Editor’s Letter

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE, BE FEARLESS.

Welcome to The Renegade Issue.

In this issue we celebrate those thinking outside the box, challenging the mainstream and taking a brave leap of faith in all forms. To be a Renegade for us, is a positive attribute in terms of challenging convention and daring to live by your own, self-governed set of principles.

For our cover shoot The Strategist on page 22 we partnered with Ashfields Consultancies to champion Melika Yazdjerdi, Co-Founder & Chief Strategist. Yazdjerdi is not only half of Ashfields (which was the brainchild of Founder & Chief Executive Hamdan Al Hudaidi) but a woman we admire for her bravery, tenacity and ability to think outside the box – something which the consultancy is delivering to an unprecedented level of excellence in the Horology industry.

We also have exclusive interviews with Jamie Freed, Global Vice President, Private Client at FARFETCH (a brilliant ex mentor friend) who is the brains behind their strategy for the newly launched pre-order offering in A Smart Solution on page 40, Amna Al Qubaisi, the first female Emirati racing driver in In the Driver’s Seat on page 100, Asma Al Janahi aspiring Olympic fencer and the first Emirati woman to finish the Ironman in Fearless Combat on page 109 and Esme Chapman (Illustrator, model and daughter of MATCHESFASHION Founders Ruth & Tom Chapman) whose story of bravery and utter determination to challenge the hand she had been dealt is nothing short of awe inspiring, in Brave & Beautiful on page 106.

Further afield, we look to global brands taking their own respective industries by storm from Paris Texas in Cool Comfort on page 62, Ina Beissner in Doing Diamonds Differently on page 52 and FEMME Founder Janis Tello in Fierce Feet on page 64. Rewriting the Rules on page 88 and Leap of Faith on page 90 both take a look at the beauty industry’s new approach to products and procedures while The Wanderlust on page 130 compiles an edit of the most adventurous vacations for true adrenaline junkies.

In The Renegades on page 116 we spoke to some of the most incredible women we know to ask what this approach to life means to them. For many, it means taking the leap, approaching life in an unconventional manner and embracing a new way. So… be bold, be brave, be fearless.

Amy Sessions EDITOR / ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER