6 August 2014 www.womanthismonth.com letters Star letter Hi WTM team! I just wanted to thank you guys for featuring the article ‘Pushing without Pain’. I am 32 weeks pregnant and in eight weeks’ time or maybe less, we will be seeing our firstborn son! When I saw your article, it really caught my attention because being a first time mom, there are many things that come to my mind and one of these is what they call ‘labour pains’. A big thanks to your article, I can now talk to my doctor about the options I can take. All I have to do is to prepare myself for “the” day. Thanks again WTM! Keep it up! Imelda I’m off on holiday soon and I’m glad I bumped into your GTL pages. Since I’m going to be city hopping, I had a hard time packing outfits. I loved the options you put together. I’ve invested in comfy flats, summer shorts and maxi skirts. I can’t wait to rock the looks. I’ve found some great playsuits as well. In your next issue, could you please give me tips on how to best wear them? Janette The pieces from Dar Naseem AlAndalos are fantastic. I wish more of these designers would make themselves more accessible. I understand that they cater to a certain audience. However, they might be missing out on many more potential customers because of the exclusivity. I wish I saw it in time to pick a piece for Eid. I think I’ll invest in one of their dresses for my friend’s wedding. I wish luck to Hayaa for her new line. Haifa Thank you WTM for your tips on the perfect tan. I am yet to achieve the tone I’ve been hoping for, but I enjoyed the article as it taught me many things I did not know before. For instance, I didn’t know you tan because your skin is trying to protect you. I did not know scrubbing is not tan-friendly either. I have friends who cannot tolerate the sun. What would you recommend for them to avoid looking pasty? Gina Bahrain Edition BEAUTY | FASHION | HOME | WELLBEING | PARENTING | LOCAL ISSUES www.womanthismonth.com woman this month JULY 2014 ı THE RAMADAN ISSUE ı www.womanthismonth.com HOME SUBSCRIBERS COPY ISSUE 137 Dar Naseem AlAndalos The mother-daughter duo launches a dazzling new collection Tanning 101: What you’ve been doing wrong Ramadan What to Wear What to Do Where to Go Summer Break: Holidaying with the family July 2014 | Issue 137 | BD1 / SR10 Write Here Write Now 32 July 2014 www.womanthismonth.com www.womanthismonth.com 33 July 2014 This mother-daughter duo is the designing team behind renowned brand Dar Naseem AlAndalos. We get an insider’s view on their haute couture line. A Fine Line PEOPLE | cover story by ELMA BARTHOLOMEW Twenty-two-year-old Bahraini designer Hayaa AlFadhel and her mother Nabila AlAissaoui has shaped a new breed of luxurious kaftans by blending Khaleeji and Moroccan design elements together. Dar Naseem AlAndalos is the result of practising attention to detail, embracing traditional handwork and creating modern designs. The brand, which is an established name in the Arab fashion industry, debuted in 2010 at the first Al-Abaa Exhibition. Their first haute couture collection was launched at The Bride Show at Abu Dhabi in 2012. Although it is a young name in the market, Dar Naseem AlAndalos has a lot to be proud of, including a show at London’s prestigious multi-brand store — Harrods. The unique designs have been preferred by regional celebrities like Mayssa Maghrabi, Lojain Omran, Nada Fadel, Sabrin Burshaid and Balqees Fathi. We speak to Hayaa AlFadhel about her latest collections and how they came about creating the brand. Woman This Month (WTM): Tell us about your new collection. Hayaa AlFadhel (HF): We did a lot of pieces during the whole year, particularly inspired by the royalty of Andalusia. This line is an exclusive collection of those luxurious pieces. The beauty of our designs is that they never go out of style. We’re focusing on creating just one haute couture line in a year. We’ve thus consciously delayed the promotion of our latest works. WTM: We hear there’s a story behind the photo shoot for the line. Can you tell us more? HF: We wanted a regal setting for our shoot; something that fits as the backdrop for our collection. We’ve been relying on fashion show shots; we wanted to do something editorial. Since we were going to Dubai for an interview, we chose to do our first haute couture shoot at Atlantis. The PR team took us on a tour of the venue. We saw a lot of locations, especially since we wanted to do something outdoor. My mother is inspired by the sea, which is evident in our turquoise pieces. She loves shades of blue; so we decided to have the sea as the backdrop. But then when they took us to the Royal Suite, we fell in love and we didn’t want to leave. We knew this was it. WTM: What’s it like working with your mother? HF: It’s fun! Yes it gets difficult sometimes. It’s not just my mom that I work with; there’s my dad too. He takes care of the management end of things; my mother handles the design part. I’m the creative side of the brand. We really depend on each other. Sometimes people ask us which piece is mine and which one was designed by my mother. The truth is there’s no such piece. We can’t design a garment unless we both decide on what we want to do with it. We fight a lot; it happens. (laughs) WTM: How did Dar Naseem AlAndalos come into being? HF: My mother is Moroccan. So when she got married, her mother would send traditional kaftans for her. But the fully embellished and heavy pieces do not suit us in the Gulf. So she decided to design her own clothes and started small. However, she had to halt the project for a while. It was when I was about 16 years that we got involved into designing again. At first, it was a small boutique. By 2010, we were part of exhibitions and held fashion shows. My mother’s idea is to use Moroccan elements as its part of her heritage. I’m proud of it as well, but we want something more comfortable and suitable for the Gulf region. We didn’t like the four and five layers with big belts. In fact, my mother was the first to implement Moroccan work on Khaleeji abayas. She did a lot of different stuff and people liked it. WTM: Did you always have a calling for fashion? HF: my grandmother used to sew her own pieces. When my mother moved to Bahrain, she took sewing lessons as she was new to the country. However, she didn’t complete it as she was already ahead of the game. I remember her calling me her Barbie doll when I was around five years old. She would make my dresses. For her, it is instinct — designing comes from within. And I grew up in that atmosphere. I’d even go shopping with her for fabrics. I’ve always been interested in design, but I didn’t know where I fit in. when I got great grades, it seemed natural to go into architecture, which I enjoyed for the first two years as it was very artsy. Once things got technical, I realised that architecture wasn’t my thing. I get bored very easily. (laughs) In my teen years, I wasn’t into fashion at all. It came to me suddenly. When I started helping my mother, it was because I wanted to support her while she worked so hard on something she was passionate about. I would hang around the store all day; she would ask my opinions and take me to exhibitions. And before I knew it, I was into fashion! And now I’m studying it at Royal University for Women. WTM: Where do you get your fabrics from? HF: Resources in Bahrain are very limited, especially with fabrics. And we’re very picky. We have dealers who get stuff from Italy and France. My mother loves the dyeing and prints in India. We’ve just seen some luxurious fabrics from Turkey. Most of our lace is French. The silk is mostly Italian. We love French brocades; clearly we’re into luxurious materials. We have tried to settle for less, but we just couldn’t. (laughs) But the stitching happens in Bahrain. Initially, we’d cut pieces and send them to Morocco, but we weren’t happy with the results. My mother guides the team here with every single piece. They’re all stitched in our expanded studio in Riffa. WTM: What challenges have you faced on your way to success? HF: To be honest, we never realised how big the brand would get. The challenge was to get people to accept our work. People were not a fan of Moroccan work in Saudi; now our biggest market is Saudi. Most people had a mentality that it’s just a jalabiya. This is a couture line; it’s a dress. It’s cut as a dress and not as a jalabiya. Even in Dubai, women were used to traditional pieces. WTM: What do you consider as the best memory throughout your journey? HF: There are some celebrities that are now friends. That’s what I love. We have a good relationship with everyone; it’s not a business rapport. We hang out together. That beign said, I’d say the best memory is the first time I walked on a runway by myself. It was at the fashion show at Abu Dhabi in 2012. WTM: What are your plans for the recent future? HF: We’re working on creating our own prints and fabrics. Also, I’m working on creating my own line. I am very modern, so my read-to-wear collection is going to reflect that, but with hints of traditional elements. A lot of people are trying to do that, but what I have in mind is something very different. I’m hoping to launch by September. g L to R: Hind Boumchamar, Nabila, Hayaa and Mayssa Maghrabi Balqees Fathi 42 July 2014 www.womanthismonth.com www.womanthismonth.com 43 July 2014 BEAUTY | 10 tips Your skin tone doesn’t matter; summer demands a sun-kissed glow! Get rid of the pale office look by using our tips to minimise the negative effects of tanning. The PerfecT Tan How it works Firstly, you must understand the process of skin darkening. A tan is a shield from UVA and UVB rays. Picture this — each skin cell creates a barrier to avoid the radiation from entering. They keep adding layers of protection depending on the time you are exposed to the sun, making your skin appear darker. Remember; prolonged exposure to harmful rays increase the likelihood of cancerous cells. tanning magnets Water and snow reflect and intensify UV rays from the sun, giving you double the protection while swimming or skiing. Opt for water-resistant sunscreen if you’re at the pool or beach. Don’t forget that sand is also a reflector. It is important to apply sunscreen even if you’re in the shade. Re-apply the product more often if you get into the water. wear sunscreen Always apply sun protection before tanning — always! Exposing your skin to the sun without sunscreen is an invitation for skin cancer. There are two products in the market: sun block and sunscreen. The first completely blocks out UV rays, while the second allows some UV rays to penetrate the surface of the skin. If you are looking to tan, pick the second option; apply it every two hours. in case of burns Overexposure can cause redness on the skin and makes it very sensitive. To treat sunburn, apply cooling and soothing after-sun products that come with anti-inflammatory botanical ingredients, like aloe vera, cucumber and green tea. These cool down the burnt skin and prevent peeling. Cold baths are recommended to alleviate the heat and pain. Drink plenty of water! take cover SPF indicates the amount of radiation that penetrates your skin. If you have a product with SPF 30, it means that 1/30th of the sun’s UV rays are in contact with your skin. A number lower than SPF 15 won’t really protect your skin; opt for products with a higher number. Your shoulders, nose and arms are the body parts most in contact with the sun; so they should get a thicker layer. maintain tHe colour The only way to make your tan last longer is to apply a generous layer of body lotion regularly. This will reduce the number of dead cells and hydrate the skin. Some products have ingredients that repair damaged skin as well. a matter of time The timing between 10am and 4pm is when the radiation is highest; so avoid staying out for long periods during these hours. The perfect tan takes time; don’t attempt to get the desired tone in one day. A safe amount of time would be an hour a day until you reach the exact tone you’re looking for. fear tHe sun? Use a self tanner. There are lotions, creams and sprays in the market that will dye your skin and create the illusion of a tan. Sunless tanners have dihydroxyacetone in its formula, which dye the dead cells on your body. The effect is temporary. For a better result, exfoliate your skin to remove old dead cells. accelerate tHe process You can apply tanning oils to improve the darkening process. These products usually contain chemicals that intensify the rays and tan your skin faster. Its purpose is to concentrate the radiation and speed up the shielding process of your skin. However, only use oils which offer sun protection of SPF 15 and higher. expert advice If you’re going to get a tan, consult a dermatologist first! A professional can check your skin for signs of cancer and give specific instructions for the best way to tan based on your skin type. You should be examined at least once a year, especially if you live on a sun-kissed island in the Middle East. 1 5 3 9 7 2 4 6 8 10 WRITE IN AND WIN The star letter in the next issue will win a dinner voucher from Sheraton Hotel Bahrain. To win this, send us your views on our August 2014 edition either by email to [email protected], by fax to 17 813-700 or by post to PO 20461. The winner will be selected at random. If yours is the star letter this month, please write to the same email address with your full name, CPR number, address and telephone number to claim your prize.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy Mjk0MTkxMQ==