It was clear as he steered a speedboat down the Thames during the Olympics closing ceremony: David Beckham has made the seamless transition from football star to style maven in just more than a decade. Proof came in February with the debut of his signature Bodywear collection for H&M. Credited with having brought long-johns back in vogue, Beckham's range of briefs, trunks and T-shirts is now selling at nearly 1,800 stores in 44 countries.
What has the reaction to your Bodywear range for H&M been like?
I've had such an incredible reaction since we launched; the response worldwide has been overwhelming. The launch was such a memorable time for me, from the party in London to the commercial shown during the Super Bowl in the US. Since the launch, it's been so great to read all the comments from fans on my Facebook page, who always let me know exactly what they think about the range. Luckily, they love it.
Did the collaboration turn out to be everything you had hoped?
I'm so happy that men have really understood this isn't a one-off collection. This is a bodywear brand with H&M that is here to stay. It's great that men have been buying pieces to become part of their wardrobe and are already relying on the comfort and quality of our designs. Before we launched, we went through 18 months of research and development. What has been really pleasing is that my range is being worn by men of all ages, from all walks of life.
Tell us about the new campaign.
I love the images we've shot for autumn. Once again I've worked with the British photographer Alasdair McLellan who has such an amazing eye. I really enjoy being photographed by him. His images manage to make men look both classic and contemporary at the same time. For these images, we went for a tougher mood against a black background, with the images shot in a studio so that the focus is truly on the products. The images make the products feel like brand new. I'm really proud of them.
Underwear aside, what are some essential pieces in your wardrobe?
With clothing, I rely on classic pieces, such as great jeans, sweaters or biker jackets for when I'm off-duty. Or the most perfectly tailored suit when I want to look my best. My wardrobe has evolved as the years have gone by, and I've learnt many lessons about style along the way.
What might some of those lessons be?
I've had a lot of fun with fashion over the years and have come to realise that what is most important is being true to who you are. My life has so many different facets, from being a sportsman, to a dad and a global ambassador, that I find myself in so many different situations and places around the world. It is good to be able to keep my style a constant and know that I am always being myself.
Finally, who is your style icon?
I have always admired Steve McQueen, who was effortless and natural in his style.
• See the David Beckham Bodywear collection for H&M in stores across the UAE or online at www.hm.com
Earth under attack: Cosmic impacts throughout history
- 4.5 billion years ago: Mars-sized object smashes into the newly-formed Earth, creating debris that coalesces to form the Moon
- 66 million years ago: 10km-wide asteroid crashes into the Gulf of Mexico, wiping out over 70 per cent of living species – including the dinosaurs.
- 50,000 years ago: 50m-wide iron meteor crashes in Arizona with the violence of 10 megatonne hydrogen bomb, creating the famous 1.2km-wide Barringer Crater
- 1490: Meteor storm over Shansi Province, north-east China when large stones “fell like rain”, reportedly leading to thousands of deaths.
- 1908: 100-metre meteor from the Taurid Complex explodes near the Tunguska river in Siberia with the force of 1,000 Hiroshima-type bombs, devastating 2,000 square kilometres of forest.
- 1998: Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 breaks apart and crashes into Jupiter in series of impacts that would have annihilated life on Earth.
-2013: 10,000-tonne meteor burns up over the southern Urals region of Russia, releasing a pressure blast and flash that left over 1600 people injured.
BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES
Saturday (UAE kick-off times)
Cologne v Union Berlin (5.30pm)
Fortuna Dusseldorf v Borussia Dortmund (5.30pm)
Hertha Berlin v Eintracht Frankfurt (5.30pm)
Paderborn v Werder Bremen (5.30pm)
Wolfsburg v Freiburg (5.30pm)
Bayern Munich v Borussia Monchengladbach (8.30pm)
Sunday
Mainz v Augsburg (5.30pm)
Schalke v Bayer Leverkusen (8pm)
How will Gen Alpha invest?
Mark Chahwan, co-founder and chief executive of robo-advisory firm Sarwa, forecasts that Generation Alpha (born between 2010 and 2024) will start investing in their teenage years and therefore benefit from compound interest.
“Technology and education should be the main drivers to make this happen, whether it’s investing in a few clicks or their schools/parents stepping up their personal finance education skills,” he adds.
Mr Chahwan says younger generations have a higher capacity to take on risk, but for some their appetite can be more cautious because they are investing for the first time. “Schools still do not teach personal finance and stock market investing, so a lot of the learning journey can feel daunting and intimidating,” he says.
He advises millennials to not always start with an aggressive portfolio even if they can afford to take risks. “We always advise to work your way up to your risk capacity, that way you experience volatility and get used to it. Given the higher risk capacity for the younger generations, stocks are a favourite,” says Mr Chahwan.
Highlighting the role technology has played in encouraging millennials and Gen Z to invest, he says: “They were often excluded, but with lower account minimums ... a customer with $1,000 [Dh3,672] in their account has their money working for them just as hard as the portfolio of a high get-worth individual.”
Dubai works towards better air quality by 2021
Dubai is on a mission to record good air quality for 90 per cent of the year – up from 86 per cent annually today – by 2021.
The municipality plans to have seven mobile air-monitoring stations by 2020 to capture more accurate data in hourly and daily trends of pollution.
These will be on the Palm Jumeirah, Al Qusais, Muhaisnah, Rashidiyah, Al Wasl, Al Quoz and Dubai Investment Park.
“It will allow real-time responding for emergency cases,” said Khaldoon Al Daraji, first environment safety officer at the municipality.
“We’re in a good position except for the cases that are out of our hands, such as sandstorms.
“Sandstorms are our main concern because the UAE is just a receiver.
“The hotspots are Iran, Saudi Arabia and southern Iraq, but we’re working hard with the region to reduce the cycle of sandstorm generation.”
Mr Al Daraji said monitoring as it stood covered 47 per cent of Dubai.
There are 12 fixed stations in the emirate, but Dubai also receives information from monitors belonging to other entities.
“There are 25 stations in total,” Mr Al Daraji said.
“We added new technology and equipment used for the first time for the detection of heavy metals.
“A hundred parameters can be detected but we want to expand it to make sure that the data captured can allow a baseline study in some areas to ensure they are well positioned.”
Virtuzone GCC Sixes
Date and venue Friday and Saturday, ICC Academy, Dubai Sports City
Time Matches start at 9am
Groups
A Blighty Ducks, Darjeeling Colts, Darjeeling Social, Dubai Wombats; B Darjeeling Veterans, Kuwait Casuals, Loose Cannons, Savannah Lions; C Awali Taverners, Darjeeling, Dromedary, Darjeeling Good Eggs
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
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