Tasyourah Q&A Series | Reem Juan

REEM JUAN

Symphony // How did you get your start in fashion?

Reem Juan // Since childhood I was influenced by my grandmother who did a lot of hand embroidery, and my school teacher saw a flair in my drawings and encouraged me to design and draw my own collections. I have always admired my mother’s sense of style and this all led to me starting my dream in fashion.

Symphony // What advice would you give to budding designers?

Reem Juan // Be focused on what you hope to achieve and don’t give up on your dreams and vision. And plan, plan, plan!

Symphony // What or whom is your greatest inspiration?

Reem Juan // My mother and mather – my mum is an artist and writer and has been of great influence to me creatively, and my father is a businessman which has enabled me to manage my own brand and business – I have been inspired by both important halves required in fashion.

Symphony // What does it mean to be an Arab fashion designer to you?

Reem Juan // I feel proud to be an Arab fashion designer because I have the ability to design and create styles to satisfy both Middle Eastern and European tastes, and I am capable of merging two different backgrounds and aesthetics.

Symphony // What is your biggest dream for 2013?

Reem Juan // To achieve a more wider international audience for my brand.

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Reem Juan Spring/Summer 2013 is available at Symphony, The Dubai Mall.10% of all proceeds from Reem Juan’s collection sold between the 13^th and 20^th of March 2013 will go directly to Dubai Cares.

Another Love by Tom Odell

We are addicted to this beautiful song by the talented Mr. Tom Odell. Do you love it as much as we do? Christopher Bailey certain does, as he booked Tom to perform at the Burberry Autumn/Winter 2013 show last month at London Fashion Week.

Raising money for Dubai Cares with Symphony’s Tasyourah

As you may know, we are running a special Tasyourah (meaning ‘gathering’ in Arabic) at Symphony to launch the new Spring/Summer 2013 season and celebrate the very best regional talent. The Tasyourah will run from the 13th until the 20th of March, with a special Opening Evening on Wednesday the 13th (more details and RSVP here). We wanted to share the ways in which we are, as with all of our events, raising money for a charity – something which is very important to us, and we know to you. We will be supporting Dubai Cares in the following ways and invite you to join us in raising money for this inspiring cause…

SYMPHONY’S CHARITY DRAW

The Charity Draw is open to all between the 13^th of March 2013 from 7pm until the 20^th of March 2013 when it will close at 10pm. We invite you to visit Symphony, The Dubai Mall during the #SymphonysTasyourah and donate 500dhs and enter our Charity Draw in support of Dubai Cares. Featuring eigh lots, with an average value of 4000dhs, simply donate 500dhs to enter, fill out the charity draw slip with your details and fingers crossed! There are 8 lots, all detailed below:

LOT 1 | REEM JUAN DRESS

Reem Juan full-length dress with embroidery. The exact same style has been worn by singer Paloma Faith during perfomances. The retail value is 16,666dhs.

LOT 2 | MADIYAH AL SHARQI LOOK

Exclusive custom full-length version of the Madiyah Al Sharqi Spring/Summer 2013 skirt and top as featured in the Symphony SS13 campaign. The retail value of the full look is 4000dhs, the lot comes as a full look.

LOT 3 | LUM BY LAMA TAHER

Uniquely created for the Symphony Tasyourah Charity Draw, this gown features a draped taffeta voluminous skirt in vibrant emerald green with LUM’s classic embroidered lace bodice in nude. The retail value is 5533dhs.

LOT 4 | RAZAN ALAZOUNI LOOK

An Italian tulle top embroidered with cobalt blue silk threads and flower appliqués along with a sky blue crepe skirt. The retail value of the top is 2,445dhs and the skirt is 4,095dhs, the lot comes as a complete look.

LOT 5 | MARYAM OMAIRA LOOK

A futuristic Maryam Omaira gown with window-like cutouts on the hem of the dress. The fabric features layers of paint on a canvas that gives the visual of leather. The retail value is 9000dhs.

LOT 6 | MALAAK

A custom-made matt gold hand-embellished sequin gown made especially by Malaak for the Symphony Tasyourah Charity Draw. This signature Malaak gown features a silhouette, which accentuates a lo- draped neckline knotted at the midriff.  The retail value is

LOT 7 | ABEER AL SUWAIDI ABAYA

An elegant, embellished abaya from the Abeer Al Suwaidi Spring/Summer 2013 collection. The retail value is 3600dhs.

LOT 8 | LONDON COLLEGE OF FASHION COURSE IN DUBAI

The winner of this lot can choose from ‘Principles of Personal Fashion Styling I’ or ‘Fashion Buying and Merchandising’ up to the retail value of 6000dhs. The courses will take place in Dubai in May 2013.

Please note: You may enter as many times as you wish. Eight winning Draw Slips will be drawn at random on the morning of the 21^st of March and the winners will be contacted and announced. 100% of the 500dhs you donate to enter will go directly to Dubai Cares. Good luck!

10% OF ALL REGIONAL SALES 13-20TH MARCH

We invite you to shop the designers participating in #SymphonysTasyourah ( who will also be attending our Opening Evening on March 13th more details here) and we will donate 10% of the total sales between March 13th and March 20th directly to Dubai Cares. A wonderful opportunity to support regional talent and a regional charity!

We hope to see you on Opening Night! Use the link below to RSVP. Thanks as ever for all of your generous support.

Symphony loves you

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Spread the word! Tweet, Facebook, Instagram and share with your friends. Use our interactive online event space: www.symphonytasyourah.symphony.ae and the hashtag #SymphonysTasyourah

Spring/Summer 2013 at Symphony

The Inspiration //

Behind the Scenes //

The Short Film //

The Final Result //

The Event //

Join us in celebrating the launch of the Spring/Summer 2013 season at Symphony with #SymphonysTasyourah – a gathering for all, to highlight the regions finest talents. More info and RSVP at www.symphonytasyourah.symphony.ae

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Symphony Spring/Summer 2013 brought to you by: Photographer Cihan Alpgiray | Photographer’s Assistant Gokce Ozucoskun | Model Maja at Bareface | Hair & Make-up Nikki Cox & Rifqa Abrahams at Bareface| Short Film Harun Yasin | Shoot Assistants Shanar Varshochi and Jose Balitian | Concept & Direction Salama Alabbar & Holly Williams

Evan Chapman

Evan Chapman performing a beautiful percussion cover of ‘Angels’ by The XX

Symphony’s Tasyourah

To mark the launch of the Spring/Summer 2013 season at Symphony we invite you to celebrate our regional talents with a special event featuring the finest from the Middle East’s fashion industry. Designers Abeer Al Suwaidi, Madiyah Al Sharqi, LUM by Lama Taher, Razan Alazzouni, Reem Juan, Mariam Omaira and Malaak – some of who were recently praised by Vogue Italia Editor-in-Chief Franca Sozzani – will be on hand to present their latest collections and offer advice to budding designers at the official opening night of Symphony’s Tasyourah. Their collections will also be available to purchase, with 10% of all purchases going to Dubai Cares.

Vogue Italia Editor-in-Chief Franca Sozzani who was impressed by Mariam Omaira’s collection in Dubai earlier this year

The designers will be joined by key regional bloggers such as Dubai’s Tala Samman of MyFashDiary and Latifa Al Shamsi, and Kuwait’s beauty curator PLTQ8. A silent auction in aid of Dubai Cares will feature exclusive, custom-made pieces from the designers as well as a place on a prestigious London College of Fashion short course, taking place in Dubai this spring. The Arabic theme will seep into other elements too, with Gourmandise and Klayya Bakery providing couture Arabic-themed treats, Nailtastic will be on hand to provide Arab-inspired nail art and a fun FishFayce photo booth will be set up with khaleeji props. The first 50 guests will also take home a goodie bag filled with treats from our event partners.

Reem Juan dress as worn by Paloma Faith, one of the pieces that will be auctioned for Dubai Cares

After the Opening Night kicks off the celebrations on March 13th, Symphony’s Tasyourah will be open to all in a weeklong celebration of local talent until the 20^th of March. The silent auction is open to all visiting between the 13-20^th as well as the 10% donation to Dubai Cares with each regional purchase at Symphony.

Adele Oscar 2013 performance – Sky Fall

Adele, in Jenny Packham (available at Symphony, The Dubai Mall for SS13), wins Best Original Song for ‘Skyfall’ and delivers this incredible performance…

EXCLUSIVE | Our Look Book for Spring/Summer 2013 Revealed!

Yalla SS13!

It’s time to get excited folks! Spring/Summer 2013 deliveries from London, America, Italy, Paris, Russia and further afield are making the voyage to Symphony, The Dubai Mall. To celebrate we reveal our new look book for the new season, which was shot on location at The Palm Jumeirah in December last year. To complement the main creative campaign for SS13 (which will be revealed at the beginning of March), we wanted to shoot our slightly more casual ready-to-wear pieces and designer mix for the new season. We hope you like the results…

Barbara Casasola (exclusive) and Aquazzura (new)

Madiyah Al Sharqi (exclusive pieces)

Cacharel (new & exclusive), Sophie Hulme (new) & Rupert Sanderson

Issey Miyake (new & exclusive)

Opening Ceremony, Sophie Hulme (new) and Aquazzura (new)

Alexis Mabille (new & exclusive)

Christian Siriano (exclusive)

Alexis Mabille (new & exclusive)

THE SYMPHONY SS13 LOOK BOOK. BROUGHT TO YOU BY:

Photographer Cihan Alpgiray | Photographer’s Assistant Gokce Ozucoskun | Model Lydia H at Bareface | Hair & Make-up Carolyn Gallyer at Bareface | Concept & Direction Salama Alabbar & Holly Williams | Shoot Assistants Shanar Varshochi and Jose Balitian

Keep up-to-date with our new arrivals for Spring/Summer 2013 and follow us on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

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SPRING SUMMER 2013 AT SYMPHONY

Alessandra Rich // Alexander Terekhov // Alexis Mabille // Ancient Greek Sandals // Andrew GN // Anna-Karin Karlsson // Antonio Berardi // Aperlai // Aquazzara // Badgley Mischka // Barbara Casasola // Cacharel // Chris Benz // Christian Siriano // Comme Des Garcon // del RIO // EK Thongprasert // Felicity Brown // Georges Hobeika // House of Holland // Illesteva // Issa London // Issey Miyake // Jane Carr // Jason Wu // Jenny Packham // John Galliano // Katie Ermilio // Loeffler Randall // Madiyah Al Sharqi // Marchesa Ready-to-Wear & Bags // Marchesa Notte // Maria Grachvogel // Marios Schwab // Michael Van Der Ham // Mother of Pearl // Naeem Khan // Olympia Le Tan // Omer Asim // Opening Ceremony // Pierre Hardy // Prabal Gurung // Razzan Alazzouni // Reem Juan // Richard Nicoll // Rochas // Rue De Mail // Rupert Sanderson // Sara Battaglia // Sarah Baadarani // Sophie Hulme // Suno // Tata Naka // Theysken’s Theory // Tibi // Tucker // Vanessa Bruno // Vera Wang // Vika Gazinskaya // Vivienne Westwood // Zac Posen // Zagliani // Zorya

Sweet Pompeii by Bastille

What do you get when you cross the film American Beauty, with Florence and The Machine’s song ‘Sweet Nothing’ and the hotly-tipped Bastille? This fabulous, addictive song ‘Sweet Pompeii’. Bravo Bastille, bravo!

An Interview with Dhabya Thani of McQueen Abayas

DESIGNER Q&A

We sat down with Dhabya Thani, one half of the sister duo behind the promising local label, McQueen Abayas…

Symphony: Why did you decide to start an abaya line?

My sister and I did not attend fashion school, we were never preached to by a fashion instructor. Since the abaya is part of our daily life, my sister and I wanted to translate our fashion fantasy in our minds and our passion for design into what every Emirati woman wears on a daily basis.

Symphony: What makes McQueen Abayas stand apart?

McQueen Abayas are unique in that each is different, in every design, and in every cut. With a McQueen Abayas you can stand out and make a statement.

Symphony: What is the significance behind the name?

When we looked back at the origins of McQueen, it basically meant “well-going and capable”. McQueener’s came from different parts of the world and in every country they migrated, they added something valuable to their civilization. Our brand name, McQueen Abayas is a collaboration of fashion sense and adding something special and unique to every design

Symphony: What were you inspired by for the current collection?

We were inspired by the idea of a winter wonderland, and we wanted to add a feel of “winter cosiness” to the abaya. For this specific collection we incorporated velvet within our designs, in subtle ways, such as twisting it more into a feminine silhouette as seen with the velvet flower-cut abaya.

Symphony: As sisters, how do you separate responsibilities? Who does what?

As sisters, we completely compliment each other in the business. Overall, everything is done under our supervision. Maryam is an artist who has an eye for the smallest details, she is more into designing and producing elaborate collections, as well as, ensuring perfection in every abaya, while I focus on designing, advertising, and communication.

Symphony: What is the best advice you have ever received?

To think big and make people desire to live in your fashion world.

Symphony: Which other regional talents do you recommend we check out?

I think you should look at Deploze the fashion designer for Josef Font. As well as to look at all things feminine, fabulous floral prints, and hand embroidery.

We love Dubai because ____________ it is the concept of perfection.

Symphony: What is your biggest wish for Mcqueen and 2013?

Since there is an increase lately in number of interested customers towards our brand, we are excited about expansion. Interest of customers is not only in the UAE, but also GCC countries and that makes us very happy.

McQueen Abayas are available at Symphony, The Dubai Mall now