Women

SHALOM!: Yael Shelbia

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

Blouse by MICU; Earring by AVē Jewelry; Brooch by Erickson Beamon; Headband by Erickson Beamon.

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 and communicates 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.

Skirt and Top by MICU; Glasses by Ülsje Handcrafted Glasses; Headband by Lele Sadoughi; Necklace by Erickson Beamon; Earrings by AVē Jewelry.

“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.

Skirt and Top by Esme Vie; Belt by Lele Sadoughi; Boots by Alessandra Balbi; Earring by Erickson Beamon.

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.

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.

Dress Talia Zoref X FOXYLAB NEW YORK

The women of Israel are eager to be

introduced to UAE women

and to learn more about them and

about all aspects of life and culture.

No doubt, celebrating talents,

fashion and creation – is a wonderful

way to tie connections and to

build a strong and fruitful peace.

Dress by Avaro Figlio; Earring by Erickson Beamon.

Dress by MICU; Shoes by Alessandra Balbi; Necklace by Erickson Beamon.

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 NEW YORK (@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. “The women of Israel are eager to be introduced to UAE women and to learn more about them and about all aspects of life and culture. 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, “We are excited to be Anna la Germaine’s partner on this 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 unite between our nations.”