Latest news with #fashionDesign
Irish Times
30-06-2025
- Politics
- Irish Times
A Ukrainian mother's appeal
Sir, – I am a 44-year-old Ukrainian mother of three children, who came to Ireland 2½ years ago under temporary protection, fleeing the war in Kherson, Ukraine. Our house in Kherson has been destroyed. Returning there is not an option – it is simply not safe for us. Ireland has become our sanctuary, a place where we can finally breathe and build a future. Since arriving, I have enrolled in the Atlantic Technological University in Galway, now in my second year studying fashion design. My children have thrived here – they speak the language, have wonderful friends, and feel truly at home. My eldest is finishing college and dreaming of university. We have planted roots in Ireland. We contribute, we learn, and we belong. But, our future remains uncertain as the path to citizenship feels so far away. READ MORE Allowing Ukrainians under temporary protection to apply for citizenship after three years would be a powerful act of humanity. It would recognise our struggle, our resilience, and our commitment to this country that has given us hope. As a mother, I ask Ireland to open its heart to families like mine. Give our children the chance to feel safe, secure, and truly at home in the only country they now know as home. Ireland has already shown compassion. Now, it can show courage and vision. With hope and gratitude, – Yours, etc, OKSANA VORONINA, Monivea Road, Galway.
Harpers Bazaar Arabia
28-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Harpers Bazaar Arabia
Famous Last Words: Tamara Ralph Shares Her Life Lessons
Her haute couture creations are beloved by celebrities like Bella Hadid, Rihanna and Angelina Jolie, which is just one of the reasons this Whitehouse Institute of Design graduate, who founded her eponymous label in 2023 is always in the spotlight. London based Tamara may have established her credentials with her initial foray into the fashion field with Ralph & Russo, but it's clear that her new line is breaking design boundaries – and taking her creativity to new heights Is it more important to be liked or respected? Undoubtedly, is far more important to be respected. What book changed your life and why? Steve Jobs. He was a visionary who broke boundaries and although he experienced struggles in his business career, he stayed true to his vision and designed with conviction. I often listen to podcasts of his speeches as I find them so motivating. What are you proudest of? Becoming a mother to, now, two beautiful daughters. Who are your heroes? Women generally, and my mum. What is your motto? The only limits you have in life are those you place on yourself – no matter what, always believe in yourself What do you consider the most overrated virtue? I don't think good morals or virtues are ever overrated. In fact, I think they are sometimes lacking in today's society. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? I'm quite impatient, so I'd like to improve on that as I tend to want things to happen immediately. I like to work hard to achieve what I want in life, and therefore I seek instant results with everything I do. It can be very motivating for the people around me, but also admittedly stressful, and so it's something I am constantly trying to improve upon and give things the time they need. Also, being a creative, I tend to be quite indecisive when selecting and narrowing down my hundreds of sketches I have designed when creating a collection. I go through it hundreds of times and change things until it is perfect, eventually I get there but it is a process! What's your greatest extravagance? I am a true beauty enthusiast – especially when it comes to skincare – so this is defi nitely an area in which I happily splurge. Also, travel. I love to explore new destinations and immerse myself in foreign cultures. What does success mean to you? Doing what makes me happiest, and fulfilling my life's purpose. Also, being the best role model I could possibly be for my daughters and being someone they look up to. What's your most treasured possession? The earrings my partner gave me to celebrate the birth of our daughter. What traits do you admire most in others? Strength, kindness, and humility What would you ban if you had the chance? Inequality. Guiltiest pleasure? Chocolate. If you could be anyone else, who would it be and why? I wouldn't want to be anyone else. I'm so blessed with everything – and everyone – that life has given me. I only strive to always be a better me for myself, my family and – perhaps most importantly – for my daughters. What inspires you most about your job? Being able to tap into my innate creativity and allow it to truly flourish, and pushing boundaries. I am also inspired by the very women for which I create and the team I work with are so passionate and talented, they constantly inspire me. Their unconditional love, and the fact they are always there for me. They are true friends.
Daily Mail
13-06-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
Revealed: Sisters made 'surprise trip from London to visit grandmother for her birthday' before dying in Air India crash
Two sisters who made a surprise trip from London to visit their grandmother for her birthday are among the victims of the Air India tragedy. Dhir and Heer Baxi, both in their 20s, travelled from the UK capital to Ahmedabad for the visit and were returning to Gatwick when their plane crashed just 60 seconds after takeoff. Their heartbroken loved ones told today how they had lost 'everyone' after the 'young talents' were killed in the disaster. Dhir was a designer for a degree in fashion design while Heer worked as a project leader in the investment and renewable energy sector. She had previously worked in Singapore, where the sisters are believed to have spent their childhood. The Air India plane carrying 242 passengers crashed just moments after take-off from Ahmedabad Airport in the northwestern Indian state of Gujarat. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner careened back down to earth in the densely populated Meghani area of the city just minutes after leaving the runway around 1.40pm local time (8.10am BST). Terrifying CCTV footage shows the plane appear to lose control before it starts rapidly descending with a high nose angle and landing gear deployed. It plunges into the ground and explodes in a huge fireball, as a massive plume of black smoke is seen billowing out from crash site. Aviation experts say that the aircraft may have suddenly lost power 'at the most critical phase of flight' after takeoff. The plane momentarily disappeared from view behind trees and buildings before a massive fireball erupted on the horizon in this horrifying clip Today, the Baxis elder brother, Ishan, told The Telegraph: 'I can't express what my complete family is going through – shell shocked, not coming to terms is what I can say right now 'Both had a natural aura of helping and always cared about family values. They both had aspirations to be successful enough to roam around the world, tension-free. Along with their parents, they both had a proclivity towards modernisation without changing traditional values. 'Both my sisters know what is right and what is wrong, thus whatever work they carried out, in academics or fashion, they always got success with no conflicts amongst peers or seniors.' Last night, a comment was added to Heer's last Instagram post from November 2024 that said: 'RIP young talent.' Harrods brand ambassador Mariam Ali Syed, 35, her husband Javed - a manager at the Best Western Kensington Olympia Hotel - and their children, Zayn, five, and Amani, four, have also been named as passengers on the stricken flight. Zayn and Amani are believed to be the youngest named victims of the crash so far. Mrs Ali Syed's sister-in-law, Yasmine Hassan, 45, broke down while confirming the children's names, and pleaded with officials to offer more support to the families of the 53 British citizens onboard the flight. All but one person aboard Air India Flight 171 are feared to have died in the tragedy. Also among them were Akeel Nanawaba, Hannaa Vorajee and their daughter Sarah, 4, Fiongal and Jamie Greenlaw-Meek, Raxa Modha, her grandson Rudra and her daughter-in-law Yasha Kamdar and Ajaykumar Ramesh, the brother of the tragedy's only survivor. An 'angel' NHS nurse was also named today as one of the passengers killed in the tragedy. Renjitha Gopakumaran was returning to the UK after a holiday to see family in her home country when the ill-fated Boeing 787-8 crashed. The nurse and mother was working at Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth, Hants, and is thought to have been in the UK for a year. Her colleagues at the NHS hospital today said she was a 'beautiful lady' who showed her patients and co-workers 'so much love and care'. Ms Gopakumaran, said to be in her 40s, 'had the biggest heart and brightest smile', one colleague said. Others said it was 'tragic' to hear of her passing. Ms Gopakumaran has two children in India and she had been in the UK completing her degree as part of a five The sole survivor, Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, who was seated in 11A, is also British and told the Hindustan Times he had lived in London for 20 years. Vishwash's brother Ajaykumar accompanied him on the flight and was sat on the other side of the aisle in seat 11J, but he sadly perished in the fireball explosion. Akeel Nanawaba, 36, his wife Hannaa Vorajee, 30, and their daughter Sarah, four, were flying home from a five-day family celebration when the Dreamliner crashed. The successful young couple ran a global recruitment agency with offices in Ahmedabad and Gloucester. Their shocked business partner Shoyeb Khan Nagori told MailOnline: 'I had dinner with them last night. They were a lovely family and Akeel and his wife were extremely successful people.' Mr Nagori said he was too upset to find the words to describe their daughter Sarah who had spent time with her grandfather during the brief visit. He said: 'They were here to celebrate a family festival and to spend some time with Akeel's father. 'Akeel was a really good man, I'm in shock, we were all having dinner together the night before.' Mr Nagori was with hundreds of other relatives of crash victims waiting for updates at the Civil Hospital in Ahmedabad. He founded recruitment company Iceberg Outsourcing Services with Mr Nanbawa, who was the managing director. Hannaa, a trained midwife, was head of finance with a sister company called Rec2go Ltd, also based in Gloucester. Recently widowed Raxa Modha, 55, her grandson two-year-old Rudra, and her daughter-in-law Yasha Kamdar are all believed to have been onboard the ill-fated airliner. Mrs Modha had been in India for some time fulfilling the dying wish of her ill husband Kishor who had wanted to live out his last days in his homeland. Following his recent passing, the mother-of-three was returning with her family to their home in Northamptonshire when disaster struck. In a twist of fate, Kishan Modha – the toddler's father and Raxa's son – had also been in India but was not on the flight as he was due to catch another tomorrow. Speaking to MailOnline, a family friend said: 'It's incredibly sad, the whole family is already grieving Kishor's death. 'Kishan fortunately was getting on another flight, but we don't know what has happened to the others.' Neighbours at the family's detached home in Wellingborough said Mrs Modha is a 'lovely lady'. They said she had been in India for an extended period to support her husband who was battling an illness. The respected businessman, who launched a successful catering business after settling in the UK in 1989, died on April 26. The family were due to hold a service in his memory later this month. In a memorial for him, the family said he was a 'cherished husband' to Raxa and 'proud grandfather to Rudra, who brought him immense joy'. The mayor for Wellingborough, Raj Mishra offered his condolences to the family on a post on Facebook adding it was devastating for the local community. 'I extend my deepest condolences to their families, friends, and all those affected by this heartbreaking event,' he added. Police said they had found a lone survivor who had been sitting in seat 11A when Flight 171 crashed shortly after takeoff in India British celebrity wellness guru Jamie Meek and his husband are also believed to have perished after they posted a haunting video of themselves at the airport waiting to board the Air India flight. Mr Meek, 45, and husband Fiongal Greenlaw, 39, who live in London, run a wellness and healthy lifestyle company called the Wellness Foundry, and had been in India on holiday. In a chilling final social media video posted from Ahmedabad airport as they waited to board their doomed flight the couple were dressed in flowery shirts looking happy at the end of their break. In the clip, Fiongal says: 'We are at the airport just boarding. Goodbye India. Ten-hour flight back to England. What was your biggest takeaway Jamie? Jamie replies: 'I don't know,' with his partner laughing and responding: 'Thanks for your contribution.' Fiongal than jokes that his biggest takeaway was 'don't lose your patience with your partner' to which Jamie responds with a smile: 'You snapped at me at the airport for having chai.' As other passengers mill in the background, Fiongal laughs at the camera and reveals that he is going back to Britain 'happily, happily calm.' Mr Meek's brother, Nick Meek, told MailOnline: 'We were expecting him home tonight. He should have landed at 6.30pm and then driven up for about 11pm to get his dog who is staying with our Mum. 'She is not in a good way. It is all very raw for her at the moment. It's a lot to take in and we only heard this news a couple of hours ago. 'Jamie and his husband Fin had been out there for 10 days as a couple to do a wellness retreat. 'They both worked in holistics and had their own business.' The caretaker from Birmingham said it was not the first time his brother had been to India but it was the first time they had gone as a couple. He said that his brother and Fin had married in 2022 and lived in Ramsgate, Kent. In other videos posted by the couple, they showed the stunning hotel they were staying in while in Ahmedabad having completed a seven-hour car journey. The company specialises in tarot and psychic readings, reiki and other alternative spiritual therapies. British father Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, 40, was filmed walking out from the rubble after some how miraculously surviving the catastrophic crash. Fiongal lies on a large bed as he speaks to the camera, showing off a giant swing in their room and describes the hotel as 'beautiful. He beams: 'Feeling very, very happy.' The couple captured the happy time they had in India in a series of social media posts. This included getting henna tattoos, shopping for fine fabrics and other gifts and driving through chaotic traffic in a tuk-tuk. They arrived in Ahmedabad just a day before flying back with Fiongal posting in a video: 'So, it's our last night in India and we've had a magical experience. Some mind-blowing things have happened. 'We are going to put all this together and create a vlog. It's my first ever vlog about the whole trip and we want to share it.' Jamie revealed what a memorable trip they had both had: 'We have been on quite a journey and then spending our last night here in this beautiful hotel, it's really been great way to round off the trip.' According to its website, The Wellness Foundry was founded by Fiongal in 2018 after he had a 'spiritual awakening' following a mysterious illness. The website adds: 'Seeking healing beyond conventional methods, Fiongal delved into alternative practices that resonated deeply within his soul.' Speaking to local media from the safety of a hospital bed, the passenger who was in seat 11A said: 'Thirty seconds after take-off, there was a loud noise and then the plane crashed. It all happened so quickly.' 'When I got up, there were bodies all around me. I was scared. I stood up and ran. 'There were pieces of the plane all around me. Someone grabbed hold of me and put me in an ambulance and brought me to the hospital.' Astonishing footage showed the passenger walking away from the scene with some visible injuries. Vishwash, who was returning home to London after visiting family, sustained injuries to his chest, eyes and feet, he told the Hindustan Times. The regional police chief said 'some locals would have also died', given that the plane smashed down into offices and accommodation for doctors close to a hospital. So far, rescue teams supported by the military have recovered 204 bodies, with casualties from the plane and the area surrounding the crash. The passengers included 159 Indian nationals, 53 British, seven Portuguese, and a Canadian. Eleven of those on board were children, including two newborns. A spokesman for the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) said: 'Our thoughts are with all those affected by the tragic plane crash in India – this is an unfolding situation, and it will undoubtedly be causing a huge amount of worry and concern. 'FCDO staff are working urgently with local authorities in India and the UK to ensure families and friends are supported in the coming days, whether in the UK or in India.'
Vogue
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Vogue
Kallmeyer Resort 2026 Collection
A softness blanketed the latest Kallmeyer collection, shown at the brand's brightly sunlit new SoHo loft studio. 'We call it romantic tailoring,' said Daniella Kallmeyer. 'I was really drawn to these small elements and textures that felt like they were from another time, maybe, but brought into a modern context.' A slim maxi coat with architectural silver buttons placed only to the mid-waist, for example, was engineered to dramatically expose a layered silk gown whose asymmetrical hems swished and swooshed underneath. Kallmeyer is a designer who considers not only color and silhouette, but gestures—she sets the stage with her pieces, allowing her customers to step into her clothes and fill them with their own attitude and savoir faire. A slim tailored jacket had slits on the inside of the sleeves that went all the way above the elbows because she knows her customer likes to wear pristine button-down shirts, undo the cuffs, and let the fabric dramatically drape in the crook of their arms; an oversized silk organza shirt had delicate lace peeking out from underneath the cuffs. A reversible cashmere coat was inspired by an old Isaac Mizrahi sketch of an 'embrace me coat.' 'I loved this feeling of being permanently bundled up,' Kallmeyer noted, putting on the coat then taking it off and putting it back on the other way. She took that same reversible combo of navy and 'mink' cashmere and used it on a cropped jacket and matching wrap mini skirt—an absolute necessity if ever there were one. (In one shot, she layered the skirt over the coat, totally oozing with power and sensuality.) But Kallmeyer didn't fully give in to whimsy; rounding out the lineup was a handsome leather bomber with a funnel neck and voluminous sleeves, screen-printed velvet that looked elegantly aged, and quasi-acid wash denim in a pattern she said was meant to resemble fur. There was also a proper fabulous off-white shearling coat. Shots of chocolate brown, magenta, and ultramarine blue—the latter on an especially fabulous blouse with short sleeves—showed a flair for the decadent and the practical.
Harpers Bazaar Arabia
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Harpers Bazaar Arabia
Gigi And Bella Hadid Reveal They Have A Newly-Discovered Half-Sister
The world's most famous model sisters have revealed that they have another half-sister, destined for a career in fashion design In a revelation that may bring another Hadid into the fashion industry fold, supermodel sisters Bella and Gigi Hadid have shared that they recently connected with a previously unknown half-sister, Aydan Nix. The sisters confirmed the news in a joint statement to the Daily Mail, explaining that Aydan, now 23, is the daughter of their father, real estate developer Mohamed Hadid, and Terri Hatfield Dull. The relationship took place after Mohamed's divorce from Yolanda Hadid in 2001. 'Over 20 years ago, our dad, while single, had a brief relationship that led to a pregnancy,' the Palestinian-Dutch sisters revealed, adding that they only learned of Aydan's existence recently. Aydan was raised in Florida by the man she had always known as her father—until his unexpected death when she was 19. 'Aydan was born and raised in Florida, growing up with the man she lovingly knew as her father until his sudden passing when she was 19,' the statement read. It was this loss that prompted her to 'take a genetic test out of curiosity,' ultimately leading her to discover her 'biological connection' to the Hadid family. According to Bella and Gigi, the siblings established contact with Aydan in late 2023. Although details about Aydan's life remain limited, it is understood she resides in New York City and is a recent graduate of Parsons School of Design, with aspirations of pursuing a career in fashion. The Hadid siblings—Bella, 28, Gigi, 30, and Anwar, 25—are well known for their close family ties. They also have two older half-sisters, Alana Hadid, 39, and Marielle Hadid, 44, from Mohamed's earlier marriage to Mary Butler. 'We've cherished this unexpected and beautiful addition to our family,' they shared. In their statement, the sisters also voiced their desire to protect Aydan's privacy as she navigates this personal development. 'As siblings, we've had many open and loving conversations—with Aydan included—about how to support and protect her,' they said. 'Aydan and her family value their privacy, and we fully respect that. We kindly ask others to do the same and honour her wish and right to her anonymity as she continues her life as a young woman in New York.'
