A Journey Through Time

Many designers looked to the past for inspiration, combining vintage references with modern sensibilities. Maria Grazia Chiuri, the creative mind behind Dior, drew from “the creativity of past centuries”, presenting designs inspired by 1950s Yves Saint Laurent, such as draped skirts, trapeze dresses, and crinolines. This collection paid homage to the rich legacy of couture while introducing new forms and silhouettes.

Daniel Roseberry, artistic director at Schiaparelli, also explored time travel in his collection. Inspired by 1920s and 1930s ribbons, his designs prominently featured corsets, a nod to the haute couture of the past, alongside modern twists on classic silhouettes. Kendall Jenner was among the models showcasing his work, highlighting how the past and present can seamlessly merge in couture.

Escapism Through Fashion

For many designers, couture serves as a form of escapism—an opportunity to create beautiful, fantastical worlds far removed from current events. Zuhair Murad, drawing from his experiences in Lebanon, presented a collection inspired by a tropical island, symbolizing a peaceful refuge from the chaos of the world. The collection conveyed a sense of utopia, offering a serene contrast to the harsh realities of modern life.

Franck Sorbier, on the other hand, took a more direct approach to current global conflicts in his show, “Symphonie Barbare”. This theatrical performance featured “warriors of peace” and “barbarian” men, symbolizing the duality of conflict and peace. The show ended on a hopeful note with Sorbier himself emerging in a black anorak that read “peace and love”, delivering a powerful message on global unity.

Addressing the Future

The future of fashion also played a role at Paris Couture Week. Viktor & Rolf presented a collection that riffed on the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), sending out 24 variations of the same dress. Each was announced with a robotic voice, showcasing a human interpretation of the limitless possibilities AI presents for fashion.

Changes Among Fashion’s Elite

Amidst the couture glitter, musical chairs among top designers continued. Stella McCartney announced her departure from LVMH, while Glenn Martens was appointed artistic director of Maison Margiela, succeeding John Galliano. Speculation also surrounded Maria Grazia Chiuri at Dior, with rumors suggesting a potential shift to Jonathan Anderson of Loewe.

Chanel too is undergoing a leadership transition, with Virginie Viard’s sudden departure in June, leaving the brand’s latest show crafted by its creative studio. Matthieu Blazy, who was appointed as Viard’s successor, is not expected to present his first collection until September.

Couture Traditions and Bold New Designs

As tradition dictates, many collections concluded with bridal looks, but this season’s gowns took a modern twist. From short in the front, long in the back styles to Jean Paul Gaultier’s feathered, transparent gown, designers continued to push the boundaries of haute couture.

This year’s Paris Couture Week offered a visual feast of creativity, nostalgia, and escapism, reaffirming the importance of fashion as both an art form and a mirror to our rapidly changing world

The post Nostalgia and Escapism: Highlights from Paris Couture Week appeared first on Magzoid Magazine.

The arts exchange programme, which is managed by the House of Artisans in collaboration with the French Embassy in the UAE and Institut Francais, supports designers and artisans from the UAE and France with a focus on craftsmanship. The programme involves sending participants on residencies to the partner country, where they are matched with mentors to help them refine their craft, explore new techniques and learn about the craft history of the host country. The initiative will expand to include creatives from other countries in future iterations.

Salama Al Shamsi, Acting Culture Sites Management Department Director at DCT Abu Dhabi, said: “We’re delighted to see this valuable artistic exchange programme come to life, and particularly proud to collaborate with our creative partners in France for this first edition, both further strengthening the long-standing cultural relationship between our two countries and paving the way for future international collaborations. This dialogue and exchange of knowledge and know-how between professionals not only contributes to the artistic growth of the artists who are part of the programme, but it also creates a network that will be immensely valuable to an ecosystem of cooperation that aims to protect and preserve the living heritage that these crafts represent.”

The programme features three Emirati artists and three French artists, who were chosen through a selection committee. The residency exchange saw Emirati artists Alia Al Mazrooei, Mohamed Al Suwaidi, and Sarah Al Nuaimi spend a month in France, while their French counterparts Jeremy Plisson, Joseph Dhedin and Domitille Lusinchi spent their time in the UAE.

Each participant was selected based on the crafts they master, under three main themes: woodworking and marquetry, weaving and textiles, and ceramics. The residency workshops took place across a number of locations within each country, including Abu Dhabi, Al Dhafrah region, Fujairah, Al Sila’a, Dubai and Ras Al Khaima in the UAE, and Paris, Limoges and St. Bussy St. Georges in France.

Hugo Henry-Ceylan, Head of the Cooperation Department of the French Embassy and Director of the Institut Français UAE, said: “We are delighted to launch such a successful programme. France and the UAE have a long heritage of craftsmanship, and this is a real opportunity to connect the two ecosystems and open up new opportunities for professionals, universities, craftsmen, and designers. We are proud to associate great institutions of excellence with this project, such as the National Institute of Arts and Crafts, Mobilier National, Boulle and Duperré universities, Manufacture de Sèvres, CRAFT Limoges and ARCA Ebénisterie, with the support of Institut Français Paris.”

The programme will result in a touring exhibition this March that showcases the work made by the artists during their time in France and the UAE, inspired by the theme of social gathering and art de vivre. It will also showcase highlights of their creative processes and their discoveries and reflections on the crafts of the host country.

Al Shamsi said: “We are looking forward to seeing what the programme brings to the artists, both as a personal growth experience and its impact on their artistic expression.”

The post DCT’s House of Artisans and Institute Francaise launch cultural arts exchange program appeared first on Magzoid Magazine.

Pharrell Williams and Nigo launched Billionaire Boys Club in 2003, and their blend of streetwear and luxury has affected innumerable niches of fashion, music, design, and culture.

Pharrell Williams launched the global skateboard lifestyle gear and accessories company ICE CREAM in 2004 to promote diversity in the skateboarding community, and many more like Paper Planes, Puma, Upscale Vandal, etc.

Within the 15,000 3D avatar collection, each partner will develop unique, handcrafted one-of-a-kind Akutar designs, and certain aspects of those designs will surface on other Akutars at random. The highly sought-after and one-of-a-kind Akutars collection honors the forefathers of luxury fashion and streetwear culture alongside the next generation of designers and appeals to a diverse audience across generations.

Micah Johnson, Aku’s artist, and creator remark that “Akutars are the next phase in Aku’s adventure and the evolution of the Akuverse.” “Akutars will allow our community, producers, and collectors to express themselves more freely while working alongside renowned, culture-defining businesses.”

The post Micah Johnson announces the release of Akutars in collaboration with legendary fashion and streetwear designers appeared first on Magzoid Magazine.

Homegrown labels Arwa Al-Banawi, Tima Abid, and Abadia will be featured during the event, which is organized in partnership with the Saudi Fashion Commission.Ten pieces from each brand’s most recent collections will be on display.

Al-Banawi has established herself as one of her generation’s most innovative designers in recent years. She works out of her design studios in Jeddah and Dubai to bring together eastern and western ideas, blending traditional tailoring with current perspectives.

Abid established her own womenswear label 18 years ago. During Paris Haute Couture Week in 2020, the Jeddah-born couturiere debuted her first collection. She’s dressed some of the region’s biggest names since then, including Assala Nasri and Balqees Fathi.

Meanwhile, the Saudi label Abadia, based in Dubai, bills itself as “ethical luxury.” Shahd Al-Shehail and her aunt, Naeema Al-Shehail, co-founded the family-owned brand with the goal of empowering and supporting Saudi women craftsmen by incorporating traditional crafts like sadu (weaving) and naqda (drawing thin metallic threads through cloth) into their creations.

The post The Saudi pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai will host a fashion display to honor the country’s designers appeared first on Magzoid Magazine.

“There were couture labels, sure — we’ve always been known for that,” she said over the phone. “But there were very few high-end contemporary options.” “You had to seek elsewhere if you wanted something that wasn’t a red carpet gown.”

Indeed, in recent years, the Middle East has seen a rise in local talent and support for fashion ventures. As more women entered the workforce, they sought out locally produced clothing that was attentive to the region’s social conventions and religious beliefs.

It’s also been fueled by emerging talent carving out a niche for themselves in the fashion business. In an email, Kuwaiti designer Haya Al Abdulkareem, proprietor of seven-year-old handbag line Folklore, said, “There’s a whole new demographic of consumers that support Arab designers and want to be dressed by up-and-coming names rather than major companies.”

“Middle Eastern consumers desire variety without sacrificing quality. “They can achieve this by purchasing local and regional designs,” she noted. “I believe we have a greater understanding of our culture and language, which gives us an advantage in communication.”

The post Middle Eastern designers are making a name for themselves in the fashion world appeared first on Magzoid Magazine.

Dubai Design Week will run from 8-12 November and presents its most extensive and diverse programme of events to date, with 430 UAE-based designers and 560 companies participating in a range of activities, from engaging exhibitions, pop-ups and installations to talks, masterclasses and hands-on workshops, accessible for visitors of all ages and levels of skill.

Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of Dubai Culture & Arts Authority, said: “This seventh edition of Dubai Design Week, will see the design industry’s most influential creatives from around the world converge in our city for the region’s most important creative festival. Not only has the design fair become a key element in the region’s cultural and creative industries agenda, but its rich programme also showcases and engages both the industry and the wider public in a fun, thought-provoking, and accessible way. Dubai Design Week goes beyond presenting aesthetic and practical designs, but also design solutions to complex global challenges, with the potential to enhance our day to day lives and even our future. We are proud of the growth of this incredible platform over the years and invite everyone to immerse themselves in all that this design week has to offer.”

Visitors can discover the latest in design at the Middle East’s leading fair for original and high-quality design, Downtown Design. Showcasing more than 150 international and regional exhibiting brands and designers from over 20 countries, complemented by extensive collateral activations including a stellar talks programme featuring global industry experts. This year the fair hosts five national collective showcases from Austria, France, Hungary, Italy and Spain, while Downtown Editions, the fair’s boutique section dedicated to limited-edition and bespoke design, will once again uncover the latest in design by individual designers, studios and creative collaborations with a spotlight on the region such as the works of four designers selected for the 2021 Tanween Programme by Tashkeel, unveiled at the fair.

An interactive installation by award-winning NIU Studio will bring together contemporary design and technology in a unique multisensory experience, while Broadway Interiors created the concept for The Lounge Bar, an eclectic, stimulating environment inspired by the Dubai landscape and The Café by The Lighthouse is designed by prominent practice Lulie Fisher Design Studio.

Showcasing social impact innovation projects in the fields of science, design, technology and architecture by students from universities in the region, MENA Grad Show returns in its second edition, featuring 60 ideas and solutions by 78 students from 29 universities across 10 countries from the region. This year’s projects include a solar powered robot built to plant seeds in desert areas, a device to produce organic super-food at home, an app to organize the routine of dementia patients and magnetic skin to allow people with quadriplegia to control their surroundings.

A multi-media exhibition gathering leading architectural firms and visionary architects practicing in the UAE and the MENA region, the 2040: d3 Architecture Exhibition features concepts envisioning the future of the city, in accordance with the goals of The Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan for a sustainable urban development, presented by five architecture firms; Beyrac Architects, Dabbagh Architects, MEAN* Middle East Architecture Network in collaboration with Concreative, RMJM Dubai and Tariq Khayyat Design Partners (TKDP).

The post 7th Edition of Dubai Design Week begins with over 260 events appeared first on Magzoid Magazine.

The three-day event offers a comprehensive interactive platform for manufacturers, architects, designers, consultants, engineers, construction companies, hospitality industry professionals, government officials, and more; the opportunity to learn from industry leaders at the THINKLIGHT conference; and a night of celebrating the region’s outstanding lighting projects and products at the Light Middle East Awards.

The post Light Middle East Exhibition 2021 appeared first on Magzoid Magazine.

The Dh 500,000 fund is granted every two years and overs tuition fees for postgraduate studies in visual art and design within the UAE and worldwide. Currently, the fund is open to Tashkeel alumni and members only, and there is no limit to the number of recipients chosen. Selected by an internal committee, the recipients for the 2021-2023 Tashkeel Scholarship Fund are Alia Bin Omair, Lina Ghalib and Faissal El Malak.

Palestinian-Canadian fashion designer El Malak, who studied at Paris’s Atelier Chardon Savard, will undertake an MFA Fine Art at Goldsmiths University of London in September 2021 as a way to expand his practice into visual art.

Ghalib, a student of interior architecture at the American University of Sharjah, will pursue a master’s in interior design at Savannah College of Art and Design in the US, while Bin Omair, who is an Emirati jewellery designer, will study Contemporary Jewellery at the Alchimia Contemporary Jewellery School in Florence, Italy.

The Tashkeel Scholarship fund is one of the many programmes run by the organization. The organization was established by Lateefa bint Maktoum in 2008.  Its Critical Practice Programme, launched in 2014, offers mentoring, critiques, production support and studio access to artists in the UAE and culminates in an exhibition at the centre in Dubai’s Nad Al Sheba.

In addition, its Tanween Design Programme from 2013 has provided nine-month professional training in product design to local designers, helping them manufacture products, including furniture and lighting pieces.

Tashkeel’s programming for members also includes training, residencies, workshops and talks, and its facilities and studio spaces in Nad Al Sheba and Al Fahidi are available for practitioners to use.

“Our mission has been to empower and enable art and design practitioners who call the UAE home and established their careers here,” said Lisa Ball-Lechgar, deputy director of Tashkeel. “By investing in their professional development, we not only nurture them but also build a legacy of skills, knowledge and expertise that shall benefit the UAE art and design sector in years to come.”

Tashkeel will begin accepting applications for the next fund in 2023. Applicants must be valid members of Tashkeel for at least one year or have participated in the Critical Practice Programme or Tanween Design Programme. Recipients must also commit to specific teaching programmes at Tashkeel after their studies.

The post Tashkeel announces Dh500,000 scholarship fund for UAE artists and designers appeared first on Magzoid Magazine.

Artists are being invited to express their vision for the future of the UAE while showcasing the UAE’s journey of progress and development. Each winner will get the chance to have their artwork commissioned, permanently installed and displayed in the ADNOC campus.

Five artists will be selected to receive a cash prize of AED 50,000 and will have the budget covered to produce the final installation.

A panel of judges of distinguished art experts in the region will lead the process of shortlisting 10 artists before the public and judges shortlist the five finalists.

The competition is open to established and aspiring artists, architects, sculptors and/or designers, UAE Nationals or UAE Residents and those 18 years old and above.

You willll need to hurry as submissions are only open till 20 June, 2021.

For more details visit: adnoc.ae/artawards

The post ADNOC Art Awards is calling for artists appeared first on Magzoid Magazine.