Simply Abu Dhabi XXX

2 2 8 S I M P LY A B U DH A B I ‘We try as much as we can to have a unique Emirati element in every timepiece we sell,’ says Basaeed. ‘So, for example, the Zayed watch has Shaikh Zayed’s face and name on the dial, and the second hand is in gold and incorporates the letter Z. The Zayed era was a golden one for the UAE, hence this hidden meaning within the watch. It also costs exactly Dh1,971, which is, of course, the year the UAE was founded.’ The Emirati link is integral to the brand’s DNA—made evident by the profusion of product innovation inspired by local landmarks and key figures. From the Mohammed Bin Rashid and Mohammed Bin Zayed pens, and the Kulluna Khalifa watch, to the recently launched Arabi timepiece, a watch on which the hands move anti-clockwise—the same direction Arabic is written and read. ‘The numbers are Hindu-Arabic numerals, rather than conventional Arabic numbers featured on most watches,’ explains Basaeed. Born and raised in Dubai, Basaeed studied architecture in UAE and Urban Design in the UK. His interest was ignited while studying in Edinburgh, when his course contained an element of product design. ‘I have a passion for designing because I am an architect originally,’ he says. ‘Feathers helps me to use my passion by designing my own products.’ Having created a uniquely Emirati brand, with Arabian, Islamic, cultural and regional touches in its design, Feathers reflects the sensibilities of Emirati and Middle Eastern fashion, with the unusual additional inspiration for its name, which draws on the beauty and symmetry of peacock feathers. ‘Aesthetically, I’ve always been fascinated by peacocks—the stunning simplicity and symmetry of their feathers,’ says Basaeed. ‘The pride and beauty of the animal also seemed to reflect our brand, as did the colour spectrum of the bird’s feathers, and the name “Feathers” is easy to pronounce in both the Arab world and abroad. That’s why it seemed the perfect theme.