الاثنين، 31 أغسطس 2020

Start-up of the Week: Saudi fashion designer combines beauty and comfort

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Mon, 2020-08-31 22:38

RIYADH: Bearing a lotus logo, Saudi designer and stylist Saja Al-Yousef’s creations are inspired by the qualities of the flower, which symbolizes beauty, health, comfort, love, and optimism

SAJAS Boutique specializes in luxury jewelry, fashion, and bag collections designed as per international standards. Al-Yousef’s designs are a fusion of classical and modern styles.

She opened her main outlet in Al-Ahsa in Saudi Arabia and soon became an icon in the Saudi fashion world.

Al-Yousef said she was not satisfied with the products available around her. This dissatisfaction motivated her to launch her line of products to cater to the needs of the people who thought like her.

“I started to invent my style and challenged myself until I reached where I am now,” she told Arab News.

In 2004, SAJAS Boutique entered the fashion world with its first collection. In 2009, Al-Yousef went to Australia to pursue her master’s degree. During her 4-year stay in Australia, she attended several fashion courses, and met several fashion designers and icons, which enlightened her and shaped her thoughts and ideas about fashion.

In 2013, Al-Yousef worked as a stylist backstage during Riyadh Fashion Days. She then attended many courses in fashion, jewelry and bag design in the UK, Qatar, France, and Australia.

She started working on her first line of jewelry in 2014. In 2017, she researched leather products and visited several countries to study the feasibility of entering into the industry. In February 2019, she started her leather bags industry in Italy.

Al-Yousef mentioned that she had participated in many international jewelry events in the Gulf countries such as Bahrain’s Jewelry Arabia and Qatar’s Jewelry International Exhibition.

In 2017, Al-Yousef participated in the Jewelry Salon held in Riyadh and another event in Dubai.

In August 2018, Al-Yousef presented her bags collection at Harvey Nichols, London, during London Fashion Week.

“I participated in several fashion shows in Bahrain and Riyadh. In February 2019, I exhibited my designs in a showroom in Italy. In December 2019, I was selected by the Diriyah Gate Development Authority (DGDA) to represent my brand in a showroom at Ritz-Carlton Riyadh,” said Al-Yousef.

Al-Yousef mentioned that her ambitions were boundless. “The sky is the limit,” she said.

She added that she hoped to share her vision and imagination with top brands and not confine herself to the local market.

“I think SAJAS products have gone through a lot of phases. Each product has a story and buyers are listeners who can understand the hard work that goes into each product,” she said.

 

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Lebanese designer Rami Kadi launches new initiative for Beirut  

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Mon, 2020-08-31 16:24

DUBAI: A number of celebrities and businesses around the world have pledged to support Lebanon after a massive explosion broke through Beirut on Aug. 4 killing over 200 people and injuring thousands. 

The latest to do so is Lebanese designer Rami Kadi.

Kadi, who was born in the US and raised in Lebanon, announced on Monday that he is launching limited edition T-shirts, embroidered with women empowerment messages, to support families who were affected by the deadly blast.  

All proceeds from the designs, which retail for $66, will go to Family Aid Lebanon, an organization run by a group of friends to help those affected by the tragedy.

Additionally, on Aug. 14, the couturier announced sales from the proceeds of one of his couture dresses, from the Fall 2020 collection,  will go to Beb W Shebbek, a Lebanese organization that has been helping families rebuild their homes after the blast.

Kadi, who is known for his unconventional take on high-end sartorial design, was among a long list of celebrity-loved designers whose ateliers and studios were destroyed during the explosion, including Zuhair Murad, Elie Saab, Rabih Kayrouz, Andrea Wazen, Azzi & Osta, Nicolas Jebran and more. 

On Aug. 19, Murad launched a similar initiative to Kadi. The Ras Baalbek-born designer’s charity initiative aims to raise funds for Offrejoie, a politically and religiously independent Lebanese NGO. 

Murad designed a shirt emblazoned with the text “Rise From the Ashes” on Represent, a platform where designers can represent a cause through T-shirts. 

All profits from the t-shirt, which retails for $25.99, will go to relief efforts.

A number of celebrities, including Shakira, Jennifer Lopez, Kourtney Kardashian and more, have purchased the designer’s shirt to show support for Lebanon. 

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https://ift.tt/3hKCTpV August 31, 2020 at 02:46PM

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Box Office: ‘The New Mutants’ lands $7 million debut

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Mon, 2020-08-31 12:10

LOS ANGELES: Superhero thriller “The New Mutants,” one of the first major movies to open since coronavirus caused theaters to close in March, launched to $7 million over the weekend.

Though ticket sales were on the lower end of expectations, the Disney and 20th Century Studios release marks the biggest debut yet for a new release during the pandemic.

Around 60-70% of theaters have reopened across the U.S. and Canada, according to Disney. However, some of the biggest moviegoing markets, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Washington DC, New Jersey and New York, still remain closed.

Even before the pandemic hit, “The New Mutants” was facing headwinds. The “X-Men” spinoff, about young mutants discovering their powers, had a particularly arduous journey to the big screen since it was initially scheduled to release in 2018. It reportedly went through extensive reshoots and has been delayed numerous times.

Analyst David A. Gross, who runs movie consultancy FranchiseRe, estimates “The New Mutants” would have generated roughly $14 million if all 6,000 movie theaters in the country were open.

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https://ift.tt/3hLNQY7 August 31, 2020 at 10:00AM

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Bebe Rexha champions Kuwaiti label at 2020 VMAs

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Mon, 2020-08-31 12:08

DUBAI: The 2020 MTV Video Music Awards took place on Sunday evening, making it the first IRL event to take place in New York since the pandemic began in early spring. Hosted by Keke Palmer, the annual awards ceremony, which honored the best of music in 2020, was originally set to take place at the Barclays Centre in Brooklyn but was  held in coronavirus-proof outdoor arenas across New York City instead.

To curb the spread of the infectious disease, the socially-distanced event was audience-free, and most of the performances were pre-recorded. However, there were physical red carpets, and stars posed for the step and repeat ahead of the evening’s airing. Naturally, the evening’s guests brought their fashion A-game, rocking glamorous ensembles that were a glitzy departure from the WFH outfits we’ve gotten so accustomed to seeing over the past few months. We even spotted an Arab label on the red carpet,  courtesy of Albanian-American singer Bebe Rexha.

The hitmaker, who turned 31 on Sunday, celebrated her special day as a presenter for the coveted Video of the Year award. Before hitting the stage to announce the night’s big winner, she stepped out on the red carpet wearing a faux leather blazer dress from Lionne Clothing. The ensemble featured a plunging neckline and split sides. She paired the look with black biker shorts and the Silver Pill clutch from Kuwaiti, Beirut-based accessories label Marzook, which was co-founded by sibling duo Fahad and Shouq Al-Marzook in 2014.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

I felt so so good in this glam @vmas

A post shared by Bebe Rexha (@beberexha) on

The “Say My Name” singer clearly couldn't contain her excitement on Instagram, captioning a photo spread of her VMA look with: “OMG the @mtv @vmas are today!!! Don’t miss them!! So excited to be presenting Video Of The Year on my birthday!!! Don’t miss it! Xoxo (sic)”

Up for the prize were some industry veterans like Eminem for “Godzilla” and Drake featured on Future’s “Life Is Good,”  along with Taylor Swift for “The Man.”

However, it was Canadian singer The Weeknd who ultimately  reigned supreme, taking home the prestigious award for his music video for “Blinding Lights.”

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https://ift.tt/32Brkei August 31, 2020 at 10:13AM

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Lady Gaga dominates at MTV VMAs, The Weeknd wins top award

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Mon, 2020-08-31 09:50

NEW YORK: Lady Gaga cleaned house at the 2020 MTV Video Music Awards, while The Weeknd took home the top prize — and both pop stars sent important messages to viewers about the current state of the world: “Wear a mask” and “Justice for Jacob Blake and Breonna Taylor.”

Gaga won five honors Sunday, most of them for her No. 1 hit with Ariana Grande, “Rain on Me,” which the pop stars performed live for the first time.

“Wear a mask. It’s a sign of respect,” Gaga said during one of her several appearances onstage as she accepted awards like artist of the year, song of the year and the MTV Tricon award.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

#VMAs

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With an electronic mask, Gaga performed a medley of her songs, including “Stupid Love,” “Chromatica II” and “911.” She and Grande were joined by a number of background dancers all wearing masks.

The Weeknd, the first performer of the night, paid tribute to Blake and Taylor — two Black people who were shot by police officers — after winning video of the year and best R&B for “Blinding Lights."

“It’s really hard for me to celebrate right now and enjoy this moment, so I’m just going to say: justice for Jacob Blake and justice for Breonna Taylor,” he said.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

#VMAs

A post shared by Lady Gaga (@ladygaga) on

The VMAs kicked off with another touching moment, as host Keke Palmer told viewers the show was dedicated to Chadwick Boseman, who died Friday at age 43 after privately battling colon cancer for four years.

“We dedicate tonight’s show to a man whose spirit touched so many. He’s a true hero, not just on-screen,” Palmer said. “His impact lives forever.”

The show also took moments to honor Juice WRLD and Pop Smoke, rappers who died in recent months though their current albums continue to dominate the pop charts and streaming services.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

VMAs in 20 minutes

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The Black Eyed Peas, who closed the two-hour-plus show with Nicky Jam and Tyga, ended their set by saying, “Black Lives Matter." And R&B star H.E.R. won the video for good award for her protest anthem about police brutality and systemic racism, “I Can't Breathe."

“I’m super proud of everybody speaking out on social injustice," H.E.R. said.

But most of the show was dedicated to fun performances — some pre-taped, some filmed in various locations in New York City, though the performance locations weren't always clear. The VMAs were originally supposed to be held at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, but plans changed because of the pandemic.

Colombian singer and best Latin winner Maluma sang from Brooklyn, while The Weeknd performed from Manhattan. Pop all-stars BTS, who won four awards including best pop and best group, performed from South Korea. They were top-notch during the pre-taped performance, which featured their signature, skilled choreography. The seven band members danced and sang in sharp suits, at some points with the backdrop of Times Square behind them.

DaBaby, backed by the dance crew Jabbawockeez, ran through several of his hits, including “Rock Star.” During the latter track, he rapped while jumping on top of a police car, with a burning city as his backdrop. And Doja Cat, who was named Push best new artist, gave a futuristic performance of her hits “Say So” and “Like That."

Other performers included Latin boy band CNCO and Miley Cyrus, who ended her performance of “Midnight Sky" by sitting on top of a large disco ball, replicating her viral “Wrecking Ball" clip from 2013.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

In 3 days I perform Midnight Sky LIVE for the first time EVER! Don’t miss @vmas this Sunday 8/30!

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As for top honors, Grande tied BTS with four wins. Her No. 1 duet with Justin Bieber, “Stuck with U,” won best music video from home — one of two new awards MTV established as artists have made shifts because of the pandemic. CNCO won best quarantine performance for “MTV Unplugged at Home.”

Megan Thee Stallion won best hip-hop for “Savage" and Taylor Swift won best direction for “The Man."

“This is the very first video that I’ve ever directed on my own. And I just I’m so grateful for this," Swift said. “I wanted to take an opportunity to say thank to the team who believed in me as a first-time director and made this video with me.”

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https://ift.tt/31I2V7r August 31, 2020 at 07:56AM

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الأحد، 30 أغسطس 2020

The Saudi photographer doing it her way

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Mon, 2020-08-31 00:05

JEDDAH: Lina Mo has become a rising Saudi star by combining fashion photography and experimentation with the surrounding elements.
“I’m inspired by many things that surround me, grab my attention, and in no time I find something and twist it, reshape it and make it my own while staying away from copying previous works by other photographers,” she said.
“I’m making my mark in the photography world, my way.”  
Born and raised in Jeddah, Mo had a love of photography from a young age but told Arab News that she had a difficult start before the introduction of DSLR cameras.
“I used to always worry about film and developing it but in 2010 I received my first DSLR and that is when I started experimenting and learned photography as a hobby. It wasn’t until 6 years later in 2016 when I started taking it seriously, learning by reading books and watching YouTube videos.”
Mo has set herself up as a rising photographer who not only thinks outside the box but finds beauty in the subject she is photographing.
She does not like limiting herself to a certain style but tries to work with whatever comes to her creatively, drawing new inspiration from different things.
Mo said her learning experience was challenging, however she found it easy to shoot using the outdoors as her playground. “It wasn’t very difficult for me to shoot outside. I hear a lot of people say that it is difficult to shoot outside but that wasn’t the case for me; I suppose I got lucky as you have a lot to work with in a vast space.”

I haven’t achieved my biggest achievement yet and there are a lot of things in my mind that I want to do and pursue.

Lina Mo

She said that she does most of her shoots for fun, so much so that most of the times her friends are the ones modeling in her photos.
“I usually test on my friends and they are usually my models, and one of those experiments was featured in the Riyadh Season to represent Riyadh City, and we were just having fun.”
Mo also worked on the “Under the Abaya” book that showcased Saudi women in their “street clothes” — the photographer was able to show the beauty of the women wearing the simple garment as a reflection of their personalities.
The photographer said that it was her favorite achievement. “Being a part of the international project ‘Under the Abaya’ was very important to me. It was fun, it was different and meeting all these women was the best part of the whole project. You get to meet colorful people and each one is a personality that wildly differs from the next, a reflection of how our community is, cultured, traditional in a sense and at the same time varied.”
“The fact that it is nonprofit, international and not just local — and the best thing about it is that it is about women in Saudi Arabia and shows how we really are — made this my favorite achievement so far,” she said.
It is difficult to pin down a photographer who is so constantly on the move. The COVID-19 pandemic took its toll on many, but with such creativity it was hard to keep the photographer from pursuing innovative projects.
While under lockdown, she was able to organize a shoot with a colleague in the US via Zoom, and though it took some planning they were able come up with a photoshoot that delivered the results they both wanted.
“I haven’t achieved my biggest achievement yet and there are a lot of things in my mind that I want to do and pursue,” she said.
Mo said that photographers would face their own difficulties in the future. However, they should not give up but continue to do what they love, and with determination they could achieve what they wanted.

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Saudi photographer exposes big dream with images of hope amid virus gloomMeet the Saudi photographer who captured haunting images of London in lockdown https://ift.tt/32CPODT August 30, 2020 at 10:09PM

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