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CairoScene
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- CairoScene
SPOTLIGHT: How Saudi Label Nakhlah Gives the Kaftan a Modern Makeover
Heritage runs deep at Nakhlah — but so does a modern eye for drama, modesty, and elegance. That's what drew celebrities like Cindy Bruna, Winnie Harlow, and Princess Nora Al Faisal to the brand. Under the Spotlight The heritage-driven abayas and kaftans of Saudi label Nakhlah. The Setting The storied landscapes of Saudi Arabia. The Frame Fluid silhouettes, earthy tones, and intricate embroidery come together in structured kaftans and softly draped abayas, adorned with handmade motifs that echo nature and tradition. Nakhlah in Three Words 'Artistic. Timeless. Cultural,' says founder Nora Al Hudaib. About the Founder Nora Al Hudaib grew up between two contrasting yet complementary worlds: the palm-filled heritage of Al Hasa and the cosmopolitan pulse of Al Khobar. That duality - between rooted tradition and a modern global outlook - shapes everything she creates. 'The diversity in Al Khobar inspired me deeply,' she explains, 'especially seeing how even international visitors were fascinated by our traditional and modern Saudi attire.' Self-taught and instinctive, Al Hudaib launched Nakhlah at just eighteen, sketching designs by hand and sourcing fabrics that conveyed a sense of grounded luxury. 'I have always been deeply inspired by our rich Saudi and Arab heritage, especially in fashion,' she reflects. 'From a young age, my mother instilled in us a strong appreciation for style—teaching us how to pair colors, choose the right pieces, and understand the beauty of our cultural roots.' The Muse Al Hudaib draws inspiration from a wide range of sources - natural landscapes, architecture, even the movement of fabric itself. 'I find beauty in the smallest things,' she says. 'It could be the texture of a rock, the grace of a camel, or the shadows cast by palm trees.' This attentiveness translates into pieces that carry emotional weight and cultural depth, each one telling a story through its colour, fabric, and silhouette. 'The palm tree has always been a symbol of resilience, versatility, and abundance in our culture,' she says, explaining the meaning behind the brand's name and its recurring motif. 'It's a source of sustenance, shelter, and beauty; everything in it serves a purpose.' That clarity of vision has caught the attention of global names like Cindy Bruna, Winnie Harlow, and Princess Nora Al Faisal. 'I never actively sent my pieces to anyone,' Al Hudaib shares. 'When figures like Cindy Bruna or Winnie Harlow wore my designs, it was completely organic. That kind of recognition means so much because it's real.' Nora Al Hudaib's Signature Piece 'This particular abaya blends striped fabric with a handmade nakhlah (or palm tree) embroidery. Its heritage-inspired jalabiya cut adds timeless elegance, and the intricate stitching highlights cultural identity and craftsmanship.' Who is Nakhlah for? Nakhlah is designed for women who value heritage without being bound by it. They wear kaftans not only for special occasions but as part of their personal style - whether that's expressed through dramatic silhouettes or refined, minimal designs with quiet embroidery. The Designs Through Her Lens Every Nakhlah piece begins with a fabric. From there, Al Hudaib strives for balance - between structure and fluidity, drama and subtlety. 'When I go bold with the cut, I keep the color muted. When I use a bold color, I tone down the structure,' she explains. The result is a line of kaftans that move with grace, holding their shape while feeling effortless. 'I express power, consistency, and art through the combination of cuts, fabrics, and colours in my designs.' Some pieces lean into opulence - hand-embroidered kaftans with wide sleeves and rich embellishments. Others embrace a quieter aesthetic, using airy, light-reflective fabrics that shimmer with movement. 'I also enjoy incorporating elements like palm trees and camels, which further celebrate the richness of our heritage in a modern and artistic way,' she says. 'The hardest part was finding fabrics that matched what I envisioned, but when I see a finished piece come together and watch people connect with it, that's everything.' In Her Own Words 'People are drawn to what feels unique. My kaftans are rooted in our culture, but they also carry artistic elements from different influences, so they resonate beyond just one region.' The Verdict Nakhlah's magic lies in balance - heritage you can wear without feeling tethered to the past. Whether through hand-stitched palm tree motifs or the interplay of bold stripes and airy silhouettes, every piece is built on intention.
Daily Mail
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Winnie Harlow dazzles in a gold mini dress as she poses next to her lookalike waxwork at the unveiling of the figure at Madame Tussauds in NYC
Winnie Harlow dazzled in a gold mini dress as she posed next to her lookalike waxwork while attending the unveiling of the figure at Madame Tussauds in New York City on Wednesday. The Canadian model, 30, appeared mightily impressed with the work as she pulled off a number of fun poses next to her waxwork doppelganger, which was revealed to celebrate World Vitiligo Day. Winnie is a public spokesperson for Vitiligo, which she was diagnosed with aged four. Vitiligo is a long-term condition where pale white patches develop on the skin, which is caused by a lack of melanin. Ensuring she dressed to impress for the occasion, Winnie showcased her figure in the sparkling gold dress which featured a plunging neckline and a thigh-skimming hemline. Boosting her height, Winnie slipped into a pair of towering metallic heels and wore her hair in loose curls similar to her waxwork. The stunner's outfit perfectly complemented her waxwork figure's, which was clad in a barely-there netted gold co-ord and gold heels. Winnie was certainly in good spirits at the fun unveiling as she was seen sipping on champagne before playfully posing with her identical wax figure. Later that day, Winnie slipped into another head-turning outfit as she arrived to film the Today Show in New York. She slipped into a racy tan leather top teamed with a multicoloured asymmetric skirt and gold heels for her latest TV appearance. The superstar previously confessed she was 'never supposed to be a model' due to her Vitiligo. However, she became the first person with the skin condition to walk the runway at the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. In 2023, Winnie recalled working at La Senza and looking at the models, wishing she could do what they were doing, as she reflected on how much she'd achieved. She told ET Canada: 'It's funny to me now that I've actually created a lane for myself in this industry that there was never a lane set. 'People will be like, she's already a model because of her skin. I'm like, Well, it was actually the opposite. I was never supposed to be a model because of my skin. The star was certainly having a grand time at the event Winnie had earlier turned heads as she rocked up to the unveiling 'I've actually fought against that but I'm like oh… you must think my skin is beautiful now, which nobody thought before. So, you know, it's a double-edged sword, but there's beauty in it.' Winnie said she hopes to continue breaking down barriers for other people with the condition who dream of becoming a model. She said: 'I think the biggest challenge today would be still breaking down those doors that, God bless, I was able to push down those doors to walk through. 'But keeping those doors open for others to walk through… making sure that it isn't just tokenism. 'Making sure that it isn't just there's one face or there's one person who can. Everyone is able to.' Meanwhile, Winnie's appearance at Madame Tussauds comes just a few months after the America's Next Top Model revealed she is set to walk down the aisle with fiancé Kyle, 29. The basketball player popped the question on February 13 with a dazzling 8.5-carat, oval-cut diamond ring, which he spent three months designing himself. He asked Winnie to be his wife while they were on a private plane heading off on holiday in the Turks and Caicos in the Caribbean. Filling the plane with red roses, balloons, chocolate and champagne, Kyle then read her a poem he had written, before getting down on one knee. And in an extra special surprise, once on the Caribbean island, their families were waiting for them to celebrate the proposal, with dinner on the beach and a fireworks display. Winnie gushed to Vogue magazine that the couple were 'over the moon' to be engaged, admitting she was caught completely by surprise. She said: 'For a split second in my head I thought, "This would be so cute if this was an engagement. 'But I'm also not the type of person who wants to guess or wants to spoil a surprise. So it just was a fleeting thought in my head.' The lovebirds first started dating in 2020, with Winnie then moving from New York City to Los Angeles to be with Kyle, who played for the L.A. Lakers at the time. The athlete has now moved to join the Milwaukee Bucks, with Winnie often spotted at his basketball games cheering him on from courtside seats.
CNN
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- CNN
These hyper-realistic pencil artworks are raising awareness of visible skin differences
Known for his hyper-realistic pencil artworks, Kelvin Okafor is using his latest exhibition to call attention to visible skin differences. 'Drawing Awareness,' at London's Hope93 Gallery, features portraits of both ordinary people and celebrities, including Canadian fashion model Winnie Harlow, who has the skin condition vitiligo, Grammy-winning pop star Seal, who has facial scarring from a form of the autoimmune disease lupus, and acid attack survivor Katie Piper. 'It's a very emotional process, because all of the models have skin conditions, whether genetic or environmental, that have left scars not just on the surface but within,' said Okafor. Okafor first found fame on social media more than a decade ago with his pencil portraits of notable figures, including Amy Winehouse and Mother Teresa, drawn from their photographs, and he's since had multiple group and solo exhibitions. For 'Drawing Awareness,' he again worked from photographs of his subjects but spoke to many of them beforehand to get to know them. 'The process before putting pen to paper is one of patience, stillness and compassion,' Okafor explained. 'Listening to my subjects' stories often stirred very deep emotions in me and made me reflect on my own life. Not in a negative way, but it changed how I see the world and helped me realize that it's truly a blessing to be comfortable in the skin we're in.' Each drawing is paired with the sitter's personal story, which, like their portrait, challenges the viewer to see beyond the surface. Okafor says he spent up to 900 hours on a single drawing, and was absorbed in his subjects' stories as he studied their voice, body language and psychology. This emotional connection, he said, is essential: 'It enables me to work long hours, because I'm honoring their condition. If I didn't feel that emotional connection, I don't think I would serve as much time.' Okafor often draws for 14 hours a day, waking up at 5:30am for meditation and exercise, then beginning to draw around 11am. He works in focused stretches, taking breaks to recharge, and gets about four hours of sleep each night. 'It sounds intense,' he admitted, 'but I get lost in it because it feels like it's preparing me for something bigger.' Born and raised in London, with Nigerian parents, Okafor's interest in skin differences has roots in his childhood. 'When I was young, visiting Nigeria with my family, I often saw people with albinism but didn't understand what it was,' he recalls. 'Out of curiosity, I would ask myself, 'Don't they get suntanned? Why are they so light?'' Returning to London, he noticed how rare it was to see people with albinism there. 'When I finally had the chance to draw someone with albinism for this project, it felt like I could answer the question I'd been asking myself as a child,' he said. Okafor first drew Harlow in 2019, and it was a revelation for him. 'It made me realize that, although we live in a world with very strict beauty ideals, here was someone in the modeling industry who has a very visible difference and has carved out space for so many others with skin conditions and unique features,' he said. This experience made him question what beauty is. 'People often say it's about symmetry, height, weight, but is it really?' he said. 'Beauty is something much deeper than the surface … almost intangible. It is something that radiates within a person.' Hope93 Gallery was created as a space with inclusion 'at its heart,' looking to 'connect communities using art as a starting point,' according to its website. 'What drew me to 'Drawing Awareness' is the importance of seeing inner beauty,' said Hope93 founder Aki Abiola, whose gallery is named in honor of his late father, MKO Abiola, who ran for president in Nigeria's 1993 elections. 'We live in an age where looks often shape how people judge others, which I believe is unfair. When you learn the stories behind people's lives, you begin to understand them better. I think that's exactly what Kelvin is trying to reveal: the beauty within.' Okafor says he wants to further raise awareness by working with charities such as Face Equality International, Changing Faces, or the Katie Piper Foundation, which have all partnered to present Drawing Awareness. 'I would love for people who have similar conditions to feel seen and included,' said Okafor. 'People who don't, I want them to see this as an opportunity to learn more, to be enlightened.' The exhibition runs until July 3 2025.
CNN
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- CNN
These hyper-realistic pencil artworks are raising awareness of visible skin differences
Known for his hyper-realistic pencil artworks, Kelvin Okafor is using his latest exhibition to call attention to visible skin differences. 'Drawing Awareness,' at London's Hope93 Gallery, features portraits of both ordinary people and celebrities, including Canadian fashion model Winnie Harlow, who has the skin condition vitiligo, Grammy-winning pop star Seal, who has facial scarring from a form of the autoimmune disease lupus, and acid attack survivor Katie Piper. 'It's a very emotional process, because all of the models have skin conditions, whether genetic or environmental, that have left scars not just on the surface but within,' said Okafor. Okafor first found fame on social media more than a decade ago with his pencil portraits of notable figures, including Amy Winehouse and Mother Teresa, drawn from their photographs, and he's since had multiple group and solo exhibitions. For 'Drawing Awareness,' he again worked from photographs of his subjects but spoke to many of them beforehand to get to know them. 'The process before putting pen to paper is one of patience, stillness and compassion,' Okafor explained. 'Listening to my subjects' stories often stirred very deep emotions in me and made me reflect on my own life. Not in a negative way, but it changed how I see the world and helped me realize that it's truly a blessing to be comfortable in the skin we're in.' Each drawing is paired with the sitter's personal story, which, like their portrait, challenges the viewer to see beyond the surface. Okafor says he spent up to 900 hours on a single drawing, and was absorbed in his subjects' stories as he studied their voice, body language and psychology. This emotional connection, he said, is essential: 'It enables me to work long hours, because I'm honoring their condition. If I didn't feel that emotional connection, I don't think I would serve as much time.' Okafor often draws for 14 hours a day, waking up at 5:30am for meditation and exercise, then beginning to draw around 11am. He works in focused stretches, taking breaks to recharge, and gets about four hours of sleep each night. 'It sounds intense,' he admitted, 'but I get lost in it because it feels like it's preparing me for something bigger.' Born and raised in London, with Nigerian parents, Okafor's interest in skin differences has roots in his childhood. 'When I was young, visiting Nigeria with my family, I often saw people with albinism but didn't understand what it was,' he recalls. 'Out of curiosity, I would ask myself, 'Don't they get suntanned? Why are they so light?'' Returning to London, he noticed how rare it was to see people with albinism there. 'When I finally had the chance to draw someone with albinism for this project, it felt like I could answer the question I'd been asking myself as a child,' he said. Okafor first drew Harlow in 2019, and it was a revelation for him. 'It made me realize that, although we live in a world with very strict beauty ideals, here was someone in the modeling industry who has a very visible difference and has carved out space for so many others with skin conditions and unique features,' he said. This experience made him question what beauty is. 'People often say it's about symmetry, height, weight, but is it really?' he said. 'Beauty is something much deeper than the surface … almost intangible. It is something that radiates within a person.' Hope93 Gallery was created as a space with inclusion 'at its heart,' looking to 'connect communities using art as a starting point,' according to its website. 'What drew me to 'Drawing Awareness' is the importance of seeing inner beauty,' said Hope93 founder Aki Abiola, whose gallery is named in honor of his late father, MKO Abiola, who ran for president in Nigeria's 1993 elections. 'We live in an age where looks often shape how people judge others, which I believe is unfair. When you learn the stories behind people's lives, you begin to understand them better. I think that's exactly what Kelvin is trying to reveal: the beauty within.' Okafor says he wants to further raise awareness by working with charities such as Face Equality International, Changing Faces, or the Katie Piper Foundation, which have all partnered to present Drawing Awareness. 'I would love for people who have similar conditions to feel seen and included,' said Okafor. 'People who don't, I want them to see this as an opportunity to learn more, to be enlightened.' The exhibition runs until July 3 2025.
Daily Mail
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Winnie Harlow looks ethereal in a plunging white dress as she arrives at Fashion and Futurism event during Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity 2025
Winnie Harlow looked ethereal as she arrived at her Fashion and Futurism event during Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity 2025 on Tuesday. The Canadian model, 30, stunned as she showcased her enviable frame in a figure-hugging plunging white dress. She gave herself a few extra inches by slipping into a pair of towering white strappy sandals. Winnie toted around her belongings in a white leather handbag and completed her look with a white and orange neck scarf. She looked elated during the event, which was hosted by Meta, as she was seen speaking to the audience on stage. Her appearance comes just a few months after the America's Next Top Model revealed she is set to walk down the aisle with fiancé Kyle, 29. The basketball player popped the question on February 13 with a dazzling 8.5-carat, oval-cut diamond ring, which he spent three months designing himself. He asked Winnie to be his wife while they were on a private plane heading off on holiday in the Turks and Caicos in the Caribbean. Filling the plane with red roses, balloons, chocolate and champagne, Kyle then read her a poem he had written, before getting down on one knee. And in an extra special surprise, once on the Caribbean island, their families were waiting for them to celebrate the proposal, with dinner on the beach and a fireworks display. Winnie gushed to Vogue magazine that the couple were 'over the moon' to be engaged, admitting she was caught completely by surprise. She said: 'For a split second in my head I thought, "This would be so cute if this was an engagement. 'But I'm also not the type of person who wants to guess or wants to spoil a surprise. So it just was a fleeting thought in my head.' The lovebirds first started dating in 2020, with Winnie then moving from New York City to Los Angeles to be with Kyle, who played for the L.A. Lakers at the time. The athlete has now moved to join the Milwaukee Bucks, with Winnie often spotted at his basketball games cheering him on from courtside seats. Meanwhile, Winnie has found huge success as a supermodel and has stormed some of the world's biggest runways. The superstar previously confessed she was 'never supposed to be a model' due to her Vitiligo. However, she became the first person with the skin condition to walk the runway at the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. Vitiligo is a long-term condition where pale white patches develop on the skin, which is caused by a lack of melanin. In 2023, Winnie recalled working at La Senza and looking at the models, wishing she could do what they were doing, as she reflected on how much she'd achieved. She told ET Canada: 'It's funny to me now that I've actually created a lane for myself in this industry that there was never a lane set. 'People will be like, she's already a model because of her skin. I'm like, Well, it was actually the opposite. I was never supposed to be a model because of my skin. 'I've actually fought against that but I'm like oh… you must think my skin is beautiful now, which nobody thought before. So, you know, it's a double-edged sword, but there's beauty in it.' Winnie said she hopes to continue breaking down barriers for other people with the condition who dream of becoming a model. She said: 'I think the biggest challenge today would be still breaking down those doors that, God bless, I was able to push down those doors to walk through. 'But keeping those doors open for others to walk through… making sure that it isn't just tokenism. 'Making sure that it isn't just there's one face or there's one person who can. Everyone is able to.'
