20 Emirati Designers Grab Attention at WJMES Golden Jubilee

People visit the Watch and Jewellery Middle East Show. (WAM)
People visit the Watch and Jewellery Middle East Show. (WAM)
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20 Emirati Designers Grab Attention at WJMES Golden Jubilee

People visit the Watch and Jewellery Middle East Show. (WAM)
People visit the Watch and Jewellery Middle East Show. (WAM)

Twenty Emirati female designers managed to shine in the spotlight at the 50th (golden jubilee) edition of the Watch and Jewellery Middle East Show (WJMES), held at Expo Center Sharjah, the United Arab Emirates, reported the UAE state news agency (WAM).

The creations of the Emirati designers were showcased at the Emirati jewelers platform, launched by Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, with the aim to support young Emirati talents in jewellery designing and spotlight their artistic works at the important event.

Over 900 renowned local and global brands are taking part in the show that concludes on Sunday.

Abdallah Sultan Al Owais, Chairman of Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said supporting Emirati entrepreneurs and talents is one of the main objectives that Sharjah Chamber is working to achieve.

The Watch and Jewellery Middle East Show has always been supporting Emirati designers through such initiatives as the Emirati Jewelers platform.

He added that over more than eight editions, the platform has been able to provide an exemplary opportunity for the Emirati designers who wish to enter the world of gold-smithing and jewellery whether in Sharjah or the entire UAE.

It has succeeded in attracting talents to the jewellery design and trade sector to develop their crafting and marketing skills, he stated.

He pointed out that the platform attracted more than 46 Emirati female designers and sponsored the Qelada project, launched by the Ministry of Community Development, to support female designers of determination.

Al-Owais underlined the participation of the youngest Emirati female jeweler along with many other female designers who presented impressive gold and jewellery designs.

Saif Mohamed Al-Midfa, CEO of Expo Center Sharjah, underscored the importance of the Emirati jewelers platform being an annual stimulus that attracts more and more Emirati creators to the world of jewellery design and benefits from the event's large global participation, which contributes to providing these talents with more experiences to develop their businesses.

One of those talents who caught the attention of visitors was Dr. Abeer Awad.

She said: "My passion for beauty and drawing has driven me to discover this talent, and so have the many talent-fostering government initiatives, the most important of which is the Emirati jewelers platform, which has been the strongest motivator for me to enhance my talent and start my own project."

Designer Zahira Ahmed Al Marar pointed out that her participation is the second in this event. She expressed her pride in taking part in this platform together with a group of Emirati talents who work as one team to brightly represent the UAE in such a global event.

The Sharjah Chamber is her first and biggest supporter to be a key participant at the event and show her designs to the whole world, she stressed.

She expressed her gratitude to the Chamber for the great support and diligent follow-up to ensure the continuity and success of the projects.

Sheikha Al Serkal underlined her keenness to participate in the Watch and Jewellery Middle East Show that is a key platform to showcase her talent, which is admired by the visitors every year.

Azza Al Jarwan praised Sharjah Chamber's fostering of young Emirati jewellery talents and bringing to the fore their artistic works in the most outstanding event of jewelry exhibitions.



Kering Warns on Annual 2024 Operating Profit as Gucci Sales Fall

This photograph taken during a presentation press conference in Paris on March 22, 2013 shows the new name and logo of French luxury and retail group PPR which will become officially Kering after its approval by the annual general meeting to be held on June 18. (AFP)
This photograph taken during a presentation press conference in Paris on March 22, 2013 shows the new name and logo of French luxury and retail group PPR which will become officially Kering after its approval by the annual general meeting to be held on June 18. (AFP)
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Kering Warns on Annual 2024 Operating Profit as Gucci Sales Fall

This photograph taken during a presentation press conference in Paris on March 22, 2013 shows the new name and logo of French luxury and retail group PPR which will become officially Kering after its approval by the annual general meeting to be held on June 18. (AFP)
This photograph taken during a presentation press conference in Paris on March 22, 2013 shows the new name and logo of French luxury and retail group PPR which will become officially Kering after its approval by the annual general meeting to be held on June 18. (AFP)

French luxury goods group Kering warned on Wednesday its full-year operating income would almost halve after reporting a larger-than-expected drop in third quarter sales, as weak demand in China deepened the struggles of its main label Gucci.

Revenue for the group which also owns fashion brands Saint Laurent, Balenciaga and Bottega Veneta, was 3.79 billion euros ($4.08 billion), a 16% decline on an organic basis.

The figure was worse than an analyst consensus estimate of an 11% decline, according to a Barclays note.

Kering said its 2024 recurring operating income could be about 2.5 billion euros, following the larger-than-expected slowdown in the third quarter, compared with 4.75 billion euros a year earlier.

Kering's warning comes as the luxury sector suffers a slowdown, with luxury bellwether LVMH last week missing expectations and flagging a drop in Chinese consumer confidence to COVID-era lows, with a deterioration in demand for high end fashion over the quarter.

Sales at Gucci, which accounts for half of annual group sales and two-thirds of profit, continued to slide and were down 25% in the quarter, compared to analysts' consensus expectations for a 21% decline.

"We are executing a far-reaching transformation of the group, and at Gucci in particular, at a time when the whole luxury sector faces unfavorable market conditions," Kering Chair and CEO Francois Henri Pinault said in a statement.

Kering has been managing a broad overhaul of the century-old Italian fashion house, rebuilding top executive teams and introducing a new streamlined design style under the artistic direction of Sabato de Sarno, while pushing the products upmarket.

The group said in a statement that the overhaul of Gucci's leather goods category, with the introduction of a host of new products late in the quarter, was well underway.

Earlier this month, it named Stefano Cantino as CEO effective from January, replacing longtime Kering executive Jean-Francois Palus who held the role for an interim period since last year.