Tag Archives: Aiisha

South France and Paris – Part 1 (Food)

Posted on by
1

The last time I visited France was in 2003. I was alone and I didn’t speak any French. I still don’t speak French but I have a husband who does and that came in handy when we decided to spend our summer  in South of France and Paris.

Now that was a completely different experience..

It was this trip that changed my point of view about life, love, fashion and made the idea of “relaxing” sink in to the bottom of my ocean.

In France (specifically South France), you learn that you should relax, eat and love to live. You don’t live to work. And I really needed a lot of relaxation, good food and love. Above all, a lot of serious fashion!

We started off in Nice were we walked past every corner, relaxed on the beaches and ate a lot of good food. Fresh fruits (the watermelon never so sweet) and vegetables spreading their fresh scent and amazing French recipes stood out from the first minute. From Nice, we sailed to St. Tropez, Monaco, and Antibes.

Every morning started with Almond/ Chocolate croissant that melts in the mouth. I can still smell it. In Nice, most of the restaurants perform on the basis of “No Reservation, No dinner!”

My husband is the type who likes to keep trying new places, while I like to try a new place every dinner, but stick to the same place for lunch – especially when we’re talking about the humble Carre Vert. This is place is owned by 2 friends. Once runs it and the other cooks. Its that simple. The dish of the day depends on what they fancy the most from the market on that day.

French people don’t gain weight because they walk a lot and they eat in smaller quantities. But they do eat everything.. and a lot of butter.

I guess what I love the most about the experience of eating is the presentation. Its just like with clothes. Its the finishing that I care about the most.

Below are photos of some of what we had.. and I crave for more!

Tartare de Saumon

Filet de barbue poele

Panacotta aux Fruits Rouges

Salmon Tartar with Avocado

Beef Tartar with mashed Cucumber salad

Goat Cheese Salad

Lamb Cutlets with young roasted potatoe

Risotto aux Champignons (Mushroom Risotto)

Salmon Tartar with Ratatouille

Aiisha arrives at VALLEYDEZ

Posted on by
Reply

You can now shop for Aiisha high end pret-a-porter pieces in Wafi Center at VALLEYDEZ.

VALLEYDEZ specializes in hand picked designer clothes from all around the world and that might not be available in other places in the Middle East. This funky boutique is colorful and is like its name, The Valley of Designers.

Enjoy your shopping!

Aiisha on OVI

Posted on by
Reply

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…

Posted on by
Reply

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

Posted on by
Reply
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

Posted on by
Reply

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 in Desert Fish Magazine

Posted on by
1

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)

Posted on by
Reply

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:

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSXosdPkp_k

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.