Having worked with Chloé, John Galliano and Roberto Cavalli, Shourouk Rhaiem established her eponymous company in 2008, and has a following that includes the likes of Anna Dello Russo, Lady Gaga, Sarah Jessica Parker and Michelle Obama. She tells us more about herself and her inspirations.
If you could wake up anywhere in the world tomorrow, where would you be?
Il Pellicano, Italy. After the pressure and stress of a hectic fashion week, I need some relaxation with a Mediterranean touch.
You're sitting down to the perfect meal. Where are you, whom are you with, and what are you eating?
I am in Tunisia, on the front porch of my house, under our jasmine tree. I’m eating fish couscous, with the whole family shouting at each other because the table isn’t set properly – that is a typically oriental way of life.
What is your favourite beauty product?
My Tom Ford Flame lipstick – the bright, medium-dark, orange-red lip colour is my signature.
What are your top three travel essentials?
My traditional embroidered Turkish socks that I wear on the plane (it’s always so cold), or my last collection prototypes that I wear avant-première, even before I’ve decided to produce them. I also carry my perfume, Grand Bal by Dior, and a pair of Miu Miu heels, even if I am trekking in Machu Picchu. Every girl needs her Miu Miu while travelling. OK, that was four, I know.
Which is your favourite city in the world?
Mumbai. It’s one of my main inspirations: the colours, the culture and the people are all pretty amazing.
You're about to start your next design project. What materials are on your table?
First of all, I would need my fabulous girls with me – each brings her own special touch that I love. Then we yell and we argue. Afterwards, we sit down with our inspirational pictures or mood boards, the Swarovski stones, the natural pearls, and the new (confidential) materials.
What inspired your latest collection, Dating with Pharaohs?
I wanted to take everybody on a flamboyant Cairo holiday with a contemporary Cleopatra. The collection was inspired by Egyptian Golden Age melodrama, mixed with the paradox of Middle East and revival art deco figures. The result is a dramatic combination of micro-mosaic Bastet chokers, beaded anacondas rolling up the neck and explosions of gilded necklaces, which are a tribute to the iconic belly dancer Tahia Carioca.
If you could choose anyone in the world to collaborate with, who would it be?
Youssef Nabil. I loved his exhibition I Saved My Belly Dancer. The way he recreates Egyptian movies in art takes me back to when I used to watch those movies as a child and it inspires me – you can recognise some belly-dancer-inspired jewellery in my new autumn/winter collection.
From cereal boxes to banana peels, your Instagram profile shows some seriously blinged-out pieces. What's an item that you've always dreamed of embellishing?
I would love to crystallise the Mona Lisa. Sorry, Leonardo, but, if they allowed me, I don't think I could resist. It would also be amazing to add some sparkle to The Birth Of Venus by Sandro Botticelli.
Who are your go-to designers?
I would have to say Zayan [Ghandour], from Zayan the Label. We share the same vision of the modern woman, and we both love to mix and create. I love to wear her pieces and mix them with some vintage and Prada shoes – the combination is just gorgeous. She plays with transparencies, colours and prints and creates new and beautiful dress shapes.
What is your favourite item in your wardrobe right now?
My lamé-pleated silver skirt, combined with my Cleopatra and David Bowie T-shirts. I can’t stop wearing them.
What was your first-ever luxury purchase?
A pair of Prada heels. I still have them, but I can’t bring myself to wear them; they are very precious to me.
What is the one piece of jewellery that you most treasure?
My great-grandmother’s Bvlgari snake bracelet. It has been in my family for generations, and I guard it with my life
Shourouk's latest collection is available at S*uce stores in the UAE.
Read this and related stories in Luxury magazine's Watches & Jewellery issue, out with The National on Thursday, April 14.
hlodi@thenational.ae
'Ashkal'
Director: Youssef Chebbi
Stars: Fatma Oussaifi and Mohamed Houcine Grayaa
Rating: 4/5
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COMPANY PROFILE
Company name: Letstango.com
Started: June 2013
Founder: Alex Tchablakian
Based: Dubai
Industry: e-commerce
Initial investment: Dh10 million
Investors: Self-funded
Total customers: 300,000 unique customers every month
The specs: 2018 Jaguar F-Type Convertible
Price, base / as tested: Dh283,080 / Dh318,465
Engine: 2.0-litre inline four-cylinder
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 295hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 400Nm @ 1,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 7.2L / 100km
Company Profile
Company name: Hoopla
Date started: March 2023
Founder: Jacqueline Perrottet
Based: Dubai
Number of staff: 10
Investment stage: Pre-seed
Investment required: $500,000
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
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Company name: baraka
Started: July 2020
Founders: Feras Jalbout and Kunal Taneja
Based: Dubai and Bahrain
Sector: FinTech
Initial investment: $150,000
Current staff: 12
Stage: Pre-seed capital raising of $1 million
Investors: Class 5 Global, FJ Labs, IMO Ventures, The Community Fund, VentureSouq, Fox Ventures, Dr Abdulla Elyas (private investment)
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
J Street Polling Results
97% of Jewish-Americans are concerned about the rise in anti-Semitism
76% of US Jewish voters believe Donald Trump and his allies in the Republican Party are responsible for a rise in anti-Semitism
74% of American Jews agreed that “Trump and the Maga movement are a threat to Jews in America"
Results
3pm: Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 (Dirt) 1,000m; Winner: Dhafra, Antonio Fresu (jockey), Eric Lemartinel (trainer)
3.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 2,000m; Winner: Al Ajayib, Antonio Fresu, Eric Lemartinel
4pm: Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 1,700m; Winner: Ashtr, Abdul Aziz Al Balushi, Majed Al Jahouri
4.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh40,000 (D) 1,700m; Winner: Falcon Claws, Szczepan Mazur, Doug Watson
5pm: Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan Cup – Prestige Handicap (PA) Dh100,000 (D) 1,700m; Winner: Al Mufham SB, Al Moatasem Al Balushi, Badar Al Hajri
5.30pm: Sharjah Marathon – Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (D) 2,700m; Winner: Asraa Min Al Talqa, Al Moatasem Al Balushi, Helal Al Alawi
Zayed Sustainability Prize
Washmen Profile
Date Started: May 2015
Founders: Rami Shaar and Jad Halaoui
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Laundry
Employees: 170
Funding: about $8m
Funders: Addventure, B&Y Partners, Clara Ventures, Cedar Mundi Partners, Henkel Ventures
Specs: 2024 McLaren Artura Spider
Engine: 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 and electric motor
Max power: 700hp at 7,500rpm
Max torque: 720Nm at 2,250rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed dual-clutch auto
0-100km/h: 3.0sec
Top speed: 330kph
Price: From Dh1.14 million ($311,000)
On sale: Now
First Person
Richard Flanagan
Chatto & Windus
Company Profile
Company name: Namara
Started: June 2022
Founder: Mohammed Alnamara
Based: Dubai
Sector: Microfinance
Current number of staff: 16
Investment stage: Series A
Investors: Family offices
Dengue fever symptoms
- High fever
- Intense pain behind your eyes
- Severe headache
- Muscle and joint pains
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Swollen glands
- Rash
If symptoms occur, they usually last for two-seven days
LIGUE 1 FIXTURES
All times UAE (+4 GMT)
Friday
Nice v Angers (9pm)
Lille v Monaco (10.45pm)
Saturday
Montpellier v Paris Saint-Germain (7pm)
Bordeaux v Guingamp (10pm)
Caen v Amiens (10pm)
Lyon v Dijon (10pm)
Metz v Troyes (10pm)
Sunday
Saint-Etienne v Rennes (5pm)
Strasbourg v Nantes (7pm)
Marseille v Toulouse (11pm)
RESULTS
5pm: Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Racing Festival – Handicap (PA) Dh100,000 (Turf) 2,200m
Winner: Suny Du Loup, Pat Dobbs (jockey), Hamad Al Marar (trainer)
5.30pm: Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Racing Festival Cup – Conditions (PA) Dh150,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner: Nadia Du Loup, Antonio Fresu, Sulaiman Al Ghunaimi
6pm: Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Cup – Conditions (PA) Dh150,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner: Dareen, Dane O’Neill, Jean de Roualle
6.30pm: Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan National Day Cup – Group 3 (PA) Dh500,000
Winner: AF Alwajel, Pat Dobbs, Ernst Oertel
7.15pm: Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Jewel Crown – Group 1 (PA) Dh5,000,000 (T) 2,200m
Winner: First Classs, Ronan Thomas, Jean De Mieulle
8pm: Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan National Day Cup – Listed (TB) Dh380,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner: San Donato, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson
8.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup – Handicap (PA) Dh100,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner: AF Rasam, Fernando Jara, Ernst Oertel