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:
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwTIGFOC5Mk
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.
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 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.
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.
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
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
Stephanie Khoury!
Stephanie Khoury
As per the below post, we had the competition of the one off piece designed by me for Camay’s Pink scent running on Hellwa Fashion. Many great photos were submitted, it was difficult to chose a favorite. However, Stephanie’s look grabbed my attention from the first time I saw her picture with her Louboutins and mini dress (and you know how short my dresses can get swaying on my catwalks). Its sassy, sexy and mostly – Pink!
More competitions will follow and we’ll be announced shortly.
Preview Video of “A Love Affair” collection in glorious HD
Credits:
Aiisha Ramadan – Fashion Designs
Victoria Casal – Jewelery Designs
Manolo Blahnik – Shoes
All 4 Media – Video Production
Parov Stellar – Hurt – Soundtrack
As part of our presence at Galeries Lafayette, we conducted a photoshoot on site.
It attracted many people who were mesmerized by the photo techniques used, or was it just the beautiful model?
Like a Butterfly
Monroe Remixed
Lite as Feather
Elegantly Wasted
Orange Crush
Credits goes to:
“A Love Affair” – Collection
Aiisha Ramadan – Designer
Callaghan Walsh – Photographer
Yi Li – Model
Samira Olfat – Makeup Artist (Max Factor)
I understand how important it is to keep the blog up to date, specially after such a monumental event in my life, but I really have no time to update this blog followers with the event details, so I left the scoop for other bloggers (which I sincerely thank from my heart). But that doesn’t mean I won’t be updating my blog with the event photos and video, but all is good in due time.
La Dame a la Tour Eiffel
The purpose of this entry is to announce that all the “Love Affair” collection is displayed at Galeries Lafayette in Dubai Mall.
At the main entrance of Galeries Lafayette Dubai Mall
At first we had the opportunity to display the collection for 10 days, which after an overwhelming reception, this extended till end of November.
Please, come and have a look at the collection first hand, it is on display at the main entrance on the 2nd floor.
Aiisha on Display
I will be at Galeries Lafayette this weekend (Friday and Saturday), come and say Hi.
Date: Tuesday, November 3rd 2009
A day to remember in my calendar of events. We’ve been busy planning for this date for over 5 months (if not more), for few days prior to that date we hardly slept, we worked over night, but the more challenge we faced, the more we developed collective determination until we reached the deadline and from there it was smooth sailing.
Of course I’m talking about my collaboration with Victoria Casal.
A Love Affair Invite
A Love Affair is a collaboration 1 year in the making, kept under wraps until it was unveiled in a glamorous, unique, one of a kind show that was deemed the fashion show of the year and the golden ticket of the fashion events in Dubai.
The Design Team on the Catwalk
My coverage for this event will extend to few blog posts detailing all aspects of the show, the designs and everything related.
Await more
Colors at the Finale