American textile designer John Robshaw has a nomadic soul. After living in Rome as an art student, he travelled around central and south-east Asia learning traditional block printing methods in China, Indonesia and India. He returned to New York a changed man - determined to share the brilliant colours and printing techniques he had discovered by launching his own company.
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Nowadays the busy, yoga-loving bachelor runs a thriving online "souq" as well as a quirky show room in New York packed full of bone-inlaid furniture, tribal costumes, lavish opium benches and vintage textiles from around the world. For three months every year, he packs his bag and leaves America to travel the East, searching for fresh inspiration and working with the artisans who produce his designs.
John's art school background has clearly influenced his work; many of his designs have a painterly quality. His bed linen, cushions and curtains and tablecloths are a real mix of styles; some are printed with dramatic geometric shapes, others with funky fretwork patterns or patchwork prints.
We like the new hand-printed "Matar" bed linen best. John describes it, romantically as " … a complicated medallion, happy as it floats in a soft rain of red buds". Poetry aside, it's a beautiful pattern and a great example of his signature style: traditional with a twist.
We've also fallen for John's cushions, particularly the cotton Ikat range. No printed imitations here - this is the real deal: hand-dyed and hand-woven by farmers in Thailand. In his evocative caption, John remembers: " ... the soft click-clack of the looms under their raised houses as you approach the village."
John's a real character. He wears shirts made from his leftover fabrics, spends a lot of time standing on his head and is fascinated with the flamboyantly dressed wandering "sadhus" - holy men, of India. "They remind me that there are other paths," he says. "I could just chuck it all in and hit the road." For the sake of our home decor, let's hope that he doesn't.
www.johnrobshaw.com (001) 212 594 6006
Key developments in maritime dispute
2000: Israel withdraws from Lebanon after nearly 30 years without an officially demarcated border. The UN establishes the Blue Line to act as the frontier.
2007: Lebanon and Cyprus define their respective exclusive economic zones to facilitate oil and gas exploration. Israel uses this to define its EEZ with Cyprus
2011: Lebanon disputes Israeli-proposed line and submits documents to UN showing different EEZ. Cyprus offers to mediate without much progress.
2018: Lebanon signs first offshore oil and gas licencing deal with consortium of France’s Total, Italy’s Eni and Russia’s Novatek.
2018-2019: US seeks to mediate between Israel and Lebanon to prevent clashes over oil and gas resources.
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Know before you go
- Jebel Akhdar is a two-hour drive from Muscat airport or a six-hour drive from Dubai. It’s impossible to visit by car unless you have a 4x4. Phone ahead to the hotel to arrange a transfer.
- If you’re driving, make sure your insurance covers Oman.
- By air: Budget airlines Air Arabia, Flydubai and SalamAir offer direct routes to Muscat from the UAE.
- Tourists from the Emirates (UAE nationals not included) must apply for an Omani visa online before arrival at evisa.rop.gov.om. The process typically takes several days.
- Flash floods are probable due to the terrain and a lack of drainage. Always check the weather before venturing into any canyons or other remote areas and identify a plan of escape that includes high ground, shelter and parking where your car won’t be overtaken by sudden downpours.
The biog
Name: Abeer Al Shahi
Emirate: Sharjah – Khor Fakkan
Education: Master’s degree in special education, preparing for a PhD in philosophy.
Favourite activities: Bungee jumping
Favourite quote: “My people and I will not settle for anything less than first place” – Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid.
Which honey takes your fancy?
Al Ghaf Honey
The Al Ghaf tree is a local desert tree which bears the harsh summers with drought and high temperatures. From the rich flowers, bees that pollinate this tree can produce delicious red colour honey in June and July each year
Sidr Honey
The Sidr tree is an evergreen tree with long and strong forked branches. The blossom from this tree is called Yabyab, which provides rich food for bees to produce honey in October and November. This honey is the most expensive, but tastiest
Samar Honey
The Samar tree trunk, leaves and blossom contains Barm which is the secret of healing. You can enjoy the best types of honey from this tree every year in May and June. It is an historical witness to the life of the Emirati nation which represents the harsh desert and mountain environments
The years Ramadan fell in May
