The boundaries between art, fashion and interior design have become increasingly blurred over recent years. From the carpets designed by Marni, Vivienne Westwood and Diane von Furstenberg for The Rug Company, to Jonathan Adler's clothing line for 7 For All Mankind; and from the Parisian textile house Lelievre's collaborations with Kenzo, Jean Paul Gaultier and Sonia Rykiel, to Paul Smith's various forays into the world of product design, there are many examples of the cross-pollination between fashion and design.
So it is perhaps not so surprising that the high-street fashion brand COS has spent the last five years partnering with the Milan Furniture Fair, presenting design installations that have little to do with clothes. The Milan Furniture Fair, or Salone del Mobile, is the most important exhibition on the global design calendar – the place where products are launched, brands come to showcase their mettle and trends are born.
For a company such as COS, a presence at the fair offers the opportunity to project itself as something more than a fashion brand, and is a way to communicate with an increasingly design-savvy audience in new and unexpected ways.
“At COS we are constantly inspired by the art and design world, whether through our seasonal collections, in-store designs or collaborating with artists and designers,” explains Karin Gustafsson, head of womenswear design at COS. “We believe that our customer shares our interest in art and design, and because of our relationship with the worlds of art and design, we value the opportunity to give something back to and share with our customers.
“The synergy between the art and fashion worlds is becoming more common these days. We believe this to be a reflection of the two worlds inspiring each other, whether in regards to colours, function, form, materials, processes or techniques. As a brand we always hope to be able to showcase something inspiring that creates or reinforces a link among fashion, art and design.”
While COS started its Salone journey with more literal references to the brand, its offerings have become increasingly abstract over the past five years. “This is the fifth year that COS has created an installation for Salone del Mobile, Milan. Initially, in 2012, we created a temporary store environment in the Lambrate district; this was prior to us having a store in Milan and really we just wanted to offer visitors the opportunity to discover the brand,” Gustafsson explains. “It was such a great experience working with an external designer who reinterpreted our brand into a temporary store, so we were keen to do it again. Over the years, the concept has developed, and at this point we love to give our partners carte blanche to create a unique and new installation. We definitely believe it to be a great fit; we find great amounts of inspiration in design and love to see all of the happenings outside of our project in Milan during the week.”
For the 2016 edition of the show, which is on until Sunday, COS employed the services of Japanese architect and designer Sou Fujimoto. The designer is best known for his gridded and latticed architectural structures, including the intriguing House NA in Tokyo, a multilevel, glass-encased home with barely any walls that looks more like scaffolding than a building; the calming Children’s Centre for Psychiatric Rehabilitation in Hokkaido Prefecture; and the Palm Court retail centre in Miami’s Design District, which uses vertical strips of blue glass to capture the effect of Miami’s impromptu rain showers.
Fujimoto was also selected to create the Serpentine Gallery Pavilion in 2013. The annual commission is a highly sought-after project in the world of architecture. It is awarded to a major architect who has yet to build a project in the United Kingdom, and is invited to create a temporary structure that is displayed on the lawn outside London’s Serpentine Gallery. Fujimoto’s proposal consisted of a white lattice crafted from steel poles, which in its stark angularity and inherent transparency was intended to present “the beautiful duality of the artificial order and natural order”, he says.
It was this project that really caught the attention of the COS team. “Working with Sou Fujimoto feels very organic for us; his contemporary modern style is very much aligned with our core values. We particularly loved his work on the Serpentine pavilion in 2013; the cloud-like pavilion blended nature and architecture perfectly, and inspired all of us at COS,” Gustafsson notes.
So Fujimoto was given his “carte blanche” to create a COS installation. “When working with external artists or designers, we like to give them almost complete freedom to design what they believe in and are always open to their interpretation of COS,” says Gustafsson.
In response, Fujimoto came up with the Forest of Light, which explores ideas of interaction and perspective. An expansive, darkened space in the now-derelict Cinema Arti, built in the 1930s in Milan's San Babila district, is illuminated by towering cones of light that respond to visitors' movements. The addition of fogged mirrored walls and specially composed sounds create a fully immersive experience. The installation is entirely devoid of any other physical objects; it is responsive, rather than static, and ever-changing, depending on the movements of its "users". The conical spotlights become abstract trees, working together to create a shifting "forest of light".
"Inspired by the city of Tokyo as an architectural forest, and the similarities shared between the city and a forest, I have embraced the concept of the intangible aspect of light and the relationship between nature and man-made objects," Fujimoto tells us. "Forest of Light will create an ever-changing interaction between the space, your body and your emotions, with no two visitor experiences being the same. The lighting will react to the people within the space, making different variations of light density; mirrors will create an infinite effect; and natural forest noises will echo throughout."
It was the sounds that presented the biggest test for Fujimoto, he says. “A challenge for us was the integration of the sound element, as we don’t tend to use the idea of sound installations in architecture. It’s part of the interaction between the human body and the whole space. Of course, the space made by the light is already quite exciting, but if you can integrate with sound, then the experience just gets more diverse, I thought.”
While the installation is by no means a literal translation of the COS collections, Fujimoto did take some inspiration from the brand’s spring/summer line, he says. “The COS spring/summer collection for me reflected a landscape, a vast landscape of colour. We wanted to reflect this as an infinite space using mirrors and transparency with lights. I also like the gentle, delicate elements of the collection; we reflected this in creating a calm environment.”
On a fundamental level, Fujimoto also responded to the COS ethos of creating simple, functional pieces of design, intended to last beyond a single season. “I think our desire to create something simple and clean, yet special, is a key connection,” he says. “In every project I like to go back to the beginning of architecture or the beginning of our life and behaviours, and of course fashion and architecture share that kind of relationship with human beings.”
sdenman@thenational.ae
RESULTS
Bantamweight title:
Vinicius de Oliveira (BRA) bt Xavier Alaoui (MAR)
(KO round 2)
Catchweight 68kg:
Sean Soriano (USA) bt Noad Lahat (ISR)
(TKO round 1)
Middleweight:
Denis Tiuliulin (RUS) bt Juscelino Ferreira (BRA)
(TKO round 1)
Lightweight:
Anas Siraj Mounir (MAR) bt Joachim Tollefsen (DEN)
(Unanimous decision)
Catchweight 68kg:
Austin Arnett (USA) bt Daniel Vega (MEX)
(TKO round 3)
Lightweight:
Carrington Banks (USA) bt Marcio Andrade (BRA)
(Unanimous decision)
Catchweight 58kg:
Corinne Laframboise (CAN) bt Malin Hermansson (SWE)
(Submission round 2)
Bantamweight:
Jalal Al Daaja (CAN) bt Juares Dea (CMR)
(Split decision)
Middleweight:
Mohamad Osseili (LEB) bt Ivan Slynko (UKR)
(TKO round 1)
Featherweight:
Tarun Grigoryan (ARM) bt Islam Makhamadjanov (UZB)
(Unanimous decision)
Catchweight 54kg:
Mariagiovanna Vai (ITA) bt Daniella Shutov (ISR)
(Submission round 1)
Middleweight:
Joan Arastey (ESP) bt Omran Chaaban (LEB)
(Unanimous decision)
Welterweight:
Bruno Carvalho (POR) bt Souhil Tahiri (ALG)
(TKO)
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
How to avoid crypto fraud
- Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
- Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
- Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
- Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
- Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
- Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
- Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre, six-cylinder
Transmission: six-speed manual
Power: 395bhp
Torque: 420Nm
Price: from Dh321,200
On sale: now
Other workplace saving schemes
- The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
- Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
- National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
- In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
- Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
Tips for SMEs to cope
- Adapt your business model. Make changes that are future-proof to the new normal
- Make sure you have an online presence
- Open communication with suppliers, especially if they are international. Look for local suppliers to avoid delivery delays
- Open communication with customers to see how they are coping and be flexible about extending terms, etc
Courtesy: Craig Moore, founder and CEO of Beehive, which provides term finance and working capital finance to SMEs. Only SMEs that have been trading for two years are eligible for funding from Beehive.
BIG SPENDERS
Premier League clubs spent £230 million (Dh1.15 billion) on January transfers, the second-highest total for the mid-season window, the Sports Business Group at Deloitte said in a report.
T20 World Cup Qualifier
October 18 – November 2
Opening fixtures
Friday, October 18
ICC Academy: 10am, Scotland v Singapore, 2.10pm, Netherlands v Kenya
Zayed Cricket Stadium: 2.10pm, Hong Kong v Ireland, 7.30pm, Oman v UAE
UAE squad
Ahmed Raza (captain), Rohan Mustafa, Ashfaq Ahmed, Rameez Shahzad, Darius D’Silva, Mohammed Usman, Mohammed Boota, Zawar Farid, Ghulam Shabber, Junaid Siddique, Sultan Ahmed, Imran Haider, Waheed Ahmed, Chirag Suri, Zahoor Khan
Players out: Mohammed Naveed, Shaiman Anwar, Qadeer Ahmed
Players in: Junaid Siddique, Darius D’Silva, Waheed Ahmed
MATCH INFO
Euro 2020 qualifier
Ukraine 2 (Yaremchuk 06', Yarmolenko 27')
Portugal 1 (Ronaldo 72' pen)
Afghanistan fixtures
- v Australia, today
- v Sri Lanka, Tuesday
- v New Zealand, Saturday,
- v South Africa, June 15
- v England, June 18
- v India, June 22
- v Bangladesh, June 24
- v Pakistan, June 29
- v West Indies, July 4
From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
The specs
Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors
Power: 480kW
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh359,900 ($98,000)
On sale: Now
The%20specs
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Result
Tottenhan Hotspur 2 Roma 3
Tottenham: Winks 87', Janssen 90 1'
Roma 3
D Perotti 13' (pen), C Under 70', M Tumminello 90 2"
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
Dubai works towards better air quality by 2021
Dubai is on a mission to record good air quality for 90 per cent of the year – up from 86 per cent annually today – by 2021.
The municipality plans to have seven mobile air-monitoring stations by 2020 to capture more accurate data in hourly and daily trends of pollution.
These will be on the Palm Jumeirah, Al Qusais, Muhaisnah, Rashidiyah, Al Wasl, Al Quoz and Dubai Investment Park.
“It will allow real-time responding for emergency cases,” said Khaldoon Al Daraji, first environment safety officer at the municipality.
“We’re in a good position except for the cases that are out of our hands, such as sandstorms.
“Sandstorms are our main concern because the UAE is just a receiver.
“The hotspots are Iran, Saudi Arabia and southern Iraq, but we’re working hard with the region to reduce the cycle of sandstorm generation.”
Mr Al Daraji said monitoring as it stood covered 47 per cent of Dubai.
There are 12 fixed stations in the emirate, but Dubai also receives information from monitors belonging to other entities.
“There are 25 stations in total,” Mr Al Daraji said.
“We added new technology and equipment used for the first time for the detection of heavy metals.
“A hundred parameters can be detected but we want to expand it to make sure that the data captured can allow a baseline study in some areas to ensure they are well positioned.”
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Game Changer
Director: Shankar
Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram
Rating: 2/5
Emiratisation at work
Emiratisation was introduced in the UAE more than 10 years ago
It aims to boost the number of citizens in the workforce particularly in the private sector.
Growing the number of Emiratis in the workplace will help the UAE reduce dependence on overseas workers
The Cabinet in December last year, approved a national fund for Emirati jobseekers and guaranteed citizens working in the private sector a comparable pension
President Sheikh Khalifa has described Emiratisation as “a true measure for success”.
During the UAE’s 48th National Day, Sheikh Khalifa named education, entrepreneurship, Emiratisation and space travel among cornerstones of national development
More than 80 per cent of Emiratis work in the federal or local government as per 2017 statistics
The Emiratisation programme includes the creation of 20,000 new jobs for UAE citizens
UAE citizens will be given priority in managerial positions in the government sphere
The purpose is to raise the contribution of UAE nationals in the job market and create a diverse workforce of citizens
How the bonus system works
The two riders are among several riders in the UAE to receive the top payment of £10,000 under the Thank You Fund of £16 million (Dh80m), which was announced in conjunction with Deliveroo's £8 billion (Dh40bn) stock market listing earlier this year.
The £10,000 (Dh50,000) payment is made to those riders who have completed the highest number of orders in each market.
There are also riders who will receive payments of £1,000 (Dh5,000) and £500 (Dh2,500).
All riders who have worked with Deliveroo for at least one year and completed 2,000 orders will receive £200 (Dh1,000), the company said when it announced the scheme.
BAD%20BOYS%3A%20RIDE%20OR%20DIE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Adil%20El%20Arbi%20and%20Bilall%20Fallah%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EWill%20Smith%2C%20Martin%20Lawrence%2C%20Joe%20Pantoliano%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
Innotech Profile
Date started: 2013
Founder/CEO: Othman Al Mandhari
Based: Muscat, Oman
Sector: Additive manufacturing, 3D printing technologies
Size: 15 full-time employees
Stage: Seed stage and seeking Series A round of financing
Investors: Oman Technology Fund from 2017 to 2019, exited through an agreement with a new investor to secure new funding that it under negotiation right now.
Vidaamuyarchi
Director: Magizh Thirumeni
Stars: Ajith Kumar, Arjun Sarja, Trisha Krishnan, Regina Cassandra
Rating: 4/5