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.



L'Oreal Reports 3.4% Rise in Third-Quarter Sales

The logo of L'Oreal is seen on beauty products in a supermarket in Chanverrie, France, October 16, 2024. (Reuters)
The logo of L'Oreal is seen on beauty products in a supermarket in Chanverrie, France, October 16, 2024. (Reuters)
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L'Oreal Reports 3.4% Rise in Third-Quarter Sales

The logo of L'Oreal is seen on beauty products in a supermarket in Chanverrie, France, October 16, 2024. (Reuters)
The logo of L'Oreal is seen on beauty products in a supermarket in Chanverrie, France, October 16, 2024. (Reuters)

French cosmetics giant L'Oreal reported a rise in third quarter sales on Tuesday that missed expectations after low consumer confidence in China sapped demand for beauty products.

The company, which owns the Maybelline and Lancome brands, said sales for the three months to the end of September were 10.28 billion euros ($11.11 billion), a 3.4% rise on a like-for-like basis at constant exchange rates.

It was below a Visible Alpha consensus of 6% cited by Jefferies.

Shares in Paris-based L'Oreal have lost 20% since June, wiping about 50 billion euros off its valuation, on investor concerns about consumption in China.

The North Asia region, dominated by China, accounts for a quarter of group sales, but persistently weak demand in the world's No. 2 economy has curbed consumer spending.

Sales in North Asia declined 6.5% in the third quarter, said the company, worsening from a decline of 2.4% in the prior three months.

"In mainland China, the beauty market – already negative in the second quarter – continued to deteriorate, impacted by low consumer confidence," the company said in a statement.

China grew at the slowest pace since early 2023 in the third quarter, data showed on Friday, with luxury bellwether LVMH saying last week that consumer confidence in the country was at an all-time low.

LVMH, Ray-Ban maker EssilorLuxottica, and Salvatore Ferragamo all blamed China weakness for missed third quarter sales estimates last week.

Sales growth in Europe, L'Oreal's biggest region at a third of group sales, also slowed in the third quarter to 5.6% from 9.7% in the prior quarter.