Egypt, S.Arabia step up trade ties through coordination council talks    Egypt reviews progress on $200m World Bank-funded waste management hub    Egypt urges Israel to accept Gaza deal amid intensifying fighting    SCZONE showcases investment opportunities to eight Japanese companies    Egypt, ADIB explore strategic partnership in digital healthcare, investment    SCZONE, Tokyo Metropolitan Government sign MoU on green hydrogen cooperation    Egypt welcomes international efforts for peace in Ukraine    Al-Sisi, Macron reaffirm strategic partnership, coordinate on Gaza crisis    Contact Reports Strong 1H-2025 on Financing, Insurance Gains    Egypt, India's BDR Group in talks to establish biologics, cancer drug facility    AUC graduates first cohort of film industry business certificate    Egyptian pound down vs. US dollar at Monday's close – CBE    Egypt's FM, Palestinian PM visit Rafah crossing to review Gaza aid    Egypt prepares unified stance ahead of COP30 in Brazil    Egypt recovers collection of ancient artefacts from Netherlands    Egypt harvests 315,000 cubic metres of rainwater in Sinai as part of flash flood protection measures    Egypt, Namibia explore closer pharmaceutical cooperation    Fitch Ratings: ASEAN Islamic finance set to surpass $1t by 2026-end    Renowned Egyptian novelist Sonallah Ibrahim dies at 88    Egyptian, Ugandan Presidents open business forum to boost trade    Al-Sisi says any party thinking Egypt will neglect water rights is 'completely mistaken'    Egypt's Sisi warns against unilateral Nile measures, reaffirms Egypt's water security stance    Egypt's Sisi, Uganda's Museveni discuss boosting ties    Egypt, Huawei explore healthcare digital transformation cooperation    Egypt's Sisi, Sudan's Idris discuss strategic ties, stability    Egypt to inaugurate Grand Egyptian Museum on 1 November    Greco-Roman rock-cut tombs unearthed in Egypt's Aswan    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Five Arab sustainable designers
Published in Almasry Alyoum on 08 - 09 - 2010


By Arwa Aburawa
From New York to Egypt, Arab architects and designers show us it's possible to be cool and environmentally responsible.
We've put together our top five Arab sustainable designers who have inspired us to care for the environment through their spectacular designs. From fashion designers, architects to interior designers, below are some Arab designers who have put sustainability at the heart of their work.
5. Nadia Nour: Egyptian fashion designer
Nadia Nour is an Egyptian fashion designer based in New York who has a real flair for creating environmentally-friendly fashion. Combining elegant designs with organic cottons, silks and vintage fabrics, she insists it's possible to be fashionable and at the same time care for environment.
Nour has taken the fashionistas in New York by storm and states that not only are green fabrics healthier for people and the planet, but they also make for a softer and more durable fabric. As she remarked in an interview with Green Prophet, “women do not have to sacrifice style to be green.”
Nour encourages green shoppers to read labels carefully and educate themselves about the negative impacts of the fashion industry. She insists that not only will this help build demand for eco-clothing, but it should help people make better decisions when shopping.
4. Ziad Ghanem: Lebanese fashion designer
Next up is Ziad Ghanem, a Lebanese fashion designer who is a master of recycled fashion couture. Ghanem shocked viewers at London fashion week with his message of anti-consumerism and vibrant designs, all environmentally-conscious.
Sourcing his fabrics from second-hand stores, Ghanem's creations are printed using environmentally-friendly techniques under ethical working conditions.
As Green Prophet writer Karen Chernick notes, “unlike other high fashion designers, Ghanem brings a funky environmental consciousness to his work that proves “green” ideas have their place in the world of couture.”
3. Zaha Hadid: Iraqi architect
Iraqi-born Zaha Hadid is no doubt one of the most influential architects in the world--in fact she was named one of TIME Magazine's top 100 influential people this year--but her green credentials are a little more questionable.
Tafline Laylin of Green Prophet reported this summer that whilst Hadid's team has recently begun to explore more sustainable design methods, “[Hadid] has spent her entire career allowing her futuristic imagination free reign with little thought to the environmental consequences of her ambition.”
Even so, if Hadid does take her growing concern for sustainability more seriously, she could be an unstoppable force for change.
2. Karim Rashid: Eygptian designer
Karim Rashid is a leading figure in the design world with a flair for creative green designs. With over 300 awards under his belt, Rashid has created some amazing products that can help to stylishly save the planet.
Born in Cairo, Rashid is half Egyptian, half English and his work includes the ingenious Bobble reusable bottle which has a built-in water filter to help remove chlorine and organic contaminants as well as being recycled, re-usable and cheap.
Other green inventions include beautiful T-Rex lighting and an Eco-house made from recycled and ecological materials unveiled during Milan Design Week.
1. Hassan Fathy: Egyptian architect
Hailed as the Middle East's Father of Sustainable Architecture, Hassan Fathy is an Egyptian architect who has inspired a generation of unique projects, from Greece to New Mexico. What makes him stand out is his passion for sustainable projects incorporating traditional design and building materials such as mud, which he has brought to the lower-income Egytian population.
In 1946, he was commissioned to build a new Gourna village for 3000 families and decided to include the villagers in the transition by enlisting them as builders, and by using their traditional architectural techniques and materials. Although Fathy passed away in 1989, he continues to inspire a generation of architects to embrace sustainable design.
And for that, he makes it as the number one Arab sustainable designer.


Clic here to read the story from its source.