Latest news with #Ionic-style
Shafaq News
06-05-2025
- General
- Shafaq News
Visit Kurdistan: Qyzqapan Tomb, where stone remembers the dead
Shafaq News/ In the Chemi Rezan Valley west of Al-Sulaymaniyah, the Qyzqapan Tomb rises from a limestone cliff—an ancient chamber carved high into the rock, bearing witness to a time when stone held memory and belief. Set roughly 65 kilometers from Al-Sulaymaniyah city, this archaeological site remains one of the most significant examples of rock-cut funerary architecture in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Ancient Echoes in the Cliffs Dating back to the Median–Achaemenid period (ca. 600–330 BCE), Qyzqapan Tomb reflects a fusion of Persian artistic and spiritual traditions. Carved into a vertical limestone wall roughly eight meters above the valley floor, its façade features two Ionic-style engaged columns flanking a central doorway. Above the entrance, a relief shows two human figures standing beside a fire altar—hands raised in a gesture widely interpreted as Zoroastrian. Above this scene are three carved divine symbols: a seated figure inside a crescent (possibly the moon god Mah), a starburst with eleven rays, and a four-winged figure believed to represent Ahura Mazda, the chief deity of Zoroastrianism. These motifs, though weathered by time, retain deep spiritual and cultural significance. Inside, the tomb contains three burial chambers, each with a carved grave. No inscriptions have been discovered, and the identities of those interred remain unknown. However, the structure's design and iconography suggest it was built for someone of high status—perhaps a noble or religious figure. A Path Through the Valley Reaching Qyzqapan requires some effort. The tomb lies west of Zarzi village, near the road connecting Al-Sulaymaniyah and Dokan. The final stretch involves hiking over unpaved, rocky terrain, with no formal paths or visitor infrastructure. The ascent is moderate but can be challenging, especially during wet or hot conditions. Caution is advised, and proper footwear is essential. Despite the physical effort, the reward is clear. The view from the tomb extends over the Chemi Rezan Valley, a landscape shaped by time and silence. Few places in the Region offer such a raw connection to the past—unfiltered by fences or tourism. Seasons of Silence and Stone The best time to visit the tomb is during spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November), when the weather is cool and the landscape is at its most vibrant. During summer, high temperatures can make the climb uncomfortable, while winter conditions may bring rain and slippery terrain. The site is open year-round and there is no entrance fee. Resting in the City Below There are no accommodations at the tomb site or in Zarzi village itself. However, Al-Sulaymaniyah city—around an hour's drive away—offers a wide range of hotels for every budget. Visitors often base themselves in the city and plan a day trip to Qyzqapan with local guides or personal vehicles. A Preserved Heritage In 2002, the Directorate General of Antiquities of Al-Sulaymaniyah conducted restoration work at the site to stabilize its structure and mitigate erosion damage. A full-scale replica of the tomb's façade was later created and installed at the museum, where it serves as both an educational exhibit and a cultural safeguard for the original. The site itself has not been commercialized or developed for tourism, which has helped preserve its atmosphere. Qyzqapan remains a destination primarily for those with historical interest, archaeological background, or a deep appreciation for remote heritage sites. Qyzqapan Tomb stands not just as a remnant of the ancient world, but as a quiet testament to the spiritual and cultural practices of a bygone era. Its survival, carved into the living rock, reflects a continuity of belief, architecture, and respect for the dead that shaped much of ancient Mesopotamia and western Iran.
Fashion Network
24-04-2025
- Business
- Fashion Network
Casablanca to open first Los Angeles store after Paris
The Casablanca brand, founded in 2018 by Charaf Tajer, will open its first boutique in Los Angeles in July, two months after the planned opening of its Paris boutique on rue Saint-Honoré in May. Located at 469 North Canon Drive, Beverly Hills, the giant 5,000-square-fo0t space formerly occupied by Jimmy Choo, hair salon chain Vidal Sassoon and yogurt specialist Pinkburry, will welcome the Casablanca brand in a sumptuous architectural setting, with Ionic-style columns, arched display cases and a magisterial wrought-iron staircase. A second store for the designer, a regular at Paris Fashion Week, who will nevertheless have to make his mark in Beverly Hills, in an area off Rodeo Drive. Located at the corner of Santa Monica Boulevard and North Canon Drive, the boutique is on a less-trafficked stretch of Beverly Hills, occupied by offices and banks, including the Chamber of Commerce, the Beverly Hills Welcome Center and the Bank of America, and by a number of famous cultural venues, including the Wallis Annenberg Center and the Brainwash Museum. Just five minutes from the major Beverly Hills hotels and numerous restaurants, including the popular Wally's and Funke, the store could nonetheless benefit from the new retail momentum on Canon Drive and the refreshment taking place there. Deserted by the luxury brands all clustered on Rodeo Drive, the neighborhood has seen the opening of the cashmere brand Guest in Residence, founded by Gigi Hadid, on the nearby N Beverly Drive. More recently, the fashionable golf brand G/Fore opened its first boutique near Alo Yoga at 401 N Canon Drive, to offer 'its young, modern golfwear collections." The opening of a store in Los Angeles also resonates perfectly with Tajer's love for the West Coast. A long-time Los Angeles enthusiast, Tajer's Spring/Summer 2025 show entitled 'Can't Get Enough' was set against a backdrop of lowriders - a movement launched by Chicanos, Mexican-Americans in the early '40s, taken up by hip-hop and customizing cars into works of art, metallic paint, chrome and lights - and flamboyantly recounted his inspirations for LA, skate and surf culture. Long known in the Parisian nightlife scene - he was notably artistic director of the Pompon parties - the Moroccan-born Frenchman was also co-founder of the Pigalle label alongside designer Stéphane Ashpool. Twenty years of experience, parties, travel and networking led him to launch his own brand in 2018. A gradual but serious success, which led the brand to show at Paris Fashion Week a year later. Its second show, which transformed the gardens of the Musée de Montmartre into the 'Café de Casablanca', attracted a huge turnout of celebrities and guests from New York and California. In recent years, the brand has also forged numerous collaborations. In 2022, Tajer added his tropical graphic signature to a collection of Bulgari bags. In 2023, he teamed up with Caviar Kaspia for a capsule ready-to-wear collection and a limited-edition caviar tin. The brand has also collaborated with S.T. Dupont and Nordstrom, organized memorable parties during Art Basel Miami, and opened its Casablanca Tennis Club in Abu Dhabi last February. The Los Angeles boutique, like the one in Paris, will house the brand's entire wardrobe, from outerwear to tailoring in the West Coast or Miami style, to swimwear, Beach Club, eyewear and sport sneakers. Seven years after its launch, the brand has generated over 50 million euros, according to an interview with Tajer in Forbes Afrique magazine. Last year, the London-based brand announced the appointment of Txampi Diz as chief marketing officer, who had previously held the same position at Balmain. A year earlier, it appointed Frederick Lukoff, former CEO of the Stella McCartney and Scotch & Soda brands, as its new CEO, replacing Nadia Khan. Launched with men's collection, the brand followed with a women's collection in 2020, before a full reorganization in 2023. Its original company, Casablanca Clothing Ltd, founded by Tajer, had been acquired by a new company, Casablanca Paris Ltd. The new anonymous owner was already the brand's main investor.
Fashion Network
24-04-2025
- Business
- Fashion Network
Casablanca to open first Los Angeles store after Paris
The Casablanca brand, founded in 2018 by Charaf Tajer, will open its first boutique in Los Angeles in July, two months after the planned opening of its Paris boutique on rue Saint-Honoré in May. Located at 469 North Canon Drive, Beverly Hills, the giant 5,000-square-fo0t space formerly occupied by Jimmy Choo, hair salon chain Vidal Sassoon and yogurt specialist Pinkburry, will welcome the Casablanca brand in a sumptuous architectural setting, with Ionic-style columns, arched display cases and a magisterial wrought-iron staircase. A second store for the designer, a regular at Paris Fashion Week, who will nevertheless have to make his mark in Beverly Hills, in an area off Rodeo Drive. Located at the corner of Santa Monica Boulevard and North Canon Drive, the boutique is on a less-trafficked stretch of Beverly Hills, occupied by offices and banks, including the Chamber of Commerce, the Beverly Hills Welcome Center and the Bank of America, and by a number of famous cultural venues, including the Wallis Annenberg Center and the Brainwash Museum. Just five minutes from the major Beverly Hills hotels and numerous restaurants, including the popular Wally's and Funke, the store could nonetheless benefit from the new retail momentum on Canon Drive and the refreshment taking place there. Deserted by the luxury brands all clustered on Rodeo Drive, the neighborhood has seen the opening of the cashmere brand Guest in Residence, founded by Gigi Hadid, on the nearby N Beverly Drive. More recently, the fashionable golf brand G/Fore opened its first boutique near Alo Yoga at 401 N Canon Drive, to offer 'its young, modern golfwear collections." The opening of a store in Los Angeles also resonates perfectly with Tajer's love for the West Coast. A long-time Los Angeles enthusiast, Tajer's Spring/Summer 2025 show entitled 'Can't Get Enough' was set against a backdrop of lowriders - a movement launched by Chicanos, Mexican-Americans in the early '40s, taken up by hip-hop and customizing cars into works of art, metallic paint, chrome and lights - and flamboyantly recounted his inspirations for LA, skate and surf culture. Long known in the Parisian nightlife scene - he was notably artistic director of the Pompon parties - the Moroccan-born Frenchman was also co-founder of the Pigalle label alongside designer Stéphane Ashpool. Twenty years of experience, parties, travel and networking led him to launch his own brand in 2018. A gradual but serious success, which led the brand to show at Paris Fashion Week a year later. Its second show, which transformed the gardens of the Musée de Montmartre into the 'Café de Casablanca', attracted a huge turnout of celebrities and guests from New York and California. In recent years, the brand has also forged numerous collaborations. In 2022, Tajer added his tropical graphic signature to a collection of Bulgari bags. In 2023, he teamed up with Caviar Kaspia for a capsule ready-to-wear collection and a limited-edition caviar tin. The brand has also collaborated with S.T. Dupont and Nordstrom, organized memorable parties during Art Basel Miami, and opened its Casablanca Tennis Club in Abu Dhabi last February. The Los Angeles boutique, like the one in Paris, will house the brand's entire wardrobe, from outerwear to tailoring in the West Coast or Miami style, to swimwear, Beach Club, eyewear and sport sneakers. Seven years after its launch, the brand has generated over 50 million euros, according to an interview with Tajer in Forbes Afrique magazine. Last year, the London-based brand announced the appointment of Txampi Diz as chief marketing officer, who had previously held the same position at Balmain. A year earlier, it appointed Frederick Lukoff, former CEO of the Stella McCartney and Scotch & Soda brands, as its new CEO, replacing Nadia Khan. Launched with men's collection, the brand followed with a women's collection in 2020, before a full reorganization in 2023. Its original company, Casablanca Clothing Ltd, founded by Tajer, had been acquired by a new company, Casablanca Paris Ltd. The new anonymous owner was already the brand's main investor.
Fashion Network
24-04-2025
- Business
- Fashion Network
Casablanca to open first Los Angeles store after Paris
The Casablanca brand, founded in 2018 by Charaf Tajer, will open its first boutique in Los Angeles in July, two months after the planned opening of its Paris boutique on rue Saint-Honoré in May. Located at 469 North Canon Drive, Beverly Hills, the giant 5,000-square-fo0t space formerly occupied by Jimmy Choo, hair salon chain Vidal Sassoon and yogurt specialist Pinkburry, will welcome the Casablanca brand in a sumptuous architectural setting, with Ionic-style columns, arched display cases and a magisterial wrought-iron staircase. A second store for the designer, a regular at Paris Fashion Week, who will nevertheless have to make his mark in Beverly Hills, in an area off Rodeo Drive. Located at the corner of Santa Monica Boulevard and North Canon Drive, the boutique is on a less-trafficked stretch of Beverly Hills, occupied by offices and banks, including the Chamber of Commerce, the Beverly Hills Welcome Center and the Bank of America, and by a number of famous cultural venues, including the Wallis Annenberg Center and the Brainwash Museum. Just five minutes from the major Beverly Hills hotels and numerous restaurants, including the popular Wally's and Funke, the store could nonetheless benefit from the new retail momentum on Canon Drive and the refreshment taking place there. Deserted by the luxury brands all clustered on Rodeo Drive, the neighborhood has seen the opening of the cashmere brand Guest in Residence, founded by Gigi Hadid, on the nearby N Beverly Drive. More recently, the fashionable golf brand G/Fore opened its first boutique near Alo Yoga at 401 N Canon Drive, to offer 'its young, modern golfwear collections." The opening of a store in Los Angeles also resonates perfectly with Tajer's love for the West Coast. A long-time Los Angeles enthusiast, Tajer's Spring/Summer 2025 show entitled 'Can't Get Enough' was set against a backdrop of lowriders - a movement launched by Chicanos, Mexican-Americans in the early '40s, taken up by hip-hop and customizing cars into works of art, metallic paint, chrome and lights - and flamboyantly recounted his inspirations for LA, skate and surf culture. Long known in the Parisian nightlife scene - he was notably artistic director of the Pompon parties - the Moroccan-born Frenchman was also co-founder of the Pigalle label alongside designer Stéphane Ashpool. Twenty years of experience, parties, travel and networking led him to launch his own brand in 2018. A gradual but serious success, which led the brand to show at Paris Fashion Week a year later. Its second show, which transformed the gardens of the Musée de Montmartre into the 'Café de Casablanca', attracted a huge turnout of celebrities and guests from New York and California. In recent years, the brand has also forged numerous collaborations. In 2022, Tajer added his tropical graphic signature to a collection of Bulgari bags. In 2023, he teamed up with Caviar Kaspia for a capsule ready-to-wear collection and a limited-edition caviar tin. The brand has also collaborated with S.T. Dupont and Nordstrom, organized memorable parties during Art Basel Miami, and opened its Casablanca Tennis Club in Abu Dhabi last February. The Los Angeles boutique, like the one in Paris, will house the brand's entire wardrobe, from outerwear to tailoring in the West Coast or Miami style, to swimwear, Beach Club, eyewear and sport sneakers. Seven years after its launch, the brand has generated over 50 million euros, according to an interview with Tajer in Forbes Afrique magazine. Last year, the London-based brand announced the appointment of Txampi Diz as chief marketing officer, who had previously held the same position at Balmain. A year earlier, it appointed Frederick Lukoff, former CEO of the Stella McCartney and Scotch & Soda brands, as its new CEO, replacing Nadia Khan. Launched with men's collection, the brand followed with a women's collection in 2020, before a full reorganization in 2023. Its original company, Casablanca Clothing Ltd, founded by Tajer, had been acquired by a new company, Casablanca Paris Ltd. The new anonymous owner was already the brand's main investor.
Fashion Network
24-04-2025
- Business
- Fashion Network
Casablanca to open first Los Angeles store after Paris
The Casablanca brand, founded in 2018 by Charaf Tajer, will open its first boutique in Los Angeles in July, two months after the planned opening of its Paris boutique on rue Saint-Honoré in May. Located at 469 North Canon Drive, Beverly Hills, the giant 5,000-square-fo0t space formerly occupied by Jimmy Choo, hair salon chain Vidal Sassoon and yogurt specialist Pinkburry, will welcome the Casablanca brand in a sumptuous architectural setting, with Ionic-style columns, arched display cases and a magisterial wrought-iron staircase. A second store for the designer, a regular at Paris Fashion Week, who will nevertheless have to make his mark in Beverly Hills, in an area off Rodeo Drive. Located at the corner of Santa Monica Boulevard and North Canon Drive, the boutique is on a less-trafficked stretch of Beverly Hills, occupied by offices and banks, including the Chamber of Commerce, the Beverly Hills Welcome Center and the Bank of America, and by a number of famous cultural venues, including the Wallis Annenberg Center and the Brainwash Museum. Just five minutes from the major Beverly Hills hotels and numerous restaurants, including the popular Wally's and Funke, the store could nonetheless benefit from the new retail momentum on Canon Drive and the refreshment taking place there. Deserted by the luxury brands all clustered on Rodeo Drive, the neighborhood has seen the opening of the cashmere brand Guest in Residence, founded by Gigi Hadid, on the nearby N Beverly Drive. More recently, the fashionable golf brand G/Fore opened its first boutique near Alo Yoga at 401 N Canon Drive, to offer 'its young, modern golfwear collections." The opening of a store in Los Angeles also resonates perfectly with Tajer's love for the West Coast. A long-time Los Angeles enthusiast, Tajer's Spring/Summer 2025 show entitled 'Can't Get Enough' was set against a backdrop of lowriders - a movement launched by Chicanos, Mexican-Americans in the early '40s, taken up by hip-hop and customizing cars into works of art, metallic paint, chrome and lights - and flamboyantly recounted his inspirations for LA, skate and surf culture. Long known in the Parisian nightlife scene - he was notably artistic director of the Pompon parties - the Moroccan-born Frenchman was also co-founder of the Pigalle label alongside designer Stéphane Ashpool. Twenty years of experience, parties, travel and networking led him to launch his own brand in 2018. A gradual but serious success, which led the brand to show at Paris Fashion Week a year later. Its second show, which transformed the gardens of the Musée de Montmartre into the 'Café de Casablanca', attracted a huge turnout of celebrities and guests from New York and California. In recent years, the brand has also forged numerous collaborations. In 2022, Tajer added his tropical graphic signature to a collection of Bulgari bags. In 2023, he teamed up with Caviar Kaspia for a capsule ready-to-wear collection and a limited-edition caviar tin. The brand has also collaborated with S.T. Dupont and Nordstrom, organized memorable parties during Art Basel Miami, and opened its Casablanca Tennis Club in Abu Dhabi last February. The Los Angeles boutique, like the one in Paris, will house the brand's entire wardrobe, from outerwear to tailoring in the West Coast or Miami style, to swimwear, Beach Club, eyewear and sport sneakers. Seven years after its launch, the brand has generated over 50 million euros, according to an interview with Tajer in Forbes Afrique magazine. Last year, the London-based brand announced the appointment of Txampi Diz as chief marketing officer, who had previously held the same position at Balmain. A year earlier, it appointed Frederick Lukoff, former CEO of the Stella McCartney and Scotch & Soda brands, as its new CEO, replacing Nadia Khan. Launched with men's collection, the brand followed with a women's collection in 2020, before a full reorganization in 2023. Its original company, Casablanca Clothing Ltd, founded by Tajer, had been acquired by a new company, Casablanca Paris Ltd. The new anonymous owner was already the brand's main investor.
