The fifth-largest fashion week in the world held parades to present the latest pieces of fashion from Brazilian and international designers. São Paulo Fashion Week brings together fashion lovers, and this year’s edition ended 29 April in Ibirapuera Park.

Summer or Winter. Neither — only São Paulo Fashion Week. The 41st edition of São Paulo Fashion Week is the first that abandons the nomenclatures of the seasons such as winter and summer and is now called “SPFW N41”. This happened because the organisation realised “evolution” in the world of Brazilian fashion; in other words, not limiting the fashion collections in a country where heat is predominant.

The organisation highlighted that the change in nomenclature wants dialogue with discussions on speed, universality and immediacy of information. The next editions will change the dates for the pieces paraded. Clothes arrive in stores in sequence, following the global trend “see now, buy now “.

With the theme “Hands are worth gold,” the Fashion Week aimed to honor the human ability to rethink, reinvent, and restart, highlighting the handwork and the latest trends of beachwear and male clothing.

The first day of the 41st edition began with the brand Lilly Sarti and ended with the stylist Ronaldo Fraga, who presented the theme on global migration crisis. Six refugees from Syria and Haiti represented this current theme in the citywalk.

The time of economic instability facing the country was present at the event. Although there were a record number of sponsors, 17 in total, quotas were reduced. The walkways had more models of the new generation, and big international stars were not in this edition.

The event began in 1995 with the name of Morumbi Fashion Brazil. After changing the name, the event achieved prominence in the early 2000s due to the presence of Brazilian models with international careers, such as Gisele Bündchen, Isabeli Fontana and Alessandra Ambrósio.

São Paulo Fashion Week continues gathering famous brands and those that are entering the market. It is a space for creation, always open to new possibilities for designers worldwide.

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Having returned from my first trip to BaselWorld earlier this month, I’m not exactly dying to see another watch or pair of diamond earrings. Having said that, my efforts were not in vain as I bring to you five of the freshest and most innovative designs that managed to catch my eye.

First let’s talk about Nanis Jewels:

From the exquisite countryside in Vicenza came Laura Bicego’s equally exquisite new collections that I simply cannot get enough of. Nanis Jewels celebrates all things Cachemire with their luxurious collection that includes some of the softest and most incredibly elegant pieces made up of golden droplets.

See the rest of their delightful collection here.

Fromanteel

Gentlemen, looking for something timeless but modern? The finest craftsmanship but don’t want to spend a fortune? This quirky Dutch brand fuses the tradition and quality of the Fromanteel Clockswork clan with the freshest designs. A favourite has to be the 85 Rally collection which features smooth stainless steel cases matched with vibrant yellow and orange croco straps – perfect for welcoming the summer season with style!

Speake-Marin

Fellow Londoner, Peter Speake-Marin, took inspiration from early marine chronometers and has since created timeless pieces for both men and women. The Face to face Tourbillon limited edition piece combines a stunning skulled red or white gold Case with an 18K gold dial set with 8 diamonds- divine! If you don’t fall in love with their technically superior and aesthetically unique watches, you will definitely fall in love with the very charming Mr Speake-Marin.

Sybarite:

Mother-daughter duo Margarita & Alyona Prykhodko dare you to delve into their Russian fairytale and release your inner devotshka (Russian for “little girl”) with their mesmerising Dancing Doll Collection. Each of their magnificent rings spins gently round in a hypnotic circle in a whirl of diamonds, rubies and sapphires.

Bremont Watches

This quintessentially British brand managed to stand out at BaselWorld, with a residency in the Palace (a tucked-away exhibition space), and a strikingly sporty display. One of the standouts was the Boeing 100 Limited Edition timepiece, finely crafted from aviation-grade Ti 6-4 titanium – which is usually reserved for aircraft. This somewhat understated yet exceptionally well-designed model should definitely be on the wrist of every mover and shaker – but hurry, there aren’t many around!

BRIC Plus Magazine was proud to feature an official Media Partner at BaselWorld 2016.

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Chinese New Year celebrations have begun to usher in the Year of the Monkey. Across the world Chinese communities got into party mood on 6 February.  The monkey is the ninth animal in the Chinese zodiac calendar, which goes in twelve year cycles. The zodiac’s creatures  are so named in order from the ancient myth of ‘the Great Race’.

The story tells of twelve animals who were summoned to a meeting by the Jade Emperor. In order to get to the meeting, the animals would have to cross a river. The Emperor ruled that henceforth the years would be named for each animal according to the order in which they arrived to the meeting.

Each animal and year are associated with certain characteristics. Also, the zodiac sign has a corresponding element, which recurs every 60 years. In 2016, this combination is the Fire Monkey, whose attributes are said to be ‘ambitious and adventurous, but irritable’.

Fireworks dragon dancing festivals were brought alive in cities as disparate as Manila, Glasgow, and Mexico City. London, home to 124,250 Chinese, a third of the entire Chinese population of the UK, did not disappoint.

Earlier this year, the historic Chinatown district in London’s Soho area welcomed plans for  a new gate, to be the largest of its kind in the entire UK. The fourth of Chinatown’s magnificent gates, the new gate strengthens the character and beauty of an area which has been home to a large Chinese contingent for several decades.

Among London’s many events to celebrate Chinese New Year, was the Magical Lantern Festival held at Chiswick House. Fifty life-size lanterns, including a 66-metre long dragon, are displayed outside the venue, illuminated in dazzling colour, and on show until the 6th of March. Chinatown’s traditional New Year parade is planned for the 14th of February, when the official celebrations in London are set to begin.

Back in China, old traditions hope to see a boost. The age-old practice of giving a monetary gift in a red envelope has gone online, as companies attempt to cash-in on Chinese New Year. In the form of money-saving coupons, ‘digital red envelopes’ have become a staple among China’s big-name internet companies. China’s equivalent of the What’s App faced such demand from donors of billions of virtual red envelopes that the WeChat website “wobbled” under the demand.

As a method of driving up interest in the rapidly growing mobile payments market, China’s internet titans wage war. The search engine Baidu promises $900m in discounts for videos and fast food, promoting Baidu Wallet. Competing is online marketplace Alibaba, staging a giveaway of $120m worth of discounts to coincide with the annual Spring Festival Gala variety show, airing on Saturday to an audience of 700m.

The Year of the Monkey may herald a resurgence in the vanishing tradition of trained monkeys who were a key part of Chinese entertainment for 2000 years, but have been fading from popular culture. The monkey trainers of China’s Xinye County hope the dawn of the Year of the Monkey will give their industry a much-needed boost.

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The importance of sports

It does not take much imagination to think of the lengths an athlete would go to win an Olympic medal or to represent their country in a national sports team. Regardless of sport or athlete, the standards in every area of human achievement is being challenged at a time when mankind is undeniably at its peak in many areas – be it medicine, health, nutrition, or communication. This is after all, an age where news – good and bad – travels fast to reach billions in a heartbeat.

The stories of Usain Bolt, David Beckham, Maria Sharapova and others are inescapable – and happily so. We as a global society share a love of sports, be it the Olympics, the FIFA World Cup, or Wimbledon;  sports are clearly a great opportunity for bonding and shared pleasure for our species. They even have a significant place in human diplomacy and international politics.

The pressure to perform

Sports are crucial to humanity. In this importance, lies the problem. The culture of competition creates a strong desire to gain any advantage possible – by legal means or otherwise. This has undeniably created a ‘forbidden fruit’ of sports supplements and recreational drugs. The current legislation may need improvement, as very often such substances creep into legal grey areas. These issues have been very well explained in a myriad of documentaries, ‘Breaking the Taboo’ and ‘The Culture High’ being only two recent examples.

Doping is arguably the most important issue facing sports, but it is yet to be resolved or properly legislated. Whether the issue is EPO’s, or peptides such as Human Growth Hormone, or even marijuana or morphine, all athletes face the moral dilemma or whether to use or to avoid.

However, this applies not only to athletes. All 7.3 billion of us can lured by the promise of quick pain management, or ‘optimising’ our experiences. Whether people face criminal charges or sporting discipline, the question is universal, and applies to one and all.

[via RTS]

The hypocrisy of doping legislation

The key issue is one of honesty and transparency. It is a question of being well-informed, and the current culture of prohibition and punishment undermines this. It has driven sports doping underground, rendering it not unlike the black market of recreational substances created by the so-called ‘War on Drugs’. If we had the right formula of nutrition, exercise, and lifestyle to get the most out of ourselves, why should the use of any of these substances be punished or criminalised?

The stories of Lance Armstrong, Jon Jones, and Anderson Silva are three that need to be explored. The sheer hypocrisy of stripping someone of a title for performance enhancing drugs, or even the unrelated use of recreational drugs during celebration, is unacceptable. The problem lies with the punishment and not the perceived crime.

Safety first

Furthermore, criminalisation impacts upon the quality of such substances. It is really a matter of safety. Young competitors need to have the minimum standards of trust with medicines and supplements. With the current legislation, quality control is impossible. Not only may the substances be unsafe, how can it be known if these steroids or treatments really produce the results they are purported to?

I am yet to be convinced that anything other than natural nutrition and produce are needed to get the best out of my own human and sporting experience. However, not all people think this way. The key question is that of the salesperson, we are all the advocates of our own personal legacy. The truth can be illustrated well by the Malboro Man. With his death, no-one can really sell a smart adult cigarettes on health grounds. Education and honesty are at the heart of what people try and trust.

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A trip back in time

Ever been to a place that clues you into ancients times? The quaint town of Badami in Karnataka does just that. It may be a small district but its overwhelming heritage will transport you to a different era. Badami is an ancient place. Home to stunning ancient architecture and cultural heritage as the home of tantric massage, it has the potential to rise to prominence as the premier tourist destination in India.

Cave temples rest nobly by the shores of by the side of the Agasthya Lake in Badami, the very essence of peace and calm. The beauty of the ancient architecture, best captured under the magical glow of the full moon, resurrects history. As the wind flows, it stirs the whispering  ancient songs of the craftsmen of old.

[via Namaste Voyages]

Badami is not the only historical town in the area. The monuments of Badami, Aihole and Pattadakal date back to the 5th century. These rare constructions of the Chalukyan era, now form the main source of tourism in Northern Karnataka. Aihole is famous for its historical temple clusters and Pattadaka has been immortalised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Heritage at risk

But the monuments are under threat. In the ancient streets of historic Aihole, the crumbling walls of 5th century Chalukyan monuments are draped with wet clothes drip-drying in the sun. An extended family, resident inside a temple for half a decade, now considers it their home. Such is the state of these monuments. Originally built to celebrate ancient rulers, the harsh reality of modern India has taken root.

The reality of modern poverty collides dramatically with ancient architectural treasures. Their ruinous states now stand symbolic of the poor financial fortunes of millions. One family who has found a desperate home among the ancient stones fears they have nowhere else to turn. “This is what we have, we cannot leave this place,” said a desperate Rukmani, an octogeneration taking shelter with her three granddaughters. The monument has been converted into a home. Utensils and wet clothes drape the walls of the ancient structure, its former glory hidden under the shadow of modern poverty.

The collective footprints of a succession of families has lead to visible damage. “The conservation programmes for the monuments take place as per the need and condition of the monuments. Once the monument is destroyed, however, it is very difficult to restore it in the original way”stated Uday Shankar, Assistant Superintending Archaeologist at the Archaeological Museum of Badami.

Lost to history?

[via Stuffs You Learn]

A desperate search for purported treasure led to further dilapidation. In 2005, in Upper Shivalaya, home to the northern contingent of the Badami monuments, locals scrambled to the site. The central part of the monument can till date be seen damaged after the incident. Authorities from Archaeological Survey of India cite the lack of staff at the sites to be the main reason for the heartbreaking state of the monuments. “We have been short on staff for many years, and it is not possible to maintain the security of the monuments with barely two or three guards,” said, Udayshankar, Assistant Superintending Archaeologist at Badami Museum.

The maintenance of monuments is largely dependent on the attitude of the people towards it. Sadly, many locals in Badami do not understand the historical importance of the monuments. It is important that these are maintained to provide tourism revenue, and for the sake of posterity. Badami, the land of tantra, is losing its charm. In order to sustain its ancient beauty the authorities must respond with a cooperative and immediate approach. Otherwise, this gem of South India may soon be lost to history.

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Ahead of it’s release this Friday, we attended the preview screening of Red Army,  director Gabe Polsky’s new documentary about the Soviet Union and one of its greatest ever hockey teams, the Red Army.

Because the film is about Russian ice hockey players, but has been made by filmmakers from USA, I was fairly skeptical of Red Army from the get-go, but I couldn’t have been more wrong. A gripping tale of sports and politics, told through the eyes of the players themselves, the story traces captain Slava Fetisov’s transformation from national hero to political enemy. It’s a tragic, and at times absurd tale, and I haven’t seen a film quite as raw and powerful for a long time.

You don’t need to be an ice hockey fan to appreciate the intriguing circle of  situations and emotions that the characters go through. The film carries you along on a journey of pain, disappointment and betrayal, as well as opening a window to the teams real experiences of national victory, glory and admiration.

Using unseen Soviet footage, interviews, and behind the scenes shots, the director Gabe Polsky reveals more than just a hockey game. Neither is this film just about a regime of abusive training, or what the price of glory looks like from the inside. Polsky delves into and unearths what really hides behind such a dominant team and examines its broader impact on society and the legacy it has left on the Russian culture and politics.

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The sun is hard; it’s 2 p.m and I’m still one hour away from Astorga, the goal for the day. For the past four hours I have distanced myself from the group and have not talked to anyone in between. Listening to the birds singing and cows mooing is a refreshment to my mind, while the pointy rocks I step on feel like sharp spears reminding me of my blisters. Why am I doing this trek? It wasn’t the first time I asked myself this, but it was the last as soon as I layed eyes upon the sign: “La Casa de los Dioses”, the house of Gods.

A shirtless David greets me with a wide smile. Muscles ripped, tattooed arm and long hair, I mentally placed him at 30 years old. He’s actually in his 40s. He too had completed the Camino de Santiago six years ago.

“[It’s] an incredible experience that changed my life forever”, he explained. Shortly after he quit his job, left his house and decided to help pilgrims along the way between Santibañez de Valdeiglesias and San Justo de la Vega by selling organic food and drinks. The pilgrim pays whatever he thinks it’s worth, also known as “donativo”. This place is what he’s called home for the past four years. With no electricity nor running water David is all about sharing, either lending his guitar for lonely chords to find meaning on the air, or by talking about life itself. “The problem with society today is greed. Humans always want more and more. I decided to give and give.”

All the money he makes at his little “food truck” is used to buy more organic groceries delivered by a truck every week to provide food for the next pilgrims. He does not miss electricity, let alone cellphones or laptops. Water comes from the rain or a river two kilometers away. A mattress on a makeshift bed is his bedroom. I wave goodbye at him with the traditional “Buen Camino” pilgrims greet each other. “Feliz Camino” he replied. I find good friends also sharing David’s food among themselves and knew that those 15 minutes with David would stay with me forever.

But what is the “Camino” and why can it change people so drastically?

Camino de Santiago, or The Way of St. James, is a pilgrimage journey across Spain and one of the main ones for Christians, alongside Jerusalem and Rome. Santiago was one of the Apostles of Jesus and his remains are believed to be enshrined in the Cathedral of Santiago, in Spain. Traditionally the pilgrim would leave his or her own house and start walking towards the cathedral, which is what David did in Barcelona.

My name is Robert Born, I am 28 years old, born and raised in Brazil, so it was physically impossible to walk across the Atlantic Ocean to reach the Cathedral of Santiago in Spain. Therefore I took one of the traditional routes, the most famous one: Camino Francés, or the French way. Starting from Saint Jean Pied de Port, a French town near the Spanish border, I had to cross the Pyrenees into the Peninsula through Roncesvalles and before reaching Santiago I would also go through some big Spanish cities such as Pamplona, Logroño, Burgos, León, Astorga and Sarria. I started on June 10th until July 10th, plus another three days hiking until the end of the world in Finisterre, completing 862 kilometers.

One can easily describe the core of the Camino in a few sentences. Wake up at 5 a.m. Eat an apple or banana. Choose between 3 sets of clothes to wear. Put on smelly shoes. Carry a heavy backpack. Start walking for two hours non-stop before the first real breakfast. Keep walking for another three or four hours. Find accommodation. Take a shower. Eat dinner. Sleep. Repeat for the next 30 days. But to reach Santiago de Compostela is not the goal. The way and its teachings are the goal and believe me when I say that a pilgrim will change after the Camino.

Nameless

At the beginning no one has a name. You actually do, but since you are meeting around 15 new people every day it is hard to keep track of people`s names. Therefore your name blends with the place you come from. Evidently I was Brazil and I started remembering people as Justin Holland or Daniel Taiwan. Before you notice you start introducing yourself first by the country you’re from, followed by your actual name.

Along with being nameless a pilgrim gets a blank field for his personality as well. You can be anyone in the Camino. Mary Canada struck me as a talkative person; she found it easy to make new friends and make people feel comfortable around her with her jovial and funny attitude. A short brunette, it was hard to resist the urge to hug and throw her in the air after one of her impressions. She confessed being a shy person back in Canada. That surprised me. I myself find it hard to initiate conversation with strangers, although it felt natural during the Camino.

The first week is mainly physical pain. Legs, ankles, back will feel sore in spots you did not know you had muscles. Talking about the condition of your feet becomes the introductory conversation to new faces. The counting of blisters was my personal highlight, as I ended up with 26 – getting a silver medal on a secret championship, behind Amanda from United States who stopped counting after blister number 30 during the third week.

The physical pain gives space to physical happiness. After conquering steep mountains, plain fields and dense forests I started feeling the joy of overcoming what I thought was my physical limit. I was carrying an 18 kilo backpack with me – something every guide advises against, unless I weighed 180 kilos, which is double my actual weight – I walked around 25 kilometers every day and I only ate a proper meal once a day.

In the words of Magnus Denmark: “I’ve still got a long way to go, but I look back and realize everything I already conquered and I’m proud of it”. He mentioned that the day I met him while he was struggling with pain on his right foot. Unfortunately he had a bone injury and had to go back home earlier than expected. “But I will come back and continue from where I stopped”, he swore before entering a taxi to the next city.

To have a new personality does not mean you need to pretend to be strong. Both physically and mentally. Physically everyone can help you. During the first few days while walking alone I was always asked by people if I was ok or if I needed any help when I was just taking a water break. I once saw a group of 8 people, strangers to each other, who stopped to help Rachel from United States with a blister on her right foot. This is Camino!

Even though you might spend a few hours with total strangers, only a few minutes are needed to create a bond. Your fellow pilgrim is going through the same physical problems as you are. Psychologically can be different, which opens up deep conversations. I had conversations with people I’d known for roughly three hours that I never had with my closest friends back in Brazil. One day in the Camino feels like a month socially speaking.

“Ask and the Camino provides”

This quote was from Mary Canada somewhere along the way, but it was true from the beginning. On my first hostel, before the walking started, I met Sweden Michael, a tall strong bearded blonde in his 40s. During the first day of walking, I met Danish Daniel, a smiley blonde and very white Scandinavian guy in his mid-20s. When I reached the first albergue (pilgrim’s hostel) I wished to see Daniel and Michael again, and lo and behold, Daniel was right in front of me when I checked in the hostel in Roncesvalles, while Michael was coming down the stairs. Ask and the Camino provides.

But there is a “truer” quote that says “The Camino provides what you need, not always what you ask for.” This became clear to me on the fourth day when, after walking and meeting Michael and Daniel along the way, I was in so much pain that I could not reach the same city they were planning to stop at. Me and a new friend, German Naomi, stayed one city back, around 5 kilometers, only to push the limit the following day and try to find them. One day difference in the Camino feels like being in an entire new generation of pilgrims. If you stay back one day, or if you push your limit and go ahead a bit more, you will find a complete set of new people.

According to every person on the Camino, including those who worked at albergues, all accommodations in Pamplona were closed due to San Fermin – the street bull racing tradition – so people were advised to stay one city before or after Pamplona. Naomi pulled out her German guide book and pointed at a German albergue in the outskirts of Pamplona city center. Luckily it was open and it still had three beds available. Danke schön Deutschland. I never saw Michael or Daniel again, but I did meet Rachel from United States in the albergue. Her first words to me that day: “You’re here. Now everyone who is cool is here”, she shouted to the next bedroom. I barely knew her, although I knew she was from Houston, Texas and I shared a joke with her when, having to stop along the way to pop a blister, I said “Houston we have a problem.” I couldn’t resist.

Still from Camino de Santiago, movie (2015)

 

Rachel was in fact shouting to Sanne from Holland, but I called her Dutchie, Marie from Norway, Julia from Germany, Rachel’s friends also from the United States Katie and Mike, Tomi from Italy and Mary Canada. That group, with some temporary additions and some goodbyes were now my group along the way until the end of my journey.

To have a group went against everything I believed the Camino was about. This pilgrimage was supposed to be a silent walk, a journey to find your true self and not to keep walking in the pace of other people. That can be true if you want to, but I found out there was nothing more rewarding than seeing friendly faces when you take a break or when you check into an albergue. After all, happiness is only real when shared. “I meet a lot of people, but I don’t have the time to create a strong bond with them”, said a sad pilgrim who was doing the Camino in reverse. No wonder I do not recall his name.

Life in the Camino is simple. A swimming pool is the greatest remedy after walking five hours under a punitive hot sun. Smaller luxuries can also mean the world, such as a kitchen to cook proper food; blackberries, grapes, apples and figs for free on the trail; hot showers and a bed instead of a bunker; a mini market with more than three option of fruits; a guitar for the pilgrims.

The group did well without a guitar also. Norway Marie would sing acapella followed by the rest of the group who did not have the same lung experience as she did. If it wasn’t her, Sanne Dutchie would spin around with her walking sticks playing air guitar and screaming loud and clear making everyone laugh.

In the spirit of meeting more people, I disconnected from the group only to meet a couple of Danish and German pilgrims along with Tina from Slovenia – a psychologist and enigmatic person who would get stories out of you…but rarely share some of her own. She, like myself, did not want to tag with any group and was constantly walking faster or slower to meet new people. We ended up walking together all the way to the end of the world, with occasional mismatches. She ended up mingling with a group who later merged with mine. “I am so happy I am part of a group”, she confessed on the final week of the Camino. The Camino provides what you need, not always what you ask for.

Along the way you meet incredible people with which I could write a book about it, even though I spent a day or two with them, sometimes a few minutes. Albán is a guy we nicknamed Jerusalem although he is from France. He walked from his doorstep to Jerusalem and then started walking from there to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. The day I was entering the city he was leaving. “Walking back home now, another two months on the road”, he explained.

Jeróme from France was practically living inside a movie script doing the Camino. He was also spreading his mom’s ashes on the way. He told me his mother never expressed the desire and his two siblings were against it. “I’m doing it for myself. Not for her or for anyone else actually. I discovered that I’m doing it because I’m selfish and I’m not proud of it anymore.”

Gregori from Belgium is finishing his studies, but felt a “call” to do the Camino this year. Very religious, he would always have something deep to talk about and often found meaning in ordinary moments. Although he said he does not have many friends back home, he was always around people who loved him in the Camino. His life is a puzzle to many, as he shares only enough and at the right time, making people comfortable with his kindness.

During the walking: you are nameless; you can have the personality you want; you do not have a boss to tell you what to do and how; you do not have to walk 30 kilometers if you don’t want to; you can stop whenever you want and people will still see you as a winner, not a quitter. This is the personal universe of the Camino.

Combine that with social factors which are essentially nice and interesting people all around you, everywhere you go, and it’s hard not to understand why people embrace this lifestyle with such passion. Maybe for the first time you are 100% in control of your life. The ultimate freedom in this contemporary world.

Earlier I told you that the Camino will change you. I lied. The Camino does not change people. It is you, who changes you. To quote Tina Slovenia: “The Camino only makes you think. It makes your brain work and forces you to think about stuff that matters to you the most. After thinking, you decide what needs to change, but you can only do it yourself.” So what comes after the journey ends? I leave you with a personal metaphor I developed along the Camino:

The Camino feels like a different universe. But more detailed. It is like a dark room in our own universe. As soon as you enter it, somehow you are gifted with a candlelight, although it is not lit. In the beginning you walk, stumble across something or even someone, but you keep walking. Once in a while someone from the outside will come into the dark room but with an internal light of their own – those people for me were Belgium Gregori and Mary Canada, both willing to help anyone anyway possible. They stumbled across me and, kind souls as they are, they lit up my candle. I felt blessed and started sharing my light with more people I came to know. In no time, the room is filled with light. The Camino is no longer a strange dark place. You can see the end, and the last door you will open inside this parallel universe. And once you are out, what happens? Do you dump your candle in the nearest garbage bin and go back to your old life? Or is the wind of the ‘real universe’ too strong to blow off your flame?

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]]> https://bricplusnews.com/culture/pilgrimage-camino-de-santiago-epic-walk/feed/ 0 3142 https://bricplusnews.com/culture/male-beauty-standards-from-around-the-world/ https://bricplusnews.com/culture/male-beauty-standards-from-around-the-world/#respond Mon, 21 Sep 2015 04:30:00 +0000 https://bricplusnews.com/?p=2732 Women’s beauty standards have changed dramatically through the eras. Through the last century, the shift has been dramatic. The 1920’s saw the rectangular silhouette, and the 60’s, the ‘little swing girl’ trend. The 80’s saw the rise of the supermodel, and the obsession with long-legged beauty. The skinny obsession of the 1990’s soon gave way to [...]

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Women’s beauty standards have changed dramatically through the eras. Through the last century, the shift has been dramatic. The 1920’s saw the rectangular silhouette, and the 60’s, the ‘little swing girl’ trend. The 80’s saw the rise of the supermodel, and the obsession with long-legged beauty. The skinny obsession of the 1990’s soon gave way to the overly-tanned ‘plastic fantastic’ trend. Since 2000, natural beauty has rained supreme. We are lucky to live in a time when any woman, with any body-shape can be an image of beauty. You don’t need to be tall and slim to become a model, actress or the face of a brand. In fact, a unique or original look is much more appealing.

On the other hand, men’s beauty standards have not been as diverse as women’s. Only the statues of the ancient world and the Renaissance show the shapes of male figures. We can only imagine what was hidden under the armour of medieval knights, or under the variety of costumes men have donned over the centuries.

But what about now? What makes the ideal ‘Modern Man’? Is it his looks, his job title, or his personality? Or is it something else entirely? Nowadays, men look after themselves much more than 10 years ago. For the last few years, the market for men’s beauty products has increased by a staggering 70% worldwide. According to Avaj, a men’s luxury lifestyle retailer, men glance in the mirror 23 times a day, and women only 16 times. Males usually admire their favourite parts of the body, while females check their least favourite parts to make sure that they look okay.

David Zepeda

David Beckham

So what are the men’s beauty standards around the world? Let’s have a look at Great Britain first. Celebrities such as David Beckham and Jamie Dornan are known by some as the hottest men in the UK. Maybe this is why men’s facial hair and body tattoos are a top trend. The footballer’s body is considered the ideal male body, and grooming and ‘manscaping’ are also very popular in Britain.

It takes only one look at pictures of actor David Zepeda to understand the standards of men’s beauty in Mexico. Macho (Spanish for “male animal”) sums it up. Back in 2000, Mexican men took second place after Venezuela, to be crowned as the second most vain males in the world. In Mexico, plastic surgery among men is very popular particularly penis enlargement.

Turkish men are always on the list of the most handsome men on the planet and this year is no exception. In contrast to Mexican machos, Turkish men drive women crazy by being romantic, tender, supportive to their partner – and hairless! According to the science journal “Archives of Sexual Behaviour” Turkish women prefer men with a hairless chest. This ‘ideal man’ is portrayed in Turkish soap operas. Perhaps this is why they are so popular, with people across Turkey and the Middle East glued to them in their millions.

As the biggest film industry in the world, Bollywood has had a massive impact on Indian society in terms of beauty standards, family values, and traditions. India is the world’s largest market for male skincare products. In recent years, skin lightening creams have become popular among men, spurred on by endorsements from Bollywood actors and cricket players.

Rodrigo Santoro

Rodrigo Santoro, a Brazilian actor who played a modest and extremely good-looking guy in “Love Actually”) is perhaps the most internationally recognisable Brazilian, known for his great looks. Generally, Santoro’s look would be close to the perfect example of male beauty in Brazil. Fair straight hair, tanned skin, toned body and of course plastic surgery, is the epitome of handsome. Plastic surgery as an 18th birthday present is to many, completely normal. The popularity of plastic surgery, has seen Brazil surge into second place in the world, with 2 million procedures.

Despite all of this, women remain the biggest consumers in the cosmetic surgery market, 90 percent of all procedures. There are many reasons, deeper than a mere desire to look better, that make men and women go under the knife in their millions in drastic procedures, and its not 100% clear why. But after all, while there is nothing wrong with looking after yourself what matters the most is what is hidden behind the veneer.

Image via, and story inspired by Buzzfeed.

 

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]]> https://bricplusnews.com/culture/male-beauty-standards-from-around-the-world/feed/ 0 2732 https://bricplusnews.com/culture/the-human-cost-of-your-clothes-should-never-be-forgotten/ https://bricplusnews.com/culture/the-human-cost-of-your-clothes-should-never-be-forgotten/#respond Wed, 09 Sep 2015 04:30:00 +0000 https://bricplusnews.com/?p=2790 I can’t deny it; after watching The True Cost directed by Andrew Morgan, I couldn’t organize my thoughts. Pain, disgust, and a desperate desire to make a change – all these emotions jostled inside me. With tears in my eyes I wanted to shout out loud: “People, what are we doing to ourselves?!” But I [...]

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I can’t deny it; after watching The True Cost directed by Andrew Morgan, I couldn’t organize my thoughts. Pain, disgust, and a desperate desire to make a change – all these emotions jostled inside me. With tears in my eyes I wanted to shout out loud: “People, what are we doing to ourselves?!” But I didn’t. In fact, I didn’t do anything about it. I just shared a post on Facebook and Twitter revealing the shocking reality that hides behind our collective T-Shirts. Yes, the very one you bought the other day from a high street shop. The result: a few likes and one comment, that was all. People don’t have time to stop and think about someone else’s problems because they need to deal with theirs. I get that.

Yet awareness is everything. Thanks to increased exposure via the internet, we can’t avoid the horrifying stories about sex slaves from India, sweatshop workers from Bangladesh, early marriages in Africa. Harrowing as this can be, it is a good thing. These are real stories, real people who are desperate for help and support. And the people behind your T-Shirt are in a similar position.

‘Fast fashion’ may be enticing for consumers but it is characterised by cheap material, cheap labour, and poor quality. It may shrink in the wash but at those prices, why not buy another throw away garment tomorrow?  And not many of us know, or even care, that behind all of it are underpaid and undervalued workers, who get as little as $2 a day.

But it’s not just the low pay.  Factory management has become notorious for using violence against workers who stand up to them. The work place can be dangerous too. Who can forget the collapse of Rana Plaza in Bangladesh in 2013 and shocking numbers of deaths? It isn’t even a surprise anymore.

Despite fears surrounding safety, sweatshop employees are forced to go back to work in order to provide for their families. I will never forget the scene from The True Cost when one of the Indian workers has a small child by her, sitting workshop floor, as she works. Such women don’t have the option of sitting at home with their new-born. They can’t even leave their children at a nursery or with a babysitter – there is no such a thing.

The consequences of this situation are terrifying and will lead to a global tragedy. Yet only a few people and organisations are trying to tackle this issue. Safia Minney, founder of the Fair Trade fashion label People Tree, is one such person. As is Livia Firth, Creative Director of Eco-age, a sustainability brand consultancy and founder of Green Carpet Challenge (GCC). Lucy Siegle, author and journalist, is another prominent figure in the movement. They may come from different backgrounds and are working on different projects but they are all  dedicated to making the world a better place and to supporting those who need aid the most.

But what is the real crux of the problem, is it our love of fashion, our blindness to the troubles of the manufacturing industry or is it in fact an unstinting hunger for money on the part of fashion labels?

Let’s be honest, expensive clothing, accessories and lifestyle do make us feel better about ourselves and happier for a moment. We may be buying different things, in different shops but we all seem to share a desire to be accepted by society, to be loved and appreciated by friends, and somehow fashion gives us this. This is why we work harder, we get a job that is better, and we get a house that is bigger. Our natural desire to be noticed is making us spend more and more money on clothing, accessories, travel, education, nice houses and cars.

Big companies and brands know about this attention-mania and utilise it perfectly by presenting beautiful adverts and selling an irresistible dream. We want to be part of this dream therefore we can buy it. Narcissism and materialism have become epidemics within our generation and there seems to be no vaccination against it.

I’m not telling anyone to stop buying cheap clothing. But I feel that somehow we have got lost somewhere. We’ve lost something important and meaningful in our lives. By running around, trying to please and impress everyone, we forgot about who we really are and what we really need. It doesn’t matter where are you from and how much you earn: sweatshop workers from India and Bangladesh or bankers and CEO’s of a big companies, at the end of the day we all want to come back to a nice house with food on a table, surrounded by the people we love and care for.

If you can’t help these poor people in India or Bangladesh, help someone who is near you: that old gentleman who sat down by himself in the coffee shop or old lady who needed a sit in a tube. Being kind costs nothing but can make a difference in someone’s life. Just try it, the world needs more of it.

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]]> https://bricplusnews.com/culture/the-human-cost-of-your-clothes-should-never-be-forgotten/feed/ 0 2790 https://bricplusnews.com/culture/social-media-watch-uae-womensday/ https://bricplusnews.com/culture/social-media-watch-uae-womensday/#respond Fri, 28 Aug 2015 04:30:00 +0000 https://bricplusnews.com/?p=2740 We held a panel discussion event to celebrate the achievements of Emirati Women in Aviation. #EmiratiWomensDay pic.twitter.com/nHDdkX2gAG — Etihad Airways (@EtihadAirways) August 28, 2015 International Women’s Day may have been almost six months ago, but this did not stop the United Arab Emirates from continuing to celebrate the invaluable contribution that women make to society. The [...]

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We held a panel discussion event to celebrate the achievements of Emirati Women in Aviation.

#EmiratiWomensDay pic.twitter.com/nHDdkX2gAG

— Etihad Airways (@EtihadAirways) August 28, 2015

International Women’s Day may have been almost six months ago, but this did not stop the United Arab Emirates from continuing to celebrate the invaluable contribution that women make to society. The 28th of August marks the inaugural celebration of #EmiratiWomensDay.

At #QCC we are extremely proud of our female workers who represent 42% of our workforce. #EmiratiWomensDay pic.twitter.com/WY3KkPNSlD

— QCC Abu Dhabi (@QCCAbuDhabi) August 28, 2015

A very good morning to all our mothers, wives, sisters and daughters. Happy #EmiratiWomensDay #PinkCaravan pic.twitter.com/UhzsCydtJ6

— Pink Caravan (@ThePinkCaravan) August 28, 2015

From industry, to art, to individual people, the community of the UAE is blowing up twitter in honour of the vital roles played by women in the country.

Wishing all the beautiful and strong Emirati women out there, happy #EmiratiWomensDay !

— Kaavya (@Kaavs) August 28, 2015

@TopHerGame @talabadri @HalaKazim @taghrid_alsaeed @LanaAlJaghbeer amazing role models! Happy #EmiratiWomensDay! #topofhergame

— Christina Ioannidis (@christinai) August 28, 2015

This is the first year of the day’s celebration, and it is backed by the chairwomen of the General Women’s Union, Sheika Fatima Bint Mubarak, wife of the late Sheik Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who was both the first president of the UAE, and the Emir of Abu Dhabi. Sheika Fatima is a key advocate for women’s rights in the region, and her efforts saw her achieve five United Nations awards. Not only this, but Sheika Fatima was also awarded the Marie Curie Medal for her efforts to alleviate the social ills of illiteracy and for advocating women’s rights, taking her place in history as the award’s first Arab recipient.

In this day we would like thank H.H #sheika_fatima choose 28 AUG be the #Emirati_Womens_day
I feel I’m #unique_women in the world

#UAE

— ŚєℓA7ɪ (@sale7i) August 27, 2015

2015 may have seen the first Emirati Women’s Day – and clearly it is unlikely to be the last.

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