Hark back, if you will, to your student years. Ponder for a moment (if it's not too faint a memory) on what it would have meant to the younger you to have interned for someone who was globally recognised in their field. Think of the difference it might have made to your skill set and confidence levels if you had been able to learn something practical from people in the actual workplace. Admittedly, some of you may have been interns, but I will wager that in most cases more time was spent fetching your superiors coffees than gaining genuine industry knowledge.
One student from Esmod Dubai, the UAE arm of the famed French fashion school, has been lucky enough to spend the summer gaining invaluable skills from fashion heavyweight Rami Al Ali – in an initiative spearheaded by Al Ali himself.
"Previously the school had approached us to be part of the graduation panel [for third year students], and we were more than happy to do that, but we wanted to be more involved than just at the end. We noticed that it was too late to give notes, so wanted to do something in the second year to give the students the opportunity to still expand and experiment. So, we approached Esmod. We suggested this project," Al Ali explains, at his atelier in the Dubai Design District.
The project, as he calls it, is a partnership with Esmod that requires second-year fashion students to compete for a slot as an intern in Al Ali's ready-to-wear studio. The winner receives mentoring from the designer himself, as well as the expertise of the atelier at their disposal. Al Ali says: "When we approached Esmod management, they were very welcoming of the idea."
In fact, they were so keen on the initiative that they have now taken the unusual step of making it a mandatory part of their curriculum. The premise is simple: moving forward, every second-year fashion student will design a collection inspired by the work of Al Ali. Free to draw on any of his previous collections, students must research and create their own work, taking design cues from Al Ali's creations. The work is then judged and a winner selected. Over the course of the internship, these designs are produced and then sold through a local retailer.
This year, the students submitted work to a panel that, naturally, included Al Ali. Karashash Nurakhmet was named the winner.
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"It was very difficult to select one as they were all excellent. We had a really long discussion with Esmod, asking if we could we take all five," Al Ali tells me. "Karashash's designs are commercial and modern, easy to produce, and look good without needing to be explained.
"Her work suits the taste of the Middle East, and at the same time shows creativity. College is the place where you show off your skills, but with this project we wanted students to connect with reality and make them able to communicate with the customer.
"Students think commercial is something negative. But if you are a fashion designer, being commercial is very important for your business, so we wanted to remove the negativity and make it a positive. Commercial is not the opposite of creative," says Al Ali.
"We have a lot of knowledge about the market, especially in this region, and we wanted to share that. Ultimately, the most important thing is that it is a way for us to give back. We have experience and know-how and we want to pass on that knowledge," he adds.
Nurakhmet is already entrenched in Al Ali's atelier when I visit. "It was very unexpected for me to win," she says shyly when asked. "I did my last calico [mock-up] in just one day, as I didn't have any time.
“The other students had the help of the teachers, but I was travelling, so when Mr Rami chose me, I was so shocked.
"I was inspired by Mr Rami's spring/summer 2013 collection, which was based on The Great Gatsby, which has always inspired me, too. I mixed The Great Gatsby with Studio 54. My style is very free, loose, straight cut and always A-line.
"I used The Great Gatsby and its champagne colours, with sparkling stripes, and also took inspiration from New York, Studio 54 and art deco."
Nurakhmet's winning capsule collection is due to go on sale exclusively at the Polette concept store in City Walk Dubai this month.
Having created the original collection, it must have been interesting for Al Ali to see his work reimagined through someone else's eyes, and watching him nodding enthusiastically at Nurakhmet's ideas, he certainly looks happy with her approach. "It is a very interesting mix," he tells me.
His desire to support and nurture the next generation of designers is, of course, mutually beneficial – as he supplies a helping hand to newcomers, he is also able to open up a dialogue about fresh new ideas.
"We realised that we need to be connected to the now, and how the new generation perceives fashion.
"Plus, it's a great opportunity for us to scout for new team members and for students who most suit our DNA," he says.
For the summer, at least, Nurakhmet has the complete workshop at her disposal. No doubt more familiar with running up her own pieces on a sewing machine at home, suddenly she has a ready-to-wear studio at her fingertips, and the years of experience of the craftsmen and women working there to call upon. However, this is more than just an opportunity to produce her own designs.
"Most importantly, we want to teach her the technical elements. We want to teach her how to interact with the team. She is leading the production so she needs to know how to explain and manage, and to get them to get the product finished to the best quality, in the time required," says Al Ali, who is clearly keen to offer Nurakhmet a solid grounding in the practical business of running a studio and team. "We want the team to help her as much as possible, but also for her to stick to her concept."
Spending time in the studio, which is brimming with bolts of fabrics, shelves stacked with boxes of beads, and mood boards tacked to various walls, is clearly the stuff of fashion student dreams, and Nurakhmet fully recognises what an invaluable opportunity this is.
"I feel very lucky that Mr Rami chose me," she says.
"It's such a great experience for me, and so helpful. Before I came, I was so nervous, but the team met me with a smile, and have helped me so much."
INDIA SQUAD
Rohit Sharma (captain), Shikhar Dhawan (vice-captain), KL Rahul, Suresh Raina, Manish Pandey, Dinesh Karthik (wicketkeeper), Deepak Hooda, Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Vijay Shankar, Shardul Thakur, Jaydev Unadkat, Mohammad Siraj and Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper)
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
House-hunting
Top 10 locations for inquiries from US house hunters, according to Rightmove
- Edinburgh, Scotland
- Westminster, London
- Camden, London
- Glasgow, Scotland
- Islington, London
- Kensington and Chelsea, London
- Highlands, Scotland
- Argyll and Bute, Scotland
- Fife, Scotland
- Tower Hamlets, London
Indoor Cricket World Cup - Sept 16-20, Insportz, Dubai
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
RESULT
Norway 1 Spain 1
Norway: King (90 4')
Spain: Niguez (47')
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Key 2013/14 UAE Motorsport dates
October 4: Round One of Rotax Max Challenge, Al Ain (karting)
October 1: 1 Round One of the inaugural UAE Desert Championship (rally)
November 1-3: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (Formula One)
November 28-30: Dubai International Rally
January 9-11: 24Hrs of Dubai (Touring Cars / Endurance)
March 21: Round 11 of Rotax Max Challenge, Muscat, Oman (karting)
April 4-10: Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge (Endurance)
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
The%20specs
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Book%20Details
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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
ABU%20DHABI'S%20KEY%20TOURISM%20GOALS%3A%20BY%20THE%20NUMBERS
%3Cp%3EBy%202030%2C%20Abu%20Dhabi%20aims%20to%20achieve%3A%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E%E2%80%A2%2039.3%20million%20visitors%2C%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20nearly%2064%25%20up%20from%202023%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E%E2%80%A2%20Dh90%20billion%20contribution%20to%20GDP%2C%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20about%2084%25%20more%20than%20Dh49%20billion%20in%202023%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E%E2%80%A2%20178%2C000%20new%20jobs%2C%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20bringing%20the%20total%20to%20about%20366%2C000%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E%E2%80%A2%2052%2C000%20hotel%20rooms%2C%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20up%2053%25%20from%2034%2C000%20in%202023%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E%E2%80%A2%207.2%20million%20international%20visitors%2C%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20almost%2090%25%20higher%20compared%20to%202023's%203.8%20million%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E%E2%80%A2%203.9%20international%20overnight%20hotel%20stays%2C%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2022%25%20more%20from%203.2%20nights%20in%202023%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
Available: Now
Match info
Who: India v Afghanistan
What: One-off Test match, Bengaluru
When: June 14 to 18
TV: OSN Sports Cricket HD, 8am starts
Online: OSN Play (subscribers only)
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 biog
From: Upper Egypt
Age: 78
Family: a daughter in Egypt; a son in Dubai and his wife, Nabila
Favourite Abu Dhabi activity: walking near to Emirates Palace
Favourite building in Abu Dhabi: Emirates Palace
Fringe@Four Line-up
October 1 - Phil Nichol (stand-up comedy)
October 29 - Mandy Knight (stand-up comedy)
November 5 - Sinatra Raw (Fringe theatre)
November 8 - Imah Dumagay & Sundeep Fernandes (stand-up comedy)
November 13 - Gordon Southern (stand-up comedy)
November 22 - In Loyal Company (Fringe theatre)
November 29 - Peter Searles (comedy / theatre)
December 5 - Sinatra’s Christmas Under The Stars (music / dinner show)
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
AndhaDhun
Director: Sriram Raghavan
Producer: Matchbox Pictures, Viacom18
Cast: Ayushmann Khurrana, Tabu, Radhika Apte, Anil Dhawan
Rating: 3.5/5
Batti Gul Meter Chalu
Producers: KRTI Productions, T-Series
Director: Sree Narayan Singh
Cast: Shahid Kapoor, Shraddha Kapoor, Divyenndu Sharma, Yami Gautam
Rating: 2/5
Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor Cricket World Cup – Sep 16-20, Insportz, Dubai
16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side
8 There are eight players per team
9 There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one.
5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls
4 Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership
Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.
Zones
A Front net, behind the striker and wicketkeeper: 0 runs
B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run
C Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs
D Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full
Financial considerations before buying a property
Buyers should try to pay as much in cash as possible for a property, limiting the mortgage value to as little as they can afford. This means they not only pay less in interest but their monthly costs are also reduced. Ideally, the monthly mortgage payment should not exceed 20 per cent of the purchaser’s total household income, says Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching.
“If it’s a rental property, plan for the property to have periods when it does not have a tenant. Ensure you have enough cash set aside to pay the mortgage and other costs during these periods, ideally at least six months,” she says.
Also, shop around for the best mortgage interest rate. Understand the terms and conditions, especially what happens after any introductory periods, Ms Glynn adds.
Using a good mortgage broker is worth the investment to obtain the best rate available for a buyer’s needs and circumstances. A good mortgage broker will help the buyer understand the terms and conditions of the mortgage and make the purchasing process efficient and easier.
The%20stats%20and%20facts
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Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
MATCH INFO
Syria v Australia
2018 World Cup qualifying: Asia fourth round play-off first leg
Venue: Hang Jebat Stadium, Malayisa
Kick-off: Thursday, 4.30pm (UAE)
Watch: beIN Sports HD
* Second leg in Australia on October 10