SimplyAbuDhabi XIV

7 3 S I M P LY A B U DH A B I A new Reverso strap by Casa Fagliano This year, the introduction of a new strap furthers the story of the Reverso’s relationship with the Sport of Kings. The traditional chestnut brown alligator leather strap with pink gold pin buckle historically associated with the Reverso is now joined by hand-crafted leather straps from Casa Fagliano, the legendary leather makers famous for outfitting polo players with the finest boots in the world. Polo players are no less demanding of the boots they wear to compete than of the timepieces on their wrists. They have long championed Casa Fagliano, established in 1892 in the worldwide polo capital, Buenos Aires, as their bootmaker of choice. For well over a century, the Fagliano family has been dedicated to mastering all the mysteries and intricacies of a single craft – fine leatherwork. The descendants of the company’s founder continue the authentic family-style division of labour to this day, and their creations are keenly sought-after by the world’s best polo players, who simply could not imagine playing a match without their favourite boots. For the Manufacture Jaeger-LeCoultre, Casa Fagliano has agreed to produce hand- crafted straps for the Reverso, following the strict principles and time-honoured tradition of working with cordovan leather, which is renowned for its exceptional resistance. Delivered along with each watch, the strap crafted in the Casa Fagliano workshops is distinguished by its elegant suppleness and hand-made mode of production – making it truly one of a kind. The Manufacture Jaeger-LeCoultre is proud of this partnership that continues to strengthen its bond with the history of polo. British Polo Day, as a celebration of British luxury heritage, has been an enormous success. In just four years, the British Polo Day calendar has grown to encapsulate a network of 11 events internationally, including those in Abu Dhabi, China, Dubai, France, Germany, India, Mexico, Russia, Singapore, Thailand and, of course, Great Britain. Morocco, USA and Australia will all be added in 2014, with South Africa due to join in early 2015. The story of British Polo Day stems from a love of the ancient sport of polo and a recognition that the international language of the horse can bridge cultures, bringing people together on a global scale. The project initially began in the UAE in 2009, with the inaugural UK event taking place in July 2011. Ever since, British Polo Day has expanded year-on-year, growing in status and stature. Each event features British polo players from some of Britain’s leading institutions, competing against teams from the host country. At the Abu Dhabi kick-off event, we had the opportunity to chat with Edward Olver and Tom Hudson, co-Founders of British Polo Day. As Mr. Hudson explained, “The aim of British Polo Day is to continue the tradition of playing high-quality amateur polo against friends across the world, while also acting as a chance to build a network of diplomatic and commercial opportunities.” To illustrate his point: British Polo Day showcases over 30 top British luxury brands, providing a platform for British business in emerging markets. Through partnerships with leading luxury brands, British Polo Day champions quintessential British heritage and craftsmanship. Moreover, Jordana and I were especially impressed to learn the British Polo Day team is entirely committed to bringing the full weight of its partners, network and creative talent to this end. To date, British Polo Day has raised an impressive US$ 655,455 for extremely worthy causes across the world. A spectacular sporting event, a chance to build business relationships for the UAE, and the spirit of true philanthropy – for us, British Polo Day Abu Dhabi was an unforgettable day. Ghantoot Teamwith Dominic Jermey, His Highness Sheikh Shakhboot bin Nahyan al Nahyan