Browsing Tag

Hautletic

Dima Ayad X Hautletic Reinventing Athleisure

Posted on March 11, 2018

It’s a fairly new debate but one without a real answer – can you wear workout gear to work? Some of the athleisure pieces i own are without a doubt much more expensive than the skirts and tops hanging in the wardrobe, as well as remaining ‘un-used’ gym wise. Hautletic is the hub for most of these luxe pieces and there’s a new homegrown collab that’s stealing the show. Lebanese ready-to-wear designer Dima Ayad and Hautletic’s Priya Bhatia have launched a completely limited-edition range that’s definitely too good for the workout drawer.

A nine-piece collection in the Dima Ayad x Hautletic range celebrates female ingenuity; ‘blending Hautletic’s signature athleisure style with Dima Ayad’s precise understanding of the modern woman’s lifestyle’. It’s the kind of sports gear you could wear into a bar and not feel at all underdressed.

Enter a world of minimals, with abundant greys and blacks mixed with Ayad’s signature seasonal metallics. The floaty shapes are far from unflattering as they cinch in the waist and elongate the legs, whilst giving you a bit of wiggle room too. Picture the perfect ‘tracksuit,’ whilst being being as far from cliche as possible.

“I thought about the journey of the modern woman – from the day to the night. I want her to feel great from the morning to the evening without trying,” Dima Ayad, Designer

“It’s also about the value and versatility of the pieces you invest in. Quality and fit are paramount, even for seemingly ‘easy-wear’ athleisure.” Priya Bhatia, Hautletic

Get your hands on this urban wardrobe only at Hautletic in Galleria Mall, Dubai.

Shopping Sustainably This Season

Posted on March 4, 2018

Let’s talk eco. The more we say it, are shopping for it, challenge brands about it, the more it will stick. If you’re looking for something that’ll give you an added ‘feel good’ factor… these are the products for you.

Wild Body Active Yoga Mats

A sucker for brightly coloured yoga anything, these gorgeous mats from Wild Body Active are keeping me energised this year. Not only are they gorgeous to look at, their aim is to produce eco-friendly mats that are both unique in design and super functional too. Made from natural materials, these mats are extremely versatile whether you’re into yoga/Pilates or a more traditional workout, so the only question is… which pattern do you fancy the most. The premium microfiber top will absorb sweat making for a supremely grippy surface suitable. They are all 100% recyclable, biodegradable and free from PVC, chlorine, phthalates, latex, silicone and all other toxic nasty’s. Made with natural tree rubber and water-based inks so you’ll be able to wash them with ease too.

OHOY Swimwear

Founded by locally based Scandinavians Henna and Anna, OHOY is the uber chic and ethical solution to our summer, created with the ocean in mind. Their one-piece’s, boasting the hottest SS18 shades, are on my wish list this season and I salute these ladies for their environmentally friendly approach to my favourite piece of clothing. All OHOY swimwear is produced from plastic and fishing nets collected from the sea & recycled into luxurious Italian fabrics and to top it off… made here in the U.A.E.. Tested in real-life conditions and leading the way in terms of materials too, as they are also twice as resistant to chlorine, sun creams and oils so the weather’s the only excuse for not jumping in.

WildWood Sunglasses

Who doesn’t have a pair of sunglasses for every occasion? *I tell myself as I hand over the credit card for these…* The WildWood frames are without a doubt the perfect pair for the beach and all manner of outdoor adventures in the U.A.E.. Based in Dubai, these wooden sunglasses aren’t just for show, as they are fully U.V. protected. They’re on an eco-friendly fashion mission too, having recently teamed up with The Nature Conservancy and plant a trees through their ‘Plant a Billion’ campaign for every product they sell. 1 sale = 1 planted tree… Voila guilt-free shopping.

Veja

Why should my shopping be blameworthy when the World benefits from it… Right now I love products that are made differently and the VEJA sneaker project is made with a really positive process. Using organic & fairly traded cotton for the canvas of the shoes, wild and fairly traded rubber for the soles, they also use solely recycled plastic bottles to create their unique technological fabric! Made in Brazil, these beauties can be bought in Dubai’s favourite athleisure hub, Hautletic.

Sea Shepherd U.A.E.

Ok, so not technically an apparel brand, but any product you buy from the Sea Shepherd UAE will all go towards helping to keep the ocean and its wonderful wildlife clean and safe. I’ve been stocking up on their famous swimwear and recently launched bikini’s, that features the iconic skull and harpoon logo and is made by famed Aussie brand Gypsea. They’re available now at Shay Martian at La Mer Dubai, and also the Surf House Dubai too!

*As featured in Women’s Health Middle East, Dec 2017.

Fitness

Testing Out: 1SIX8 NuPowerYoga

Posted on June 17, 2017

Yoga is all about bending, stretching and breathing right? So power yoga… something a little stronger perhaps? Described as where strength meets flexibility, NuPowerYoga was introduced to us last week at one of my favourite hotspots, Hautletic, through Dubai based fitness studio 1six8. It cites more than just using weights in its vinyasa flow, with innovative Nubell-technology designed, circular hand weights, which are created to be ergonomically optimal, providing an even, all-round weight distribution for your hand, wrist and (occasionally) ankle too.

The benefit of all this is that it helps to alleviate any stress or tension on your joints, often seen with other weights and bells. I know from personal training that I much prefer kettle bells to barbells as I feel I can keep my wrist more controlled when using them. The creator of these circular designs did so due to an accident where he needed to regain strength in his hands and wrists.

Created in the States (of course) there’s been a real trend towards combining different fitness techniques and classes, to ultimately try and create a more thorough body workout. What Nu Power Yoga does is aid those long muscle movements in yoga by adding a little more resistance, helping to get everything firing and ultimately engage with more core.

NuPowerYoga classes start in June, at their hotspot in 168, Jumeirah Beach Road, Dubai.

Fitness

The Sweat Life

Posted on August 9, 2016

It’s hot outside and we’re feeling demotivated/lethargic and full of excuses, but there really is no beating the sweat life… you just have to get stuck in. My workouts have actually increased this summer – perhaps just because they get me out of the house, or perhaps because the motivation to go jump in a pool is much much higher in this heat. Either way, I’m seriously putting my activewear to the test!

But it’s also my workout that’s changed – no longer the barre addict of yesteryear. It’s wheel that’s got me sweating now. Whether it’s at Flywheel with Nora’s new beats class, Aviation club for a sprint session with Reebok Les Mills or at Define fitness for a soul cycle-esque workout followed by a Kold Press, there’s more and more keeping me active right now.

As for clothing… there’s plenty of sporty, stylish and sweat-proof pieces out there but there’s a couple of items I’m favouring right now. Not just for their bold patterns or pretty colour combos, it’s important to me that they are as comfy as they are cool. High-waisted leggings, supportive training bra’s and floaty yoga tanks are key!

Tried & tested, worn and washed, here’s my activewear staples this summer:

Teeki leggings from The Hotbox Kit

Tima leggings form Tima Love Life

Reebok errrythang

Body Language at Fitplum

Vie activewear from Hautletic

fashion Fitness travel yoga

Fashionably Honouring the International Day of Yoga

Posted on June 21, 2015

As a yogi, I LOVE that today is the International day of Yoga and that people across the globe are sharing pics of their favourite poses, stretches, hotspots and meditation sanctuaries, be it local, international or even a memory of a gap – year retreat! I have some very fond memories of a yoga retreat in Sri Lanka and am incredibly jealous of Kim and the yogalates troop out in Bali right now!

With all the yoga love today, I wanted to highlight my 5 favourite local shopping hotspots for all the colourful, practical and oh-so-comfy yoga gear I wear!

1st up, is the work-to-workout wear that my lovely friend Priya Bhatia has brought us with Hautletic! Everything she stocks is stylish, mature, and even elegant enough to wear out! I’ve worn my pieces everywhere from the frozen lakes of Sweden to the sweltering summers here in Dubai.

Next up are these colourful prints that the lovely Hannah Swales’s The Hot Box Kit features– glorious patterns, patterns, patterns! Every wild child print you can imagine with their vast array of Teeki’s and other super soft leggings.

The new addition to my wardrobe – Fit Plum! Their seriously sexy designs and micro tops are making waves on instagram, and they fit like a glove!

I’ve been kitted out in Reebok’s for a while now and their latest studio collection is no disappointment. Check out these lovely pineapple printed pieces!

And last but definitely not least, I was turned on to yApparel through their VitaCOCO connection and these leggings give me a dose of instant happiness. You can’t not smile when wearing them! 🙂