Posts Tagged ‘Aiisha’

Aiisha on OVI

Monday, May 17th, 2010

If you have been visiting this blog using your iPhone or Android powered Smartphones, you would know that the blog is optimized for mobile since its birth, and now its iPad ready as well.

Aiisha's Blog on iPhone

With the introduction of a great OVI App Wizard from Nokia, Aiisha’s Blog is now a mobile app on Nokia OVI. Aiisha on OVI If you use a Nokia device, go to your OVI store and download the application (Most latest Nokia Phones) or the widget (Nokia X6 / N97 /Mini) and stay updated. The application keeps you up-to-date on the blog news and Aiisha’s twitter feeds @aiisharamadan, with videos and pictures.  http://tiny.cc/z08ik

Aiisha on OVI store has been a great success with more than 2000 downloads in 7 days, that’s a lot of brand exposure in a little time, Nokia really did a great job simplifying App development to gain wider audience in no time, this practice can be improved as well.

We will improve our mobile presence soon releasing a full fledged iPhone application as well, with more features.

Stay Fashionably Mobile

The Perfect Proposal…

Friday, May 14th, 2010

Love Affair by Aiisha and Victoria Casal

Several days ago, I heard from one of my clients that instead of a diamond ring, a man proposed to his wife with an Aiisha dress from the Love Affair collection.. The bride said yes of course. Its such a great feeling when you realize that your work can play a big role in people’s lives.. one way or another. I hope its always going to be a positive influence.

That was a first for me!

Barbie Collection by Aiisha in Zahrat Al Khaleej

Monday, May 10th, 2010
2 of the Barbie collection by Aiisha were dazzling the Zahrat Al Khaleej pages. I loved the mood created in the coverage, the innocence portrayed and the cuteness of the hair/ makeup/ the Louboutins and all.

From the Barbie Collection by Aiisha Ramadan

To give you a little insight on what I did with the Barbie collection, I chose to keep Barbie as I love it and as most of all love it too. Simple, cute, trendy and mostly pink! The fabrics were top quality Raw Silk, layers and layers of Italian Tulle to achieve the gradience I was looking for.

From the Barbie Collection by Aiisha Ramadan

However, to incorporate the cultural element, I hand-embroidered and CRYSTALLIZED™ – by Swarovski Elements Arabic calligraphy portraying words that speak to every kid. Simple words such as Youth, Beauty, Playing, Hope and so on, all in Arabic.

Remember what Queen Rania says.. “If you educate a girl, you educate a future”. This is one little way of contributing from my side and its just the beginning.

Thank you Zahrat Al Khaleej!

Emirates Woman – Fashion with a Heart

Monday, May 3rd, 2010

Emirates Woman Magazine Cover - April 2010

I mentioned a while ago that Emirates Woman Magazine has initiated a fashionable charity project called Fashion with a Heart. The team of Emirates Woman  selected 10 of the very best designers in the UAE to work with. Each of the designers, of course including myself, was requested to make a bespoke dress that will be auctioned off at the Fashion With A Heart charity event that will take place at the Raffles Hotel Dubai, for the benefit Al Noor Training Centre for Children With Special Needs.

This project combines philanthropy and fashion where each of us, designers, have created a one-of-a-kind dress incorporating the themes of red, love and Fashion With a Heart concept. The 10 designers included myself, Aiisha Ramadan, Amato, Walid Atallah, Essa among others.

Aiisha Ramadan for Emirates Woman - Fashion with A Heart

Ironically, I was in touch with Al Noor last year and we had something in mind that didn’t work out. The good news is that now its happening and like I said before, its time to give back. In fact, its always time to give back!

My dress took an intensive month and a half and more than 30 yards of fabric!!! It was a sweet heart neckline, corset base bustier fully embroidered and beaded with Swarovski Crystals with layers and layers of tulle wired ruffles.I truly gave it my heart. In my opinion, if you want a dress to be auctioned, give it the best you can and don’t go cheap.

Not my favorite photo of myself, but the editor  chose one that reflects my character the most. I’ll let the photo tell you more..

I will post a separate thread about the event when it happens as the date is TBC.

Aiisha on BBC World

Sunday, April 25th, 2010

Few months ago I was hunting for a place to rent in Lebanon, Beirut, and make it my second hub. The plan is still going on, though postponed a bit. However, meanwhile, watch the report that the BBC World had me featured in:

Aiisha in Desert Fish Magazine

Wednesday, April 21st, 2010

It was interesting to be at the Galeries Lafayette fashion show and have my hand on Desert Fish which had the below full page:

Aiisha Ramadan in Desert Fish

In terms of content, again, I speak my mind about fashion in Dubai and how it should and can get better.

Aiisha Ramadan

I won’t talk much about fashion
week, exhibitions and buyers because
the problem in all of them are related
to a single core and to one another. The
entire concept of fashion weeks and
exhibitions in the UAE is new (4 -
5 years in not old enough) and has
been based on wrong foundations
in some ways and has had plenty of
great potential in a handful of ways.

I believe that the core is all down to
when we form a fashion designers
organization that would regulate, set
standards and look after its members,
only then the UAE fashion will take a
very different path. With that comes
an education to the society to
appreciate and being proud of their
designers. It’s a mentality change
that we have to build and lead in order for us to
break from the routine of the domination of
the international brands from Chanel to H&M.
Eventually, the UAE will develop an identity
of which it will be known for.
When the identity is strong enough,
clear and unique in its own way,
only then the UAE fashion can invade the world.

Golden Days of DFW: Aiisha and NOKIA (Retrospective)

Thursday, April 8th, 2010

Yesterday was the last day at the DFW for the season. I haven’t been part of the DFW for a couple of years as it was time for change; however, my T-Shirt design was the opener at the Evian Fashion show where 15 designers participated in benefit for Dubai Cares Charity Foundation. I will post a separate thread for that with photos.

This year, the DFW happens to go under fire as the fashionistas have had enough. If you go back in my blog, you’ll find 2 posts (about a year old) addressing the issues that should be taken into consideration when trying to elevate the standards of the DFW: http://tiny.cc/pd3uj and http://tiny.cc/z4mb5

This is when I remembered the good times, the golden ones, when my first mega collaboration was with Nokia where the show was strong because of the theme and the designs, Nokia’s presence, PR and continuing efforts in taking the show around the Middle East (Qatar, Kuwait, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco and Pakistan).

Prism Geometric

Prism Geometric Mini Dress

My entire collection was inspired by the Nokia Prism 7900 handset. It was one of Nokia’s first fashion attempts in the region and it was carried out with me during the Dubai Fashion Week in 2007. As mentioned before, the collection then toured the Gulf and Middle East and it was a great success. Later the same year, I was invited to be the pioneer designer of the Super Nova collection at the La Destination Design de Nokia -- Marrakech. That too was a beautiful experience.

In terms of the designs, they were inspired by the Prism’s geometric shapes, elegance, black basic colors and from the 42 built in colors that reflect on the phone’s keypad, I chose purple, blue, silver and rainbow.

Watch highlights from the fashion show below:

Going back to the DFW, I’ve said enough.. a year ago and much more to the press all along. Now, I sit and watch hoping for progress. Until then, my collaborations will keep going on and my private fashion shows will stay.. private.

Meeting with Chris Hassall

Tuesday, April 6th, 2010

Sunday, the 4th April, was the first live interaction on my blog and it happened to be with Chris Hassall, the Global External Relations Officer of Procter & Gamble. It was basically a comment/ question from his side and an answer from my side discussing blogs, its importance and its relevance to the Arab world.

On that night, I met with the team of P&G and of course with Chris. I enjoyed every minute of it and I specifically appreciated the ideas Chris and I exchanged. These ideas will soon be reflected on my blog. It’s always amazing to see things from a male’s perspective..

Chris Hassall, Aiisha Ramadan and Yassin Attas

P&G is actually a very active organization when it comes to charity and volunteering. One of their main products (PUR Water Filteration) is one that cleans any contaminated water and makes it drinkable. During the Haiti disaster for example, they gave away what was enough for much more than 300,000 people to drink for 90 days. To know more about PUR, visit http://tiny.cc/kg3s4, and Pur Water.

Having said that, from a fashion perspective, the brand “Aiisha” has few charity projects already in process and to be revealed very soon. Once of which is already in the very latest Emirates Women magazine under the topic of Fashion with a Heart.

Meeting Dominique Laporte (Evian)

Thursday, April 1st, 2010

Evian hosted the first water tasting event in the region with Dominique Laporte, who is the best Sommelier in France. The weather was fantastic as the event took place on the ‘O’ De Squisito boat at the creek in Dubai.

EVIAN Team and Aiisha Ramadan

EVIAN Team and Aiisha Ramadan

When it comes to water, I’m a heavy drinker. Don’t know if its the heat of the UAE or maybe a biological thing, but water is my best friend. I’m like a fish!

I learned a lot about water that day, I never knew that still water prepares the palate to receive food and sparkling makes the taste brighter. We identified interesting characteristics of different brands when Monsieur Dominique let us taste unlabeled glasses of water, by tasting the water or after sampling some food. It was really an interesting experience!

I later figured out that Evian was my water of choice, as I chose it from an unlabeled glass.

Cheers