Since graduating from Istituto Marangoni in Milan nearly a decade ago, Palestinian designer Zaid Farouki has been working on growing his eponymous fashion label.
An artist at heart, Farouki says he is inspired by a number of sources, including French painter Claude Monet. Or more precisely, the artist’s obsessional approach to work – such as with his lilies, which he painted into 250 pieces of art.
Today, Farouki’s clothes have appeared on the red carpet at the Grammys and have been worn by everyone from fellow Palestinian artists Elyanna and Zeyne to global entertainment and fashion icons like Pharrell Williams and Iris Apfel. He credits his approach to “creating pieces that transcend borders and bring together different elements of culture, design and sustainability”, for his success.
We met him at his Dubai studio, where he answered the questions for Luxury magazine’s One Last Thing.
What is your favourite time of the day and why?
Sunrise, I feel like I’ve taken a hold of the day.
What is your favourite restaurant anywhere in the world?
Too many chef friends, I can’t pick one! I’d say our grandmothers’ kitchens is the number one restaurant. Coming from agricultural societies, they teach us about ingredients, seasonality, cultural significance and history in one dish. They preserved who we are as a history and culture. Teta (grandmother) is the OG Chef’s Table.
When was the first time you realised your parents were human?
When I realised they always did the best they could do to the best of their ability.
What do you want to be when you grow up?
I want to be able to mentor and guide younger creatives pursuing a career and life in the creative industry – support artisans, create works for the sake of creating.
Do you have any hidden talents?
I used to paint and sculpt before I turned to fashion.
Your favourite book?
A cliche, but The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran.
What type of music can’t you stand?
Electronic and rave.
What puts you in a bad mood?
When I am not in a creative mood, when I have no output, I get really frustrated.
What can you not live without?
My phone, I need to connect with my family and friends at all times.
Dream dinner guests?
Honestly, a huge dinner with family and friends, on a cold winter night, people coming in and staying and just having a huge get together for people I love, respect and care about.
Sitting on the sofa or out with friends?
Out with friends.
Any words to live by?
Find your chosen tribe, dream of hope, a future and a remarkable life to look back on.
What smell takes you straight back to childhood?
I think the smell of dough – dough-making in general.
What food takes you back to childhood?
Gelato and ice cream. Have you ever looked at someone eating ice cream from an ice cream parlour? No matter how old or who they are, you see a child in them emerge when they start eating the cone in full excitement.
Which city do you love but would hate to live in?
New York.
Can you play a musical instrument?
No, not any more. I used to play the violin as a child.
Have you ever been on a motorcycle?
Never, too scared.
What is your biggest pet peeve?
No table etiquette.
Do you believe in aliens?
No.
What is the most niche thing you watch on YouTube?
Sewing, embroidery tricks and hacks.
What is your favourite Arabic word?
Ishq – a step above love, but not infatuation.
How do you take your tea?
Black, unsweetened with mint.
What makes you cry?
Inhumanity, loss of hope … but the feeling of hope and its power too.
What do social algorithms think you’re interested in?
Fitness, sewing tricks and Sagittarius memes, as well as fashion reviews.
TikTok or Instagram?
Instagram.
What is one thing about you that would surprise people?
How calm and quiet in social settings I can be.
What was the last thing you did for the first time?
That is a tough question. It’s been so long that I can’t remember, actually.
Scores
New Zealand 266 for 9 in 50 overs
Pakistan 219 all out in 47.2 overs
New Zealand win by 47 runs
DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Emma Corrin
Director: Shawn Levy
Rating: 3/5
Director: Paul Weitz
Stars: Kevin Hart
3/5 stars
UK's plans to cut net migration
Under the UK government’s proposals, migrants will have to spend 10 years in the UK before being able to apply for citizenship.
Skilled worker visas will require a university degree, and there will be tighter restrictions on recruitment for jobs with skills shortages.
But what are described as "high-contributing" individuals such as doctors and nurses could be fast-tracked through the system.
Language requirements will be increased for all immigration routes to ensure a higher level of English.
Rules will also be laid out for adult dependants, meaning they will have to demonstrate a basic understanding of the language.
The plans also call for stricter tests for colleges and universities offering places to foreign students and a reduction in the time graduates can remain in the UK after their studies from two years to 18 months.
Desert Warrior
Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley
Director: Rupert Wyatt
Rating: 3/5
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
Babumoshai Bandookbaaz
Director: Kushan Nandy
Starring: Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Bidita Bag, Jatin Goswami
Three stars
The Settlers
Director: Louis Theroux
Starring: Daniella Weiss, Ari Abramowitz
Rating: 5/5
The specs: 2018 Volkswagen Teramont
Price, base / as tested Dh137,000 / Dh189,950
Engine 3.6-litre V6
Gearbox Eight-speed automatic
Power 280hp @ 6,200rpm
Torque 360Nm @ 2,750rpm
Fuel economy, combined 11.7L / 100km
Abramovich London
A Kensington Palace Gardens house with 15 bedrooms is valued at more than £150 million.
A three-storey penthouse at Chelsea Waterfront bought for £22 million.
Steel company Evraz drops more than 10 per cent in trading after UK officials said it was potentially supplying the Russian military.
Sale of Chelsea Football Club is now impossible.
How to donate
Text the following numbers:
2289 - Dh10
6025 - Dh 20
2252 - Dh 50
2208 - Dh 100
6020 - Dh 200
*numbers work for both Etisalat and du
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
White hydrogen: Naturally occurring hydrogen
Chromite: Hard, metallic mineral containing iron oxide and chromium oxide
Ultramafic rocks: Dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium or iron with very low silica content
Ophiolite: A section of the earth’s crust, which is oceanic in nature that has since been uplifted and exposed on land
Olivine: A commonly occurring magnesium iron silicate mineral that derives its name for its olive-green yellow-green colour
Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
The specs: 2018 Opel Mokka X
Price, as tested: Dh84,000
Engine: 1.4L, four-cylinder turbo
Transmission: Six-speed auto
Power: 142hp at 4,900rpm
Torque: 200Nm at 1,850rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L / 100km
