A Peace of Fashion

L’ Officiel Arabia is the first UAE magazine putting an Israeli Model on its cover since the signing of the Abraham Accords. The move is part of a historic collaboration celebrating talents from the UAE and Israel. A look at the story behind the project

If this pandemic has taught us anything about fashion, it is that it is always about more than clothes or products. It is about ideas, societal movements, the zeitgeist – things, that not only define how we dress, but who we are as a culture. It reflects what happens in our lives and how these events change our habits. For this reason, it is also strongly entangled with politics: It expresses beliefs and convictions, it distinguishes people from one another, but it can also unite them around common ideas.

It is that belief that guided the process behind making the cover of this issue of L’Officiel Arabia. Gracing the cover and the accompanying editorial is 19-year-old Top model Yael Shelbia - an upcoming industry star with 1,1 million followers on Instagram, who has modelled for Kim Kardashians KKW Beauty. Shelbia is the first Israeli model ever appearing on an UAE magazine since the signing of the Abraham Accords between Israel, UAE and Bahrain in September 2020. The now-famous peace agreement was a historic moment that marked a new chapter in the history of all countries involved.

“L’Officiel is known for breaking boundaries and pushing forward the future of fashion. I’m proud that we are the first in the region to carry out a cover shoot with Yael Shelbia, post the signing of the UAE-Israel peace accord”, says Editor-in-Chief of L’Officiel Arabia, Boba Stanic.

1. Top and Skirt by Esme Vie; Headband by Lele Sadoughi / 2. Dress by Avaro Figlio; Earring by Erickson Beamon / 3. Dress by Avaro Figlio / 4. Skirt and Top by MICU; Glasses by Ülsje Handcrafted Glasses; Headband by Lele Sadoughi; Necklace by Erickson Beamon; Earrings by AVē Jewelry / 5. Skirt and Top by Esme Vie; Belt by Lele Sadoughi; Boots by Alessandra Balbi; Earring by Erickson Beamon / 6. Dress by MICU; Shoes by Alessandra Balbi; Necklace by Erickson Beamon / 7. Dress by Avaro Figlio / 8. Dress by MICU; Earring by AVē Jewelry / 9. Dress by LK Bennett; Earring by Erickson Beamon / 10. Dress Talia Zoref X FOXYLAB NEW YORK

Production: Anna la Germaine x Fashion Politique / www.fashionpolitique.com

PR: FP PR&Media / fp-pr.com

Creative Direction and Styling by Julia Morris @ Tracey Mattingly Agency

Photography by Yossi Michaeli

Model: Yael Shelbia @ ITM Models

Hair by David Cruz using Kevin Murphy @ Tracey Mattingly Agency

Make-up by Georgina Billington using Chantecaille @ Judy Casey Agency

Nails by Kayo Higuchi using Chanel le Vernis Rouge Puissant @ Bryan Bantry Agency

Location: The Peninsula New York

Brand Relations: Gili Biegun at joysmagazine.com

Talent Relationship: Akash Mehta, Ryle Tuvierra

Assistant to Anna la Germaine: Maria Vittoria del Rosso, Ekaterina Chekhirkina

Assistant to Yossi Michaeli: Michael Santos

Postproduction: Doctor Raw

L’ Officiel Arabia is not the only fashion entity celebrating the agreement: The cover is part of a collaboration with Israeli weekly magazine LAISHA, Israel’s most successful magazine, published since 1947 by Israel’s main publisher Yediot Ahronoth group. LAISHA has put the same image of Shelbia on the cover of its current issue and features the special shoot in its pages. At the same time, it has dedicated its back cover to Dubai-based top model Chanel Ayan and published coverage of the fashion and luxury scene in the UAE. Chanel Ayan is no secret to the fashion scene of the UAE: Originally from Kenya she made history as the first black model successfully making a career in the region, and has worked for brands such as Valentino and Chanel and is the face and ambassador of Dior Make-Up in the UAE.

1. Dress by la Germaine; Earrings by AVē Jewelry (@ave_jewelry_official); Ring by AVē Jewelry (@ave_jewelry_official) / 2. Dress by Avaro Figlio (@avarofiglio) / 3. Kaftan by Esme Vie (@esmevieofficial); Silk scarf by MICU (@micuandmicu) / 4. Dress by Avaro Figlio (@avarofiglio) / 5. Dress by Esme Vie (@esmevieofficial); Ring by AVē Jewelry (@ave_jewelry_official) / 6. Kaftan by Esme Vie (@esmevieofficial); Necklace by la Germaine / 7. Dress by Avaro Figlio (@avarofiglio) / 8. Kaftan by Esme Vie (@esmevieofficial); Silk scarf and wool hat by MICU (@micuandmicu) / 9. Dress by Avaro Figlio (@avarofiglio) / 10. Dress by Avaro Figlio (@avarofiglio) / 11. Dress by FOXYLAB NEW YORK (@foxylab_ny); Print by Diaa Allam (@diaallam).

Credits: Production: Anna La Germaine (@anna_lagermaine_private and @pr_yoda_diaries) x

Fashion Politique (@fashionpolitique) / www.fashionpolitique.com PR: FP PR&Media (@fp.pr) / fp-pr.com Creative direction and styling by Anna la Germaine (@anna_lagermaine_private and @pr_yoda_diaries) Photography by Adam Browning-Hill (@browning_hill) Model: Chanel Ayan (@chanelayan) Hair&Make-up by Marianna Ivanets (@m_beauty_and_brows) Brand Relations: Gili Biegun at joysmagazine.com (@joysworld_) Talent Relationship: Akash Mehta (@mehta_a), Ryle Tuvierra (@thefiercewalker) Assistant to Anna La Germaine: Ekaterina Chekhirkina (@chkhrkna) Assistant to Adam Browning-Hill: Jaffar (@jaffar_shereey) Laisha Magazine @laishamag@karinas11

What is probably one of the most ambitious initiatives of fashion diplomacy of the past year, was kickstarted and completed by fashion entrepreneur Anna la Germaine, founder of media and consulting company Fashion Politique Ltd. Anna la Germaine is a former student of International Relations who graduated with a Masters Degree, and decided to apply her expertise in politics and diplomacy to fashion. She called her firm Fashion Politique accordingly, starting in 2011 as digital magazine F’OLITIQUE, which exists to this day. The company has since developed a 360-degrees range of services focusing on emerging and medium-sized brands and endeavours in the digital space.

La Germaine’s holistic approach to fashion and its talents as well as her belief in their strong impact on society lead her to start working on this project in September 2020. It took months of negotiations and planning to make the vision become a reality.

"Fashion and Politics are inseparable and the successful combination of both creates the ground for a flourishing business resulting in thriving economies of the countries. With Yael Shelbia on the cover of L'Officiel Arabia we are aiming to celebrate new business opportunities between UAE, Bahrain, and Israel.", says la Germaine.

Her words are reminders that peace and cultural exchange not only benefit our lives and existence, but they bring opportunities for growth and success for businesses too. It is because of that that L’Officiel Arabia and LAISHA wanted to promote many different creative talents from their respective countries. It was Israeli Yossi Michaeli who photographed Shelbia at The Peninsula Hotel in New York City. The New York-based photographer is known for his work in international editions of Vogue, Elle and L’Officiel and clients like H&M and Fila. On the cover Shelbia wears a design by upcoming Israeli brand MICU. (@micuandmicu) Founded in 2020 by creatives Michal Stern and Inbar Ben Shabbat, the Jerusalem-based brand made its debut with its Fall Winter 2020 collection. The designers take inspirations from royal nobility, Renaissance art and architecture, translating them into clothes with clean cuts out of high quality fabrics like silk and wool. The elegant and luxurious line reflects childhood memories of the founders. Michal’s mother used to sew sketches for royal families in the 50ies and her work inspires a lot of MICU creations. Inbar, the creative director, remembers the work of her father, a sculptor. The clothes are sewn in a Salon in Jerusalem. Tailored pants, feminine dresses with turtle necks or puffed sleeves, and a big cape made out of Italian mohair are the key elements of the first collection. On the cover, Shelbia wears a classic dark blue and white silk printed blouse, embodying the modest and sophisticated elegance that MICU stands for.

Apart from MICU this issue also features a special collaboration involving an Israeli artist as well as an UAE-based artist. New York based brand FoxyLab (@foxylab_ny), a creative laboratory that marries art by different creatives with streetwear, has teamed up with Israeli Illustrator Talia Zoref (@taliazorefstyle) as well as with Dubai-based calligrapher and muralist Diaa Allam (@diaallam) to create dresses imprinted with artworks of the talents.

Telling these stories is an important step in the relationship between the UAE, Bahrain and Israel. In this political context Fashion becomes a means of communication, a diplomat and builder of trust and friendship.

“No doubt, celebrating talents, fashion and creation – is a wonderful way to tie connections and to build a strong and fruitful peace", says the Editor-in-Chief of LAISHA Karina Shtotland about putting Chanel Ayan on the cover of her magazine, “This is a groundbreaking first ever international collaboration, when two major magazines from different countries – who have just signed a historic accord – share a cover, promoting a message of peace, brotherhood (or shall I say sisterhood?) and cooperation, that bridges and unites between our nations.”

It´s hard to think of a moment more urgently in need of this message than the moment we are living in right now. The pandemic has made us confront truths about ourselves and made us question our lives. What we took for granted and deemed normal is suddenly being challenged. We may have to rethink who we want to be in the future. But the good news is: we don´t have to do it alone.