Kimono, the traditional dress of Japan with centuries-old history, has seen many revivals, and a fashion show for it in the futuristic city of Dubai could well be the latest such attempt.

Organisers hailing from the Far East nation have announced the Look Up Japan Fashion Show which will revolve around the Kimono and will be held on September 10.

In a long but winding room at the Novotel hotel in the backdrop of the World Trade Centre, Dubai’s first iconic building since the UAE came into being, the ironies were plenty.

A troop of Japanese residents in the UAE came along dressed as a pretty ensemble of Kimonos to show support to the organisers. One of them was an extremely shy and awkward septuagenarian in her late 60s and the mother of the Look Up fashion show director Rytshiko Kaneko.

Businessmen from UAE and Japan were instrumental in bringing the show together and summed up nicely by Huzaifa Ibrahim, the chairman of Global Peace Foundation. “Japan is called the Land of the Rising Sun. Dubai is a country with more than 200 nationalities and we are only happy to co-exist here in the Land of the Future,” he said to a rapturous response especially from the Japanese in the hall.

All but one of the Japanese on the dias could barely converse in English but a translator proved to be the busy link between all parties. Mr Ibrahim set the tone by understanding and took pauses for the nervous translator to get to work.

The main brainchild, the designer Yuko Murakami (pictured above), said she chose Dubai as the venue for her Kimono collection because she is trying to modernise folk fashion in a western style and with modern-day materials using nanotechnology.

There were others who were offering moral or technical support by way of their expertise. Leading businessman Yakoob Al Ali, Pakistani model-singer Azeem Tahir and Hollywood singer Persiana Dulo were some.

Another example of the wide range of cultures in the mix for this event was the choice of the show-stopper. Tall Indian model Ayesha Mulla will be the centre of attraction for the Kimono show.

“It will be my first time, not only my first fashion show out of India, but also my first experience with Japanese culture and I am so excited about it,” Ms Mulla said.

Yakoob Al Ali, centre, flanked by women dressed in Kimonos at the Novotel, WTC.

The Look Up Fashion Show will feature modern creations of the Japanese Kimono by designer Yuko Murakami

396A2650-min

Huzaifa Ibrahim, centre, is the Global Peace Ambassador from the UAE

Look Up Fashion showstopper Ayesha Mulla, centre, and the show director Rytsuko Kaneko with her husband during the pre-event news conference.

The Kimono is traditionally worn with a broad sash, called an obi, and is commonly worn with accessories such as zōri sandals and tabi socks.

Sporting a bronzed tan and dressed in a suit, Ms Mulla said she did a trial on the morning of the pre-event announcement and she felt “so good” with the obi giving a hidden boost of confidence to some sorts. The way a person wears their Kimono is known as kitsuke, meaning “dressing” in Japanese.

Ms Mulla has featured lately in the remix video of the old Hindi classic “Ghar aaya mera pardesi” (translation – Home comes my outsider/ foreigner).

Given the enthusiastic response and mutual sentiments in Emirati-Japanese relations, expect to see a lot of kitsukes at the Look Up Fashion Show trying to establish an “at home” feeling in the Land of Future.

Hurrrray.…the countdown begins.

Global Village has announced its opening date for its coming season. The popular family-friendly destination will reopen on October 25, although little other details are known yet including when exactly it will run until and what will be new. However, on the official website, it says Season 27 followed by the dates “October 2022 — April 2023” which follows the typical dates the attraction usually stays open for.

Last season’s Global Village had a record 7.8 million guests visit during the six months it was operational. This also includes an extended period, which saw the attraction stay open for an extra four weeks until May 7.

The destination marked its 26th season with 26 pavilions representing more than 80 cultures from around the world.

Among the countries and continents represented were: the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Afghanistan, China, Egypt, India, Iran, Iraq, Japan, South Korea, Lebanon, Morocco, Pakistan, Palestine, Syria, Thailand, Turkey, Yemen, Russia, the Americas, Africa and Europe.

We know IIFA is all about the glam and the glitter, but those winning speeches after each award have our heart.IIFA 2022 started with great pomp and show and what a spectacular event it turned out to be. Salman Khan was the perfect host and so was Shahid Kapoor and Nora Fatehi’s duet performance. But having said, don’t you want to know who the IIFA 2022 winners are? Lo and behold for we have the complete winners list ready at your disposal.

Best Picture Category – Hiroo Yash Johar, Karan Johar, Apoorva Mehta, Shabbir Boxwala, Ajay Shah, Himanshu Gandhi (Shershaah)

Best Direction Category – Vishnuvaradhan (Shershaah)

Best Actor In A Leading Role (Female) – Kriti Sanon (Mimi)

Best Actor In A Leading Role (Male) – Vicky Kaushal (Sardar Udham)

Performance In A Supporting Role (Female) – Saie Tamhankar (Mimi)

Performance In A Supporting Role (Male) – Pankaj Tripathi (Ludo)

Music Direction | AR Rahman (Atrangi Re) Tanishk Bagchi, Jasleen Royal, Javed-Mohsin, Vikram Montrose, B Praak, Jaani (Shershaah)

Playback Singer (Female) – Asees Kaur for Raataan Lambiyan (Shershaah)

Playback Singer (Male) – Jubin Nautiyal for Raataan Lambiyan (Shershaah)

Best Story (Original) – Anurag Basu (Ludo)

Best Story (Adapted) – Kabir Khan, Sanjay Puran Singh Chauhan (Based on ICC World Cup 1983 – 83)

Best Lyrics – Kausar Munir for the song Lehre Do (83)

Best Debut Female- Sharvari Wagh (Bunty Aur Babli 2)

Best Debut Male – Ahan Shetty (Tadap 2)

It was a star-studded affair as the stars graced the IIFA Green Carpet. The evening was made even more memorable as the stars took to the stage.

Among the most-anticipated performances was Nora Fatehi’s dance medley. The Moroccan-Canadian actor also brought onstage six-year-old Kashvi Majmundar, her die-hard fan, to share the stage.

Sara Ali Khan, on the other hand, grooved to Chaka Chak, while Ananya Pandey brought out the best of Gehraiyaan. Abhishek Bachchan also rocked the stage with a show-stopping performance to his old numbers in the presence of wife Aishwarya and daughter Aradhya. The show ended with Shahid Kapoor’s tribute to late music director Bappi Lahiri.