Archive for January, 2008

Dubai Airport Rebrand.

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His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Ruler of Dubai, unveiled the new identities for Dubai’s airports. The one on the left is the old and the right is the rebrand. Like it…the type is a little oddly placed, but the mark is beautiful.

Crocheted Earrings.

I love a little color to frame the face. Picked out these hand-made earrings at Esty by strandedtogether

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Urban Toys.

Picked out some cuties at myplasticheart.com.

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1. House of Liu : Di Di Classic Edition by Veggiesomthing ($39.99) more…
2. House of Liu : Mei Mei Classic Edition by Veggiesomthing ($49.99) more…
3. Backy and Bocky : Figure Set with Print by Furi Furi ($129.99) more…
4. Cactus Friends – Sabochan by Tokidoki ($27.99) more…
5. Peegee : Pink by Touma ($44.99) more…
6. Walrus : Craola (Blue Argyle) by Craola ($67.99) more…

Sarah’s Bag in Canvas Magazine.


Sarah’s Bag in Canvas Magazine., originally uploaded by Carcura.

On New Year’s Eve, I got introduced to Sarah, co-owner of Sarah’s Bag. She was so down to earth and really nice to talk to. I was so surprised to find a two spread article in Canvas Magazine on Sarah’s Bag when I got back home. I read about how the brand originated and the process it went through to grow, and I was even more impressed. Very proud of this awesome Lebanese chick. Go Sarah!


Sarah’s Bag in Canvas Magazine., originally uploaded by Carcura.

Here’s a bit of the story from her website…

Sarah Beydoun is the founder and creative director of Sarah’s Bag. Born and raised in Lebanon, she belongs to a generation of Beirut-based designers who came of age during the country’s fifteen-year civil war and are now contributing to rebuilding the city’s cultural life through their work in various creative industries.

After studying sociology at the American University of Beirut, Sarah earned her master’s degree from the Universite Saint Joseph, where she wrote her thesis on female prostitution and women prisoners in Lebanon. She realized she could combine her interest in bettering underprivileged women’s lives with her love for fashion. In doing so, she created a robust young business that is stylishly aware and socially responsible at the same time.


Sarah’s Bag in Canvas Magazine., originally uploaded by Carcura.

Sarah decided to set up her company as part of a rehabilitation program, whereby women at risk from economic depravation or the stigma of having served time in prison would learn valuable skills in return for a reliable income and a stable source of pride, dignity, and empowerment. In the process, these women would be helping to revamp the centuries’ old traditions of artisans and textile makers in the Middle East for the purpose of invigorating contemporary fashion. The arrangement turned out to be successful, innovative, and highly efficient.

As the company expanded, Sarah teamed up with her friend Sarah Nahhouli. By 2003, Sarah’s Bag had outgrown its workshop in Horsh Beirut and moved to its current showroom nestled into the high-ceilinged, tile-floored rooms of a beautiful old building in Gemmayzeh, a neighborhood near Downtown Beirut that is a mix of antiquated cosmopolitan charm and youthful urban energy.

Zaha Hadid Wins The Bid For The Michigan Museum.

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Zaha Hadid, has been chosen to design the Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum at Michigan State University in East Lansing. “She came up with the most innovative design,” said Eli Broad, a financier, art collector and philanthropist who earned his undergraduate degree at Michigan State. “It will get people talking and wanting to visit.” Ms. Hadid, known for bold, unconventional forms, was selected last week in a competition that began in June. The museum is expected to open in 2010.

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Ms. Hadid was first a mathematics student in Beirut but then moved to London to study architecture at the Architectural Association School, where she met Rem Koolhaas, Elia Zenghelis and Bernard Tschumi, architects who became leading exponents of experimental European architecture. Her influence in the field began early, with the publication of her designs for unbuilt projects, especially the Cardiff Bay Opera House (1994).

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Since winning the Pritzker — architecture’s highest honor — Ms. Hadid has more than doubled the size of her firm, to 250 people. She teaches regularly at the Yale School of Architecture and lately has been busy with commissions throughout the Middle East, Europe and Asia. But she said she looked forward to working in Michigan.

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“I would like to do more work in America,” Ms. Hadid said. “So I have to come a lot more often.”

The full article at The New York Times

Anthropology.

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Some unpredictable ways of putting together an out fit at Anthropology.

Emirates Wildlife Society: Protect the Ghaf Tree

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Advertising Agency: Ogilvy One Worldwide, Dubai

Source: mediaME

Y&R: We believe in recycling

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Agency: Team Y&R, Abu Dhabi

Executive Creative Director: Ramzi Haddad

Source: mediaME

Canvas Magazine.

One of the many very exciting activities of being here, is walking around the only bookstore in the city that carries western literature, Al Jarir Bookstore. This day, after stopping at “Extra” (the Riyadh equivalent of Best Buy) to check out refrigerators, we made a stop at Jarir. I picked up a pack of “flag post its” and a copy of the new “Canvas Magazine“. The 55 riyal price sticker was a little steep, but knowledge is priceless, right?


Canvas Magazine., originally uploaded by Carcura.

As I flipped the pages of the magazine, I felt like a kid in a candy store. It’s been a while since I’d gotten ahold of a good magazine. I skimmed through the table of contents and saw that there was a feature article on one of my favorite new Lebanese designers, “Sarah’s Bag“. I quickly fanned to the back of the magazine to page 180, but couldn’t find it.


Torn Out Page., originally uploaded by Carcura.

As I looked closer, I saw that the spread had been torn out. Then I noticed that there were many pages torn out of this magazine and of course, they had to be the articles I was interested in reading. I respect the need for sensorship, but at least offer a discount if half the magazine is missing!

Free People Site.

Found this great site while browsing the web at www.freepeople.com.

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Excellent design and love the product. You can find great free people bargains at discount stores, and I think U.O. also carries them. It’s a treat to buy this brand…tons of little details that make each piece very intimate, even if it’s just a tank top.

They also have a blog, which is also interesting…Free People Blog.

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