Summer Cool - BinHendi

Bin Hendi 

summer 2009 

Strapline 

time for change 

The brand that revolutionised 

the watch industry 

dine in style 

Fashionistas’ favourite 

Joe’s Cafe hits Dubai 

bright 

young things 

Joseph, Shanghai Tang 

and Hugo Boss show 

their true colours 

PLUS! 

ck Calvin Klein, 

CACAO SAMPAKA 

JACOB & CO. 

& MUCH MORE 

summer cool 

cool 

Paul & Shark’s Spring/Summer ‘09 

collection ‘keeps things chilled 

summer 

For more information on locations, see contacts list on page 78 Bin Hendi 101

Contents 

S u m m e r 2 0 0 9 

07 WHAT’S HOT 

Goldvish launches the world’s most exclusive mobile phone; 

Shanghai Tang unveils its Spring/Summer ‘09 collection; 

Schreiner launches its ‘Circle’ collection; 

The BOSS Black Spring/Summer ‘09 is in store 

13 STYLE 

Catwalk report 

The latest Spring/Summer ‘09 trends from Hugo Boss, 

Jacob & Co., Joseph, Paul & Shark and Zilli 

20 Bright young things 

BinHendi Enterprises proves colourful shades are in 

28 The name’s Brioni... 

James Bond shows how to wear Brioni 

32 Time for change 

Meet the man behind Ulysse Nardin 

41 DINE 

Top table 

Hip eatery Joe’s Café opens its doors 

42 Chocolate fix 

Cacao Sampaka is a chocoholic’s dream 

44 Summer surprises 

Second Cup mixes things up for the hotter months 

48 LIVE 

Aristocracy of art 

Daniel Barth, Managing Director of Graf Von Faber-Castell, 

talks luxury pencils 

51 Holiday blues 

Paul & Shark unveils its latest nautical collection 

4 

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56 Summer house 

B&B Italia opens its doors to the hotter climes 

62 Cutting edge 

Jeffrey Bernett talks furniture and rice paddies 

66 Precious pearl 

Croatia is the perfect hot spot 

70 OUT & ABOUT 

Aid for Gaza 

BinHendi Enterprises raises funds for Gaza 

76 My style 

Mahmoud Diab wears his favourite BinHendi brands 

77 Hot seat 

VIP customer Mrs. Hikmat on fashion and next 

season’s trends 

78 CONTACTS 

Editor’s letter 

Welcome to another exciting edition of 

BinHendi Magazine. In this issue we delve into 

the wardrobe of the world’s best-dressed secret 

agent with an in depth look at Italian tailor 

Brioni. If you’re looking for suits with 

waterproof pockets for secret documents, or just 

an extraordinary fit, then look no further. 

We also interview Rolf Schnyder, the man who turned a 

bankrupt watch company into the maker of some of the finest 

timepieces in the world. Since taking over at Ulysse Nardin he 

has revolutionised the way the industry views watchmaking. 

As usual stylist to the stars Derek Khan brings us his pick of 

the hottest trends in town, while Mac Cosmetics allow us a 

behind the scenes look at what they have in store for this season. 

We also meet the man responsible for the first-ever luxury 

pencil, and bring you a colourful report from the ‘Pearl of the 

Adriatic’, Dubrovnik. 

We hope you enjoy this edition. 

 

Anna Whitehouse, Editor 

Editor Anna Whitehouse Creative Director Carl Bergman Commercial Director Ashley Northcote For all media enquiries, please call +97150 342 7845, or email ashley@switch. 

ae ©2009 Switch Media. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written permission of the publishers. 

Bin Hendi 5

Welcome 

From the opening of the iconic 

Atlantis at The Palm to the continual 

growth of Dubai Mall, the UAE is 

putting its stamp on the world – and 

BinHendi Enterprises continues to 

play an integral role in its rise. 

While Dubai expands, our belief in 

high-end shopping ensures only the 

finest brands make the cut and our 

motto is to bring the most luxuriant 

fashion, trends and ultimately 

lifestyle into the UAE. 

Everything from the classic lines of 

Hugo Boss’s Summer ‘09 collection 

to the silk embellishments of 

Shanghai Tang’s Spring/Summer ‘09 range has a mark of quality – 

something that BinHendi Enterprises prides itself on. 

To this end, it is with great delight that we have seen the success 

of more than 20 of our luxe brands in Dubai Mall. Ultimately the 

company continues to add a touch of class to one of the most 

monumental architectures of Dubai’s time, and we look forward 

to opening even more doors in the future. 

Enjoy the issue, 

Amna BinHendi, 

CEO, BinHendi Enterprises

What’s hot 

GoldVish 

glistens 

in the sun 

The world’s most exclusive mobile 

phones have arrived in the UAE. The luxuriant bits 

of kit will ensure that each time users take a call they 

are really making a statement. 

A few details of the materials used clarify the 

exclusive nature of these phones. They come in three 

types of 18 carat gold; yellow, white and rose, and are 

bedecked in VVS Top Wesselton diamonds. 

Protection for these precious items is provided by 

crocodile leather inlays in a choice of 12 colours. 

While they may seem more jewellery than phone, 

these pieces do serve a practical purpose, and are 

fitted with the latest mobile technology, including 

quad band GSM (for worldwide calling) and a two 

megapixel camera. 

This exuberance comes at a price, of course, with 

handsets starting from Dhs121,000. Three unique 

pieces have also been made, costing Dhs5 million 

each, and are officially recognised by Guinness as the 

most expensive mobile phones in the world. At the 

time of going to print, one had already been sold to a 

wealthy European businessman. They are available 

through BinHendi Jewellery stores. 

Broaden your 

Orizzonti 

There can be few greater of life’s simple pleasures than a 

good night’s sleep. Time spent in a comfortable bed, which is 

both supportive and soft, while draped in the ensconcing 

embrace of Egyptian cotton sheets, is a life-enhancing 

pleasure. We spend one third of our lives lying on these 

simple pieces of furniture, after all. And now, dedicated 

slumberers can rest in style, thanks to new designs from 

artful Italian firm Orizzonti. The company, whose name 

means ‘horizons’ in English, has a range of new beds and 

bedroom furniture available in the UAE. The four themes, 

Wave, Flores, Vienna and Tasca each have simple designs and 

clean lines that will suit anyone with a taste for uncluttered 

comfort. A night spent in one of these is likely to ensure a 

good start to any day. 


What’s hot 

Oriental 

flavours 

The Shanghai Tang Spring/ 

Summer ‘09 ready to wear 

collection has landed on Emirati 

shores. The brand, which is now in 

its fifteenth year, has always been 

known for its combination of 

traditional Han Chinese lines with 

cutting-edge fashion and 

exuberant colours. 

For men, this means rounded 

collars, and subtle reinterpretations 

of the scholar’s robe and the Mao 

jacket. The collection leans more 

towards gentle hints of old school 

Orientalism, rather than 

screamingly obvious nods to 

imperial times. The colour palette 

here is more subtle too, with more 

organic shades than is typical of 

Shanghai Tang, but with 

vibrant splashes of royal 

blue, fuchsia and bright 

yellow, giving the 

eye-catching colours for 

which the label is so 

well known. 

For women, the 

same principles apply, 

with traditional items 

like the qi pao (the tight, 

long, short sleeved dress) 

reinterpreted for this 

summer. 

Shine with Jacob 

When Sir Elton John, Naomi 

Campbell and Jay-Z refer to you simply 

as ‘the jeweller’, and when Kanye West 

sings that he visited you because he 

‘just wanted to shine’, it’s fair to say you 

have established yourself at the top of 

the trinket tree. 

Jacob Arabo, universally known as 

‘Jacob the Jeweller’, first made his name 

in the entertainment world’s upper 

echelons with his unique approach to 

men’s jewellery. Where once intricate 

designs and extravagant gems where 

the preserve of women, Jacob matched 

elaborate aesthetics with a more 

masculine robustness. The results here 

seen sparkling on everyone from 

Beckham to Bono. 

The same principles have been 

applied to timepieces. The 

Quenttin, for example, has a case 

and bezel of 18 carat gold 

(white or rose, as you prefer) 

and 40 jewels. Yet, for watch 

connoisseurs, perhaps the 

greatest beauty comes from 

the simplicity of the caged 

mechanics and the 

knowledge that this is a 

precision timepiece. Just 135 

pieces have been made. 

8 

Bin Hendi

Hanging 

with 

Joseph 

Maintaining elegance in the heat 

of summer can present 

challenges. Perhaps this, more 

than any other season, is a time 

for a relaxed and less formal 

wardrobe. That, however, is no 

reason to eschew grace and 

beauty. 

Since the days when Joseph 

opened its first boutique on 

London’s famous King’s Road in 

Chelsea just as the city began to 

swing, the store has specialised 

in this kind of calm, confident, 

fashion awareness. The current 

collection continues the trend, 

with light, understated materials 

in flowing shapes and forms. The 

classic ‘rocker’ trouser, a 

mainstay of fashionable 

wardrobes the world over, is a 

prime example. Smart, but with a 

simple flat-fronted shape and 

boot cut that accentuates a 

slender figure, the trousers are 

available in numerous colours. 

But, for the summer, it must 

be the simple, fashionable 

elegance of one of the brand’s 

light dresses. 

What’s hot 

A true heart 

Summer is a time to shine, and German jeweller Schreiner offers 

some suitably seasonal sparkle. The Munich-based firm, set up by jeweller Gerhard 

Schreiner more than 20 years ago, now has more than 300 staff, including designers in 

Italy and Spain. Schreiner proposes what is referred to as ‘neo haute joaillerie’; a new 

high-class form of jewellery, where each item is in effect a wearable work of art. Many 

of the designs have fantasy-inspired shapes and flourishes, drawing on the influence of 

more ancient times, when a simple stone could attract a certain mysticism with its 

sheer beauty. 

In keeping with these principles, pieces are handmade, using the most luxuriant 

materials and most dedicated craftsmen. The piece shown here, for example, from the 

‘Circle’ collection, is handmade with round natural fancy brown and round white 

diamonds. Others, such as the ‘Flying Hearts’, combine pendant, ring and earrings in 10 

carats of shimmering stones. It’s almost enough to outshine the sun. 

For more information on locations, see contacts list on page 78 

Bin Hendi 

9

What’s hot 

White hot 

Porsche designers are famed for their use of beautifully clean, simple 

lines. They are also known for their preference for black, occasionally 

indulging in touches of red or aluminium. The latest collection from 

Porsche Design, however, breaks the mould. 

“The typical colour of Porsche Design is black”, explains Roland Heiler, 

Managing Director of Porsche Design Studio in Austria. “The colour white, 

on the other hand, stands for purity and also has the property that it 

highlights the shape of the product. These characteristics make white an 

excellent medium for our minimalist design language.” 

This white collection has been realised in many forms, from smoking 

accessories to glasses to luggage, leatherwear and mobile phones. In 

many ways, these are the ideal accessories for the warm summer 

months. Porsche Design stores in Dubai can be found in the city’s major 

malls and some hotels, including Atlantis the Palm. 

Day 

watch 

The simple task of telling the 

time has developed somewhat, over the years. 

From gazing at the sun and staring at the 

stars, to the elegant timepieces of today, a 

monotonous necessity has become an 

aesthetic pleasure. 

Cecil Purnell specialises in pieces that make 

that pleasure even more tangible. It might be 

with the Full Pavée, a dazzling and beguiling 

piece with more than 15 carats of VVS1 

diamonds casting light from every angle. It 

might be the delicate femininity of the Lady 

Rose, a pink hued number with a delicate 

leather strap, gently shimmering mother of 

pearl dial and intriguing view hole into the 

complex artistry of the mechanism. Or, it 

could be the Hambergé, as shown here, a 

masculine item able to withstand pressure at 

up to eight atmospheres, yet not losing any 

grace in its practicality. Either way, these 

desirable items make something as simple as 

knowing the time a daily treat. 

10 Bin Hendi

What’s hot 

Making an 

impressionist 

Art and fashion have always been easy bedfellows. The latest 

influence of one over the other comes from Artioli, the Italian family that has been 

making exquisite haute couture footwear for almost a century. 

The colours for the brand’s spring/summer collection have been inspired by the 

impressionist paintings of Monet, Renoir, Matisse and Degas. The gentle orange, lilac 

and blue hues hint at an autumnal evening in southern France, but come with a 

lightness perfectly suited to summer. The effect is delightful. In contrast to this 

beguiling but occasionally misleading artistic style is the intricacy and minute accuracy 

of the hand stitching of the soft calf and kangaroo leathers, which have been treated 

with slow tanning with pure aniline, and other gentle creams and waxes. The brand’s 

footwear and leather goods are available at the Artioli Boutique at the Radisson SAS 

Hotel in Dubai. 

Stitch 

perfect 

The BOSS Black Spring/Summer 

2009 menswear collection is 

now available in stores across 

Dubai. It is an elegant and stylish 

collection, well suited to the 

demands of the region. 

The light colours, using 

shades of grey, beige and khaki, 

but complemented by occasional 

flashes of cobalt blue or lemon 

yellow, could very well be 

matched with the Artioli footwear 

also mentioned on this page, for 

a complete summer look. The 

BOSS Black colour palette 

complements the Artioli 

impressionist tones. 

The collection focuses on 

clean cuts and a trend towards 

‘new perfectionism’ – mixing 

simple, elegant tailoring with 

luxurious materials. There is a 

clear trend towards elegance, 

with slim, body conscious lines 

and classic close-fitting blazers. 

It’s a line that suggests classic 

contemporary masculinity and 

self assurance. Fabrics are airy 

and friendly to the season, with 

cotton, linen and silk blends 

dominating, and technical fibres 

giving a subtle shine. Hugo Boss 

stores can be found in Dubai’s 

major malls. 


Strapline 

12 

Bin Hendi

Style 

GF Ferré 

Hugo Boss 

Catwalk report 

The hottest trends from Hugo Boss, Jacob & Co., 

Joseph, Miss Sixty and GF Ferré 

Shanghai Tang 

Bin Hendi 13

Style 

GF Ferré 

Hugo Boss 

Dark secrets 

The latest collections are awash 

with the deepest, darkest colours 

Dark colours are back with gusto. From 

the catwalks of Hugo Boss to the ebony 

hues of GF Ferré’s latest collections, it’s 

hard to escape the allure of this year’s 

staple colours. While the former opted 

for clean lines, masculine cuts, and 

chunky accessories, the latter gave leather 

accessories a softer edge, with luxe 

jodhpurs vying for attention over small 

clutch bags. 

GF Ferré 

Style tips 

n To lighten up a dark suit in the 

summer months, opt for a pastel shirt 

and dark brown accessories. 

n Don’t be afraid of mixing and 

matching leather. Black suede works 

well with calf skin, while nubuck can be 

mixed with just about anything. 

n For edgy Milanese style, wear 

head-to-toe black, with a dash of 

colour. An orange wallet or mustard 

yellow belt work well. 

Porsche Design 

GF Ferré 

Shanghai Tang 

14 

Bin Hendi

GF Ferré 

Style tips 

Hugo Boss 

n If opting for head-to-toe dark colours, 

ensure make-up is heavier than usual. It 

makes for a dramatic effect. 

n This season is all about a splash of 

colour, so go for orange-rimmed 

sunglasses, with black lenses. 

Joseph 

n Black stays in the fashion charts 

Shanghai Tang 

year-in-year-out, so go for an 

investment bag or pair of shoes that will 

last beyond the season. 

Shanghai Tang 

GF Ferré 

Jacob & Co. 

GF Ferré 

Joseph 


Bin Hendi 15

Style 

Hugo Boss 

Artioli 

Moody 

blues 

Hugo Boss 

Electric blue is the colour 

du jour for Hugo Boss 

Blue was all over the Spring/Summer ‘09 runways, with Hugo 

Boss leading the charge with their cobalt collection. Materials 

were restricted to silks and chiffons, in an attempt to up the 

sheen factor, and accessories were jet black to add a contrast. 

For a truly stunning effect, Hugo Boss went for block colours, 

with models strutting the catwalks head-to-toe in blue. There 

were other styles that had a splash of this staple colour here and 

there, but the most popular look was undeniably the whiteblack-blue 

combination of colours. 

Style tips 

Hugo Boss 

n For edgy evening elegance, team a 

cobalt blue dress with midnight blue 

or black accessories. 

n Keep the theme running 

throughout the look. Paint nails the 

same colour as the dress you are 

wearing. 

n Opt for neutral make-up. Beige 

works with brash colours. 

Paul & Shark 

16 

Bin Hendi

Style 

Paul & Shark 

Paul & Shark 

Style tips 

n Don’t overcomplicate a look. Go 

for a one-tone trouser suit, paired 

with a statement accessory, or vice 

versa. 

n Stack bracelets to complete the 

look. Mix and match Jacob & Co. 

jewellery for a luxe look. 

n Hugo Boss’s neutral wedges are 

the perfect accessory to round off 

the look. 

Jacob & Co. 

Platinum Diamond Ring 

1.14cts. Clarity- 

VS1; Color- E 

Paul & Shark 

Joseph 

Hugo Boss 


Bin Hendi 17

Style 

In the red 

Add a splash of red to an 

outfit to lighten up any mood 

While brash tones 

dominated the Autumn/Winter 

‘08 catwalks, this season Paul & 

Shark saw a move towards a 

lighter, more laid-back look, with 

red and white dominating. 

There’s a focus on crisp, clean 

lines and bright red accessories 

creating an overall nautical look, 

which is perfect for lazy summer 

afternoons. 

Shanghai Tang 

Paul & Shark 

Miss Sixty 

18 Bin Hendi For more information on locations, see contacts list on page 78

Paul & Shark 

Paul & Shark 

Style tips 

n Tone a red skirt down with a crisp 

white Paul & Shark T-shirt. 

n Move from day into night with a Miss 

Sixty ‘butterfly’-inspired belt. 

n Add a splash of red with a Shanghai 

Tang shoulder bag 

Paul & Shark 

Paul & Shark 

Bin Hendi 19

20 Bin Hendi

Style 

HER 

Top, scarf and pants by Shanghai Tang, 

shoes by Hugo Boss, watch by Tiret 

HIM 

Black velvet jacket, green scarf and grey 

pants by Shanghai Tang; 

black shoes by GF Ferre; watch by Nubeo 

Bin Hendi 

21

Style 

HER 

Long black evening dress by GF Ferre, 

mobile phone by Goldvish 

HIM 

Grey suit, purple shirt and purple tie by 

Brioni; mobile phone by Goldvish 

22 Bin Hendi

Style 

HIM 

Silver top, black 

boots, blue striped 

jeans, belt, glasses 

and owl chain by GF 

Ferre, watch by 

Welder 

HER 

Leather jacket, white pants, 

pink top beige and purple shoes by GF 

Ferre, watch by Jacob&Co 

Bin Hendi 

23

Strapline 

HER 

Beige pants, blue jacket, red and white scarf, 

straw bag in beige and white by Paul & Shark; 

watch by Valentine Yudashkin 

HIM 

White jacket, red polo shirt, blue jeans, 

blue loafers, striped bag by Paul & Shark; 

watch by Ulysse Nardin 

24 Bin Hendi

Strapline 

HER 

White trenchcoat and orange top by 

Joseph; gold shoes by GF Ferre; 

watch by Nubeo 

HIM 

Orange jacket, beige pants and 

T-shirt by Zilli; watch by Noa 

For more information on locations, see contacts list on page 78 Bin Hendi 

25

Style 

HIM 

Black jacket, blue 

jeans, white shirt, tux 

belt by Hugo Boss; 

black full diamond 

face watch by 

Jacob & Co 

HER 

Gold dress Joseph; shoes by GF 

Ferre; three big diamond bangles, 

leopard earings, leopard ring by 

Jacob & Co 

26 Bin Hendi

Style 

HER 

Grey top by ck Calvin Klein; black watch, 

purple necklace by Schreiner 

HIM 

Blue jacket, blue pants by ck; bullet 

diamond necklace by Shreiner; 

watch by Navitec 

Models: Sherin Elsherbiny and Loukas Merhi Photographer: Wadih el Najjar 

Makeup: MAC Hair: Le Royal Salon Location: B&B Italia showroom, Mall of the Emirates 

Bin Hendi 27 

For more information on locations, see contacts list on page 78 27

Style 

The 

name’s 

Brioni… 

Italian designer Brioni has been dressing 

James Bond for years. Here’s why. 

28 Bin Hendi

In the pivotal scene of Casino Royale, the famous 

British secret agent James Bond is involved in a 

high-stakes card game. With some US$10 million 

of the British government’s money to play with, 

Bond’s task is to beat the villain Le Chiffre, crippling 

him financially and forcing him to seek British 

protection from his debtors; a nefarious bunch called 

the LRA, who have a penchant for lopping off limbs. 


Bin Hendi 

29

Style 

These scenes form a film within the film, in three tense acts, 

where the actor Daniel Craig, playing Bond for the first time, gets 

his prime opportunity to demonstrate the character of popular 

imagination – there is killing with calm detachment, cross and 

double cross, high-stakes and unimaginable glamour. 

And, of course, immaculate tailoring. 

Bond wears an understated classic black tuxedo, finished off 

with black ottoman silk trimmings, special pure horn buttons 

and opaque grosgrain peak lapels. The tux, as has become 

something of a Bond tradition, is a creation of Italian fashion 

house Brioni. 

But in these scenes, it is not just Bond that has his clothes 

provided by the couturiers of Abruzzo. 

Brioni eveningwear was worn by all seven characters sitting 

around the table, including the legendary model and actress 

Veruschka von Lehndorff, who wore items from the Brioni 

women’s collection. 

Brioni & Bond: 

A stirring combination 

GoldenEye, 1995 

Pierce Brosnan’s first 

outing calls for a sharper 

style of tailoring, and the 

call goes out to Italy. The 

film is noted for its revival 

of Bond as a fashion icon. 

On screen, Sean Bean’s 

traitorous former Mi6 

man, Alex Trevelyan, is 

finished off by a large 

explosion at an arctic 

power station. Brosnan 

gets away, looking 

suitably dashing, and 

hearts begin to swoon 

anew. 

Tomorrow Never Dies, 

1997 

Elegant Englishman 

Jonathan Pryce plays 

demented media mogul, 

Elliot Carver, but is 

thoroughly outplayed in 

the sartorial stakes by 

Bond. The tux he wears 

while sipping cocktails 

with Terri Hatcher’s 

character in Hamburg 

epitomises the spy’s élan. 

The World Is Not 

Enough, 1999 

Robbie Coltrane and 

Robert Carlyle play a 

Russian gangster and 

terrorist respectively. The 

latter plays with 

scar-faced menace, and 

intends to blow up large 

parts of southern Europe. 

Brosnan looks effortlessly 

chic in a classic dark 

Brioni suit as he powers a 

Q Boat down the River 

Thames in London in a 

spectacular stunt scene. 

Die Another Day, 2002 

Brosnan’s last outing 

included a marquee 

name, Halle Berry, as the 

female lead, eschewing 

the tradition of launching 

unknowns as Bond girls. 

Sartorially, this film may 

be more notable for 

Bond’s overcoat than his 

suit. It’s a classic, hand 

tailored, camel-coloured 

cashmere number. It’s 

also notable for a tweak 

of formalwear traditions, 

with Bond stepping out 

for an evening scene in 

midnight blue instead of 

black. 

Casino Royale, 2006 

A more sinister Bond gets 

a suitably masculine and 

sculpting look, as Daniel 

Craig takes to the casino. 

“The firm, which is now more 

than 60 years old, creates its 

suits in a workshop in Abruzzo, 

in eastern central Italy, around 

50 miles from Rome” 

The breathtaking sophistication of these scenes, and 

particularly the way they look, are what helped dispel any doubts 

among viewers that the new man was up to the job. Bond’s 

clothes were handmade by Brioni’s master tailors (as all Brioni 

suits are), following a number of fittings. The suits were 

exclusively created, and then styled by Oscar winning costume 

designer Lindy Flemming. 

For the release of the film, a Dhs15,000 limited edition 

version of the Bond tux was sold in a few select stores. It 

carried Brioni griffe lining, a gun holster concealed in the left 

lapel, waterproof pouches for top-secret documents, a groove 

around the neck to store a steel wire, secret pockets, and a 

Velcro-closed switchblade holder stitched into the inner 

hemline of the sleeve. While we wouldn’t recommend fitting 

such attachments to such a fine piece of tailoring, it certainly 

remained true to the prototype in the film. 

The association is not the first, and has been a constant in the 

Bond films since the days of Pierce Brosnan and GoldenEye in 

1995. It is easy to see why it has lasted through five different 

Bond outings. 

Brioni suits are considered a high-point in the (already rather 

high) standards of Italian tailoring. The firm, which is now more 

than 60 years old, creates its suits in a workshop in Abruzzo, in 

eastern central Italy, around 50 miles from Rome. Here, some 

900 expert tailors hand sew the suits, whether off-the-peg or 

made-to-measure. They take at least a week to make, using a few 

of the more than 5,000 fabrics available. They tend to be wide in 

the shoulder, and narrow in the waist, accentuating the 

masculine form. 

This cut and attention to detail made Brioni an obvious 

choice for Her Majesty’s most famous 

operative. But Pierce Brosnan and 

Daniel Craig are not the first 

famously dapper film stars to 

enjoy the finery of these 

hand-stitched Italian 

suits. 

The firm’s early 

reputation was built 

on creating handmade 

suits for the likes of 

Clark Gable and Cary 

Grant, when they 

discovered the tailor’s 

creations while 

working for the Italian 

Cinecitta film studios. 

Henry Fonda and Rock 

Hudson, quite literally, 

followed suit. n 

30 

Bin Hendi

Clothes for aspiring Bonds 

The current Brioni 

menswear collection 

typifies why the makers 

of Bond were willing to 

entrust their beloved 

character in fine Italian 

tailoring, after years of 

reliance on London’s 

Saville Row. 

The two-piece suits are 

classically structured, 

single-button items, 

which accentuate the 

triangular masculine form; 

broad shoulders, slim 

waist and dark colours. 

More causal items bring 

two buttons, and 

double-breasted sports 

blazers. But with these 

classic cuts come some 

more daring uses of 

colour than are often 

found with traditional 

English tailors. Whites 

and creams are more 

common with checks 

often fuller, making 

colours more 

pronounced. The 

flourishes on trims ensure 

Brioni items are 

statement pieces as 

much as they are 

clothing. At the more 

casual end, we see 

greater use of pastels and 

occasional free flowing 

patterns that demonstrate 

a boldness that sits well 

with the classic cut. 

Brioni stores can be 

found at Dubai Mall and 

at the Radisson SAS. 


Bin Hendi 31

Style 

Time for 

Meet the man who turned 

a bankrupt watch company 

into the maker of some of the 

world’s finest timepieces 

The 1970s was not a good time 

for traditional watch makers. 

The world was in the grip of 

the so-called ‘quartz crisis’ – 

quartz-powered watches that were not 

only affordable, but benefited from the 

craze for all things modern. 

Despite a long and proud history 

dating back to 1846, Ulysse Nardin was 

not immune to the changing market. By 

1983 the company had filed for 

bankruptcy protection and was looking 

for a buyer. 

Along came Rolf Schnyder, a colourful 

businessman who had left his native 

Switzerland in 1958, in his early 20s, 

when he caught a boat to Thailand. He 

spent 10 years working in the timepiece 

division of a Swiss trading company, 

before setting up the first-ever Swissowned 

factory in the Far East in 1968, 

producing watch parts in Thailand. In 

1983, while on a skiing holiday in 

Switzerland, he saw that Ulysse Nardin 

was up for sale and jumped at the 

opportunity, divesting himself of all his 

other business interests to try to revive 

the flagging fortunes of the famous 

brand. 

“I knew of the brand because of the 

many medals for accuracy and 

chronometric competitions that it had 

won. I was immediately interested in 

purchasing Ulysse Nardin,” he says. 

But there was little left to purchase. 

The original factory, built in 1864, 

contained, as Schnyder puts it, just 

“one-and-a-half employees”: one 

full-time watchmaker and another man 

who was not actually on the payroll. 

Together, the three of them (or two-anda-half) 

set about reviving the company. 

Schnyder’s comeback strategy was a 

simple one: manufacture a product that 

would instantly return Ulysse Nardin to 

its pre-eminent position in the watch 

making world. 

Hearing that an independent 

watchmaker called Jorg Spoering had 

created a new tourbillion, he paid a visit 

to his atelier, where a bizarre clock 

caught his eye. It was an Astrolabium, 

and the idea for Ulysse Nardin’s latest 

product was born. Schnyder enlisted the 

help of the Astrolabium’s creator, Dr 

Ludwig Oechslin, a scientist, historian, 

32 Bin Hendi

a Change 

inventor and master watch maker, who 

was to become one of Schnyder’s most 

frequent collaborators. 

“I pointed to the Astrolabium clock 

and asked: ‘Can you make it in 

wristwatch size?’ He puzzled for a 

moment and answered, genuinely 

confused: ‘I can, but who would want it 

so small?’” Schnyder’s reply was simple: 

“I do.” The result was the revolutionarily 

Astrolabium Galileo Galilei, a watch that 

charts the movement of the sun, moon 

and stars across the sky. It even indicates 

eclipses of the sun and moon, all 

mechanically. The watch caused a 

sensation, and catapulted the company 

back into the hall of fame. 

That was followed by the Planetarium 

Copernicus, a wristwatch that represents 

time through the shifting position of the 

planets in our solar system. The watch 

was so unique that it was entered into 

The Guinness Book of Records. 

While in the 1970s it appeared that the 

“The success of Ulysse Nardin shows why innovation 

is important. Several of our timepieces have become 

milestones in watch making and lend the company 

credibility, whereas fashion watches live off a fashion 

name, not the product itself or its technical features.” 

quartz crisis could kill off mechanical 

watches altogether, today they are more 

popular than ever. So popular, in fact, 

that barely a day goes by without the 

launch of yet another watch brand, and 

fashion labels without their own range of 

timepieces are increasingly scarce. 

But Schnyder is not worried, arguing 

that such newcomers cannot compete 

with well-established, specialised 

watchmakers such as Ulysse Nardin. 

“Fashion brands licence the brand name 

from a fashion company. They have to 

renew their collection frequently and the 

life span of their timepieces is relatively 

short. 

“The success of Ulysse Nardin shows 

why innovation is important. Several of 

our timepieces have become milestones 

in watch making and lend the company 

credibility, whereas fashion watches live 

off a fashion name, not the product itself 

or its technical features.” 

As such, he argues, fashion watches are 

unlikely to hold their value. “No fashion 

or quartz watch has ever made it to a sale 

of antique timepieces at Sotheby’s or 

Christie’s, and I think that says a lot. 

Fashion brands are mainly with a quartz 

movement and have no permanent 

value. They will not be remembered for 

technical innovation.” n 


Bin Hendi 

33

style 

4 ways to… 

Beat the heat 

When it comes to ducking Dubai’s searing climes and escaping 

the credit crunch, BinHendi is at your service 

Cool down at Second Cup 

or duck king 

While Second Cup makes a sterling cup of coffee, there’s 

a raft of cooler beverages on its menu that are perfect for 

summer’s steam bath climes. The strawberry and 

lemonade smoothie is a particular triumph. And if your 

sweet tooth demands something more filling, it’s tough to 

top the mango cream with fresh fruits at Duck King. 

look the part 

The weather may be hot but you can still look 

cool with these shades from Sonnenbrille 

Eat sushi at Japengo 

When it comes to summer dining, there’s 

nothing more tantalizing than a plate of sushi. 

Served on a bed of ice, Japengo’s extensive 

menu of sushi is the best way to keep things 

chilled over dinner. 

Hit Dubai Mall 

With everything from Hugo Boss’s latest 

collection to Joseph’s stunning knits, a 

visit to the emirate would be incomplete 

without a meander around the UAE’s 

largest mall. Whether it’s the huge 

aquarium in the entrance, or the 

Olympic-size ice rink, there really is 

something for everyone. 

Dive into Paul & Shark 

There’s no better way to keep cool than 

hitting the Arabian Gulf, and yachting is the 

only way to do it in style. Before navigating 

the waters, head to Paul & Shark and get 

kitted out in the latest boating wares. 

34 

Bin Hendi

Style 

In style 

Stylist to the stars Derek Khan reveals 

his pick of the hottest trends in town 

For the biggest trends this 

season, there’s ck Calvin 

Klein’s micro dresses, 

Miss Sixty’s maxi dresses 

and that’s not forgetting the 

sparkling jewellery in Jacob & Co.’s 

latest range. I’m also loving the 

pencil thin pants, cropped jackets 

and dove grey suits from ck Calvin 

Klein – they have that amazing 

‘woman on a mission’ vibe to 

them that rocks the catwalks. 

When it comes to bringing 

these looks together, I’m thinking 

understated is the way forward. 

But toning things down doesn’t 

mean you have to be boring, dull 

and drab with your outfit. Hugo 

Boss and Zilli are spot on for men, 

offering sleek, classic and understated suits 

with a twist of colour here and there (the 

tangerine-coloured belts and bright yellow 

ties are a triumph). Sometimes using just 

a hint of green, orange or red can have 

more impact that dressing head-to-toe 

in different colours. 

For women, I’m loving African hues 

and will use burnt oranges, canary 

yellows and tie die prints in my work. 

Hugo Boss has delivered the most 

divine collection for Spring/Summer 

‘09, focusing on earthy touches here and 

there. I adore the animal print-inspired 

jewellery from 

Jacob & Co, and Miss Sixty has some 

stunning accessories on the go, all with a 

strong sense of African safari to them. Hot 

tip: You can’t wear enough chunky bangles 

this season. 

I’m also a fan of playing with hemlines and 

waistbands. Just because a suit is solid grey, 

that doesn’t mean you can’t fiddle around 

with the shape. So, Hugo Boss goes old school 

with its men’s Navy-inspired blazers, while 

Zilli takes waist bands a little higher on its 

classic suits. I also love the classic sporty look 

in Paul & Shark’s latest collection, while Miss 

Sixty takes things up a notch with its highwaisted 

jumpsuits – perfect for anyone looking 

to accentuate their waistline. All in all, now is 

the time to play with shapes, not colours. 

As to the next season, I’m predicting a move away from 

‘safe’ looks, with heavy brocades, loads of colour and 

excessive embroidery dominating the catwalks. In 

my opinion it’s time for fashion to throw caution to 

the wind and dare to be different. n 

Fashion line 

Derek Khan has spent his days styling everyone from Queen 

Latifah to Pink. Here’s a snapshot of his career to date: 

✓ Guest appeared and featured on America’s Next Top Model 

with Tyra Banks. 

✓ Featured stylist at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art’s 

Rock ‘n Roll exhibition. 

✓ Styled Sean Coombs. Helped in developing his image from 

Hip Hop artist to International superstar. Did his cover for 

Teen People, Superstar, Notorious and numerous billboard 

and publicity pictures. 

✓ Styled Boyz II Men for the Prince of Egypt soundtrack and 

all related Dreamworks projects. 

✓ Styled for Mary J. Blige’s Share My World Album and 

Not Gonna Cry. 

✓ Styled Aretha Franklyn for VH1 Divas Live, the most watched 

show in the history of VH1. 


Bin Hendi 35

Style 

Beauty spot 

MAC cosmetics allowed us to peer behind the scenes at some recent 

shows to see their key trends for Spring/Summer 2009. 

36 Bin Hendi

“Armour, architecture and playing with different 

planes on the face with 3-D makeup.” 

Alex Box, make up artist 

“Fresh-faced with a hint of 

coral – a girl who is too young 

to wear makeup.” 

Gordon Espinet, make up artist 

Bin Hendi 

37

Style 

“Young, cool and fresh to balance the ‘80s aesthetic in the collection.” 

Makky, make up artist 

“Irving Penn with a modern 

twist: catlike classic in shape 

with a metallic wet texture for 

a futuristic finish.” 

Charlotte Tilbury, make up artist 

38 

Bin Hendi 

For more information on locations, see contacts list on page 78

Style 

Bin Hendi 39

Top 

table 

With its suede walls, spectacular cuisine 

and pristine service, Joe’s Café is the 

perfect spot for hungry shopaholics 

Dine 

The term ‘shop until you drop’ may be a thing of the 

past with the launch of Joe’s Café – the sister 

restaurant to the ever-chic Joseph boutique. While the 

latter sells glorious knitwear, divine accessories and boasts 

immaculate tailoring, the former offers the culinary 

equivalent. 

Essentially Joe’s Café is the perfect pit stop for selfconfessed 

shopaholics. After some serious retail therapy, 

there’s nothing quite like the wholesome taste of its ‘guilt free’ 

lemon chicken on a bed of steamed vegetables. And that’s not 

forgetting the mouthwatering smaller bites, including New 

York-inspired bagels and homemade soups. 

Everything about the menu – and the restaurant’s crisp 

décor – smacks of class and sophistication and it’s the sort of 

place that you’d expect Kate Moss to 

sashay into – complete with a string 

of A-list comrades. 

Located in the heart of Dubai 

Mall, Joe’s Café takes inspiration 

from the original restaurant in 

London’s Sloane Street. A firm 

favourite with fashion darlings the 

globe over, the menu offers a 

delicate fusion of European and 

Mediterranean cuisine and even adds a 

hint of Arabic influence to cater to the local palette. 

For chef Rahim Hajir, the menu offers a wide range of dishes, 

which have been delicately embellished by his expert hand. To 

this end, the crab salad is dressed with a mild chili dressing, while 

the Arabic-inspired date sticky toffee pudding needs to be tasted 

to be believed. 

The whole aesthetic of the place is akin to a high-end 

boutique and if it wasn’t for the tantalizing wafts coming out 

of chef Hajir’s kitchen, diners would be forgiven for thinking 

they were about to see the latest catwalk trends waltz through 

the restaurant. 

In this Zen-like space – neutral hues and soft leathers 

dominate – the odd smattering of black and white celebrity 

photos also remind diners of the clientele that has come to 

know and love this elegant – yet utterly relaxed – eatery. 

So, for style-conscious shoppers looking to rest their weary 

limbs, Joe’s Café is the perfect stop off. And much like its 

neighbour Joseph, it shares the same commitment to quality, 

style and design, leaving shoppers ready to hit the stores with 

gusto. 


Food galore 

Founded by Joseph Ettedgui, the namesake of Joseph boutiques, 

Joe’s Cafes are located in high-class retail environments attracting an 

international clientele. There are currently three Joe’s Cafes in 

operation: the latest in Dubai Mall, the original in Sloane Street, London 

and another in Draycott Avenue, London. Created and managed with 

the same precision and attention to detail as Joseph, their fashion 

counterparts, Joe’s Cafes are favorite spots with fashion professionals 

from around the world. Their proximity to Joseph stores guarantees a 

stylistic and aesthetic coordination between the two spaces, resulting 

in a harmonious marriage of fashion and dining. 

Bin Hendi 41

Dine 

Choco late 

fix 

A new chocolate concept is revolutionising 

the way chocoholics get their fix 

42 

Bin Hendi

There can be few tastes as precious as the first nibble of 

a luxurious chocolate. For all the comforts that 

modern life offers us, this simple experience must be 

among the most pleasurable, and has been enjoyed 

since the Maya and Aztecs first melted down cocoa beans to be 

drunk 3,000 years ago. Consider those the first hot chocolates. 

And it remained a secret of the Americas for two-and-a-half 

millennia, until Spanish explorers arrived and brought this dark 

gold back to the courts of Europe, where it became the drink of 

kings and queens, and began its slow spread around the planet. 

It could be seen as appropriate then, that Spain is leading a 

new charge in how we enjoy the humble bean. Catalonia, in 

Spain’s north-east, has become a global leader in the culinary arts 

in recent years. It has given the world Ferran Adrià, the chef at El 

Bulli, currently considered the best restaurant in Europe. Then 

there is his great rival and countryman Santi Santamaría, with 

his galaxy of Michelin stars, and the female chef Carme 

Ruscalleda, who carries five Michelin baubles of her own. This 

sensuous and vibrant region has long been known for its passion 

for tastes, but today it is leading a culinary revolution. 

And one of those revolutionaries is Cacao Sampaka. The 

first store opened in Catalonia’s capital, Barcelona, in 2000. It 

was a cafeteria dedicated purely to the enjoyment of 

chocolate, and very quickly became immensely popular. After 

all, who could resist a choice of hundreds of flavours in 

myriad forms made with authentic cocoa by carefully trained 

artisans, and free from artificial preservatives? Eating 

chocolate hasn’t been the same since. 

So, the chocolate revolution has begun, but what form will 

it take? The Cacao Sampaka approach is innovative and 

varied. The most common offering, of course, is chocolates 

themselves. But there is nothing commonplace about these 

creations. Individual chocolates come in a number of 

varieties. The Great Origins collection uses single beans from 

one of eight cocoa producing tropical nations, ranging from 

Papua and Equatorial Guinea to Cuba and Venezuela. These 

truffled chocolates allow connoisseurs a pure experience of 

top grade beans. The Crunchy Nuts collection brings 

chocolate and nut flavours together with ingenious effect, 

using varieties such as sesame and pistachio. The Americas 

collection brings spices and savoury flavours like curry, 

chicory, nutmeg and cardamom. Collection 4 offers flowers, 

herbs and herbal teas, including jasmine, rosemary and 

peppermint. The Fruits collection has the sweet decadence of 

chocolate combined with the cleansing, refreshing flavour of 

fruits such as lime, raspberry and cassis. But perhaps the most 

enlightening and revolutionary of all for chocoholics is the 

Gastronomic Innovations range. These sweet-salted 

combinations are best enjoyed by inquisitive palates; peanut, 

anchovy, Modena vinegar, Parma cheese – truly, this is the 

work of culinary revolutionaries. And this before even 

considering the many chocolate slabs, gifts and chocolate 

sauces, jams and spreads. It’s time for chocoholics of the 

world to unite in praise. 

Cacao Sampaka is open in Dubai Mall. 


Bin Hendi 43

Dine 

Feast for the senses 

Food and friends make 

the most sociable 

combination 

“The pleasant hours of our 

life,” wrote the 19th century French 

author Charles Monselet, “are all 

connected by some memory of the 

table.” Few truer words have been 

spoken. While dining alone can be a 

culinary treat, gathering friends around 

a table is an event that forms cherished 

memories. To encourage vibrant 

conversation, the setting cannot be too 

formal, but must be comfortable and 

inviting enough to encourage post-meal 

lingering. Burger chains rarely get the 

right mix, designed as so many are to fill 

an urgent need to eat and leave. 

But, the newly-opened Ruby Tuesday 

in Dubai Mall, which follows the success 

of branches in Jumeirah Beach 

Residence and Jumeirah Beach Plaza, is 

no ordinary burger chain. The décor is 

the first sign, as there is no faux 

Americana; no fake ‘50s milk adverts on 

the wall, guitars in glass cases or folksy 

red-and-white-check colour scheme. 

Booths are high-backed, with seats in 

dark olive leatherette. Wood panels and 

tables are mahogany stained, and 

weighty metal cutlery comes wrapped 

in white cloths, rather than paper 

towels. Lighting is low, but bright 

enough to keep conversation alert. In 

Ribs and Louisiana fried shrimps 

the main seating area, tables have white 

linen settings and low beige arm chairs. 

Food is presented with a certain artistry 

on square or rectangular white plates. 

When glasses of water run dry, eager, 

black-clad staff top them up. 

But this remains casual dining, and the 

Double chocolate cake 

high levels of service and finish do not 

come with any unnecessary fuss. The 

unobtrusive music is well pitched, from 

‘90s UK indie to American classics, and 

the atmosphere is relaxed, convivial and 

inviting; the perfect spot for Thursday 

night dining with friends, and 

developing more cherished memories of 

the table. But what of the food? People 

don’t linger over bad meals, after all. 

The restaurant’s tagline, ‘High quality 

casual dining’, sums it up well. Dedicated 

carnivores realise that the burger is a 

culinary art form, and that the artist in 

the kitchen has two vital tools; bread and 

meat, his canvas and oils. Patties must be 

thick, with meat slightly pink in the 

middle, like a medium-cooked fillet 

mignon. Buns must be gently toasted, 

and made with bread that tears as the 

teeth pull away, instead of crumbling like 

a cheap, starchy loaf. Condiments and 

44 Bin Hendi

Spinach artichoke dip 

toppings are cause for debate, and the 

correctness of caramelised onions over 

raw, ketchup over relish and the 

inclusion (or otherwise) of tomato are as 

subjective as whether blue or red is a 

prettier colour. 

Ruby Tuesday understands these 

basics, and may make the best burgers in 

the UAE. The Triple Prime Burger, the 

restaurant’s best seller, is a fine example 

of the art. Teeth first sink through a 

premium bun that is flavoured with 

honey. The natural sweetness is discreet 

and subtle, and sits as a perfect 

complement to the prime, beefy flavour 

of the burger itself. For those who have 

grown weary of the grease-fests served 

up in other diners, this is a spectacular 

treat. It is a first bite that reminds the 

taste buds of how burgers should be 

– good meat, good bread, fresh fillings 

(in this case, fresh lettuce, vine-ripened 

tomatoes and a light garlic mayonnaise). 

None of the flavours overpower the 

meat, and each bite offers up a simple, 

carnivorous pleasure. 

And the quality of the food extends 

beyond the burgers (though these are the 

mainstay, with 20 varieties, including 

some delectable minis). The fries, 

another simple element that can often 

disappoint, are superb. They come fresh, 

hot and evenly crisped, with fluffy potato 

within. 

The garden bar tops any equivalent 

elsewhere. There is a freshness to the 

display, and a selection that includes 

pastas and bell peppers alongside other 

salad staples, and half a dozen well 

presented dressings. 

The same care with which burgers 

are prepared is applied to the steaks, 

from the 200 gram sirloin to the 340 

gram New York strip. Ribs and chicken 

are served with verve, and the seafood 

dishes take in some Deep South classics, 

including broiled tilapia and Louisiana 

fried shrimp. Every dish comes with the 

dedication to fresh, fine ingredients, 

which has seen the group expand for 30 

years. And then, inexorably, come the 

desserts. Those whose sweet tooth has 

not been indulged by the milkshakes or 

fresh fruit cocktails (and most of those 

who have) simply must indulge. The 

Blondie (a white brownie, with chunks 

of chocolate and crunchy nuts, served 

with vanilla ice cream and caramel 

sauce) tastes like happiness; it’s another 

cherished memory of the table, and one 

that is best shared with friends. 

Ruby Tuesday can be found in Dubai 

Mall, Jumeirah Beach Residence and 

Jumeirah Beach Park Plaza. 


Dine 

Italian Soda 

The nation that gave the 

world the Neapolitan, 

tutti-frutti, and other 

deliciously sweet gelati 

certainly knows how to cool 

the taste buds with tantalizing 

flavours. The Italian Soda is 

no different. The happy 

combination of flavoured 

syrup and soda served with 

ice offers a clean, refreshing 

way to re-hydrate for another 

scorching hot day. Just pick 

your choice of flavour. 

Strawberry and 

Lemonade Smoothie 

Some of the summer tastes 

we gather in childhood stay 

with us for life. Perhaps 

nothing brings back 

memories of sweltering 

childhood days playing in 

the park more than the 

zesty citrus tang of old 

fashioned lemonade. It’s a 

happy taste association 

that’s common from 

Jumeira to New Jersey. Add 

the cooling, icy smoothie 

and the natural sweetness 

of strawberries for a 

delectable summer treat. 

Summer surprises 

Second Cup isn’t just about great coffee. When the 

heat gets too much, try one of these delicious treats. 

Strawberries 

and Cream 

Strawberries and cream are 

as quintessential to an 

English summer as picnics 

in the country and rain at the 

Wimbledon tennis 

championships. And at 

Second Cup, strawberries 

and cream come mixed 

together in a luxuriant, silky 

puree that gives them a truly 

international style. There is 

the decadence of the cream, 

whipped to perfection and 

giving a gloriously rich 

texture. And then, offsetting 

this, is the abundant, fruity, 

sweet flavour of the 

strawberries. It’s a delectably 

summery combination. 

Herbal Teas 

But of course, cooling down 

in summer isn’t solely about 

slurping away on cool drinks. 

Battling the heat can be 

about simply taking time out 

of your day to breath, to 

compose your thoughts, and 

to allow yourself to once 

again feel at one with the 

world. And the restorative 

powers of the humble cup of 

tea are not to be 

underestimated, as the 

world’s three billion tea 

drinkers, ranging from the 

southern tip of New Zealand, 

to the north-western 

extremes of Russia, can’t be 

wrong. The calming influence 

of chamomile tea, for 

example, has been known in 

ancient Asian cultures for 

thousands of years. Second 

Cup’s blueberry burst, on the 

other hand, while offering the 

simple de-stressing pleasure 

of a good brew, manages to 

reinvigorate too, with its 

summer fruit flavour. The 

black tea flavours, on the 

other hand, bring a more 

robust punch that 

simultaneously becalms 

and inspires. 

Green Tea Latte 

And finally, of course, comes 

the tea latte. Remember 

when you couldn’t sleep as a 

child, and would be given a 

warm milky drink before being 

sent back to bed? If the 

stresses of summer living are 

becoming too much, these 

milky, flavourful treats are a 

wonderful way to steal five 

minutes to yourself and 

unwind. They are made by 

using light, fresh, aromatic 

steamed Chinese sencha 

green tea, which is lightly 

sweetened with honey and 

topped up with steamed milk 

and foam. It is deliciously easy 

to drink, and almost certain to 

inspire a second cup before 

you return to face the world. 

46 Bin Hendi 


Live 

Aristocracy 

of art 

Daniel Barth, Managing Director of Graf von Faber-Castell, 

talks luxury pencils, castles and working with German nobles 

It’s the little things in life that often 

go unappreciated. Most of us 

know that Alexander Graham Bell 

invented the telephone. The 

Wright brothers are famous for building 

the first working aeroplane. And even a 

child could tell you that it was Henry 

Ford who popularised the motorcar. 

But the hexagonal pencil? That may well 

leave you scratching your head. 

The person we have to thank is 

Lothar von Faber, the fourth generation 

head of the Faber-Castell company, and 

the man who put an end to centuries of 

strained backs and bumped heads as 

writers scrambled round on the floor 

hunting for their cylindrical – and 

therefore highly mobile – pencils. 

Since 1761 Faber-Castell has been 

making pencils, but it was only when 

Lothar took over in 1839 that the 

problem of anchoring the runaway 

writing implement was finally solved. 

From hereon in the company has 

gone from strength to strength, with its 

pens and pencils favoured by world 

statesmen such as US President Ulysses 

Grant, who is reported to have used 

them to sketch out battle plans during 

the Civil War, and Otto von Bismark, 

the German chancellor. Famed for his 

practicality in politics, Bismark carried 

that through to his calligraphy, using 

one end of his pencil to take notes in 

parliament and the other to tamp the 

tobacco in his pipe. 

With such a long history it may come 

as something of a surprise that the 

company waited more than 200 years 

before moving into the luxury writing 

market. But Faber-Castell is no ordinary 

company, as demonstrated by the first 

product launched under its recently 

created high-end subsidiary, Graf von 

Faber-Castell. 

“We knew that we had all the 

ingredients for a luxury brand, from our 

history and our tradition of innovation to 

the fact that all our products have to be 

the best in their class,” explains Daniel 

Barth, Managing Director of Faber- 

Castell’s premium brand. 

“So there was a sense of quality 

inherent in Faber Castell, but we didn’t 

want to create just another fountain pen 

company.” 

The solution? A luxury pencil. 

Known as the Perfect Pencil, this 

unique tool consists of a 

replaceable wooden pencil, with a silver 

or platinum cap on one end and a 

matching extender, complete with 

built-in sharpener, on the other. 

“Most people thought we were crazy,” 

says Barth. “Even internally in the 

company a lot of people thought the 

Count [Anton Wolfgang von Faber- 

Castell, the company’s CEO] was crazy.” 

Fortunately the Count proved his 

critics wrong: the luxury pencil was an 

idea whose time had come. 

48 Bin Hendi

For more information on locations, see contacts list on page 78 Bin Hendi 49 

Live

Live 

“We knew that we had all the ingredients for a 

luxury brand, from our history and our 

tradition of innovation to the fact that all our 

products have to be the best in their class” 

“It’s become one of our best sellers 

and is now our flagship product,” says 

Barth. “But it’s also one of our best 

conversation pieces because it really 

explains our brand and where it comes 

from in a fantastic way.” 

Since the launch of the Perfect Pencil 

Graf von Faber-Castell has branched 

out to produce a wide range of luxury 

pens, many of them featuring wooden 

barrels. There is even a small but 

growing collection of leather goods. 

But one of Barth’s proudest creations 

is the annual tradition of the Pen of the 

Year. Each year from 2004, the company 

has produced a limited number of 

exquisite pens featuring unique 

materials, including Mammoth ivory 

(completely legal, Barth assures us), 

stingray leather and Indian satinwood, 

which takes its inspiration from the 

wooden panelling of the beautiful 

Lemon Room in the Faber Castell castle 

in Germany. 

Barth has high hopes for 2009’s Pen of 

the Year in this region, which features 

a barrel coated in woven horsehair. Horse 

owners even have the option of using the 

hair of their most beloved stallion. 

While the pencils have found a niche 

among the design community, Graf 

von Faber-Castell’s pens have a far 

wider appeal. The most recent treaty of 

the European Union was signed using 

one of the company’s instruments. 

g 

“We’ve created wonderful products, 

using innovative materials, that anyone 

can love.” 

“People like the feel of the pens and 

they’re something that people use 

because it works from a functional 

point of view and it pleases them from 

an aesthetic point of view.” 

But Barth feels that the usefulness of 

a luxury pen goes far beyond 

impressing those present when you use 

it. “I believe it gives you better ideas,” he 

says. “I’ve always found things easier 

when you have a beautiful pen.” n 

50 Bin Hendi 


Live 

g 

Holiday 

blues 

R 

Think nautical chic this 

summer with Paul & 

Shark’s latest Spring/ 

Summer ‘09 collection 

8 

Go casual this summer with cool summer 

shorts and a striped blue rugby shirt 

Bin Hendi 51

8 

Live 

Channel a laid-back glamour 

look with these neutral shades 

52 

Bin Hendi

Live 

For cool summer evenings throw a classic navy jacket over a rugby shirt 


Bin Hendi 

53

Live 

For Mediterranean chic opt for 

navy trousers and a white shirt 

å 

54 

Bin Hendi

Strapline 

Move from day into night with this 

classic navy and white combo 


Bin Hendi 

55

Live 

56 Bin Hendi

Live 

Summer 

House 

n 

n 

We look at how to prepare your home for summer 

(and how to prepare a summer home for you) 


Bin Hendi 

57

Live 

“ When a new season sets in,” says Dubai-based feng 

shui expert Shivani Adalja, “elements 

corresponding to that season become 

predominant.” It’s a simple bit of advice, but 

one that is worth bearing in mind for homes in summer. Seasons 

can vary so wildly that our homes are often left unprepared, and 

our mood is affected as a result – whether it’s a chill and rainy 

winter night, or the blazing heat of high summer. 

“In feng shui, it is believed that energy is made up of five 

elements,” explains Adalja, “wood, fire, earth, metal and water. 

Every element corresponds to an area of life, colours, and a 

particular season. Wood represents spring, fire represents 

summer, earth represents the end of summer, metal represents 

autumn and water represents winter.” 

She uses, as an example, the silver reclining chair seen on these 

pages, made by Ego Paris, designers of delectable indoor and 

outdoor furniture. “This chair is ideal for summer,” she explains, 

“as it is white in colour and has curved edges. This is a metal 

shape. In feng shui it is believed that metal creates water. 

Therefore by using a metal shape and water colour, this piece of 

furniture is ideal for summer by the pool”. 

As with all things, balance is needed, and the season’s 

predominant element must be countered by other elements. “In 

summer, the fire element is very strong,” says Adalja. “Fire in 

moderation is healthy, but one needs to balance fire with water in 

their surroundings to calm the energy.” 

As ever, colour is vitally important when creating inspiring 

interiors, and some colours are more summer friendly than 

others. Shades of red or orange, so closely linked to the fire 

element, should be avoided. Adalja advises using calming 

colours, such as “grey, white, gold, silver and blue”. 

Blending indoor and outdoor space, wherever possible, is also 

important in creating a free flow of energy, and countering the 

claustrophobia of a Gulf summer. This of course is something 

that is seen in the open, shade-drenched courtyards of a 

traditional Arabian home, but which is easy to forget in more 

modern structures. 

“If you have open space in your living room that opens up to 

the patio or an open area, it is considered to be good feng shui,” 

says Adalja. “By opening the space between the living room and 

the outdoor area, you are inviting the good energy into your 

home. It is important that the open space reflects light into your 

home and you can feel the breeze in your house.” Again, she 

explains, mixing elemental colours helps. A red couch with black 

wall decoration and white walls brings a balance of elements. 

“Red is the colour for fire and black is the colour for water,” says 

Adalja, “and white is also a metal colour. These create water 

energy which calms hot summer energy and one will feel less 

hot. Natural light and open space balance the energy in the area.” 

Fans of strong colours and clean, subtle lines might like to note 

the works of two of Europe’s premier furniture designers: Ego 

Paris, mentioned above, and Casamilano, the Italian purveyors of 

fine furnishings and accessories. Both have a simplicity of style 

that is well suited to the summer home. 

There will be moments, of course, when allowing outdoor 

and indoor areas to mix is not possible, because of high heat. 

How, then, can we create better flow? “First of all clear the 

clutter from the house,” says Adalja. “This will get your energy 

in the house moving.” Then, you must insist on allowing fresh 

air to pass through, for at least an hour a day. Open windows, 

regardless of the heat and allow air to flow to combat the 

recirculation of air conditioning. 

Then, to the interiors themselves, and Adalja has some simple 

58 

Bin Hendi

“You must insist on allowing fresh air 

to pass through, for at least an hour a 

day. Open windows, regardless of the 

heat and allow air to flow to combat 

the recirculation of air conditioning” 

n 

but useful suggestions. “Displaying a blue or white painting with 

water will create a calm ambiance,” she says. “If possible add a 

small water feature in your house and leave the water fountain 

on during the day. The sound of running water is very calming. 

If you have a swimming pool in your villa or your apartment 

overlooks a swimming pool, keep the window or door in that 

direction open for a few hours every day. It will invite the 

calming water energy into your house.” The stringent demand 

for A/C is not always the right answer. 

And for those that can brave outdoor areas, similar rules apply, 

Adalja explains. “Keep your outdoor clutter-free and have lots of 

space to move around,” she says. In the picture here, the exterior 

wall is violet in colour. This is a fire colour. However the impact 

Feng shui 

summer guidelines 

✓ Clean out the clutter from your house 

✓ Use lighter colours in your surroundings 

✓ Light aromatic oils and incense to create good 

energy flow 

✓ Add a water feature to your house 

✓ Open windows for movement of energy 

✓ Add an aquarium with live fish in your living room 

✓ Display fresh flowers in open spaces 

✓ Breath deeply and meditate for 10 minutes daily 

✓ Avoid using carpets during summer months and 

keep your flooring cool by mopping with cold water 

of the colour is lessened as there is a pool and other walls and 

furniture is white in colour. This creates water energy and 

balances the environment. There is plenty of natural light and 

the deck has no extra furniture. This allows energy to move freely 

and gives a feeling of open space. The heat is not felt much in this 

area as the movement of air and energy will calm the hot air in 

the surroundings.” n 

The furniture displayed on these pages comes from 

collections by Ego Paris and Casamilano. Both are available 

at Baituti (www.baituti.com). Shivani Adalja can be 

contacted through Pathwood (www.pathwood.com) or 

directly on +971 50 681 1728. 


Live 

Hot properties 

We preview some of the finest places to live (or invest) in Dubai. 

For sale 

For sale 

Palm Jumeirah Signature Villa 

What: This prestigious property is located on the 

Palm Jumeirah on frond A. 

Rooms: It consists of six bedrooms, majlis, living 

room and dining room with direct sea view. 

Added extras: It’s ideally located in the front of the 

Palm Jumeirah and features private covered parking 

for cars and a private swimming pool and beach. 

For rent 

Bin Hendi Tower 

Sky Gardens 

What: Fully furnished, high-end, luxury apartments in the heart of DIFC 

(Dubai International Financial Centre). 

Rooms: Studios, one bedroom and two bedroom apartment fully furnished 

with Fendi. 

Added Extras: All apartments are furnished with luxury FENDI furniture, 

and come with a fully-equipped kitchen. There is a 24-hour reception 

service, swimming pool, gym, and sauna with changing rooms. 

What: Ultra luxurious residential apartments in 

the heart of Bur Dubai. 

Rooms: Two-bedroom and three-bedroom 

apartments 

Added Extras: A 24-hour concierge and security 

service, basement parking, swimming pool, gym, 

sauna and separate male and female changing 

rooms, all a five minute walk from the new metro 

station. 

60 

Bin Hendi

For rent 

Jumeira Villa 

What: Luxury villas on Al Wasl Road, near to Safa Park. 

Rooms: Five bedrooms, and separate maid’s quarters 

Added Extras: There is a remote-controlled entrance to the compound, along with a tennis court, gym and a shared 

swimming pool. Each villa comes with two car parking spaces. 

For rent 

Fully Furnished Garden 

Villa on Palm Jumeirah 

What: This villa overlooks the Burj Al 

Arab and it is located on the frond C of 

the Palm Jumeirah. 

Rooms: The villa consists of four fully 

furnished bedrooms, a majlis, living room 

and a dining room. It’s fully furnished 

with state of the art furniture, the kitchen 

is equipped and the garden is beautifully 

landscaped. 

Added extras: The villa features covered 

parking for two cars, a swimming pool 

and a private beach. 

For more information contact Alpha Properties on 04 2288 588. 

Bin Hendi 61

Live 

Cutting 

With his very first collection in 1996, 

edge 

American designer Jeffrey Bernett 

won ‘Best of Show’ at the International 

Contemporary Furniture Fair in New 

York. Today, as one of the creative 

minds behind B&B Italia, he shares his 

views on the importance of studying 

foreign cultures, the relevance of 

Japanese rice paddies, and how 

technology is the only thing holding 

back the workplace of the future. 

You could be forgiven for wondering what innovations 

in Japanese rice paddies have to do with designing 

buildings. 

And, at first glance, the Chinese numeric system might not 

seem particularly relevant to making sofas. 

The thread that links these seemingly unrelated elements is 

Jeffrey Bernett, the award-winning designer and architect, and 

one of the creative brains behind luxury furniture brand B&B 

Italia. 

Americans are not necessarily renowned for their cultural 

sensitivity, but Bernett says it is his “endless curiosity” towards 

62 Bin Hendi

other ways of life that has enabled him to become one of the 

world’s most sought-after designers. 

“The US doesn’t invent everything,” he says. “Particularly 

when you go into cultures that are very old there’s a lot to 

learn. And in everything there are opportunities.” 

It is those opportunities that explain Bernett’s enthusiasm 

for the rice-growing areas of Japan. “The land is extremely 

expensive, so there’s an enormous incentive for farmers to get 

more from what they have. The efficiencies that happen in 

that system are phenomenal, far ahead of what’s happening in 

the United States.” 

Still wondering what all this has to do with furniture? The 

point Bernett is making is that a large part of his job is 

looking at how people around the globe have solved 

problems, and how those solutions can be applied to his own 

world. In Japan’s case, Bernett is interested in the use of water 

and how that can be used in architecture. And the way in 

which traditional Middle Eastern architecture deals with heat 

without the need for energy-hungry air conditioning 

fascinates him. 

“It’s important to understand that while innovation might 

not happen that often in the industry that you’re working in, 

innovation can happen in different industries and it can help 

you problem solve,” he says. “That allows for a lot of 

opportunities.” 

It was by studying innovation in other areas and applying 

those techniques to furniture that B&B Italia revolutionised 

the industry. In 1965 furniture was still made in a manner 

that would be familiar to a craftsman from hundreds of years 

ago. A sofa consisted of a handmade wooden frame, some 

padding and a covering of upholstery. 

While the manufacture of furniture hadn’t changed for 

decades, the manufacturing industry itself had. World War II 

in particular had led to a huge outpouring of innovation as 

nations raced to out produce each other in the manufacture 

of tanks, planes and guns. 

Piero Ambrogio Busnelli realised that there was an 

opportunity to apply those advanced methods to the more 

peaceful production of furniture, industrialising the process 

to give a high quality product at an affordable price. In 1966, 

B&B Italia was born. 

Busnelli instigated what Bernett describes as “a 

paradigm shift” in the furniture industry with the 

invention of injectable foam and steel frames. 

Although hidden away under the upholstery, these 

innovations paved the way for the elaborate furniture we take 

for granted today. 


Bin Hendi 

63

live Live 

Those new technologies allow designers such as Bernett 

greater freedom than ever to reinvent the ways in which we 

live and work. In fact the only constraint, ironically, is our 

dependence on technology. 

“The last thing we’re tied to is a desk by the need for power 

and data,” he says. “Data is wireless, so power is the last thing. We 

don’t yet have batteries that allow us to have a 12-hour workday. 

We’re getting close, and the minute we’re able to have that kind 

of battery life we’re no longer tied to a specific place.” 

“Technology continues to allow for 

some super amazing things to 

happen. What happens with 

building material and how we define 

architecture is constantly changing.” 

Bernett’s vision of the wireless office of the future sounds 

like most managers’ worst nightmare as employees shun desks 

in favour of reclining in easy chairs or working from home. 

“Maybe you’d like to work in a lounge chair and pull up a side 

table,” he says. “You could talk on your hands free and have 

your laptop there. Or maybe I work from home and my LCD 

panel is no longer captured in a plastic box, but I can have a 

piece of glass and that could be a wall of my office. 

“Technology continues to allow for some super amazing 

things to happen. What happens with building material and 

how we define architecture is constantly changing.” 

For an example of that change, Bernett points to the design 

of offices. Whereas he estimates that just a few years ago the 

average office was around 90 percent work space and 10 

percent breakout areas, today he believes that split is more 

like 60-40. That allows people to work in new ways and the 

change, Bernett says, is simply one of design. 

“I still get people coming up to me and thanking me, saying 

that my designs have enabled them to communicate better. 

“Making products that are different is easy, but making 

products that are better is much harder. How do you improve the 

quality of life? If you can do that then you’ve got it right.” n 

64 Bin Hendi 


Live 

66 Bin Hendi

Precious 

Pearl 

Dubrovnik has been growing 

increasingly popular for the last 

few years, but it remains a tranquil, 

under-explored corner of one of 

Europe’s most beautiful countries 

Bin Hendi 

67

Live 

Dubrovnik has been a place of genteel civility and 

sophistication for centuries. It was famously 

described by Lord Byron, the 19th century English 

romantic poet, dandy, freedom fighter and bon 

viveur as the ‘Pearl of the Adriatic’. Yet for many, its red-tiled 

roofs and medieval walls only entered popular consciousness 

through news bulletins in the early 1990s, when thick plumes of 

black smoke filled the air as shells dropped from the hills above, 

hoping to quell its nascent bid for independence. 

Strolling these peaceful and charming streets just over 15 years 

later, it is impossible to contemplate such a time. Today, 

Dubrovnik could very easily claim to be the most beautiful city 

in Europe. It sits beneath the tumbling foothills of Srd Mountain, 

which is painted a luscious broccoli green by forests of trees, the 

city’s medieval ramparts and defences peeking out across the 

iridescent blue of the Adriatic sea, with Italy across the water, and 

the Mediterranean a few miles to the south. All around lie 

tranquil islands with welcoming villages, fresh water lakes and 

spectacular nature. 

For many, the first thing to do on arriving is stroll along the 

old city walls. Parts of this structure are thought to date back to 

the 5th century and the original founding of the city. For 

hundreds of years, the naval city-state empires of Venice and 

Dubrovnik vied for supremacy of the Adriatic and northern 

Mediterranean. Today they vie for tourist income. And while the 

Italian city of canals is without doubt charming, its Croatian 

rival is a place of such heart warming beauty, that comparisons 

soon become useless. The entire city feels as though it is covered 

by a preservation order, so carefully is it protected. Buildings are 

repaired only with the beige limestone that pervades throughout, 

shop signs are on removable banners, so as not to damage the 

authenticity of the structures they inhabit, and for a place so 

beloved of tourists and budget airlines, Dubrovnik remains 

immaculately clean. A stroll through these streets is almost like 

walking across a film set. The perfection of the scenery is almost 

too quaint to believe, and visitors may soon find themselves 

peeking behind doors and prodding the lumpen, artful city walls 

to check that they are real. 

The only imperfections come from small lumps of shrapnel, 

the scars of the bombardment of 1991. Visitor numbers are still 

not up to pre-war levels, but with such beauty on show, it is 

impossible to understand why. The Romans, Byzantines, 

Habsburgs and Ottomans have all left their mark, and the 

authorities have shown great wisdom in not allowing any of the 

crass and gaudy developments that sully large parts of the 

Mediterranean coast. The city walls are around two kilometres 

long, up to 25 metres high, and a stroll around them could easily 

take two hours. Each turn brings a stunning new view, be it the 

sea, the Dalmatian coast, the hills or those famous red rooftops. 

Bring a spare memory card for your camera. 

With the city’s walls strolled, it’s time to step down and 

investigate the town itself. Must-sees include the 17th 

century cathedral, and Franciscan and Dominican monasteries, 

both of which have museums and are treasure troves of religious 

artefacts. 

But Dubrovnik is a coastal city, and not all its appeal lies in the 

town. Those with a taste for glamorous European beaches need 

not be disappointed. Banje beach easily challenges anything to be 

found on the Côte d’Azur. Its proximity to some of the city’s 

most exclusive hotels (see ‘places to stay’), and views of the old 

town make it a popular spot for wealthy European tourists. 

68 

Bin Hendi

There are some very hip cafes and restaurants, bedecked with 

modernist white furniture, and any number of beach activities, 

ranging from jet skiing to loafing in the sun. As with most 

beaches in Dubrovnik, it is pebble, rather than sand, but this 

does ensure that water stays as clear as anything that comes out 

of your tap. The Eastwest beach club (www.ew-dubrovnik.com) 

is the epicentre of entertainment here, and quickly fills with 

Croatia’s beautiful people (of which there are many). 

But, time spent here should not be reserved solely for the 

walled city, regardless of how stunning it appears. Part of 

Dubrovnik’s appeal lays in the astonishing natural treasures 

beyond the city walls. The surrounding county of Dubrovnik- 

Neretva is one of the most beautiful places in all of Europe, and 

Dubrovnik is equally famed for the nearby islands, which are 

easily accessible by ferry. 

Perhaps the best known of these is Lokrum, which can be seen 

from the town. It has been the playground of European royalty 

for hundreds of years, being passed from Austrian archdukes to 

Belgian kings before being claimed by 

Yugoslavia. One of these royals, 

Maximilian Ferdinand of Habsburg, 

commissioned a mansion and spectacular 

botanical gardens to be built on the island 

in 1859. Today, Lokrum offers a beguiling 

escape into nature, with dense woods filled 

with peacocks, and endless other bird and 

plant life. A charmingly uneven path runs 

up to a 12th century monastery, and it’s 

easy to lose a day here. 

But, for absolute escape, the island of 

Mljet (pronounced mil-yet) is hard to 

beat. Around 90 minutes away by 

catamaran (or 2.5 hours by car ferry), it 

is the southernmost and easternmost 

island on the Dalmatian coast. Its 100 

square kilometres host a population of 

around 1,000 people and some of the 

most glorious scenery in Europe. The 

volcanic island is dotted with caves and gorges, one of which 

runs its full length. The main attraction here is the scenery 

– the northwest of the island has been declared a national 

park, and has a saltwater lake with a further island in it. This 

corner of Croatia has wild owls and hawks, with enough 

space to make the most hardened city slicker consider a move 

to the country. You can stroll these walkways for hours 

without seeing another human being. 

Dubrovnik’s breathtaking splendour (it is a UNESCO World 

Heritage site) ensured that tourists began to return to the 

city almost as soon as the conflict of ‘91-‘92 stopped. And yet, 

despite all that it has to offer, it remains something of a forgotten 

gem. Partly, this is because it is carefully marketed, pitched at 

attracting fewer (but wealthier) visitors. The authorities here 

realise what a gentle treasure they have, and how too many 

tourists might damage it. And as a result, those that do visit leave 

feeling especially blessed. n 

Travel 

essentials 

Porsche Design sunglasses 

To ease the sparkling glare off the Adriatic Sea. 

Shanghai Tang women’s sling bag 

A convenient and stylish day bag for 

strolling along the old city walls. 


Bin Hendi 

69

Out & About 

Ms Maha BinHendi with Mr Mohammed Abdullah Al Haj, Branch Manager of Red 

Crescent - Dubai 

BinHendi joins Red Crescent 

in raising funds for Gaza 

Throughout February and April, visitors 

to BinHendi’s many outlets were invited 

to help support the people of Gaza. 

Throughout the company’s retail and 

hospitality chains, which cover 

everything from coffee shops and high 

fashion to restaurants, jewellery and 

furniture, these posters were on 

display. 

Customers were invited to make a 

donation of Dhs10 with every 

purchase, which was matched by 

BinHendi Enterprises, with all funds 

going to Palestinian citizens of Gaza. 

The campaign ran until end of April, 

across stores as diverse as Hugo 

Boss, BinHendi Jewellery and Second 

Cup and was met with an 

overwhelmingly positive response by 

customers. The Red Crescent is an 

international humanitarian movement, 

dedicated to bringing assistance 

without discrimination based in 

nationality, religion or race. 

70 

Bin Hendi

Strapline 

Joseph unveils 

its latest collection 

Dubai’s fashionistas gathered to see the hottest trends 

from Joseph’s Autumn/Winter ‘09 collection 

Bin Hendi 71

out & about 

Ruby Tuesday opens 

another premier restaurant 

Those in search of high-end casual dining had their 

options increased in March, with the opening of a new 

branch of Ruby Tuesday at Dubai Mall. The restaurant, 

the third in Dubai for the purveyors of fine burgers, has 

proved an instant hit in the region since the first branch 

opened last year. Guests were treated to a sumptuous 

array of the American firm’s finest food, from succulent 

sea food to fresh and zesty salads, juicy ribs and 

spectacular calorific desserts, all supplied in 

sophisticated but inviting surroundings of low lighting and 

brown leather. Highlights include Ruby’s Triple Prime 

Burger, a triple treat of fresh 100% USDA prime ground 

beef with prime tenderloin, prime rib eye and prime sirloin 

blended and grilled to make the finest premium burger 

then garnished with garlic mayonnaise. 

72 

Bin Hendi

Chocoholics step out for 

opening of revolutionary 

Spanish store Cacao Sampaka 

Fans of all things sweet had reason to cheer in February 

with the opening of the UAE’s first branch of luxury 

confectionary café Cacao Sampaka. The firm, which 

opened its first store in Barcelona in 2000, has quickly 

become renowned for its exquisite and innovative 

chocolate creations, from chocolate jams to curry and 

vinegar flavoured chocolate treats. The store, which 

opened in Dubai Mall, serves an array of gifts, slabs of 

chocolate, boxes of treats, and spreads and other 

combinations, including fruit and nut covered delicacies. 

Guests at the opening were treated to samples of some 

of these goodies, which are all made by Cacao 

Sampaka’s own artisans. 

Bin Hendi 73

out & about 

25 lucky winners collect 

Second Cup iPod Nanos 

Some 25 lucky Second Cup customers were presented 

with iPod Nanos in March, at the conclusion of the premier 

Canadian coffee shop’s BreWIN’ competition. Coffee lovers 

across the emirate were given the opportunity to enjoy their 

favourite bean with their preferred beats, in exchange for the 

simple pleasure of sipping a rich and tasty coffee blend. The 

iPod Nano can hold up to 4,000 songs in its 16GB version 

– more than enough for even the most caffeine-charged 

music lover. And with more than 14 stores across the UAE, 

there are plenty of places to enjoy a brew with your tunes. 

74 

Bin Hendi

Dubai Mall gets largest 

BinHendi Watches and 

Jewellery boutique 

In a flurry of glitz and fanfare, BinHendi has opened a 

new BinHendi Watches and Jewellery boutique in 

Dubai Mall, to compliment the existing boutique in 

the Burj Al Arab. The 250 square metre store will 

hold multiple luxury brands, including Porsche 

Design, GoldVish, Graf von Faber Castell and more. 

It will share a VIP private viewing room with Jacob & 

Co. There will also be a shop-within-a-shop, for 

famed high-end Swiss watch maker Ulysse Nardin. 

This original space will be punctuated by gilded 

portholes set in sleek, deep-hued wood – a fitting 

touch in a boutique of such distinction. 

Bin Hendi 75

out & about 

My 

Style 

Mahmoud Diab reveals his 

must haves of the season 

I just love the classic brands 

such as Brioni and Hugo Boss. 

For me, the colours must be 

well composed and the fit 

somehow relaxing. The whole 

white and blue nautical look is 

easy and the jeans give it all a 

laid-back vibe. The pullover is 

a deep blue colour and I love 

the nice touch of red on the 

sleeves and the neck. It’s also 

made of cotton, which is perfect 

for Dubai. Shoes must be high 

quality – I don’t feel 

comfortable at all if my feet are 

not okay. I like classic leather 

shoes and I’ll always top things 

off with a black plain belt. 

Insider’s tip 

If you’re not comfortable in 

what you are wearing it will 

show. Invest in high quality 

clothes to look your best. 

76 

Bin Hendi

out & about 

Hot 

seat 

VIP customer 

Mrs. Hikmat Al 

Kaitoob on Dubai, 

fashion and what she’ll 

be wearing next season 

Tell us about your favourite BinHendi 

brands 

For my husband, I definitely go for 

Hugo Boss and Porsche Design. For my 

daughter, I go for ck Calvin Klein and 

Miss Sixty. And for me, I choose GF 

Ferré and Jacob & Co. 

How long have you been a customer? 

For as long as I can remember. 

Tell us about your style 

I like classic colours; I’ve always been 

into the vintage look. But of course, I 

follow fashion, so I do sometimes wear 

flashy colours too. 

What do you love most about Dubai? 

Everything about Dubai is beautiful. 

Do you follow catwalk trends or just 

your own personal style? 

Of course I follow catwalk trends, but 

from all the collections, I pick out 

something that suits me and represents 

my personal style. 

If you had to name one Middle Eastern 

celebrity whose style stands out for 

you, who would it be? 

I find that Nawal El Zougbi has the best 

taste in fashion. I adore Elie Saab’s style, 

and most of Nawal’s dresses are from 

his designs. 

What trends do you see being big this 

season? 

Bright colours, clutches and stilettos 


Bin Hendi 

77

Contacts 

ARTIOLI 

Radisson SAS Hotel 

Tel: 04 229 7936 

BAITUTI 

Zaábeel road 

Tel: 04 334 4478 

B&B Italia 

Mall of the Emirates 

Tel: 04 340 5797 

BELLA DONNA 

BurJuman 

Tel: 04 352 4350 

Dubai International 

Financial Centre 

Tel: 04 370 0505 

Mercato 

Tel: 04 344 7701 

BINHENDI BOUTIQUE 

Madinat Jumeirah 

Tel: 04 368 6545 

Palm Strip Mall 

Tel: 04 3461933 

BINHENDI WATCHES 

AND JEWELLERY 

Burj Al Arab 

Tel: 04 348 1104 

BurJuman 

Tel: 04 355 1664 

Deira City Centre 

Tel: 04 295 2544 

Dubai Festival City 

Tel: 04 232 9086 



Tel: 04 370 0371 

Dubai Mall 

Tel: 04 434 1421 


Tel: 04 341 0711 

BRIONI 

Radisson SAS Hotel 

Tel: 04 228 8110 

Dubai Mall 

Tel: 04 434 1418 

BURJ AL HAMAM 

Jumeirah Beach 

Park Plaza 

Tel: 04 342 8034/ 8035 

Dubai Mall 

Tel: 04 434 1424 

CACAO SAMPAKA 

Dubai Mall 

Tel: 04 434 1427 

CAFÉ HAVANA 

BurJuman 

Tel: 04 359 2260 


Tel: 04 295 5238 


Tel: 04 341 1659 

Spinneys, Umm Suqeim 

Tel: 04 394 1727 

CHINA TIMES 


Tel: 04 295 2515 

Jumeirah Plaza 

Tel: 04 344 2930 

ck Calvin Klein 

BurJuman 

Tel: 04 355 7918 

Calvin Klein Jeans 


Tel: 04 232 6406 


Tel: 04 341 0810 

Dubai Mall 

Tel: 04 434 1461 

ESCAPE 

Wafi 

Tel: 04 324 4074 

Duck King 


Tel: 04 342 8041 

GF FERRÉ 

BurJuman 

Tel: 04 355 1845 


Tel: 04 341 0919 

Mercato 

Tel: 04 344 0895 

For information call toll free on 800 BINHENDI 

or visit www.binhendi.com 

Dubai Mall 

Tel: 04 434 1409 

GRAFF 

Atlantis 

Tel: 04 422 0063 

Wafi 

Tel: 04 324 4221 

Dubai Mall 

Tel: 04 339 9795 

HUGO BOSS 

BurJuman 

Tel: 04 355 7845 


Tel: 04 232 6411 


Tel: 04 341 0630 

Mercato 

Tel: 04 342 2021 

Dubai Mall 

Tel: 04 434 1400 

HUGO BOSS - ORANGE 


Tel: 04 341 0702 

INFERNO GRILL 

Dubai Marina 

Tel: 04 368 9193 

JACOB & CO. 

Dubai Mall 

Tel: 04 434 1448 

JAPENGO CAFÉ 

BinHendi Avenue 


Tel: 04 295 5767 

BurJuman 

Tel: 04 352 4350 


Tel: 04 232 6220 

Ibn Battuta Mall 

Tel: 04 366 9910 


Tel: 04 341 1671 

Palm Strip Mall 

Tel: 04 345 4979 

Sheikh Zayed Road 

Tel: 04 343 5028 

Souk Madinat 

Tel: 04 368 6575 

Wafi 

Tel: 04 324 5411 

Japengo Oman 

Tel: +968 92892868 

JOE’S CAFÉ 

Dubai Mall 

Tel: 04 434 1439 

JOSEPH 

Dubai Mall 

Tel: 04 434 1437 

LA BRIOCHE 

Markaz Al Jumeirah 

Tel: 04 349 0588 

MINI CHINESE 

Al Diyafa Satwa 

Tel: 04 345 9976 

Sharjah City Centre 

Tel: 06 533 5933 

Miss sixty 

Mall of the emirates 

Tel: 043414600 

Wafi 

Tel: 043241998 

Dubai mall 

Opening Soon 

MUGG & BEAN 

Bowling Centre 

Tel: 04 338 5527 

Uptown Mirdif 

Tel: 04 288 0612 


Tel: 04 232 6360 

PAUL & SHARK 

BurJuman 

Tel: 04 355 1437 


Tel: 04 341 0901 

Marina Mall 

Tel: 04 434 2612 

Dubai Mall 

Tel: 04 434 1412 

PORSCHE DESIGN 

Atlantis, The Palm 

Tel: 04 422 0311 


Tel: 04 295 7652 


Tel: 04 232 9076 



Tel: 04 370 0390 


Tel: 04 341 0899 

Dubai Mall 

Tel: 04 434 1415 

RUBY TUESDAY 


Park Plaza 

Tel: 04 342 8015 


Residence 

Tel: 04 424 3771 

Dubai Mall 

Tel: 04 434 1442 

SAMMACH 

Deira 

Tel: 04 295 4277 

Jumeirah Beach centre 

Tel: 04 349 4140 

Souk Al Bahar 

Tel: 04 426 7311 

SECOND CUP 

Al Ain Mall 

Tel: 03 751 6737 

Al Ghazal Shopping Mall 

Tel: 04 345 2025 

Army Officer’s Club 

Abu Dhabi 

Tel: 02 441 5160 

Bur Dubai 

Tel: 04 351 3150 


Tel: 04 295 4471 


Tel: 04 232 6900 


Tel: 04 341 0803 

Mercato 

Tel: 04 344 7701 

Sharjah City Centre 

Tel: 06 533 2141 

Sheikh Zayed Road 

Tel: 04 343 5314 

Spinneys Jumeirah 

Tel: 04 344 9755 

Dubai Mall 

Tel: 04 434 1445 

SHANGHAI TANG 

BurJuman 

Tel: 04 359 9885 

Dubai Mall 

Tel: 04 434 1403 

ZILLI 

Wafi 

Tel: 04 324 4223 

Dubai Mall 

Tel: 04 434 1406 

78 

Bin Hendi

www.jacobandco.com 

Dubai Mall, Tel: +971 4 4341448 

www.binhendi.com 

Sole Agent & Distributor for GCC

Summer Cool - BinHendi

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