Indian designer Gaurav Gupta, who's dressed India's elite, as well as Bollywood and Hollywood stars for the past 20 years, has made his Paris haute couture debut. All photos: Getty Images
Gupta shared the stage with some of the world's most well-known couturiers as part of the coveted calendar
A model walks the runway during Gupta's haute couture spring/summer 2023 show
Gupta showcased 35 looks in total, introducing his signature sculpted fabrics
Many looks featured wing-like creations that twisted around his models
Embroidered crystals gave the looks in the collection an effervescent quality
Clothes also ranged in colour, from gold to silver and electric blue
The collection took six months to put together, from developing concepts and sketches to sourcing, dyeing and embroidering fabrics
Gupta named his collection Shunya, the Sanskrit word for zero, which was invented in India
'When zero was discovered ... the world expanded into infinity. Time was no longer linear,' he told CNN
A look from Gupta's haute couture collection
A look from Gupta's haute couture collection
Gupta is a graduate of the famed Central Saint Martins
Dramatic shapes were seen on the catwalk
Many Hollywood stars have worn Gupta's dresses on the red carpet
A gold creation by Gupta
Gupta's signature sculpture was present in almost all the looks
The Indian designer acknowledges the applause of the audience at the end of his show
He's been designing for the Indian elite, Bollywood and Hollywood celebrities for almost 20 years. And on Thursday, Gaurav Gupta finally made it to the official Paris haute couture week calendar, sharing the stage with some of the world's most well-known couturiers.
"I feel like I’m finally home," the designer told Vogue India ahead of his show.
"I’ve been working in fashion since I was 15. So I guess it’s a 25-year-old dream in the making. When I was a student at Central Saint Martins about 20 years back, and even I used to work with Hussein Chalayan backstage and attend different shows, I just knew I had to be here."
Indian fashion designer Gaurav Gupta acknowledges the applause of the audience at the end of his show. Getty Images
The Middle East was represented by established houses Elie Saab and Zuhair Murad, which delivered assured haute couture collections.
Gupta showcased 35 looks in total, introducing his signature sculpted fabrics, many featuring wing-like creations that twisted around his models. Embroidered with crystals, many of the looks, in a variety of colours — from gold to silver and electric blue — gave his collection an effervescent quality.
The collection took six months to put together, from developing concepts and sketches to sourcing, dyeing and embroidering fabrics.
He said he named his collection Shunya, the Sanskrit word for zero, which was invented in India.
"When zero was discovered ... the world expanded into infinity. Time was no longer linear," he told CNN.
"When people see my collections, they say, 'Your clothes are very beautiful but they're not very Indian,' which isn't right.
"There's a sense of fluid form, maximalism, the techniques and craftsmanship — all of that is Indian. I want to challenge the perception of the words 'India' or 'Indianness'."
Scroll through the gallery below for collections by Arab designers at Paris haute couture week
Shades of champagne and muted golds at the Rami Al Ali spring 2023 couture show, shown alongside Paris Haute Couture Week. Photo: Rami Al Ali
Stiffened silk faille folds edge a gown at Rami Al Ali. Photo: Rami Al Ali
A metallic beaded dress that shifts from lavender to silver at Rami Al Ali. Photo: Rami Al Ali
Gold beads are softened with lilac chiffon at Rami Al Ali. Photo: Rami Al Ali
A beaded dress is softened with an overlayer of chiffon, at Rami Al Ali spring 2023 couture. Photo: Rami Al Ali
A pale blue gown embellished with muted silver at Rami Al Ali. Photo: Rami Al Ali
A tailored mini dress is framed with strips of leather at the Ashi Studio spring 2023 couture collection in Paris. Photo: Ashi Studio
An armour-like dress, moulded around the body, at the Ashi Studio show. Photo: Ashi Studio
Soft folds float on a translucent dress at Ashi Studio. Photo: Ashi Studio
A skirt stands proud on the hips at Ashi Studio. Photo: Ashi Studio
Soft feathers are contrasted with rigid boning at Ashi Studio. Photo: Ashi Studio
A stiff A-line mini dress with exaggerated sleeves at Ashi Studio. Photo: Ashi Studio
Molten silver looks at the Zuhair Murad Haute Couture spring 2023 show in Paris. Getty Images
Sequins and feathers in hot pink at the Zuhair Murad show. Getty Images
An evening gown in rich cerise at Zuhair Murad. Getty Images
A cobweb beaded look at Zuhair Murad. Getty Images
A cowled, hooded dress in soft pink at Zuhair Murad. Getty Images
A gown in sunset orange at Zuhair Murad. Getty Images
A draped gown in periwinkle blue by Elie Saab. EPA
The Elie Saab spring 2023 haute couture show offered this feathered gown in seafoam green. EPA
One of the menswear looks at the Elie Saab spring 2023 haute couture show in Paris. EPA
Intricately pieced chiffon and beadwork at Elie Saab. Getty Images
Pale blue patterns at Elie Saab. Getty Images
A lace cape over a trouser suit at Elie Saab. Getty Images
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.
New Zealand
Kane Williamson (captain), Martin Guptill, Colin Munro, Ross Taylor, Tom Latham (wicketkeeper), Henry Nicholls, Ish Sodhi, George Worker, Glenn Phillips, Matt Henry, Colin de Grandhomme, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Adam Milne, Trent Boult
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250
Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution
Ambition: To create awareness among young about people with disabilities and make the world a more inclusive place
Job Title: Human resources administrator, Expo 2020 Dubai
First jobs: Co-ordinator with Magrudy Enterprises; HR coordinator at Jumeirah Group
Entrepreneur: Started his own graphic design business
Favourite singer: Avril Lavigne
Favourite travel destination: Germany and Saudi Arabia
Family: Six sisters
Yemen's Bahais and the charges they often face
The Baha'i faith was made known in Yemen in the 19th century, first introduced by an Iranian man named Ali Muhammad Al Shirazi, considered the Herald of the Baha'i faith in 1844.
The Baha'i faith has had a growing number of followers in recent years despite persecution in Yemen and Iran.
Today, some 2,000 Baha'is reside in Yemen, according to Insaf.
"The 24 defendants represented by the House of Justice, which has intelligence outfits from the uS and the UK working to carry out an espionage scheme in Yemen under the guise of religion.. aimed to impant and found the Bahai sect on Yemeni soil by bringing foreign Bahais from abroad and homing them in Yemen," the charge sheet said.
Baha'Ullah, the founder of the Bahai faith, was exiled by the Ottoman Empire in 1868 from Iran to what is now Israel. Now, the Bahai faith's highest governing body, known as the Universal House of Justice, is based in the Israeli city of Haifa, which the Bahais turn towards during prayer.
The Houthis cite this as collective "evidence" of Bahai "links" to Israel - which the Houthis consider their enemy.
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
PSL FINAL
Multan Sultans v Peshawar Zalmi
8pm, Thursday
Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
