november dresses at MORE cafe

here are the lastest 3 dresses hanging at MORE cafe:

october dresses at MORE cafe

here are the 3 dresses that are displayed at MORE cafe at the moment:

new toksic t-shirts

i've designed new "toksic" t-shirts. they're inspired by the first mixed media art collection that i've done before, featuring expressive mannequins, vivid colors and ethnic prints.

the t-shirts are comprised of 96% viscose and 4% spandex. one size fits all, with a plunging V neckline, kimono style sleevs, and a thick, elastic band at the hem. the front has the "toksic" logo printed on the left, (all of the t-shirts are the same on the front), and the back has the ethnic mannequin design.

5 different designs (from the mixed media art cllection) are available in total:
Blossom Blaze, Divine Wonderment, Feline Grace, Eyes Wide Shut, and Mystical Enticement.

please feel free to send me an email at info@toksicdress.com for further enquiries.

2 more dresses at MORE

here are 2 more dresses that i've placed at MORE cafe recently (both can be seen from outside)..






and this is a close-up of a dress that i had up a while before, but it's still hanging there..

more dresses & paintings at MORE cafe

well i've added new dresses again at MORE cafe. it's an ongoing process really where i swap one dress with another every month or so. here are some of the recent dresses that i've had displayed:







i've also changed the paintings inside and sold one of them 2 days later! :)

my own lil window display at MORE cafe :)

i've got my own mini window display at MORE cafe :) (where some of my mixed media paintings are also placed - as i mentioned before, for those of u who dunno where it is, MORE is at murooj rotana on sheikh zayed road in dubai)..

well that orange dress inside the cafe is already sold :) (next to it are the paintings - on the right side).. and on the other side of both those windows (as u get out and walk towards the outside sitting area), are 2 other dresses. they're all up for sale of course.. more dresses will be added soon too..



i'd just like to thank wouter lap (owner of MORE) for his support, encouragement and help (and brilliant ideas!!); bob boersen (operations manager of MORE marooj) again for his help and for bein my no.1 editor for all my lil dress descriptions; haries (MORE's engineer) for all his technical support.. thanx guys i really appreciate it all :)

and hey guys, come buy my stuff!! ;) oh and eat and drink at MORE.. they're got amazin food and drinks!! ;) i myself cant live without their MORE frape (with caramel syrup) and the dutch potato salad lol haha :)

my new form of art (mixed media paintings)

hmm.. i've kinda disappeared off the fashion scene for a while so i thought i'd share with u all some of the other stuff that i've been pretty busy with lately. well i've actually started workin on a new form of art - mixed media paintings (combining photography, digital work, painting, etc). here's what my first collection's theme is all about:

"vibrant colors. ethnic prints. expressive mannequins. those are the key elements in my mixed media paintings, inspired by my new fashion brand TOKSIC".

some of those paintings were actually featured on my interview at sama dubai (tv). and well, i also have some of them displayed at MORE cafe in marooj rotana on sheikh zayed road :) (up so sale of course ;) - oh by the way i sold 2 already! yaaay!!)

well right now im on the lookout for more spaces where i can exhibit all the others.. so people, any thoughts or ideas? :)

one of my friends, amaal jeraar, also has some of her mixed media paintings featured at Shu (jumeirah beach road, next to chilis and emirates hospital). u should check out her stuff too they're pretty cool..

i sold some "toksic" items!! :)

it's been a while since i've actually given any of u an update on my fashion brand. well mashallah, TOKSIC has been doin pretty good.. :) i've sold quite a number of items and i just cant wait till i see someone wearin one of my items one day cos i'll probably run up to her screamin "THATS MY DESIGN! THATS MY DESIGN!" while jumpin excitedly(or skippin.. hoppin.. etc) loool! hahaha :) hopefully she wouldnt freak out ;) lol.

here are some of the sketches that i've done (on illustrator) and some of the items that have been sold (both, at amzaan boutique (in wafi city) and kube design (in burdubai).

i was on TV!! :)

well as u can tell from the heading, i was on TV!!! yaaaay!! :) i was on this show called NETCOM (jehad's show) on sama dubai which is basically about IT and technology and stuff.. i was there to talk about how, as a designer and a mixed media artist, i've learnt how to create art digitally and how i've benefited from technology in general by using photoshop, illustrator, etc.. i also demonstrated how i've created the homepage for my website using both, photoshop and photography (photos of ethnic prints from my collection).

i then sent an email to about 20 friends or so telling them about the show but the funny thing is the emails just magically turned into a forum!! lol! it was actually quite hilarious watching the emails go back and forth (but of course apologies to all those of u who didnt wish to be part of it all)..

anyway, if anyone's interested in reading what my crazy friends were on about, be my guest :)

>-----Original Message-----
>From: reham
>Sent: Wednesday, December 20, 2006 4:40 AM
>Subject: im on sama dubai!! :)
>
>hey u guys..
>check me out im on tvvv!!! :) lol.. and i was speakin in egyptian too!! lol hahaha that was hilarious i swear and it was so >tough!!
>anyway the show will be aired this saturday the 23rd of dec on sama dubai at 7:30pm inshallah.. it's jehad's show actually.. >all about IT and technology and stuff so i basically talked for 5 mins or so about creating art digitally..
>i hope it turns out good cos i havent seen it either! lol.. well i just wanted to let u all know :)
>sank u.


On 12/20/06 7:14 AM, Ehab wrote:

>Heheheh were u talking like zis is hamburger form London very best


On 12/20/06 7:50 AM, Sara wrote:

>Wow reham, that is sooo cool. Lol :)
>Seems like fun, I will definitely try and watch it, but please try and record it.
>
>xoxo


On 12/20/06 8:48 AM, Samer wrote:

>I'm looking forward to this day to sit down and turn off the TV, oh I mean watch the TV :P JK
>Can we get the Show's name?
>


On 12/20/06 10:39 AM, Rami wrote:

> Reham,
>
> Dona doesn't work in Hyper Media anymore.
> Ehab changed his address like 4 times after the one you have.
> And you listed Amer's email twice!
>
> Anyways, it wasn't tough at all and you did very well. Am sure everyone will be impressed!
>
> And I still want one of those printed paintings :)
>
>
> Rami


On 12/20/06 10:52 AM, Sarah wrote:

>when did YOU come back?!!!


On 12/21/06 2:16 PM, Reham wrote:

>rami,
>ya i forgot donna doesnt work there anymore can u please tell her though?
>sank u:P
>and well ehab got my email and he replied fa toz feek :P lol.
>and i dont think amer minds me sendin to both his emails.. do u amer??!! :) lol.
>well.. to tell u the truth.. i was soooo freakin nervous! yalla inshallah kheir :)
>


On 12/21/06 2:26 PM, Rami wrote:

>Rehammmmmmmm!!
>
>I added her email!!!!!!!! I rest my case :P


On 12/21/06 2:30 PM, Soha wrote:

>OH, yeah, your show... you looked very nice... it was amazing... a little nervous though... well, it didn't show on your face as >much as it did on your hair, lol... good work jihad... when am I gonna be on your show? I can talk about anything... anything >at all... and believe me, there will be people who will understand what I'm saying!!


On 12/21/06 2:37 PM, Sara wrote:

>Whom ever wants to be in Jehad's show must be able to do what's in the photo attached.
>Its called: "True Will"
>
>:)
>
>Jehad I hope u don't mind, I just wanted to send the picture.


On 12/21/06 3:06 PM, Ram wrote:

>Dear Reham, Rami, Sara and Soha,
>
>Please stop ccing me on your email, because of the following point :
>
>1- I don't like jihad in fact I wish him death :-)
>
>2- I don't watch Sama Dubai
>
>3- I don't watch TV aslan
>
>4- I hate every thing has to do with IT or electronics
>
>5- I feel jealous from Reham which is not healthy
>
>6- And finally I love my Thursdays to be full of games and minimum emails at work.
>
>
>Love and peace :-)


On 12/21/06 3:07 PM, Ehab wrote:

>Heheheheh
>
>I kinda can't remember where I parked???


On 12/21/06 3:12 PM, Ram wrote:

>Oh sorry!! Yes sir This way please .......


On 12/21/06 4:13 PM, Jehad wrote:

>You ok dude? That was a bit disturbing. anything on your mind you wanna talk about? call me anytime 050-XXXXXXX.


On 12/21/06 4:39 PM, Ram wrote:

>!!!!!!.... this happens when people don't really understand your sense of humor ..
>OK CC ME :-),, I will be watching your show reham... see how your interview is already controversial...
>


On 12/22/06 3:23 AM, Samer wrote:

>My weekend activities:
>
>1 - Buy a new Big Screen TV that fits reham's hair and see the show that reham will be in.
>2- Buy a DVD writer to record the show that reham will be in.
>3- Prepare a Popcorn and drinks to watch the show that reham will be in.
>4- Invite some friends over to point at reham when she comes on TV and say " This is my friend on TV".
>
>Reham, I'm spending all this to see the show that you will be in, you better talk for more than 15 mins ... or i will charge >you.
>
>Everyone in the list, sorry to bother u, but i have been getting all these emails about the show. i'm sure i wouldn't miss it >after all this. Monday at 5 am i'll be watching the show. I think we did huge marketing for the show already, someone here >needs to charge Sama Dubai for this... $$$$$
>
>Wish you all a great weekend, and better activity list than the one i have here.
>
>Salam


On 12/22/06 5:58 PM, Yamin wrote:

>Hi everyone I know that this is my 1st email 2 all of u i just have one question ??????
>
>WHO'S REHAM


On 12/22/06 7:29 PM, Raghda wrote:

>Reham is the girl that Samer is going to:
>
>1 - Buy a new Big Screen TV that fits reham's hair and see the show that reham will be in.
>2- Buy a DVD writer to record the show that reham will be in.
>3- Prepare a Popcorn and drinks to watch the show that reham will be in.
>4- Invite some friends over to point at reham when she comes on TV and say " This is my friend on TV".
>
>Basically, the point of all this is to WATCH the SHOW on SATURDAY DECEMBER 23RD 7:30PM on SAMA DUBAI TV !!!!!!!!!!!!!
>
>Reham, cant you see this is getting out of control? Chaos is in the air for you baby girl !
>


On 12/22/06 8:04 PM, Yamin wrote:

>ok ,,,,, ok ,,,,, ok ,,,
>
>so ......
>
> we don't have 2 watch sama dubai ,,,
>
>cause when u see Reham and talk 2 her its exactly like u r watching TV
>(Anyway let me know if there are available tickets 4 her show)


On 12/22/06 8:11 PM, Yamin wrote:

>sorry 2 send that but ,, i 4got 2 ask u ??????
>
>who is SAMER


On 12/24/06 9:12 AM, Raghda wrote:

>Bet ya rehaaaaam!! You were amazing girl !
>
>Seriously, but why didnt you look at the camera, unless the director was a bimbo he/she doesnt know how to find the right >corners .. lol .. (sorry director!)
>
>You were nervous a bit in the beginning but towards the middle you were doing great.
>
>And hey that was way more than 2 minutes! Pretty around 15 minutes. So Samer, your tv, popcorn and friends wasnt a >waste ;)
>
>Mashallah sweets very well done 7ayateeeeeeeeeee mwuah luv u babe
>
>(btw, have u noticed u advertised for starbucks and virgin lo0o0l) hehehehe


On 12/24/06 12:26 PM, Ram wrote:

>Thanks from all of us at virgin/Daxar
>
>Reham please pick your check from our offices.. Great job :-)


On 12/24/06 12:35 PM, Ehab wrote:

>I can't believe guys that after a week from seeing the IM ON SAMA DUBAI email from reham you guys are still talking about >it.
>
>
>Here is a new exciting topic, any vacancies around you guys for me :-)


On 12/25/06 12:02 PM, Samer wrote:

>Cheerz for Reham, she got a few offers from television industries to present Creative IT products in Arabic, let's all hope her >a good career and wish her to keep it up. Good Job Reham.
>
>Well it was enjoyable, and it was nice emailing you all. i wish you all happy holidays and a wonderful new year. I hope you >achieved most of your resolutions for this year and wish you will achieve all your resolutions for the coming new year.
>
>Enjoy!

fashion show at ESMOD - i was modelling :)

one of my university friends, aisha, is studying fashion at the french fashion university ESMOD (in the academic city (dubai) - close to zayed university). she had her final project due for the fall semester on the 20th of dec 2006. the theme was based on skirts, and each student had to model this skirt (or get someone else to model for it) in the fashion show. i ended up modelling for her :)

aisha's skirt was extremely creative as it was made out of blue plastic bags and black tulle. her sister's underskirt (for her wedding dress) was used as a base to give the whole thing extra volume. it was absolutely gorgeous! to an extent that she actually got an A++ for the design! she was the only one in her class to get that grade :)

anyway, this is what the skirt looked like:



the day was extremely hectic though but a lot of fun. we all had to be there at 10am while the show actually started at 8pm! so we basically spent about 10 hrs preparin for a show that took about 15mins in total lol :) and well i only slept for about 3 hrs the night before but thank god for red bull lol. a lot of fitting and adjustments had to be done, plus make-up and hair of course which ended up takin a lot of time as there were only 2 hairdressers and 1 make-up artist, while there were at least 30 girls waiting in line.

but all in all, it was a great experience :) mabrook aisha ;)

fashion conference at shangri la hotel

i've received an email invitation (in december) to an open round table discussion related to fashion that took place at the shangri la hotel on sheikh zayed road.



it was quite informative actually as topics revolved around:
- how the dubai market is changing in terms of fashion - "today's market is saturated with mono-brands" - engi shalhoub (CEO and managing director, etoile group);
- sustaining new fashion brands - "it's great to have style and to have a good collection, but how is one going to sustain it? it is therefore important to have a business plan" - zayan ghandour (co-owner of sauce boutique). "a designer can open his/her own store but it depends on his/her brand's performance and sustainability (mono-brand)" - shireen el khatib (GM of the fashion and jewellery division, al tayer group);
- the dubai international fashion week (DIFW) that should take place in march 2007 (how there would be a focus on new brands and local young talents, not only international designers, and how the new brands should not only be strong on the creative side but also commercially successful);
- some random quotes: "you can't buy taste"; "dubai doesn't need investors, investors need dubai".

some of my birthday presents - fashion books!

wow. it's been soooo long since i've added a new post here. anyway i got 2 really cool fashion books for my birthday this year (actually it was 2 months ago - in dec).. thought i'd share them with u all:




"fashion now (icons)" highlights the work of over 90 designers around the globe, focusing on not only the biggest names but also the most exciting new talent. also included are exclusive interviews, biographical information, photos of recent designs by today's leading photographers, and current catwalk shots.






"yeah! i made it myself: DIY fashion for the not very domestic goddess" is for anyone who loves the idea of creating their own clothes but is unsure of where or how to begin. this inspirational, fun and easy-to-follow book is the perfect accessory - the perfect antidote to the scary world of dress-making manuals.