From cars to smartphones and even massage chairs, record-breaking South Korean group BTS’s global influence continues to expand outside the sphere of music, with new brand endorsements announced regularly.
Earlier this month, their collaboration with McDonald's for a signature edition meal launched in 50 countries around the world, including the UAE. The BTS Meal, which includes 10 chicken nuggets, medium World Famous Fries, medium Coke and sweet chilli and Cajun dipping sauces, is inspired by the band's go-to order at the fast-food chain.
Last year, ahead of the release of their Grammy nominated record-breaking English track Dynamite, BTS announced a collaboration with sportswear brand Fila. The Voyager Collection, comprising hats, T-shirts, hoodies, bags and sneakers, sold out in 24 hours in the US.
Scroll through the gallery above for all the looks from the latest Fila collaboration.
Now, the seven-piece band are back with another Fila collection, this time with an eco-friendly theme.
Called Project 7: Back to Nature, the street-style-inspired collection, which comes after their second English song Butter was released last month, is now available online and at Fila stores across the Middle East.
Featuring T-shirts, shoes, hats and other accessories, complete with artsy graphics and cool earth tones, the collection is entirely made from recycled materials.
Project 7: Back to Nature is centered around comfort and practicality, Fila said, and encourages us to think about the environment.
The collection launch is accompanied by a promotional video featuring all the band's members – RM, Jungkook, V, J-Hope, Jimin, Suga and Jin.
The Fila collaboration isn't the only fashion endorsement for the boys, however. In April they were named ambassadors for Louis Vuitton.
“Joining as new house ambassadors, the world-renowned pop icons are recognised for their uplifting messages that impart a positive influence," the storied French label posted on Instagram.
Under the partnership, BTS are expected to don pieces from Louis Vuitton for their coming appearances and performances, as well as join forces on yet-to-be-revealed special projects.
"I am looking forward to this wonderful partnership which adds a modern chapter to the house, merging luxury and contemporary culture," Virgil Abloh, Louis Vuitton menswear artistic director who is also the founder of label Off-White, said then. "I can't wait to share all the very exciting projects we are working on."
The K-pop stars have previously also fronted campaigns for Skechers, as well as partnered with Dior for tour outfits.
To mark the launch of the McDonald's BTS Meal, the boy band also released a line of branded clothing and accessories inspired by the menu items. The collection features hoodies, purple bathrobes, socks and sandals.
Some of the items are emblazoned with the McDonald’s fries box logo with seven fries for each BTS member, and others come in BTS purple, with McDonald’s red and gold detailing.
And if there were still doubts about the band's popularity, on Wednesday, more than a dozen Indonesian McDonald's outlets were temporarily shuttered over coronavirus fears after the BTS Meal sparked frenzied buying from fans in the K-pop-mad country.
Images showed outlets in Jakarta, where lockdown rules are still in place, deluged with online food-delivery drivers picking up the meal.
BTS's Dynamite video, which premiered on YouTube on August 21, has racked up more than a billion views, while their latest Butter, released on May 21, has 329 million views so far in two weeks.
Roll%20of%20Honour%2C%20men%E2%80%99s%20domestic%20rugby%20season
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EWest%20Asia%20Premiership%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EChampions%3A%20Dubai%20Tigers%0D%3Cbr%3ERunners%20up%3A%20Bahrain%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EUAE%20Premiership%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EChampions%3A%20Jebel%20Ali%20Dragons%0D%3Cbr%3ERunners%20up%3A%20Dubai%20Hurricanes%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EUAE%20Division%201%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EChampions%3A%20Dubai%20Sharks%0D%3Cbr%3ERunners%20up%3A%20Abu%20Dhabi%20Harlequins%20II%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EUAE%20Division%202%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EChampions%3A%20Dubai%20Tigers%20III%0D%3Cbr%3ERunners%20up%3A%20Dubai%20Sharks%20II%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDubai%20Sevens%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EChampions%3A%20Dubai%20Tigers%0D%3Cbr%3ERunners%20up%3A%20Dubai%20Hurricanes%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
Essentials
The flights
Whether you trek after mountain gorillas in Rwanda, Uganda or the Congo, the most convenient international airport is in Rwanda’s capital city, Kigali. There are direct flights from Dubai a couple of days a week with RwandAir. Otherwise, an indirect route is available via Nairobi with Kenya Airways. Flydubai flies to Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo, via Entebbe in Uganda. Expect to pay from US$350 (Dh1,286) return, including taxes.
The tours
Superb ape-watching tours that take in all three gorilla countries mentioned above are run by Natural World Safaris. In September, the company will be operating a unique Ugandan ape safari guided by well-known primatologist Ben Garrod.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, local operator Kivu Travel can organise pretty much any kind of safari throughout the Virunga National Park and elsewhere in eastern Congo.
What is graphene?
Graphene is extracted from graphite and is made up of pure carbon.
It is 200 times more resistant than steel and five times lighter than aluminum.
It conducts electricity better than any other material at room temperature.
It is thought that graphene could boost the useful life of batteries by 10 per cent.
Graphene can also detect cancer cells in the early stages of the disease.
The material was first discovered when Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov were 'playing' with graphite at the University of Manchester in 2004.
2019 ASIA CUP POTS
Pot 1
UAE, Iran, Australia, Japan, South Korea, Saudi Arabia
Pot 2
China, Syria, Uzbekistan, Iraq, Qatar, Thailand
Pot 3
Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Palestine, Oman, India, Vietnam
Pot 4
North Korea, Philippines, Bahrain, Jordan, Yemen, Turkmenistan
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates, Etihad and Swiss fly direct from the UAE to Zurich from Dh2,855 return, including taxes.
The chalet
Chalet N is currently open in winter only, between now and April 21. During the ski season, starting on December 11, a week’s rental costs from €210,000 (Dh898,431) per week for the whole property, which has 22 beds in total, across six suites, three double rooms and a children’s suite. The price includes all scheduled meals, a week’s ski pass, Wi-Fi, parking, transfers between Munich, Innsbruck or Zurich airports and one 50-minute massage per person. Private ski lessons cost from €360 (Dh1,541) per day. Halal food is available on request.
Marathon results
Men:
1. Titus Ekiru(KEN) 2:06:13
2. Alphonce Simbu(TAN) 2:07:50
3. Reuben Kipyego(KEN) 2:08:25
4. Abel Kirui(KEN) 2:08:46
5. Felix Kemutai(KEN) 2:10:48
Women:
1. Judith Korir(KEN) 2:22:30
2. Eunice Chumba(BHR) 2:26:01
3. Immaculate Chemutai(UGA) 2:28:30
4. Abebech Bekele(ETH) 2:29:43
5. Aleksandra Morozova(RUS) 2:33:01
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5