1990.
• Ben Malka, the former president of BCBG Max Azria Group, joined as chief executive in 2011.
www.halston.com
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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.
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RESULT
Aston Villa 1
Samatta (41')
Manchester City 2
Aguero (20')
Rodri (30')
Royal Birkdale Golf Course
Location: Southport, Merseyside, England
Established: 1889
Type: Private
Total holes: 18
STAY%2C%20DAUGHTER
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EAuthor%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EYasmin%20Azad%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPublisher%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESwift%20Press%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EAvailable%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENow%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
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The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
Checks continue
A High Court judge issued an interim order on Friday suspending a decision by Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots to direct a stop to Brexit agri-food checks at Northern Ireland ports.
Mr Justice Colton said he was making the temporary direction until a judicial review of the minister's unilateral action this week to order a halt to port checks that are required under the Northern Ireland Protocol.
Civil servants have yet to implement the instruction, pending legal clarity on their obligations, and checks are continuing.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Company Profile:
Name: The Protein Bakeshop
Date of start: 2013
Founders: Rashi Chowdhary and Saad Umerani
Based: Dubai
Size, number of employees: 12
Funding/investors: $400,000 (2018)
RESULTS
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 80,000 (Turf) 1,200m
Winner: AF Majalis, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer).
5.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 80,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner: Sawt Assalam, Szczepan Mazur, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami.
6pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 80,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner: Foah, Fabrice Veron, Eric Lemartinel.
6.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh 70,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner: Faiza, Sandro Paiva, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.
7pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 80,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner: RB Dixie Honor, Antonio Fresu, Helal Al Alawi.
7.30pm: Rated Conditions (TB) Dh 100,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner: Boerhan, Ryan Curatolo, Nicholas Bachalard.
6.30pm Meydan Classic Trial US$100,000 (Turf) 1,400m
Winner Bella Fever, Dane O’Neill (jockey), Mike de Kock (trainer).
7.05pm Handicap $135,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner Woven, Harry Bentley, David Simcock.
7.40pm UAE 2000 Guineas Group Three $250,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
Winner Fore Left, William Buick, Doug O’Neill.
8.15pm Dubai Sprint Listed Handicap $175,000 (T) 1,200m
Winner Rusumaat, Dane O’Neill, Musabah Al Muhairi.
8.50pm Al Maktoum Challenge Round-2 Group Two $450,000 (D) 1,900m
Winner Benbatl, Christophe Soumillon, Saeed bin Suroor.
9.25pm Handicap $135,000 (T) 1,800m
Winner Art Du Val, William Buick, Charlie Appleby.
10pm Handicap $135,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner Beyond Reason, William Buick, Charlie Appleby.
Sukuk explained
Sukuk are Sharia-compliant financial certificates issued by governments, corporates and other entities. While as an asset class they resemble conventional bonds, there are some significant differences. As interest is prohibited under Sharia, sukuk must contain an underlying transaction, for example a leaseback agreement, and the income that is paid to investors is generated by the underlying asset. Investors must also be prepared to share in both the profits and losses of an enterprise. Nevertheless, sukuk are similar to conventional bonds in that they provide regular payments, and are considered less risky than equities. Most investors would not buy sukuk directly due to high minimum subscriptions, but invest via funds.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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City's slump
L - Juventus, 2-0
D - C Palace, 2-2
W - N Forest, 3-0
L - Liverpool, 2-0
D - Feyenoord, 3-3
L - Tottenham, 4-0
L - Brighton, 2-1
L - Sporting, 4-1
L - Bournemouth, 2-1
L - Tottenham, 2-1
