The Fall/Winter 2022 issue of Vogue Man Arabia is here, and it celebrates Oscar-winning Egyptian-American actor Rami Malek in a cover photo shoot produced entirely with Egyptian creatives on set. Cast in the new film Amsterdam, which is set for an October release, the 41-year-old shared his quest for the ideal character while refusing to be boxed in according to one’s racial identity “in an industry dominated by white stories, which even a moment like that [his Oscar win for Bohemian Rhapsody] does not change, so I am still hunting for stories I really want to tell,” shares the actor.
Also in this issue, in light of the recent murder of Mahsa Amini in Iran, we focus our lens on a modern tactic employed by authoritarian regimes as a weapon against its own people – the shutdown of the internet. “They are using the internet shutdown to buy more time to stop protests,” feminist activist Shaghayegh Norouzi shares, as the Iranian government tries to silence voices and keep a lid on information following the killing. “It’s clear that the people of Iran are protesting more vividly and to the point than before, even with more anger.”
No issue of Vogue Man is complete without a huge dose of fashion. And for the enthusiasts, this season brings back a celebration of couture – this time for men. As brands like Elie Saab debut couture collections for men, and others like Dolce & Gabbana increasing their offering, jaw-dropping statements with a focus on men are becoming de rigueur. “We have
mistakenly labeled couture as gendered,” Tony-winning Broadway producer Jordan Roth says. “Couture is an art form. We wouldn’t say ‘women’s painting’ or ‘men’s sculpture.’ Expanding the vision to include men is a meaningful step towards unlocking the truth of couture as art.”
The latest edition of Vogue Man Arabia also takes you on a riveting journey across the world. Qatari filmmaker Sheikh Khalifa Bin Abdulla Al-Thani flies us to his home city, where he highlights the spots closest to his heart. Meanwhile, Dubai-favorite interior architect Tristan du Plessis teams up with international Grammy-winning DJ Black Coffee – aka Nkosinathi Maphumulo, renowned for working with Drake and Alicia Keys – to design the penthouse of Johannesburg’s Hallmark House Hotel. “The interior luxury of the space is offset by its location in the heart of Johannesburg, a city known for its hustle culture, so we’d like it to spark hunger to create more, collaborate more, and do more particularly in the African context,” says Du Plessis.
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