Passion for hand fans sizzles in burning Spanish heat
'Everyone uses a fan here in Spain -- children, the elderly, young people, men,' said Arturo Llerandi, owner of the 'Casa de Diego' fan boutique in Madrid. 'Why? Because it's hot... It's hotter across Europe and you see fans everywhere.' Llerandi's bustling shop, which has been located in the center of the Spanish capital for more than two centuries, boasts 10,000 different models of fans.
Bone and lace versions are aimed at women and smaller versions cater to men, all diminutive enough to slip into a jacket pocket, with the most luxurious costing up to 6,000 euros ($7,000). With temperatures close to 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) regularly assailing Madrid in July, the idea of buying a fan as a gift was a no-brainer for customer Carmen Pulido.
'It's something to have forever... Lately, it's become essential,' said the 62-year-old legal assistant. For pensioner Rosa Nunez, 69, the 'good old fan' has remained her best friend after the batteries of her electronic alternative died. 'With handheld fans, the battery runs for a lifetime,' she said with a smile.
French luxury hand fan designer Olivier Bernoux poses with one of his fan creation in his store.
French luxury hand fan designer Olivier Bernoux poses with one of his fan creation.
French luxury hand fan designer Olivier Bernoux works on one of his fan creation in his store.
French luxury hand fan designer Olivier Bernoux poses with one of his fan creation.
French luxury hand fan designer Olivier Bernoux works on one of his fan creation.
A woman looks at the window of Casa de Diego hand fan store in Madrid.
Pedestrians walk past the window of Casa de Diego hand fan store in Madrid.
A woman looks at the window of Casa de Diego hand fan store in Madrid.
A woman walks past the window of Casa de Diego hand fan store in Madrid.
A woman looks at the window of Casa de Diego hand fan store in Madrid.
Clients buy a hand fan at Casa de Diego hand fan store in Madrid.
Arturo Llerandi, owner of Casa de Diego, poses outside his hand fan store in Madrid.
'Very elegant'
Olivier Bernoux, a designer who heads a luxury fan store in Madrid, acknowledged the accessory has 'a heavy legacy... perceived as an old object, for the elderly'. But they are 'not kitsch, nor for old women', insisted the man whose celebrity clients include pop idol Madonna and US actor Eva Longoria. 'Even in New York you find fans due to climate change because you have to find a way to cool down,' said Bernoux.
His global customer base brings different expectations. 'Men are more classic', while Spanish women 'are more sensitive to the noise' made when fans are unfurled, he said. 'For the 'Miami' American woman customer, large fans are a must-have, while the French are particularly attracted to all our linen creations,' Bernoux continued. At Madrid's Pride festival in July, some dancers snapped their fans to the rhythm of the music.
'The fan has always been fundamental for us and the community,' said Pedro Pontes, a 31-year-old waiter. Ecuadoran journalist Erika von Berliner, who lives in Madrid, sees her fan as a 'very elegant' accessory. 'You hold something very beautiful that goes with your clothes and if you know how to use it well, with elegance, so much the better,' the 49-year-old enthused.
Bernoux agreed, emphasizing what he identified as the object's 'sensuality'. 'The very opening and closing of a fan is a marvelous gesture that will attract attention,' he said, advising users to sprinkle perfume on theirs. 'On public transport, you take out your fan and it makes a tough moment an easier one,' he concluded.--AFP
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Kuwait Times
16 hours ago
- Kuwait Times
Stellantis pulls plug on hydrogen fuel cell vans
PARIS: Jeep-maker Stellantis said Wednesday it was pulling the plug on plans to build light vans using hydrogen fuel cells, saying it saw no prospects for it to be commercially viable. The company, whose stable of brands also includes Peugeot, Citroen and Fiat, had planned to begin serial production of commercial vans equipped with hydrogen fuel cells this summer at sites in northern France and southern Poland. 'The hydrogen market remains a niche segment, with no prospects of mid-term economic sustainability,' said Jean-Philippe Imparato, Stellantis's chief operating officer for the European region. The company cited limited availability of hydrogen refuelling infrastructure, high capital requirements, and the need for stronger consumer purchasing incentives. 'We must make clear and responsible choices to ensure our competitiveness and meet the expectations of our customers with our electric and hybrid passenger and light commercial vehicles offensive,' Imparato added. Hydrogen fuel cell technology was seen as a possible rival to battery electric vehicles to reach zero emissions. When hydrogen and air are fed into a cell it creates electricity and water. The technology could offer faster refill times than recharging electric batteries, but also involves creating expensive new infrastructure and most hydrogen is currently produced from natural gas without capturing the greenhouse gas emissions. Only Toyota, Hyundai and BMW are still developing fuel cell vehicles and few models are on the roads. France's Renault shut its hydrogen fuel cell factory at the start of the year. Stellantis said staff at the factories would be reassigned to other tasks, but acknowledged the move would create 'financial challenges' for fuel cell supplier Symbio. Stellantis took a stake in Symbio in 2023 alongside tyre manufacturer Michelin and auto parts supplier Forvia. Symbio opened a fuel cell factory near the French city of Lyon in 2023. Stellantis said it had launched discussions with the other shareholders in Symbio, but Michelin called the announcement 'unexpected, brutal and uncoordinated'. Forvia noted that Stellantis accounts for nearly 80 percent of Symbio's activity. 'Stellantis's announcement will have serious and immediate operational and financial repercussions for the future of Symbio,' it said. – AFP
Kuwait Times
16 hours ago
- Kuwait Times
Passion for hand fans sizzles in burning Spanish heat
As passengers wilted in a packed Madrid metro, one traveler defied the summer heat by snapping open her handheld fan -- a quintessential Spanish accessory enjoying undimmed popularity. The burst of coolness drew envious eyes to a must-have item that has retained its relevance thanks to designer creativity and increasingly oppressive summer temperatures, stoked by climate change. 'Everyone uses a fan here in Spain -- children, the elderly, young people, men,' said Arturo Llerandi, owner of the 'Casa de Diego' fan boutique in Madrid. 'Why? Because it's hot... It's hotter across Europe and you see fans everywhere.' Llerandi's bustling shop, which has been located in the center of the Spanish capital for more than two centuries, boasts 10,000 different models of fans. Bone and lace versions are aimed at women and smaller versions cater to men, all diminutive enough to slip into a jacket pocket, with the most luxurious costing up to 6,000 euros ($7,000). With temperatures close to 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) regularly assailing Madrid in July, the idea of buying a fan as a gift was a no-brainer for customer Carmen Pulido. 'It's something to have forever... Lately, it's become essential,' said the 62-year-old legal assistant. For pensioner Rosa Nunez, 69, the 'good old fan' has remained her best friend after the batteries of her electronic alternative died. 'With handheld fans, the battery runs for a lifetime,' she said with a smile. French luxury hand fan designer Olivier Bernoux poses with one of his fan creation in his store. French luxury hand fan designer Olivier Bernoux poses with one of his fan creation. French luxury hand fan designer Olivier Bernoux works on one of his fan creation in his store. French luxury hand fan designer Olivier Bernoux poses with one of his fan creation. French luxury hand fan designer Olivier Bernoux works on one of his fan creation. A woman looks at the window of Casa de Diego hand fan store in Madrid. Pedestrians walk past the window of Casa de Diego hand fan store in Madrid. A woman looks at the window of Casa de Diego hand fan store in Madrid. A woman walks past the window of Casa de Diego hand fan store in Madrid. A woman looks at the window of Casa de Diego hand fan store in Madrid. Clients buy a hand fan at Casa de Diego hand fan store in Madrid. Arturo Llerandi, owner of Casa de Diego, poses outside his hand fan store in Madrid. 'Very elegant' Olivier Bernoux, a designer who heads a luxury fan store in Madrid, acknowledged the accessory has 'a heavy legacy... perceived as an old object, for the elderly'. But they are 'not kitsch, nor for old women', insisted the man whose celebrity clients include pop idol Madonna and US actor Eva Longoria. 'Even in New York you find fans due to climate change because you have to find a way to cool down,' said Bernoux. His global customer base brings different expectations. 'Men are more classic', while Spanish women 'are more sensitive to the noise' made when fans are unfurled, he said. 'For the 'Miami' American woman customer, large fans are a must-have, while the French are particularly attracted to all our linen creations,' Bernoux continued. At Madrid's Pride festival in July, some dancers snapped their fans to the rhythm of the music. 'The fan has always been fundamental for us and the community,' said Pedro Pontes, a 31-year-old waiter. Ecuadoran journalist Erika von Berliner, who lives in Madrid, sees her fan as a 'very elegant' accessory. 'You hold something very beautiful that goes with your clothes and if you know how to use it well, with elegance, so much the better,' the 49-year-old enthused. Bernoux agreed, emphasizing what he identified as the object's 'sensuality'. 'The very opening and closing of a fan is a marvelous gesture that will attract attention,' he said, advising users to sprinkle perfume on theirs. 'On public transport, you take out your fan and it makes a tough moment an easier one,' he concluded.--AFP
Arab Times
a day ago
- Arab Times
Kuwait Cabinet reviews outcomes of Amir's official visit to France
KUWAIT CITY, July 16: The Cabinet held its weekly meeting on Tuesday morning at Bayan Palace under the chairmanship of His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah. Following the session, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Sherida Abdullah Al-Muasherji issued a statement detailing the key discussions and decisions. At the outset, the Cabinet was briefed on the results of the recent official visit of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshaal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah to the French Republic on July 13 and 14. During the visit, His Highness held high-level talks with French President Emmanuel Macron. The discussions reaffirmed the strong and historic bilateral relations between Kuwait and France and focused on enhancing cooperation in all fields to serve mutual interests. The two leaders also exchanged views on regional and international developments. Among the key outcomes of the visit was the signing of two declarations of intent between the Government of Kuwait and the Government of the French Republic. The first agreement establishes a strategic investment partnership for the period 2025–2035, while the second aims to boost cultural cooperation and celebrate the 65th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two nations in 2026. His Highness the Amir and the accompanying delegation also attended France's National Day Bastille Day military parade in Paris, alongside President Macron. During the visit, His Highness held meetings with the French Minister of Foreign Trade and French Citizens Abroad, Laurent Saint-Martin, and representatives from the French Chamber of Commerce. He emphasized Kuwait's commitment to fostering investment in key sectors, enhancing strategic collaboration with leading French firms, and encouraging the transfer of knowledge and capital to support Kuwait's economic growth and youth employment. Additionally, His Highness met with the CEO of Gustave Roussy Hospital, Professor Fabrice Barlesi, and International Advisor Rémi Thiolet. He stressed the significance of deepening health sector cooperation, enhancing medical capabilities, and achieving a transformative leap in Kuwait's healthcare system. His Highness praised the hospital's pioneering role in cancer research and treatment. The Cabinet was also informed of letters received from the Amiri Diwan addressed to His Highness the Amir from leaders of friendly and brotherly countries, expressing their desire to strengthen bilateral ties and promote joint cooperation across various fields. The Cabinet reviewed a presentation by Sheikh Ahmad Meshaal Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Chairman of the Government Performance Follow-up Agency, regarding the agency's 2024 annual report. The report covered six key areas, including government compliance with Cabinet Resolution No. 713 of 2024, ministerial decision follow-ups, progress of government projects, public opinion surveys, an analysis of the Audit Bureau's budget report for 2023–2024, and other agency assignments. The Council praised the diligent efforts of the Chairman and the agency's leadership in improving government performance. It directed all ministries and government bodies to address the observations and implement the recommendations outlined in the report, and to report back on actions taken. In another key agenda item, the Cabinet reviewed a briefing by Minister of Commerce and Industry Khalifa Abdullah Al-Ajeel Al-Askar on the launch of the second part of the third phase of the Capital Market System Development Program. The Minister highlighted the project's strategic importance in modernizing Kuwait's financial infrastructure. The program, a cornerstone initiative of the Capital Markets Authority, involves coordination among the Central Bank of Kuwait, Boursa Kuwait, Kuwait Clearing Company, settlement banks, brokerage firms, custodians, and portfolio managers. He noted that this long-term effort is vital for aligning with Kuwait's development goals and for elevating the country's status to that of an advanced emerging market. The Cabinet expressed its gratitude to all participating entities for their contributions to the successful rollout of this critical program. The Cabinet also reviewed a presentation by Minister of Information, Culture, and State for Youth Affairs Abdulrahman Badah Al-Mutairi on the Cultural Path Project in Kuwait City. The initiative aims to establish a cultural and tourism hub that reflects Kuwaiti identity, promotes national awareness, and preserves historical memory. The project envisions an integrated urban corridor connecting cultural landmarks using sustainable design principles, modern transportation methods, and eco-friendly infrastructure. The Minister emphasized the project's alignment with Kuwait Vision 2035 and its potential to position Kuwait as a vibrant cultural destination and investment magnet in the tourism sector. The Council referred the project to the Joint Ministerial Committee for Economic Affairs and Public Services for a comprehensive review and recommendation. In closing, the Cabinet reviewed and approved a number of agenda items and referred several topics to relevant ministerial committees for further study and action, in line with procedural requirements.
