Inspire: Behind the Scenes of Middle Eastern Fashion and Perfumery
Royal Tailors of Dubai
National Tailors, a Dubai landmark, has been making traditional kanduras for men in the Gulf region for decades. The shop’s founder, Abdulrahman Al-Madani, has made clothing for royals, including Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum and his son, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
The Art of Middle Eastern Perfumery
Oud, a highly prized fragrance, has been a cornerstone of traditional regional perfumes for centuries. Inspire goes behind the scenes of a major oud perfumer in the Middle East, exploring the labor-intensive process of extracting oud from Indian agarwood trees.
Kurdish Gentlemen’s Club: Mr. Erbil
In northern Iraq, a fashion movement has been gaining traction since 2016. Mr. Erbil, a social community of stylish Kurdish men, is determined to bring elegance back to their country, fusing modern suits with traditional Kurdish heritage.
Social Media Highlights
Catch up on the latest fashion trends and styles from the Middle East on social media, featuring Iraqi fashion blogger Arcane, Moroccan adult, and Saudi-based Anjaliki from Greece.
| Term | Definition | Example Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Oud | A highly prized fragrance extracted from Indian agarwood trees, used in traditional Middle Eastern perfumes. | Inspire goes behind the scenes of a major oud perfumer in the Middle East, exploring the labor-intensive process of extracting oud from Indian agarwood trees. |
| Kandura | A traditional garment worn by men in the Gulf region, typically made from cotton or silk. | National Tailors, a Dubai landmark, has been making traditional kanduras for men in the Gulf region for decades. |
| Agarwood | A type of fragrant resin produced by certain species of trees, particularly the Indian agarwood tree. | Oud, a highly prized fragrance, is extracted from Indian agarwood trees. |
| Sheikh | A title given to a male member of a royal family in the Middle East. | The shop’s founder, Abdulrahman Al-Madani, has made clothing for royals, including Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum and his son, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. |
| Indian | Referring to people or things originating from the country of India. | Oud, a highly prized fragrance, is extracted from Indian agarwood trees. |
| Gulf | A region in the Middle East that includes countries such as the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait. | National Tailors, a Dubai landmark, has been making traditional kanduras for men in the Gulf region for decades. |
| Kurdish | Referring to people or things originating from the Kurdish ethnic group, primarily from the Middle East and Turkey. | In northern Iraq, a fashion movement has been gaining traction since 2016. Mr. Erbil, a social community of stylish Kurdish men, is determined to bring elegance back to their country, fusing modern suits with traditional Kurdish heritage. |
| Perfumery | The art or process of creating perfumes. | Inspire goes behind the scenes of a major oud perfumer in the Middle East, exploring the labor-intensive process of extracting oud from Indian agarwood trees. |
| Traditional | Referring to customs, practices, or styles that have been passed down from previous generations. | National Tailors, a Dubai landmark, has been making traditional kanduras for men in the Gulf region for decades. |
Inspire: Behind the Scenes of Middle Eastern Fashion and Perfumery
Vocabulary Quiz
What does the word “kandura” refer to?
What is “oud”?
What is the name of the social community of stylish Kurdish men?
What is the name of the Iraqi fashion blogger mentioned in the article?
What is the name of the founder of National Tailors?
Answer Key
1. b) A type of traditional Middle Eastern clothing
2. b) A highly prized fragrance extracted from Indian agarwood trees
3. a) Mr. Erbil
4. b) Arcane
5. b) Abdulrahman Al-Madani
Using the Present Perfect Continuous Tense to Describe Ongoing Situations
| Explanation |
|---|
| The present perfect continuous tense is used to describe an action that started in the past and has continued up to the present moment. It emphasizes the duration of the action, and can be used to talk about ongoing situations or trends. In the given text, the present perfect continuous tense is used to describe the fashion movement that has been gaining traction in northern Iraq since 2016. |
Quiz
| Questions |
|---|
| 1. National Tailors ____________________ traditional kanduras for men in the Gulf region for decades. |
| 2. Inspire ____________________ behind the scenes of a major oud perfumer in the Middle East. |
| 3. A fashion movement ____________________ in northern Iraq since 2016. |
| 4. Mr. Erbil, a social community of stylish Kurdish men, ____________________ to bring elegance back to their country. |
| 5. Catch up on the latest fashion trends and styles from the Middle East, ____________________ on social media. |
Answer Key
| Answers |
|---|
| 1. has been making |
| 2. goes |
| 3. has been gaining |
| 4. is determined |
| 5. featuring |
