Startup of the week: Marwa stores

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Updated 12 April 2021
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Startup of the week: Marwa stores

  • The company can be followed on @Marwa.stores or at Marwastores.com

The establishment of Marwa stores has been a tale of self-discovery for Marwah Ghanem Alghannam.

She launched the business after hitting upon the idea of buying branded jewelry and shoes to resell in Saudi Arabia. However, over time she and her family started selling exclusive and unique pieces of jewelry alongside the brands.

“At the beginning of my business, before introducing our jewelry, I was able to detect what the majority of Saudi Arabian customers preferred,” Alghannam said.

Her brother, Abdulrahman Ghanem Alghannam, a mechanical engineer, was also able to contribute to the business by applying his 3-D printing skills.

In addition to branded products, the entrepreneurs decided to add their own twist, designing brooches, bracelets, and keychains printed in 3-D.

He said: “I knew that youngsters these days are fans of the Korean culture and anime, so we designed classy jewelry inspired by pop culture.

“However, there are many such businesses that pop up on Instagram, so it’s more difficult to catch the eye of the customer.”

His sister added: “I want to expand my business so we can easily reach customers globally. Moreover, we are aiming to increase the number of exclusive products, which is what makes our business unique.” She pointed out that customers could personalize their own pieces.

The company can be followed on @Marwa.stores or at Marwastores.com


Rawdah Mohamed walks the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival

Updated 18 May 2025
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Rawdah Mohamed walks the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival

DUBAI: Somali Norwegian model Rawdah Mohamed walked the red carpet at the 78th Cannes Film Festival in France on Saturday night.

The model showed off a blush pink-toned look, complete with a drop waist, on the red carpet ahead of the premiere of “Die, My Love.”

The model showed off a blush pink-toned look, complete with a drop waist, on the red carpet ahead of the premiere of “Die, My Love.” (Getty Images)

The film is an adaptation of the 2017 novel of the same name by Ariana Harwicz about a new mother who develops postpartum depression and enters psychosis. “Die, My Love,” starring Oscar-winner Jennifer Lawrence and Robert Pattinson, earned a six-minute standing ovation from the audience at Cannes.

Directed by acclaimed Scottish filmmaker Lynne Ramsay, the film has been hailed by critics, with Deadline calling it a “brutal but beautiful portrait of a woman on the edge.”

Visibly teary eyed during the standing ovation, Ramsay addressed the crowd, saying: “Wow. I’m so overwhelmed. Thanks to these amazing actors. I’ve got to get it together — I’ll see you in a minute.”

Joining Lawrence and Pattinson in the cast are LaKeith Stanfield, Sissy Spacek, and Nick Nolte.

Mohamed watched the film one day after appearing on the red carpet for the “Eddington” on Friday.

On Friday, she wore a look by Chinese couture label Cheney Chan. The gown hailed from the label’s Fall/ Winter 2024 collection.

A self-taught fashion designer, Chan was born and raised in the Jiangsu province.

“Growing up, my parents always wanted me to be a pilot,” he previously shared with Vogue Singapore. “I had cleared all the flying tests effortlessly back in high school, but it was unfortunately not where my heart lay.” Eventually, he gained a fashion media degree at Peking University before starting his eponymous label in 2012.

The label has previously been flaunted by the likes if US singer Kelly Roland and actress Anya Taylor-Joy.

Mohamed finished off her look with a matching hijab and bejeweled brooch.

The rising star has attended the Cannes Film Festival before, in 2023 and 2024, and is fast making a name for herself as one to watch in the fashion industry.

She has worked with brands like Boss and H&M and walked the runway during Roberto Cavalli’s show in Dubai in 2024.


Amal Clooney stuns in black at Cannes Film Festival

Updated 17 May 2025
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Amal Clooney stuns in black at Cannes Film Festival

DUBAI: Lebanese British human rights lawyer Amal Clooney made a head-turning appearance at the 78th Cannes Film Festival this week, wearing a black gown by British designer John Galliano.

Clooney attended the premiere of “Bono: Stories of Surrender” in a sleek, off-the-shoulder dress featuring a fitted bodice with subtle draping and a floor-length skirt with a gentle train. She completed the look with a black clutch and Cartier statement earrings, styling her hair in soft, voluminous waves.

On the red carpet, Clooney was joined by U2 guitarist the Edge and frontman Bono, the subject of “Bono: Stories of Surrender.”

Amal Clooney made a head-turning appearance at the 78th Cannes Film Festival. (Getty Images)

The black-and-white film, directed by Andrew Dominik, adapts Bono’s 2022 memoir “Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story” and his one-man stage show of the same name.

Set to some of U2’s most iconic tracks, Bono opens up about the tragedy that marked his childhood, with his mother Iris collapsing and dying at her own father’s funeral when the singer was 14.

His father, Brendan “Bob” Hewson, already a man of few words, retreated into shock, anger and depression.

Clooney was joined by U2 guitarist the Edge (L) and frontman Bono (R) on the red carpet. (Getty Images)

The film is also a love letter to the singer’s wife, Ali Hewson, who he met when they were both 15, the same fateful day U2 was formed in a Dublin school. The film streams on Apple TV+ from May 30.

Bono, who has spent decades fighting for more aid to Africa and to lift the debt burden from poor countries, told the audience at the premiere that the world is again being threatened by fascism as it was when the festival was set up in 1939.

“Mussolini and the little man with a moustache, and his mate Goebbels had taken over the Venice Film Festival, so this festival was set up to fight fascism,” the singer said.

“It took it until 1946 (for the festival to get going) but it stands for that freedom now.”

He said that Hollywood star Sean Penn — a vocal advocate for Ukraine — had “brought us some friends from the actual trenches, from the front line in Ukraine, and they’re here tonight.

“I just want to thank you because you’re keeping us free,” Bono added to loud cheers.


Princess Reema chooses Honayda design for Trump’s departure from Riyadh

Updated 15 May 2025
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Princess Reema chooses Honayda design for Trump’s departure from Riyadh

DUBAI: As US President Donald Trump concluded his visit to Saudi Arabia and departed for Qatar, Princess Reema bint Bandar, Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to the United States, again wore a creation by Saudi designer Honayda Serafi.

For the occasion, Princess Reema chose a light pink ensemble consisting of a long, flowing dress paired with a structured overcoat. The overcoat featured a soft floral pattern, with delicate embroidery scattered across its surface. The look was completed with a matching light pink headscarf. 

The outfit followed her look from the day before, when she wore a bespoke royal blue abaya by Serafi during Trump’s official welcome in Riyadh. 

The floor-length abaya featured detailed gold embroidery. The symmetrical patterns extended across the bodice and sleeves, while smaller gold motifs were scattered throughout the lower part of the garment. The look was completed with a matching blue headscarf.

Honayda Serafi, founder of Honayda, posted a statement about Princess Reema’s appearance on Instagram, saying: “I am so pleased and deeply proud to see HRH Princess Reema bint Bandar, our remarkable Saudi Ambassador to the United States, standing as a symbol of strength, progress and leadership, as one of the first women to break barriers and champion women’s empowerment. 

“It is a special moment to see her shine as she welcomes President Trump on his historic visit to Riyadh, wearing a bespoke piece by Honayda for this significant occasion. I look forward to sharing more about the inspiration behind this design,” she added. 

Serafi is known for dressing prominent figures in the Middle East and the rest of the world. Celebrities who have worn her designs include Priyanka Chopra, Lupita Nyong’o and Princess Rajwa Al-Hussein of Jordan.  

She is a favorite of Saudi-born Princess Rajwa and dressed the royal for her henna night festivities in 2023 and for Jordanian King Abdullah II’s silver jubilee celebrations in Amman in 2024.

After leaving Riyadh, Trump is visiting Doha, Qatar, for meetings with Qatari leadership. After this stop, he is scheduled to travel to the UAE, where discussions will continue on economic cooperation, defense partnerships and regional security.


Arab stars, designers shine at the Cannes Film Fest

Updated 14 May 2025
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Arab stars, designers shine at the Cannes Film Fest

  • Bella Hadid, Shanina Shaik among top models
  • Dresses by designers Zuhair Murad, Elie Saab

DUBAI: Arab stars and designers made a strong appearance at the 78th Cannes Film Festival this week, with supermodels Bella Hadid and Shanina Shaik in black gowns and Heidi Klum wearing a voluminous dress by Elie Saab.

Guests arrived at the festival’s opening in a variety of statement designs.

Hadid appeared with a new blonde hair color. (Getty Images)

Hadid, who is American, Dutch and Palestinian, appeared with a new blonde hair color. She wore a black floor-length gown with a draped asymmetrical neckline, fitted silhouette, high slit and low back.

She accessorized with statement earrings from Chopard, set with green gemstones, along with a matching ring.

Shanina Shaik wore a black strapless gown featuring a structured bodice. (Getty Images)

Shaik, the Australia-born model of Saudi, Pakistani and Lithuanian descent, wore a black strapless gown featuring a structured bodice made of smooth, matte fabric.

The dress included a wide, embellished peplum detail at the hips, covered in crystals and beads. The skirt was made of sheer, glittering fabric decorated with teardrop-shaped embellishments and extended into a small train.

Klum chose a pink gown from Saab’s collection “The 1001 Season of Elie Saab,” that was presented in Riyadh.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Heidi Klum (@heidiklum)

The strapless dress was designed with layered pink fabric shaped like large petals. It featured a high front slit and a long train, with the petal-like layers covering the entire gown from bodice to floor.

Lebanese couturier Zuhair Murad also had a presence on the red carpet.

Brazilian supermodel Alessandra Ambrosio wore a strapless gown in metallic green fabric by Murad. The dress had a sweetheart neckline, draped detailing gathered at the waist and a thigh-high slit. She paired it with matching green textured sleeves.

Arab stars attending the event included Egyptian actress Amina Khalil, Lebanese actress Nadine Nassib Njeim, Lebanese reality TV personality Alice Abdel Aziz and presenter Raya Abirached.

Khalil wore a light pink gown by Lebanese designer Rami Kadi, featuring a fitted bodice with a halter-style neckline. The dress included a tiered skirt decorated with multiple layers of feathered trims.

Njeim opted for a light pink gown by Tamara Ralph. (Getty Images)

Njeim also opted for a light pink gown by Tamara Ralph. The strapless dress featured a draped neckline and a fitted, corset-style bodice. The waist was accented with a decorative embellishment shaped like a flower.

She completed the look with jewelry from MARLI New York’s high jewelry collection, specifically the CLEO Sculpt pieces.


Princess Reema bint Bandar wears Honayda design to welcome President Trump to Saudi Arabia

Updated 14 May 2025
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Princess Reema bint Bandar wears Honayda design to welcome President Trump to Saudi Arabia

DUBAI: Princess Reema bint Bandar, Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to the US, wore a bespoke creation by Saudi designer Honayda Serafi during President Donald Trump’s visit to Riyadh.

The ensemble consisted of a royal blue floor-length abaya with detailed gold embroidery. The symmetrical patterns extended across the bodice and sleeves, while smaller gold motifs were scattered throughout the lower part of the garment. The dignitary’s look was completed with a matching blue headscarf.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by HONAYDA (@honaydaofficial)

Honayda Serafi, founder of Honayda, shared a statement on Princess Reema’s appearance on Instagram, saying: “I am so pleased and deeply proud to see HRH Princess Reema bint Bandar, our remarkable Saudi Ambassador to the United States, standing as a symbol of strength, progress and leadership, as one of the first women to break barriers and champion women’s empowerment. 

“It is a special moment to see her shine as she welcomes President Trump on his historic visit to Riyadh, wearing a bespoke piece by Honayda for this significant occasion. I look forward to sharing more about the inspiration behind this design,” she added. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Reema B Al-Saud (@rbsalsaud)

Serafi is known for dressing prominent figures across the Middle East and the rest of the world. Celebrities who have worn her designs include Priyanka Chopra, Lupita Nyong’o and Princess Rajwa Al-Hussein of Jordan.  

She is a favorite of Saudi-born Princess Rajwa and dressed the royal for her henna night festivities in in 2023 and for Jordanian King Abdullah II’s silver jubilee celebrations in Amman in 2024.

The ensemble consisted of a royal blue floor-length abaya with detailed gold embroidery. (Instagram)

Meanwhile, Princess Reema’s participation in Trump’s visit highlighted the long-standing partnership between Saudi Arabia and the US. Writing in The Washington Times this week, she described the visit as “a moment pivotal for global peace, security and prosperity.

“Today, as the world navigates new challenges and conflicts, that partnership is more critical than ever,” she said.

Princess Reema, who presented her credentials to Trump in 2019 when assuming her role as ambassador, said the two nations’ alliance was “not just history; it is a reimagined future.”