If running in heels is part of your daily grind, then the latest collection from American footwear brand Cole Haan is worth more than a cursory glance.In a range in which fashion meets function, top seasonal picks for women at the newly refurbished store in Dubai Mall include block heel almond-toe pumps in an ocelot print and bow-embellished ballet flats that will plié neatly into your handbag. Bags for this autumn/winter are equally practical and pretty, taking the form of woven leather totes, studded saddle bags and cross-body clutches.
Fronting the campaign for the range, under the slogan of Extraordinary Women, Extraordinary Stories, are models Christy Turlington and Karlie Kloss. "What any of us do on a daily basis is very ordinary, very routine," Turlington says. "Extraordinary is really born from being your best possible self in any of those given moments."
The 48-year-old was deemed a good fit with the brand, given her long-standing commitment to providing essential maternity care to underprivileged women around the world though her charity Every Mother Counts.
Kloss, meanwhile, caught the brand's attention through her Kode with Klossy initiative, a free summer camp for teenage girls that enables them to learn code and become tomorrow's titans of the tech world. The organisation was born from Kloss's own talent for coding and her desire to help women be at the forefront of a digitally advancing society. "When someone is extraordinary, they are being genuine to their unique passions and chasing their dreams," says 25-year-old Kloss.
Cole Haan’s shoes, much like the models who wear them, have much more to them than meets the eye. The company’s raison d’etre is to design chic, adaptable shoes that women and men can wear comfortably all day – be it from boardroom to beach, meeting room to mall or school run to sophisticated supper.
As for how they have been achieving the utopian ideal of a hardworking shoe since Trafton Cole and Eddie Haan first went into business in 1928 – the secret is in the science. Kloss's preferred Grand Evolution shoes are a perfect example, appearing to the untrained eye to simply be on-trend, versatile footwear. Yet the inside tells a different story with dual-layer cushioning, soft-heel shock-absorption components, stabilising forefoot firmness, a moulded sock liner and Achilles padding all contributing to the perfect fit.
The good news for buyers is that this front-line technology doesn't break the bank, with most of Cole Haan's shoes costing from Dh500 to Dh800.
"There are a lot of brands around the world that are elegant, but few that are truly innovative," says Greg Dinges, international executive vice president and president of Cole Haan Japan. "Innovation can be defined in a whole range of ways from flexibility and breathability to comfort, being waterproof and lightweight, for example. But it has to be backed by science. You have to notice the difference and go 'wow' when you pick up the shoe."
Shoes available in-store with the wow factor include graphic knit sneakers and feather-light, leather-upper tennis shoes that weigh a mere 250 grams.
The sporting life and outdoor pursuits are integral divisions of Cole Haan's footwear offering, and even shearling hiking boots take pride of place in the wood-panel display cabinets of the Dubai Mall branch this month. Regular shoppers will notice the boutique's recent refit, which has brought its interior style in line with the brand's flagship stores around the world. The result is a crisp white-and-smoky-grey walled space, with splashes of modern art and a gold geometric sculpture suspended from the ceiling. The store is one of four that Cole Haan currently has in the UAE, in addition to its wider regional footprint, which extends to locations from Saudi Arabia to Lebanon.
"The Middle East is extremely important for us," Dinges says. "The UAE is unique in so many ways, and as a city, Dubai is very cutting-edge, which plays into the innovation side of our brand."
Catering to local tastes, in recent years, Cole Haan has rolled out limited-edition Grand Pro sports shoes in the colours of regional flags and sandals with a distinctly Arabian style, designed to be teamed with kanduras. To further tap into the psyche of Middle Eastern shoppers, the company is also on the scout for regional ambassadors.
“We’re a brand that’s about storytelling and we want to continue to add to the Cole Haan family of extraordinary women, and extraordinary men,” Dinges says. “I’m sworn to secrecy, and it’s premature to talk about names in the Middle East, but one thing I’d love to do is work with some regional collaborators to do some co-branding – that might mean another brand or a designer.”
As a work-hard, play-hard globetrotting executive, Dinges seems to fit the profile of many of Cole Haan's customers in the region and beyond. During his fly-through visit to the UAE, he greeted VIP customers at the Dubai Mall relaunch event dressed in a dapper dark-blue suit and a tangerine tie, paired with statement two-tone grey trainers with Oxford wingtip detailing.
“Thankfully, I’m lucky to have a whole portfolio of comfortable shoes to choose from,” Dinges says. “Every product we put out is both elegant and innovative, and that’s because we brought in sneaker heads who understand the technology of creating a better shoe, and merged them with a fantastic New York-based fashion team. ‘Hideously ugly’ simply doesn’t go hand in hand with comfortable shoes anymore.”
__________________
Read more:
Comfort or confidence: the heels versus flats debate
The best of this season's flat footwear
Malone Souliers footwear lands at Harvey Nichols Dubai
__________________
What is blockchain?
Blockchain is a form of distributed ledger technology, a digital system in which data is recorded across multiple places at the same time. Unlike traditional databases, DLTs have no central administrator or centralised data storage. They are transparent because the data is visible and, because they are automatically replicated and impossible to be tampered with, they are secure.
The main difference between blockchain and other forms of DLT is the way data is stored as ‘blocks’ – new transactions are added to the existing ‘chain’ of past transactions, hence the name ‘blockchain’. It is impossible to delete or modify information on the chain due to the replication of blocks across various locations.
Blockchain is mostly associated with cryptocurrency Bitcoin. Due to the inability to tamper with transactions, advocates say this makes the currency more secure and safer than traditional systems. It is maintained by a network of people referred to as ‘miners’, who receive rewards for solving complex mathematical equations that enable transactions to go through.
However, one of the major problems that has come to light has been the presence of illicit material buried in the Bitcoin blockchain, linking it to the dark web.
Other blockchain platforms can offer things like smart contracts, which are automatically implemented when specific conditions from all interested parties are reached, cutting the time involved and the risk of mistakes. Another use could be storing medical records, as patients can be confident their information cannot be changed. The technology can also be used in supply chains, voting and has the potential to used for storing property records.
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
Fast%20X
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Louis%20Leterrier%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Vin%20Diesel%2C%20Michelle%20Rodriguez%2C%20Jason%20Statham%2C%20Tyrese%20Gibson%2C%20Ludacris%2C%20Jason%20Momoa%2C%20John%20Cena%2C%20Jordana%20Brewster%2C%20Nathalie%20Emmanuel%2C%20Sung%20Kang%2C%20Brie%20Larson%2C%20Helen%20Mirren%20and%20Charlize%20Theron%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Most%20polluted%20cities%20in%20the%20Middle%20East
%3Cp%3E1.%20Baghdad%2C%20Iraq%3Cbr%3E2.%20Manama%2C%20Bahrain%3Cbr%3E3.%20Dhahran%2C%20Saudi%20Arabia%3Cbr%3E4.%20Kuwait%20City%2C%20Kuwait%3Cbr%3E5.%20Ras%20Al%20Khaimah%2C%20UAE%3Cbr%3E6.%20Ash%20Shihaniyah%2C%20Qatar%3Cbr%3E7.%20Abu%20Dhabi%2C%20UAE%3Cbr%3E8.%20Cairo%2C%20Egypt%3Cbr%3E9.%20Riyadh%2C%20Saudi%20Arabia%3Cbr%3E10.%20Dubai%2C%20UAE%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cem%3ESource%3A%202022%20World%20Air%20Quality%20Report%3C%2Fem%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
MOST%20POLLUTED%20COUNTRIES%20IN%20THE%20WORLD
%3Cp%3E1.%20Chad%3Cbr%3E2.%20Iraq%3Cbr%3E3.%20Pakistan%3Cbr%3E4.%20Bahrain%3Cbr%3E5.%20Bangladesh%3Cbr%3E6.%20Burkina%20Faso%3Cbr%3E7.%20Kuwait%3Cbr%3E8.%20India%3Cbr%3E9.%20Egypt%3Cbr%3E10.%20Tajikistan%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cem%3ESource%3A%202022%20World%20Air%20Quality%20Report%3C%2Fem%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Defence review at a glance
• Increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 but given “turbulent times it may be necessary to go faster”
• Prioritise a shift towards working with AI and autonomous systems
• Invest in the resilience of military space systems.
• Number of active reserves should be increased by 20%
• More F-35 fighter jets required in the next decade
• New “hybrid Navy” with AUKUS submarines and autonomous vessels
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
What is dialysis?
Dialysis is a way of cleaning your blood when your kidneys fail and can no longer do the job.
It gets rid of your body's wastes, extra salt and water, and helps to control your blood pressure. The main cause of kidney failure is diabetes and hypertension.
There are two kinds of dialysis — haemodialysis and peritoneal.
In haemodialysis, blood is pumped out of your body to an artificial kidney machine that filter your blood and returns it to your body by tubes.
In peritoneal dialysis, the inside lining of your own belly acts as a natural filter. Wastes are taken out by means of a cleansing fluid which is washed in and out of your belly in cycles.
It isn’t an option for everyone but if eligible, can be done at home by the patient or caregiver. This, as opposed to home haemodialysis, is covered by insurance in the UAE.
Banthology: Stories from Unwanted Nations
Edited by Sarah Cleave, Comma Press
Background: Chemical Weapons
Other acts on the Jazz Garden bill
Sharrie Williams
The American singer is hugely respected in blues circles due to her passionate vocals and songwriting. Born and raised in Michigan, Williams began recording and touring as a teenage gospel singer. Her career took off with the blues band The Wiseguys. Such was the acclaim of their live shows that they toured throughout Europe and in Africa. As a solo artist, Williams has also collaborated with the likes of the late Dizzy Gillespie, Van Morrison and Mavis Staples.
Lin Rountree
An accomplished smooth jazz artist who blends his chilled approach with R‘n’B. Trained at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, Rountree formed his own band in 2004. He has also recorded with the likes of Kem, Dwele and Conya Doss. He comes to Dubai on the back of his new single Pass The Groove, from his forthcoming 2018 album Stronger Still, which may follow his five previous solo albums in cracking the top 10 of the US jazz charts.
Anita Williams
Dubai-based singer Anita Williams will open the night with a set of covers and swing, jazz and blues standards that made her an in-demand singer across the emirate. The Irish singer has been performing in Dubai since 2008 at venues such as MusicHall and Voda Bar. Her Jazz Garden appearance is career highlight as she will use the event to perform the original song Big Blue Eyes, the single from her debut solo album, due for release soon.
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
