When Roberto Firmino first contacted tailor Michael Frackowiak six years ago, his only stipulation was: “I have to look better than Mo Salah!”
They may have been successful Liverpool teammates on the field but off it, the friendly rivalry between the two players extended to who had the best of everything, including cars, clothes and houses.
And Roberto – or Bobby, as he was affectionately known in Merseyside – did not want to be overshadowed by his Egyptian friend.
Mr Frackowiak must have passed his test because he went on to make more than a dozen suits, as well as countless jackets and shirts for Firmino who left Anfield this summer for Al Ahli in the Saudi Pro League.
The most recent was the garment Firmino wore when he made his emotional farewell to the Reds, with whom he won a glut of major honours, including the Champions League and Premier League.
My aim is to make people feel the best version of themselves. Nothing pleases me more
Michael Frackowiak
“It was beautiful. It was double breasted with no lapels and high waisted. He looked terrific,” says Mr Frackowiak who has a roster of footballers and businessmen, and high-net-worth individuals on his books.
“I loved working with him. We had a great time working on things together.”
Dressed to impress
Mr Frackowiak is due to meet up again with Firmino this week in Jeddah as part of the tailor’s new move into the Saudi market.
The 2030 vision of Saudi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman has convinced Mr Frackowiak that opportunities abound in the country as it continues its global push.
He has 20 appointments over two hectic days in Riyadh, with one prospective client even asking to meet at 11pm.
“I would like to make an impression in places where they haven’t had exposure as much to the West with regard for tailor-made clothing or bespoke suits, which help them make better connections,” he says.
“With their future plans, Saudis will need to go out [of the country] as much as attract people to come in.
"I think we will be seeing a lot more Saudi nationals higher up in the chain wearing suits when they go to New York or London or Europe to discuss investments.”
Initially, Mr Frackowiak made connections in Saudi Arabia by using a technique that served him well when he first started out. He compiled a list of businesses and their top employees and cold-called, with messages on social media sent by his virtual assistant.
“I had lots of responses from people who said, ‘Wow,’ no one is doing what you are doing in Riyadh right now. When can we meet?”
Tailor-made for career change
Born in Poland, Mr Frackowiak has always been unconventional in his approach to both business and life.
He qualified originally as an electrical engineer and moved in 2004 to Liverpool when he was 25. Unable to get a job in his profession, he started out at the very bottom.
“I went to wash pots and pans in a castle in north Wales, in Rhyl. We didn’t know anyone, didn’t know the language but we started slowly to learn English.”
Having eventually retrained in England, he resumed engineering but after eight years felt there had to be something more to life.
“I started helping a friend of mine who had a tailor’s shop in Liverpool. I would come in at the weekends, help clients and see and get a feel for what he did,” says Mr Frackowiak.
“I was absolutely taken by this idea of a client coming in and then leaving with two suits, five shirts and looking absolutely amazing.
“I had always admired men in suits. And always longed for a job where I could wear a suit to work and not overalls!
“So, I resolved to become a tailor so I could design my own suits and dress like I wanted to, with a different look very day. What could be a better job than becoming a tailor?”
Mr Frackowiak learnt on the job.
“It wasn’t like I was a young lad; I was in my early 30s. To have a career change like mine is fairly unusual,” he says.
“But I was so determined to get this right and to have that as a business that I wasn’t ever going to be deterred.
“I have no formal qualification. It was just watching and learning from my friends and perseverance. My engineering background helped me with angles, structures and processes, which is very important.”
His first customer was a friend of his. The finished product by his own admission did not stand the test of time. “I have a picture of him and, looking back, it was awful,” Mr Frackowiak recalls.
Sew far, so good
But one thing led to another and chiefly, by word of mouth, slowly he built his business.
“I love to hustle. The most exciting thing for me about the business is when a customer says yes, they want a suit. That gives me joy. As does seeing them in the finished product; that is very rewarding, seeing the fruits of your labour on someone.
“I learnt how to use a sewing machine and cut the cloth. But now I’m far too busy. I hire seamstresses who are far better than me.”
His real skill lies front of house – liaising, persuading and communicating with clients.
“I always felt I had a gift that I was good at talking to people and holding a conversation with people. I felt I could talk people into buying a suit. That came naturally to me.
“I have learnt over the years that the best way and the most successful collaborations are when we talk to the potential client initially and offer them inspirations depending on what they want.
“I give them homework! I tell them to go on Instagram have a look. See how something you might like actually looks. By the time we actually meet, we already have a good idea of what we are trying to do.
“People like to talk to their tailor where they are relaxed and open. When you’ve seen someone in their underwear, you know each other pretty well. It’s like a woman and her hairdresser confidante!”
Search for the stars
His thoughts turned to celebrities and being in Liverpool, where footballers hung out. “The answer was, ‘On social media!’”
He hired an assistant to create a list of all clubs and footballers in the Premier League and Championship in England, and to find their profile on Instagram.
A huge spreadsheet was compiled, and 11,000 individual messages were sent.
“Out of that, we had maybe 1 per cent that actually replied,” Mr Frackowiak explains. “Out of that, maybe 2 per cent showed a genuine interest and ask to see some of my work. Out of that, maybe 10 per cent said come and see me. We also messaged their agents because they control those conversations.
“That’s how we got Firmino when he was playing to Liverpool. I messaged his agent who was in Germany and out of the blue he rang me and said: 'Can you be at Bobby Firmino’s house tomorrow?' Of course, I said yes!”
Footballers were followed by entrepreneurs and business people. The most expensive garment he made cost a client in London £11,000 and had crushed diamond chips woven into the cloth. But he always tries to provide value for money.
“I have got about 30 football clients and at least 50 business clients, most of who have retired early. We make about 300 suits a year and double that in shirts. My aim is to make people feel the best version of themselves. Nothing pleases me more.”
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
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Biog
Mr Kandhari is legally authorised to conduct marriages in the gurdwara
He has officiated weddings of Sikhs and people of different faiths from Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Russia, the US and Canada
Father of two sons, grandfather of six
Plays golf once a week
Enjoys trying new holiday destinations with his wife and family
Walks for an hour every morning
Completed a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Loyola College, Chennai, India
2019 is a milestone because he completes 50 years in business
Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
SPECS
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
RESULT
Bayer Leverkusen 2 Bayern Munich 4
Leverkusen: Alario (9'), Wirtz (89')
Bayern: Coman (27'), Goretzka (42'), Gnabry (45'), Lewandowski (66')
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
ONCE UPON A TIME IN GAZA
Starring: Nader Abd Alhay, Majd Eid, Ramzi Maqdisi
Directors: Tarzan and Arab Nasser
Rating: 4.5/5
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
Know your Camel lingo
The bairaq is a competition for the best herd of 50 camels, named for the banner its winner takes home
Namoos - a word of congratulations reserved for falconry competitions, camel races and camel pageants. It best translates as 'the pride of victory' - and for competitors, it is priceless
Asayel camels - sleek, short-haired hound-like racers
Majahim - chocolate-brown camels that can grow to weigh two tonnes. They were only valued for milk until camel pageantry took off in the 1990s
Millions Street - the thoroughfare where camels are led and where white 4x4s throng throughout the festival
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
The biog
Job: Fitness entrepreneur, body-builder and trainer
Favourite superhero: Batman
Favourite quote: We must become the change we want to see, by Mahatma Gandhi.
Favourite car: Lamborghini
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Profile of Tarabut Gateway
Founder: Abdulla Almoayed
Based: UAE
Founded: 2017
Number of employees: 35
Sector: FinTech
Raised: $13 million
Backers: Berlin-based venture capital company Target Global, Kingsway, CE Ventures, Entrée Capital, Zamil Investment Group, Global Ventures, Almoayed Technologies and Mad’a Investment.
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
The specs: McLaren 600LT
Price, base: Dh914,000
Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 600hp @ 7,500rpm
Torque: 620Nm @ 5,500rpm
Fuel economy 12.2.L / 100km
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
The specs: 2019 Lincoln MKC
Price, base / as tested: Dh169,995 / Dh192,045
Engine: Turbocharged, 2.0-litre, in-line four-cylinder
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Power: 253hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 389Nm @ 2,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 10.7L / 100km
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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United States
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China
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UAE
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Japan
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Norway
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Canada
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Singapore
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South Korea
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Company%20profile
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The bio
Favourite food: Japanese
Favourite car: Lamborghini
Favourite hobby: Football
Favourite quote: If your dreams don’t scare you, they are not big enough
Favourite country: UAE
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
FULL%20FIGHT%20CARD
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
From exhibitions to the battlefield
In 2016, the Shaded Dome was awarded with the 'De Vernufteling' people's choice award, an annual prize by the Dutch Association of Consulting Engineers and the Royal Netherlands Society of Engineers for the most innovative project by a Dutch engineering firm.
It was assigned by the Dutch Ministry of Defence to modify the Shaded Dome to make it suitable for ballistic protection. Royal HaskoningDHV, one of the companies which designed the dome, is an independent international engineering and project management consultancy, leading the way in sustainable development and innovation.
It is driving positive change through innovation and technology, helping use resources more efficiently.
It aims to minimise the impact on the environment by leading by example in its projects in sustainable development and innovation, to become part of the solution to a more sustainable society now and into the future.
RESULTS - ELITE MEN
1. Henri Schoeman (RSA) 57:03
2. Mario Mola (ESP) 57:09
3. Vincent Luis (FRA) 57:25
4. Leo Bergere (FRA)57:34
5. Jacob Birtwhistle (AUS) 57:40
6. Joao Silva (POR) 57:45
7. Jonathan Brownlee (GBR) 57:56
8. Adrien Briffod (SUI) 57:57
9. Gustav Iden (NOR) 57:58
10. Richard Murray (RSA) 57:59
LIVING IN...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
RESULTS
Light Flyweight (48kg): Alua Balkibekova (KAZ) beat Gulasal Sultonalieva (UZB) by points 4-1.
Flyweight (51kg): Nazym Kyzaibay (KAZ) beat Mary Kom (IND) 3-2.
Bantamweight (54kg): Dina Zholaman (KAZ) beat Sitora Shogdarova (UZB) 3-2.
Featherweight (57kg): Sitora Turdibekova (UZB) beat Vladislava Kukhta (KAZ) 5-0.
Lightweight (60kg): Rimma Volossenko (KAZ) beat Huswatun Hasanah (INA) KO round-1.
Light Welterweight (64kg): Milana Safronova (KAZ) beat Lalbuatsaihi (IND) 3-2.
Welterweight (69kg): Valentina Khalzova (KAZ) beat Navbakhor Khamidova (UZB) 5-0
Middleweight (75kg): Pooja Rani (IND) beat Mavluda Movlonova (UZB) 5-0.
Light Heavyweight (81kg): Farida Sholtay (KAZ) beat Ruzmetova Sokhiba (UZB) 5-0.
Heavyweight (81 kg): Lazzat Kungeibayeva (KAZ) beat Anupama (IND) 3-2.
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Leon.
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
Seven%20Winters%20in%20Tehran
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The Baghdad Clock
Shahad Al Rawi, Oneworld
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
Small%20Things%20Like%20These
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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