Swarovski celebrated its 120th anniversary with a star-studded gala dinner in the company’s native Austria last week. Jean Paul Gaultier was among the design collaborators present to help the brand mark more than a century of producing precision-cut stones and crystal products – from chandeliers to figurines and fine jewellery. Fifth generation family member Nadja Swarovski opened the vault to reveal her favourite pieces and talk about the company’s succession plans.
What would founder Daniel Swarovksi make of the brand we see today?
I think he would be very excited to see that his vision of wanting everyone to experience what it feels like to wear a diamond has taken on a new meaning in the 21st century. It’s now also about empowering women with the adornment of crystals for self-expression.
Are there future generations of Swarovskis coming up through the company ranks?
Yes, and we want to remain very “modern” and prepared for the process. I’m leading the committee of family succession and we’re laying down the principles of what will be required. Education is incredibly important, as is external experience. We don’t ever want a family member to take for granted what we have here, it’s so important that we all contribute new insights and I bet the younger generation will provide the digital and innovative entrepreneurial element. My own children’s sense of pride is amazing. They’ve been subjected to my father, who has led our manufacturing for 44 years, and my son is totally convinced he wants to run the business one day. He’s winning lots of design awards at school and wants to be an engineer and inventor – all the qualities we require. However, I always emphasise to my children that knowledge is power and once they get their education they are free to do whatever they want.
How important is the Middle East market to you?
Our sales there have been truly amazing, and what we’ve seen over the past two decades has been incredibly important in terms of the architectural evolution but also the adornment of traditional clothing. That part of the world is modernising quickly and so, too, the role of women is evolving. Crystal adornments on national dress are just one way women are celebrated. We have a great respect and appreciation of different regional design aesthetics and cultural backgrounds and we want to cater to all of that. Ultimately, we want to keep creating products that are creative and empowering. I also think there are still more areas we can explore in the region, not least in the art arena – with new fairs popping up.
Many home-grown talents, from Furne One to Ezra and Michael Cinco, continue to use your crystals in their couture collections. Is this something you’ve actively sought out?
Our local offices always try to reach out to established and emerging talent and we have showrooms, or “creative service centres”, where we demonstrate the application of crystals within fabrics. It’s in order to take away the intimidation of using them – we’re facilitating the creative process. Our roots are in Austria, but we’re a global company and creative expression in different cultural contexts is great to see internationally.
Of your personal collection, which pieces, past and present, are you most fond of?
I love the new collection. Its design is simple but impactful and a tribute to our history. And of the more historic pieces, I love the Nirvana ring, which we created from one solid piece of crystal. It’s something only Swarovski can make, and truly celebrates crystal as a creative material. I also love the crystal-mesh pieces that you can dress up or down.
rduane@thenational.ae
Company%20Profile
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COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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What to watch out for:
Algae, waste coffee grounds and orange peels will be used in the pavilion's walls and gangways
The hulls of three ships will be used for the roof
The hulls will painted to make the largest Italian tricolour in the country’s history
Several pillars more than 20 metres high will support the structure
Roughly 15 tonnes of steel will be used
War
Director: Siddharth Anand
Cast: Hrithik Roshan, Tiger Shroff, Ashutosh Rana, Vaani Kapoor
Rating: Two out of five stars
Blackpink World Tour [Born Pink] In Cinemas
Starring: Rose, Jisoo, Jennie, Lisa
Directors: Min Geun, Oh Yoon-Dong
Rating: 3/5
Super%20Mario%20Bros%20Wonder
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDeveloper%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENintendo%20EPD%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPublisher%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENintendo%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EConsole%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENintendo%20Switch%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E4%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The%20specs
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SPECS
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Two-litre%20four-cylinder%20turbo%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E235hp%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E350Nm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Nine-speed%20automatic%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh167%2C500%20(%2445%2C000)%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENow%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Greatest of All Time
Starring: Vijay, Sneha, Prashanth, Prabhu Deva, Mohan
Seemar’s top six for the Dubai World Cup Carnival:
1. Reynaldothewizard
2. North America
3. Raven’s Corner
4. Hawkesbury
5. New Maharajah
6. Secret Ambition
Company%20profile
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Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
Day 1 results:
Open Men (bonus points in brackets)
New Zealand 125 (1) beat UAE 111 (3)
India 111 (4) beat Singapore 75 (0)
South Africa 66 (2) beat Sri Lanka 57 (2)
Australia 126 (4) beat Malaysia -16 (0)
Open Women
New Zealand 64 (2) beat South Africa 57 (2)
England 69 (3) beat UAE 63 (1)
Australia 124 (4) beat UAE 23 (0)
New Zealand 74 (2) beat England 55 (2)
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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What is an FTO Designation?
FTO designations impose immigration restrictions on members of the organisation simply by virtue of their membership and triggers a criminal prohibition on knowingly providing material support or resources to the designated organisation as well as asset freezes.
It is a crime for a person in the United States or subject to the jurisdiction of the United States to knowingly provide “material support or resources” to or receive military-type training from or on behalf of a designated FTO.
Representatives and members of a designated FTO, if they are aliens, are inadmissible to and, in certain circumstances removable from, the United States.
Except as authorised by the Secretary of the Treasury, any US financial institution that becomes aware that it has possession of or control over funds in which an FTO or its agent has an interest must retain possession of or control over the funds and report the funds to the Treasury Department.
Source: US Department of State
Confirmed%20bouts%20(more%20to%20be%20added)
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Racecard
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Results:
Men’s wheelchair 200m T34: 1. Walid Ktila (TUN) 27.14; 2. Mohammed Al Hammadi (UAE) 27.81; 3. Rheed McCracken (AUS) 27.81.
QUARTER-FINAL
Wales 20-19 France
Wales: T: Wainwright, Moriarty. Cons: Biggar (2) Pens: Biggar 2
France: T: Vahaamahina, Ollivon, Vakatawa Cons: Ntamack (2)
if you go
The flights
Etihad, Emirates and Singapore Airlines fly direct from the UAE to Singapore from Dh2,265 return including taxes. The flight takes about 7 hours.
The hotel
Rooms at the M Social Singapore cost from SG $179 (Dh488) per night including taxes.
The tour
Makan Makan Walking group tours costs from SG $90 (Dh245) per person for about three hours. Tailor-made tours can be arranged. For details go to www.woknstroll.com.sg
Company%20Profile
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Company%20Profile
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
At a glance - Zayed Sustainability Prize 2020
Launched: 2008
Categories: Health, energy, water, food, global high schools
Prize: Dh2.2 million (Dh360,000 for global high schools category)
Winners’ announcement: Monday, January 13
Impact in numbers
335 million people positively impacted by projects
430,000 jobs created
10 million people given access to clean and affordable drinking water
50 million homes powered by renewable energy
6.5 billion litres of water saved
26 million school children given solar lighting
The Details
Kabir Singh
Produced by: Cinestaan Studios, T-Series
Directed by: Sandeep Reddy Vanga
Starring: Shahid Kapoor, Kiara Advani, Suresh Oberoi, Soham Majumdar, Arjun Pahwa
Rating: 2.5/5
Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
Company profile
Name: Thndr
Started: October 2020
Founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: FinTech
Initial investment: pre-seed of $800,000
Funding stage: series A; $20 million
Investors: Tiger Global, Beco Capital, Prosus Ventures, Y Combinator, Global Ventures, Abdul Latif Jameel, Endure Capital, 4DX Ventures, Plus VC, Rabacap and MSA Capital
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.