Rivets and hinges, streams of silk and Swarovski crystals are just some of the materials that the fashion designer Kirsty Ward likes to merge when creating her unique collections. Born in Oxfordshire, UK, she is known for her bold designs and eclectic embellishments and isn't afraid to experiment. "I love mundane and everyday places like hardware shops as you can find the most amazing things to create with," says Ward. 2011 was a busy year for the Central Saint Martins graduate, who has accumulated a wealth of achievements: Elle magazine named her a "Rising Star" and Vogue.com announced that she was one of their "Designers to Watch in 2011". Selected as one of Selfridges's "Bright Young Things of 2011", Ward showcased her debut collection at the store and created limited edition pieces to be sold there and online. She was in Dubai recently to launch her Spring/Summer 2012 Collection at Valleydez boutique. Ward talks to Jemma Nicholls about her unconventional designs and favourite things.
KIRSTY'S WORLD
BEING STYLISH MEANS... dressing for yourself and having fun with what you wear. I FEEL MOST CREATIVE... anywhere as long as I have my tools with me. WHAT DRIVES ME ON IS... the butterflies that I get in my stomach when I think of a new idea. I have no choice but to create it. THE AMBITIONS I STILL HAVE ARE... I want to build and develop my business as I'm excited to see what the future brings. THE BEST PART ABOUT MY JOB IS... that I can turn any idea into something real and that people want to buy and wear it. THE BEST PIECE OF ADVICE I HAVE EVER BEEN GIVEN IS... think about the inside of your garment as much as the outside. Luxury is in the detail.
The Kirsty Ward collection is exclusively available at Valleydez in the UAE; www.valleydez.com
Match info
Deccan Gladiators 87-8
Asif Khan 25, Dwayne Bravo 2-16
Maratha Arabians 89-2
Chadwick Walton 51 not out
Arabians won the final by eight wickets
ETFs explained
Exhchange traded funds are bought and sold like shares, but operate as index-tracking funds, passively following their chosen indices, such as the S&P 500, FTSE 100 and the FTSE All World, plus a vast range of smaller exchanges and commodities, such as gold, silver, copper sugar, coffee and oil.
ETFs have zero upfront fees and annual charges as low as 0.07 per cent a year, which means you get to keep more of your returns, as actively managed funds can charge as much as 1.5 per cent a year.
There are thousands to choose from, with the five biggest providers BlackRock’s iShares range, Vanguard, State Street Global Advisors SPDR ETFs, Deutsche Bank AWM X-trackers and Invesco PowerShares.
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.
German intelligence warnings
- 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
How to avoid crypto fraud
- Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
- Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
- Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
- Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
- Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
- Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
- Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.
Vidaamuyarchi
Director: Magizh Thirumeni
Stars: Ajith Kumar, Arjun Sarja, Trisha Krishnan, Regina Cassandra
Rating: 4/5
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners