The #CreativeJapanFashionFair

The Pink Tarha has been invited to attend the Creative Japan Fashion Fair last night. Happening at the Harvey Nichols in Faisaliah Mall, this event is organized by the Japan Fashion Week Organization in cooperation with the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry and the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO). The fair was launched last night but will run until March 15, 2013 at the Plaza Floor (Special Space) of Harvey Nichols. We're happy to see this kind of events unfold in Riyadh so we were there in a heartbeat.

The third floor is the place to be.

The charm of Japan culture has always been a trend in the fashion industry. Its quirkiness and cuteness are its main draws. The Creative Japan Fashion Fair aims to introduce the appealing points of Japanese fashion and culture to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. As their cute kit said, "Through the CREATIVE JAPAN Fashion Fair, we hope you will incorporate various charms of "Japan" brands in your life." 

Artist Teppei Maki created key visuals with motifs from manga artist Osamu Tezuka's characters.

The following brands are participating in the fair: 

A Degree Fahrenheit - garments that has design aesthetics that will enhance the value of individuals.

FugaHum - clothing line that uses the various ways of fashion design and art making.

Gasbook Tee - an original t-shirt brand by Gas As Interface as a means for artists to expand their creativity.

Motonari Ono - clothes that has a classic romantic and luxurious feel

Pleats Please by Issey Miyake - a line that embodies the most fundamental concepts of designer Issey Miyake

Somarta - body wear series that has a "possibility on the body" concept

Tsumori Chisato - innovative and luxurious textiles, intricate beading, embroidery, appliques, and prints

Asumi Bijoux - colors and beauty of plants in jewelry; created by Asumi Shiromoto

Bao Bao by Issey Miyake - line of bags and pouches that folds, accommodates and transforms itself after handling to create dramatic new shapes

Chiso - collection of stoles that introduces a delicate sense of beauty today

Coquette - handbags in high quality leather made in Japan by Japanese traditional artisan techniques for modern women

e.m. - accessories that are fun and make people smile by delight and surprise

Furifu - kimonos (Japanese dress) and modern clothing and accessories that show Japanese traditions and culture

Keiko Kuroishi - opulent selection of scarves with artistic colors

Q-Pot - accessories that brings endless surprises

Amabro - a brand new art that combines traditional Japanese ideals of art and craftmanship with today's new influences and experiences

Hana Hyaku Yo - high quality lifestyle and floral beauty

Swati - cute art objects (mainly candles) that have a strong attention for colors, scents, and details

Wasara - disposable tableware that are earth-conscious and fully biodegradable and compostable

Tokyu Hands - the hint market: ideal superstore

(brand descriptions are condensed from the media kit)

We went around the display and exhibit area to take photos of stuff that really caught our attention... and boy there were many! Here's a glimpse of what you'll see in the Creative Japan Fashion Fair...

High-end fashion

Chisato's creations

Issey Miyake's captivating Pleats Please

The Bao Bao of Issey Miyake

Floral patterns from Hana Hyaku Yo

Kimono-inspired clutches and wallets

Origami-inspired

Delicious jewelries!

Macaroons, not edible.

I'm in love with this set. So decadent!

So soft Standard Crafts (not for sale)

Homaygawd, cuteness overload! (sadly not for sale)

Lucky charms

Aren't these the quirkiest chair for your gadgets?

I want to take home this whole luggage!

I have to admit that I didn't take a lot of photos of their clothes because these are items you need to see and feel for yourself. Also, when I saw their mini stationery area on the third floor, I was rooted in place. I can't help it. I love Japanese stationeries. They think of the cutest stuff and they invent the little things that you think you don't need but actually, you do.

I LOVE WASHI TAPES!!!! (SR30 each)

Crafters would love these decorative tapes. 

Looks good enough to eat? Don't! They're candles. Haha.

So much goodness!

WOuld I dare use these for erasing? I'd rather put them as decors. LOL.

KAWAII! 

I'm getting hungry just by looking at these... clips?!

For doodling, scribbling, writing

Winner! Eyecandy and I LOVE this!

See? They do think of every thing!

Seriously, you need more clips in your life!

Jewels that you can put in your iphone via its earphones jack

I told you, the stationery section left me pining for every thing in their rack. I hope I can come back for the washi tapes (please don't hoard them, haha!). 

The event was lovely and well-organized. We can't help but wish they would create more events like this in Riyadh. ;) Thank you, Harvey Nichols!

The Creative Japan Fashion Fair is until March 15. Go and visit now! (and please remember, do not hoard their stationery products, okay? Leave some for us!) The mere art wall is enough reason to drop by. ~ Sundrenched

Harvey Nichols

Faisaliah Mall

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

T: +966-1-273-4444

E: info@alfa.com.sa

Facebook | Twitter

Hello Helen's!

IF YOU HAVEN'T noticed by now, it has become The Pink Tarha's mission to try out every cupcake place there is in Riyadh. And in the last six months, more and more shops have sprouted all over the city that we must catch up! 

S and I were cruising along Orouba Road one night as we were actually headed to Tokyo Restaurant to get some dinner. While we were waiting for that traffic-inducing U-turn at the end of the Orouba Road, we noticed this pretty and preppy window display of sweet treats on our right, with a faux garden complete with a white picket fence. Intrigued, we read the sign above it that read, "Helen's."

Now once something piques our interest, there's no turning back. So we decided that we would cross over there after our Tokyo dinner and see what's there to see. I'm very happy we did. :)

Helen's is a bakery that caters to (you guessed it right) cupcakes, cakes and pies. According to the manager on duty, the owner is an American lady who resides in Jeddah and initially set up her business there. This branch in Orouba Road opened only four months ago.

Entering Helen's is like entering a doll house. -- that's not quite finished yet. Its dainty interiors and cutesy color palette makes you feel almost Laduree-ish, but while the walls and shelves are well-decorated, the floor space is still a bit bare in the middle and it would appear that there should be some seating installed there.

It's a girl thing.

A feel-good, feel-pretty-and-posh corner.

So what else did we find inside? Cupcakes and cakes and pies of course! They all looked inviting and we definitely took home some of them to try. Though I would have to comment on the name tags displayed behind their display case...it's a little too Microsoft Word Art for me. Considering the posh ambience of the place, maybe they can design better name tags for the cupcakes and cakes that's more of say, 2010 and above? I mean, I really like their company logo design already...it's a pretty font of European flair followed by a darling calligraphy of the name in Arabic underneath (I'm into this details because I work as a Desktop Publisher). Looking at the name tags just kind of bummed me out a bit. But that's just me. ANYWAY, this is about their cakes, cupcakes and pies and what they taste like. So let's carry on...

From Top to Bottom: Carrot | Red Velvet | Chocolate @ 7SR each

Mini Lemon Loaf 12SR and Mini Banana Loaf 15SR

From Top to Bottom: Pina Colada, some kind of Choco Cup and Oreo cupcakes 7SR each

Red Velvet and Carrot Cake, 15SR per slice

Oreo cheesecake 15 SR per slice

One whole Carrot Cake for 170SR.

Strawberry Cheesecake, 15SR per slice

I bought a piece of the Mini Lemon Loaf, a Pina Colada cupcake and mini-versions of their Carrot and Chocolate cupcakes which they were giving away for free taste tests. S bought their Trio Milk Cake (sorry not pictured) and a slice of Red Velvet cake. 

Their very purrrty packaging. And the logo design I was telling you about.

M'keeps. 

Now let's proceed to the tasting. S said that she enjoyed the sweetness of the Trio Milk Cake (15 SR) and that while it may come across as overly sweet, with the right cup of coffee, it can be perfection. Trio Milk Cake, by the way, is pretty much like bread pudding with cinnamon powder on top. We would definitely recommend that. As for the Red Velvet cake, she wasn't really over the moon for it. It was okay. You'd have to pardon us on this account because S and I didn't realize that we would write an article about it until I was blown away by own purchases.

Mini Lemon Loaf -- Tangy and will make you say 'Aaaaaaaaahhhhhh!'

What I liked: The moist texture. The tangy twang about it in every bite. The bread alone is a great balance of sour and sweet. I, for one, am not fond of the sour, and S was even surprised that I purchased this. But ever since I purchased those Calamansi Muffins from Cafe Real in Boracay late last year, I've been bent to tasting more lemon-y flavored pastry especially if downed with a cup of tea. :)

What I didn't like: The frosting was too sour for me. Again, that can be just me not being an entire fan of sour-tasting food. But without it, I will definitely eat as many mini lemon loafs as I can. 

Chocolate and Carrot Mini Cupcakes (for taste tests only)

What I take from both these cupcakes was that they were dry on the inside. Now it could be that they weren't fresh anymore when we got a hold of them, maybe I should try ones that are right off the oven. But apart from that, I think the chocolate flavor has a different kind of chocolate-ness about it. The carrot cake would be a fair choice but nothing to special for me and S, especially since we like our carrot cake with cream cheese rather than sweet frosting.

Saving the best for last!

And last but not the least, I present, THE PINA COLADAAAA! Totally, totally unique...I have yet to taste a pineapple flavored cupcake until that day. And it. is. so. good! Cake-wise, the inside was moist enough but not crumbly, with teeny bits of pineapple here and there. The balance of the flavors are right on cue on this one. And definitely a must-order! Three out of three people who I shared it with said "Wow!" and "Yummy!" and asked, "Where did you buy this?" 'Nuff said I guess. ;)

While Helen's may be a bit more pricey than the other cupcake places that we know of, for that Pina Colada, I will buy it. For that Trio Milk Cake, we'll take it! Besides, that's why you call it a treat right? Because it won't be everyday that you'll indulge on cupcakes, right? (Riggghhhhtttt? :D) 

Anyway, you can find Helen's just right across Tokyo Restaurant in Orouba Road (after the Panda Supermarket). If you have an eye for the pink and pretty, you surely won't miss it. You can also find them on Facebook, Twitter and on their website: http://www.helens-kitchen.com/

For advanced orders, you may call them at +966-1-416-9734.

Until our next cupcake hunt! 

Cheers!

Eyecandy

Random Thursday {Instagram Shops}

Yes, we still have our Random Thursday series. ;)

Who's addicted to Instagram? I am! Apart from my personal Instagram account (which served as my handy diary during my vacation last December), I also update the Instagram of The Pink Tarha. It's a good way to connect faster to people and share photos that are interesting. It's also a fun way of discovering stuff in and about Riyadh and Saudi Arabia in general. As a matter of fact, I'm so addicted to Instagram that I've discovered a whole bunch of IG stores that carry items I am looking for in Riyadh (which obviously, I haven't found in stores or malls until now). Let me share some of the IG stores that are based in and cater to Riyadh.

Disclaimer: I haven't tried ordering items from them so I cannot guarantee their service. All inquiries must be directed to the IG shops. I am also just featuring IG stores which carry items that I am looking for. If you're looking for something in particular, you might want to search for them in Instagram (provided that you have an account first, okay? 

Username: ART2HEARTSHOP

Notable items: Jeffrey Campbell Black Lita (SR600) | Fujifilm Instax Mini (SR800) | Fujifilm Instx Film (SR170) | Polaroid Camera with 2 packs of film (SR1200) | iPhone Covers (SR200 up)

Username: TOMS555

Notable items: Toms shoes for men, women, and kids (SR300 up) | Toms shirts (SR200 up)

Username: CLARI_KSA

Notable Items: Clarisonic Aria, Mia, Classic, Plus, and Pro (above SR1000)

This is one of the items I've been looking for in malls here in Riyadh but I haven't been lucky. Glad that it's available in Clari_KSA but it's a bit out of my budget for now. :(

Username: BEAUTYSHOPSA

Notable items: Coastal Scents Palette (SR200) | Urban Decay Naked Basics (SR300) | Sigma Kabuki Brushes Set (SR610) | Beauty Blender (SR150) | Philosophy Hope in a Jar (SR250) | EOS Organic Lip Balms (set of 3 - SR200)

Username: ESHOPPINGBASKET

Notable Items: Nescafe Dolce Gusto Coffee Maker: Genio (SR750) | Circolo (SR950) | Creativa (SR1150) | Capsules (SR50 per box of 8)

I am thinking of getting a Genio. It's so cute and handy and I am a coffee concoctions addict. 

Username: FUNKY_SHOP

Notable Items: Mixing Cup (SR150) | iPhone Camera Zoom Lens (SR450) | Glow in the Dark Nail Polish (SR350) | Android Phone Watch (SR1800)

Username: INNOVATIVE_THINGS

Notable Items: Cake pop maker (SR385) | Hotdog Toaster (SR385) | Mini Coca Cola Fridge (SR1200)

Username: SUPPLEMENTSUPPLIES

Notable Items: Ciate Mini Mani Month Set (SR1200) | Ciate Nail Polish Set (SR250) | UGG Boots (SR900 above) | UGG Moccasins (SR600 above)

You might also want to follow Advertise_Riyadh because they feature IG accounts of Riyadh-based people, blogs, stores, restaurants, and online shops. The Pink Tarha has recently been featured. (Thank you!) I'll write an entry on IG bakeshops next time... there are so many bakers in Riyadh I can only look at all those goodies that much. ;)

I have a request to these IG stores though. I hope you guys translate Arabic announcements and captions to English because not all your followers can read Arabic. Pretty please? I wish to read information about products, payments, and shipping as soon as I see them. Thank you! :)

Instagram is a very, very thriving community. And I do highly suggest you get yourself an account and post and follow! Follow The Pink Tarha's IG too! ~ Sundrenched